Reckless - S01 E06

Story 2 months ago

Reckless - S01 E06

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 6

—

[Computer Science Major L-Hall]

The hall is silent except for the voice of the lecturer teaching in the front, humming projectors, and the low static of laptops booting up.

Their first topic is Advanced Algorithms.

Cove sat by the first window, beside the wall. He has a thing for wall seats.

He’s surrounded by girls, and Zendaya is one of those girls.

Trinidad isn’t far from him, too. As the lecturer talked in the front, half of the girls just stole glances at him.

His laptop registration has not been completed maybe because he’s a Scholarship Student, so he’s required to smile before the soft copy handout file opens for him.

He just sat in front of the camera, staring at it. The lens kept blinking red, requesting that smile.

He’s hearing everything the lecturer is teaching, but he just doesn’t care.

He looked at the camera again, and it blinked red… again.

He lost patience and clicked the back button. He didn’t use his second hand. Just his right hand.

He clicked a few more keys, and his fingers lingered slowly on the last button before he pressed it.

Hacked.

He hacked that laptop, deleting the smile feature, so the next button took him straight to the handout soft copy with a exclusive notepad at the side.

Zendaya’s focus has left the teaching lecturer completely.
She’s now staring at him alone.

Cove’s eyes went back to the lecturer at the front, but he looks bored as he watched the jargons he’s writing on the white board.

“Now,” the lecturer said, tapping the marker twice on what he wrote on the board, “this recursive function runs in linear time—O(n).”

“Wrong,” Cove said sharply.

Those who weren’t looking at him before gave him attention immediately.

All eyes on him, including the lecturer who has now paused.

“Excuse me?” He frowned.

“That’s not O(n),” Cove continued, voice calm but sharpened. “You’re ignoring the nested recursive calls. It’s O(n log n) at best, and exponential if implemented the way you just described.”

The lecturer’s arms dropped.

A ripple went through the room.

Someone dropped a phone. Someone else stopped breathing.

The lecturer frowned. “Young man, I think you’re confused—”

“I’m not,” Cove cut in coldly, finally standing.

Tall. Unbothered. Annoyingly certain.

“You’ve just introduced a race condition in theory form. Your base case is weak, your stack depth grows uncontrollably, and if this were real code, it would crash harder than a memory leak in C++.” he said.

Silence.

He walked to the front, reached for the board without asking.

He took the marker like it already belonged to him, and he rewrote the function structure.

He also underlined the lecturer’s faulty logic.

“And you mentioned that the compiler optimizes this automatically,” he added, smirking as he faced the lecturer again.

“That’s… adorable. Compilers don’t fix bad algorithms. They just execute them faster—into failure.”

“Cove Fabio!” The lecturer yelled, appalled at the disrespectful nature of this arrogant bastard.

“How did you become a lecturer?” Cove muttered, colder.

“You’re not paying a dime to attend this Uni, young man.” The lecturer started. “I heard your Sponsor is a anonymous rich man who came to fix his car in your garage and was impressed by your brilliance, so he decided to Sponsor you, and here you are, acting above everybody? How dare you!” He glared.

“Not funny how you don’t even wanna accept your fault,” Cove replied arrogantly.

“He’s right! Cove is right!” Trinidad said freely from her seat.

“Shut up Trinidad! Shut up!!!” The lecturer yelled, wanting to give Cove a humbling slap, but Zendaya was already in that front.

She held the lecturer’s hand, pushing him back.

“It’s forbidden to hit students in this campus, you know that! Don’t touch him!” She told the lecturer authoritatively.

“Zendaya? You too?” The lecturer glared at her.

The hall fell in silence, and the lecturer took his suitcase instantly.

“Classes are cancelled today! No one’s gonna lecture students till after the board meeting! No one’s teaching anyone till this arrogant prick leaves the campus!” He slammed.

Next, he stormed out of the lecture hall, angrily.

One minute was all it took for the news to spread across all Major groups. The campus classes were cancelled completely.

The hallways became full.

