"No matter what, just stay close to me," Benjamin whispered to JMONEY. They walked up the steps to find their usual seats on the second row of the hall. JMONEY brought out his textbooks and notes to prepare for the lecture. Eventually, one of the books slipped out of his hands to land on the tiled floors.Like a shadow that had been hiding, biding its time beneath those floors, someone already had their hands on the notebook. It was Joaquin, a member of the University's football team, and part of Michael's overall clique.He flipped through a few pages of the note. JMONEY was quiet, he was powerless to stop him from doing anything anyway. After he was satisfied, Joaquin handed the note back to JMONEY, his lips parting deviously into a smile."This is for you." said Joaquin. "Oh, thanks." replied JMONEY taking it back."You should be more careful with your things. Engineering notes go for a pretty penny these days," said Joaquin."I'll keep that in mind" JMONEY replied without making
Professor Tergiz was a tall bony man in his middle age, with bleared prescription glasses hung around his neck, and a gait belonging to that of a much older man.He lethargically set aside his bag on the projector platform while he observed the commotion."What has happened?" he voiced out. Joaquin's mangled voice was even louder as he descended the steps with the aid of the clique.The sight of blood on one of the handkerchiefs set the professor on alarm."You have been fighting? In this class?!" asked the Professor."No, sir-" muttered Bingo, before Michael kicked his shin. Shut up "It's not like that, Sir." cut in Michael."Then how is it like, Michael? Isn't that blood pouring from Joaquin's ear? You idiots, keep placing pressure on that . Don't let up." said the Professor."Actually…." Michael looked up to the seats. Benjamin was still seated cooly, JMONEY albeit still on tenterhooks, avoiding eye contact, twiddling his thumbs."Say it" intimidated Professor Tergiz."It was - a spat b
When Benjamin and JMONEY emerged outside MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, it was already sunset. JMONEY glanced at his watch a few times. He had missed his bus, and the Uni dorms were a long walk of 2km in the opposite direction."There's one more thing I need to ask you." he told Benjamin."No, I'm not interested in, joining the rotary club. You've asked like a gazillion times." said Benjamin. "Not that, idiot." JMONEY paused. "There's no way, but, did you know Joaquin was going to stab himself in the ear like in that?"Benjamin looked at JMONEY with a puzzled expression. "How in blazes would I know that?" he threw the question back at him."Right right," muttered JMONEY. "Well, this is me. Tell Claire I said hi, wouldn't you?" said JMONEY.Benjamin kept walking without turning his head. "Actually, Claire and I…." he trailed off. JMONEY understood from his tone. To be honest, it was surprising it was only happening now. Benjamin's worlds and hers were too different. Eventually, a rift would've
JMONEY's room was a small studio apartment where the tiny corridor to the bed served as the kitchen and an entrance to the bathroom on the left. The actual bedroom consisted of one small single-sized sofa closed in by the wardrobe and a study desk.JMONEY pulled out an extra duvet from the wardrobe."If I extend this from the head of the bed, all the way to the opposite wall. We get a longer bed basically." he explained, and clapped his hands. "So choose, the bed or the floor?" he asked.Benjamin looked around the apartment. If he had been here two days ago, he would've chosen the floor."Whatever happened to that guy, Brooks?" Benjamin asked JMONEY. "Brooks? The guy with the only 3 3-bedroom apartment in this dorm?" asked JMONEY.Benjamin nodded."I don't know. He should be where he always is. Why?" pressed JMONEY. Benjamin raised an eyebrow. Soon, they were knocking on Brooks' Door.It took a few good raps in for someone inside to bustle angrily towards the door."What?!!" snarled Brook
JMONEY awoke to the sound of someone banging on the apartment door. He grudgingly opened it to the Dorm Supervisor, who was red-faced. "I've been knocking on everyone's doors. There is no way in hell, but I'll ask anyway. Do you anything about the Mclaren downstairs parked in my spot?" she asked.The Dorm supervisor was an older woman of about 36. JMONEY smiled to himself ."No, I don't. Like you said, how in the hell should someone like me know about that?" answered JMONEY. The woman blew even hotter and slammed the door shut.Meanwhile, Benjamin was waking up to a message from PAYTON: "Good Morning Master. You have 1 Missed Call, and Zero Messages.""I didn't know you could wake me up, PAYTON. Can we turn that off?" ordered Benjamin. "I am synced to your daily alarm clock," remarked PAYTON."Yeah, but it's different when the alarm is inside my head." Benjamin said and checked his phone for who had been calling him. When he saw it was Amber, his heart floated a little bit. But then s
JMONEY was struggling to fit into the McLaren again. It took him about 5 whole minutes."Come on. We're wasting time" groaned Benjamin."I'm not the one that insists on driving a spaceship to class. Couldn't we have just taken the Bus?" asked JMONEY. "Can't," replied Benjamin."Why? You already paid off the Dorm Supervisor." reminded JMONEY. "It's not that. I need it as a bargaining chip," said Benjamin."For what exactly?" asked JMONEY. Benjamin groaned. "It's too complicated to explain. Are you set? Let's just go"The dorms were a short distance from the University, but it was a tussle commuting with other cars on the double-lane road with the Mclaren's wide body. It certainly wasn't built for driving short distances. JMONEY was right, they should've just taken the bus.When they arrived, Professor Tergiz approached them in the common hall downstairs. "This is about to become a really big deal," JMONEY whispered.The Professor took them to the teaching hospital nearby, where Joaquin w
“Guess the more things changed, the more they stay the same” lamented JMONEY. “Is this ideal?” asked Benjamin to himself, stroking his chin, and silently musing a million different things."Benjamin?" asked JMONEY. "Jonathan," replied Benjamin. "What are you planning this time?" asked JMONEY. "Do you think there are others like us?" asked Benjamin."Like us?" repeated JMONEY. "That hate Michael Duboir." clarified Benjamin. "Are you kidding me? There's gotta be tons" answered JMONEY."No, I mean, it has to be from this department specifically. And the same year as him. I know we don't take all our classes together, but there should be, right?" wondered Benjamin."I'm sure of it." replied JMONEY."How long do you think it'll take to find a list?" asked Benjamin."I dunno. Probably a day or two," answered JMONEY."No, that'll mean it'll take even more time to register a complaint." thought Benjamin."What in hell are you talking about?" JMONEY asked. Benjamin placed a hand on his shoulder. "
"There. That's about everything." retired Joaquin. "That's about three incidents. You guys have been up to some naughty businesses. And you're sure you're not holding out on me?" asked Benjamin."What more do you want, huh? The boys will literally stab me if they heard me saying any of it out loud." wheezed Joaquin.Without the aid of Bow Down To Me, this was as pristine of an interrogation as Benjamin was going to get. He checked his watch. At least an hour had passed. 15 more to go. How was JMONEY fairing? "Alright. That'll do. One last thing." said Benjamin."And that is?""What do you guys call yourselves?" Benjamin asked. "What?" retorted Joaquin."Come on, when you're all together. You guys must call yourselves something. The Rowdy Buys, The Tough Bunch, The Growling Grifters??" Benjamin pondered."This isn't some high-school Netflix drama, Benjamin." Joaquin clarified. "We just hang out around Michael. And we're all adults. Who's going to start thinking of names like that?"Ben