❝ The Request

Seul posts a request in the school's forum asking for assitance on her controversial topic idea and gets a helping hand. However, unable to pay back for the helper's assistance Seul offers her assitance in return.

05

March

❝ The Request, Auditorium

By five o'clock Seul rushed out her class, several loose papers shoved messily inside her notebook as she jogs lightly towards the auditorium. Her current state a mess with her hair slightly disheveled after the scrutinizing lesson about the nervous system. The class wasn't difficult per se, it was just the overwhelming amount of notes needed to be jot down for future references that killed her. Every now and then she'd pull out a fresh piece of lined paper because the one in use is already filled with so much notes it's nearly impossible to squeeze in anymore.

With a soft sigh, she pushes through the heavy doors and makes her way to the far end of the auditorium. Had she been late? She peers over and scans the seats for any form of human presence. None seem to be of presence so she sinks into a seat, her eyes shut as she tries to collect herself, slowing down her heavy and quick breathing. She was glad she didn't seem to be late though. Earlier this week she had posted an anonymous post on the school's forum asking for assistance regarding her new article. This one she plans to write will be controversial. Controversial is good. It'll give her more readers despite the hate she already predicts to gain.

Luckily for her someone had replied to the thread no longer than a day. Usernames are usually consisted with only numbers for easier sorting. Sort of how like she was user '334497336'. She couldn't exactly remember the user's username but regardless she was glad someone was open to assisting her with the film she intends to post along with the article. Seul did post what requirements she had needed, she just hoped she'd have enough money to pay back the only wiling soul to help her. After a few minutes of silence, she sits up from her seat rather abruptly and glances around. Had the person bail? She checks her watch and searches the auditorium with her eyes. A slight pout forms on her lips as she sits back into her seat.

Still nothing. It had been at least an hour and a half since she's been in the auditorium. With her phone in hand, she pauses her game of 'Candy Crush' and tilted her head in confusion when she hears the floorboard creak. Had the floorboard just creaked on its own or was someone there? She's now sitting up, the phone in her hand resting on her lap with a tight grip as she calls out a subtle 'hello'.

It could have been interesting if it weren’t for the depreciated way of describing Caligula; fortunately, Nichkhun had already read some articles about this famous sadistic and mad ruler of the Roman Empire. The report appeared as if Caligula has a light psychological problem, but the guy actually waged war on the sea, and ordered his troops to collect seashells. Though appreciative, Nichkhun was slightly dissatisfied, but it was enough not to put him to sleep. Apparently, this rare attentiveness in class caused him to be late at an important meeting. Rather than skipping it to get his cameras, he stayed until dismissal to see if something interesting will come up. The bad news however, all of his camcorders were in his condominium, a 20 minute motorbike ride from school.

Once reaching his condo, those precious Sony camcorders, spy cams, tripod and others materials were placed in his backpack. Despite some were unnecessary, Nichkhun always brings a variety of gadgets to make an impression that he takes his filming very seriously when it comes to business and gain trust from his clients. Apparently, he charges a great deal of money depending on the measure they have to take: whether it is risky, illegal or how much will be on the line. On rare occasions, when the journey came out fun and fulfilling, Nichkhun crazily makes it free.

This time, his client is a fellow student posted online under the username “334497336”, asking for assistance about film accompanying her article. By the looks of it, Nichkhun assumed that it would be a less strenuous project (knowing that she’s a student) that he made his services, regardless very rare, available. As the young man rode back to school, he finds it strange for a student to seek help from fellow student when they could just hire professional cameramen to film their projects. The yearbook-staff hired a camera director with the help of their celebrity parents, to film all events in school for a DVD that will complement the yearbook. The mere thought of someone independent, breaking the common “dad or mum’s help” was one main reason he agreed. That independence from his/her parents’ power attracted him.

He was already almost 1 ½ hour late regardless of pushing his motorbike’s speed to the limit, that he decided to take a shortcut to the auditorium through the fire exit. Nichkhun sat on the nearest seat and placed his bag on the floor, crouching as he s his bag to check if his equipment were fine. After being assured that none were damaged or scratched, Nichkhun stood up to look for the person he has business with. But as he took a step, the floorboard creaked, followed by faint female voice who said something he can’t decipher.

“Anybody here?” His curious deep voice occupied the whole room, asking without considering the possibility that the voice he heard was from a teacher’s or a drama-club member, and he could have said something more formal for courtesy sake.

Seul hesitated to speak. "Uh Hi?" She says once more. This time her voice louder than her previous attempt to holler. She collects her stuff from the empty seat next to her as she stands up from her seat giving her enough height to see a tall figure. Not just any old tall figure either. That silhouette was instantly recognizable.

Seul’s mouth fell open. Stay calm-

"Nichkhun Horvejkul." She whispers inaudibly. "Wait- Are you here to film something?" Seul was under the assumption that the person that had agreed to help her was someone who, like her, needed all the financial support they could get. Not some governor's son. She could only imagine how much he'd ask for compensation. Number after number, those of which Seul had never even seen in one pay cheque. Clutching her bag tightly against her chest, she peers over to look behind him. There didn't seem to be a hoard of expensive team around and that confused her.

She blinks a few times.

He had the knack of looking perpetually posed for a photograph. Seul thought ‘handsome’ a silly, nineteenth-century word, but there really was no other word for it, except perhaps ‘beautiful’. He had one of those faces where you were aware of the bones beneath the skin, as if even his bare skull would be attractive. 'Handsome', Who do you think you are, Some hormonal teen? Grow up. Be sensible. Don’t get carried away.

"So go on then, What are you doing here?" She asks so boldly as if she had owned the auditorium. Which ironically, he could probably own if he had wanted to, but that isn't the point.

It took a moment before the same voice responded, which eventually stood up to reveal itself. Nichkhun shouldered his backpack and started walking towards her, trying to find out whether she’s the person whom he should be meeting. However, his planned response was mentally dismissed and was replaced by wondering thoughts after reaching a fair distance that caused him to recognize her face immediately. If he’s not mistaken, she was one of those students in the cafeteria, assisting the lunch ladies (and lunch dudes?).

Apart from that Nichkhun also knew her profile of being the Academy Scholar. Regardless of students having world famous parents, Scholars can outshine them as they occupy the highest academic rank and the only people who are most likely to dethrone them are their fellow scholars. In Creo Vitae, money was never a problem...intellect; however, comes rather rare. Likewise, Nichkhun never worked with a scholar before. This could be interesting.

She continued when Nichkhun fell silent, "So go on then, what are you doing here?" asked in a very bold manner that Nichkhun quickly assumed she was one of the drama club members who must have been rehearsing that he disturbed.

“Uhh... Business? Yeah that’s it. Filming business with someone.” He replied carefully, making sure that he gave a decent response without going through details not intended for anyone who had nothing to do with the business. Nichkhun took out a medium-sized camcorder from the pocket of his backpack and continued walking towards her. “Are you the only one here?” He asked while switching it on, then changes the settings of the camera to something compatible to the auditorium’s lighting. His complete focus to editing the setup almost caused him to trip on the way, but he waved it off quickly as if nothing happened and strikes a conversation with her, “Seems like an unlikely place to hang-out unless... well… you’re the person I’m supposed to meet.” He smiled while watching her though the small LCD monitor of his camcorder (which wasn’t recording anything) to test the tweaked options.

Nichkhun was satisfied with the settings. She did stand out rather well in the LCD as he planned to. In fact, she stood out too well to make anyone believe that she’s a daughter of a celebrity.