Cove went back to his seat, shut down his laptop and started leaving the hall, all eyes still on him.

Zendaya was on the way when he walked past their row, and she expected him to talk to her and at least thank her for saving him from the lecturer’s slap, but nothing came from him till he went beyond her row. She felt robbed of air.

Other students were still feeling the chilling sensations as he walked to the door, but Trinidad blocked his way suddenly.

“Trinidad Brooke, your competitor in this Major. I was the best computer student before you came.” She extended an handshake.

Cove looked at it, then back at her face. He said nothing.

“4.75, my GPA,” she said, dropping her hand slowly.

Cove’s eyeball moved.

“You’re friends with Roxy—owner of the studio apartment I stay at.” He said briefly.

“Yup, I’m surprised you actually know,” she smiled.

“Saw you with Roxy at the Atelier a few times,” he replied.

“Too bad I haven’t seen you before you came to this campus. Hope we get along.” Trinidad said, extending a library card to him.

“I’m not sure you’d be given every textbook and handout as a scholarship student, so use my library card and get any book you need from the library,” she said.

“I don’t need it. I’ll see you around,” he replied, walking out.

“That bastard is like a rock…” Trinidad muttered, pocketing her library card.

Then she faced the class and wasn’t shocked to see the girls looking at her differently, even the guys.

Zendaya is literally killing her with her eyes right now.

“Trinidad, he actually talked to you?” A girl asked.

“If you’re brilliant, he’d probably talk to you, but that sounds impossible since y’all are mostly dead heads!” Trinidad smirked.

“Fûck you, Trinidad!” Zendaya snapped.

“Screw you, Buffalo!” Trinidad replied, and the students laughed at the mock as Zendaya left the class.

—

As Cove walked the hallway, students made way, and there are multiple phones capturing his face, all belonging to desperate girls..

He took off his deep blue suit already. Now he’s left in just his uniform trousers and the white shirt.

They were drooling over him shamelessly, but he didn’t give face.

Stacy and her girls appeared from the other end, and Stacy’s eyes went frozen when she beheld him.

He didn’t look at her.

He’s not even looking at anybody, he’s just focused on his way till he walked past Glitz Society girls.

Immediately he climbed down that corridor, Albert Montana’s car drove into the Year Park.

“Dad?” Stacy gasped, rushing down the hall to meet him.

Albert came down from the car, and she gave him a hug.

“Though you wouldn’t be coming anymore,” she pouted.

“Let’s go, to the Chancellor’s office,” he replied, rubbing her hair.

She followed him.

That hallway got more crowded.

“What do you think the outcome of the board meeting will be? That Cove guy corrected a lecturer and another hot topic is on the chart.” Max said.

“There are only two options. Either he wins the case or he wins the case since this stuff is looking like a case at this point,” Remo said.

“What kinda options is that? Win or win?” Frank laughed.

“Means he’s not allowed to lose. I need him in this campus. If worse comes to worse, they’d tell students to vote, isn’t that why they said no student can go home yet?” Remo rolled eyes, sitting on a sofa.

“I need to get home,” Scott said suddenly.

“You heard when the school said no student can leave till the end of the board meeting!” Max said.

“I’m still coming back, just give me thirty minutes to go lock my room door. My father’s new wife is at home already. I don’t want mistakes” Scott replied, rushing down the hall.

“Give her son a punch before coming back!” Remo shouted.

“And you only have thirty minutes like you said!” Frank added.

—

[Young Mansion, Ten Minutes Later]

Scott rushed inside, and merely perceiving the different scent in the air, he knew his suspicion was right.

His father’s new wife is here.

He didn’t stop at the living room at all. He went straight to his room and packed his clubbing clothes for Max’s anniversary party tonight since he won’t be coming back home till tomorrow morning.

He’s sick of his father.

He left his room with the small backpack containing his clothes and shoes, and he locked the door.

Satisfied, he started leaving, hoping he won’t meet his father before he’d leave the front door.

But as he walked past the room next to his own, he paused.

That room has been closed since this mansion was built cos no one’s staying inside, so why is it open?

He took two steps back to check well, and he saw someone behind the window curtains inside.

The curtain is transparent, so he knew from the showing shadow that the person is a boy.

His father’s new wife’s son?

Looks like it, cos he’s of average height. It shows even if there’s a curtain between them.

“Scott?” His father’s voice made him turn, and he wasn’t surprised.

Silas is with the new woman whom he’s holding by the waist.

A svelte woman who looks American. Bob hair, sweet smile, elegant.

“This is Owen, your stepmother,” Silas introduced her.

Before Owen could talk, Scott walked off, climbing down the staircase hurriedly till he went out of the front too, slamming it.

“Yeah, that’s my son. He loves slamming doors and has a rotten personality, but don’t fret, he’d come around.” Silas said.

“Hope he does,” Owen smiled.

The son came out of his room, looking as innocent as fûck.

Too innocent.

“Kane, you came out late.” Owen said.

“Mr. Young, did your son come home?” Kane asked Silas.

“Yeah, but he left already. You’d probably meet him in school since you’d become a Year One student at RIDE tomorrow.” Silas nodded.

Kane looked at the stairwell expressionlessly.

—

[RIDE University, Chancellor’s Conference Room]

Twelve people owns shares in the school including Albert Montana and the Chancellor himself, and all the twelve are in the room.

They’ve been discussing, debating about one issue since an hour ago.

Cove Fabio.

Cove is sitting on a chair in the middle of their round conference table, looking calm.

Stacy sat on a special chair inside, sipping hot cocoa with straw.

The disrespected lecturer is by the door, seated too.

“I didn’t expect this slim issue to extend this far! I mean we’ve been on it for an hour… we’re busy people! This Garage boy has nothing to offer but trouble and that unworthy arrogance. He even disrespected a lecturer?” Albert said.

“Very proud bastard! You should have seen the way he took the marker and did corrections!” The lecturer said from the door.

“Too prideful for a poor thing,” Albert sneered at Cove.

Stacy lowered the straw from her lips, skeptically.

She watched the discussion like a spectator.

“Mr. Albert Montana, everyone else has shares in the institution just the way you do, and if we are to judge by the shares amount, then I’m on top cos I own the largest share. Half of the other shareholders are saying they want him to stay, so we can’t make him leave only because of you, unless you kill us all and steal our shares,” the Chancellor said clearly.

Albert nodded.

“Also, his Sponsorship is strong. He’s a Straight-A student. 5:00 GPA? You know how rare geniuses are hard to find these days, and you’re aware of the honour this institution is gonna experience if he graduates from here in the future.” the Chancellor continued.

“Then let the students vote.” Albert replied instantly.

“I’m very sure they don’t wanna be in the same space with a nitwit too. Let them vote for his LEAVE or STAY, and we’ll stick with wh@tëver the result is.” He said.

“Everyone else agrees?” The Chancellor asked.

—

[Outside]

It’s getting dark already.

6pm, and students are still waiting around, expecting the turnout.

Even Dorian waited with his guards, but he didn’t stay at the hallway.

He stayed at the top lounge, watching the main hallway through the surveillance camera screens.

His four guards are around him, and he’s currently drinking hot mocha.

“Diamonds are still bashing Stacy online, Riri. It’s a neverending chaos,” a guard said.

“Good. I know I have the most active fans existing, and I love them toxic. I don’t want them to stop too. That Brat isn’t relenting Dorian replied.

When the voting poll appeared, he was the first one to see it.

He spranged up, eyes shinning as he smiled large.

“I knew it’d come to this! Send my vote over right now! STAY!” He said.

—

[Down The Hall]

“He recognized you as my friend?” Roxy said, her back resting on a wall as she smoked.

“Swear to fûck, but he declined my library card…that ice prince.” Trinidad muttered.

She’s with a football which she’s throwing up and catching.

“You should be glad he even talked to you cos my tenant is crazily arrogant. I have a feeling he’ll get along with you since you’re academically sharp too.” Roxy replied, smokes following her words out of her nostrils.

“Are we going to the anniversary party tonight?” Trinidad asked.

“Of course, would love to see what Kehlani and Max are cooking again and laugh at their stupid romance,” Roxy replied.

Elmira isn’t engaging in their conversation. Her eyes are on Max who’s down the hall with Kehlani.

Kehlani is on Max’s laps right now.

Elmira couldn’t blink. Since she saw what Max did for Kehlani in the morning, she has been restless.

Max hasn’t left her head at all.

On another exclusive side of the hall, the twins and Zendaya sat.

Since Stacy is with her dad in the Conference Room, and Kehlani is with Max, they’re the only three.

Tania is with a ball just like Trinidad, but she’s not throwing and catching.

She’s raising with her leg repeatedly, and the ball didn’t fall for once.

Tasha sat with her book, and Zendaya looks deep in thoughts…

About Cove.

Then…the voting announcement came, and the students screamed, clamoring in excitement.

Some too eagar to send the mighty guy out, and some too eagar to make him stay.

They moved to the academics hall, and by now, the voting poll has been uploaded with options on screen.

A STAY vote is already on screen, belonging to Dorian from the top lounge.

Then the students began casting their votes too.

Scott is back, and he’s the first to vote in the hall.

He clicked STAY.

Remo followed him, laughing as he clicked STAY.

Frank clicked STAY too.

Max clicked LEAVE.

Trinidad, Roxy, Elimira…they all clicked STAY.

Tasha and Tania and Kehlani clicked LEAVE.

Stacy sent her vote from the conference room…. LEAVE.

Then the voting continued coming in, and the count kept mounting, surprising the students.

There are exactly two million and one students in the school right now.

When the voting ended, the results was more astounding…

STAY—1M

LEAVE—1M

“Tough, I wasn’t expecting this turnout…” Frank muttered.

“Guy, Cove is hot I have to admit even as a boy. He’s brilliant too, and his arrogance his sèxy. The most interesting part? He h@tës Stacy. He’s a ten!” Remo said loudly.

Everyone else in the hall looked stunned too, watching the screen.

Especially the Glitz Society.

How come??

“Wait! There’s one more vote left! Someone hasn’t voted!” A student said loudly.

The twins turned at the same time, facing Zendaya who’s in their middle.

“Zen, you didn’t vote!” They said.

“Daya! C’mon!” Kehlani said.

Stacy entered the hall immediately. She came from the conference room.

“Zen, what the hell are you waiting for! Cast your vote and let’s get him off!” She shouted.

Zendaya gulped, walking slowly towards the screen.

She had her fingers folded throughout, and she gulped few more times, each step heavier than the last till she arrived at the screen.

She raised her hand towards the LEAVE. It hovered above it for long, and students held breaths.

“Zen!” Tania shouted.

Then…Zendaya moved at once.

Her plump finger left LEAVE and went to STAY.

She Fuçkin clicked it, making STAY One million and one!

Cove won!

Colour drained from Stacy’s face, and the hall scattered.

—

[Conference Room]

Half of the shareholders have smiles on their faces while the other half look pissed by the results.

Albert looks the angriest, but the Chancellor is smiling satisfactorily.

“Mr Albert Montana, you’re seeing the results by yourself, right?” He said intentionally.

The eyes of the lecturer by the door are completely wide too like he saw what he shouldn’t have seen.

Cove is still sitting in the middle, but he’s looking straight at the Chancellor right now.

“One more thing, Mr. Chancellor,” he suddenly said.

“And what’s that?” The Chancellor replied attentively.

“That lecturer by the door….the one who claimed I disrespected him, he’s a waste of your salary. He’s got nothing to share with students in his head.” Cove said, smoothly.

The room froze once again, and the Chancellor faced the lecturer.

Just two words came out of the Chancellor’s mouth to the lecturer.

Two powerful words.

“You’re Fired.”

TBC.