The Manipulator's Game

Crimes have been so rampant in San Juan. It is highly urbanized and it has the highest volumes of crime in the region. SanJuanpolis is a resourceful police station with the best bluecoats in the country - Arya Oligario's parents are one of those. In fact they have been awarded for their extraordinary heroism.

Arya has long straight black hair and a lean and long body. Her palm-sized face compliments her crane neck. Her waist which is only twenty two inches attracts a lot of attention, especially for men.

Arya's graduation is imminent. She is an ace both in academics and extracurricular activities. Since she is the daughter of two distinguished Police Chief Inspectors, she is respected and admired by most of the students and even her professors. Anybody who knows her says that she was built like a brick and often considered as tough as an ox.

"Arya, make sure your parents will come to our graduation ceremony. They are always missing in action. The Board of Directors and even us, your professors, are so excited to meet them. They have really done a good job raising you."

"Don't worry Sir Warren, they already promised me that they will not miss my graduation since their daughter did a great job on her studies." Arya utters confidently while giggling.

Cylon Pasatiempo, on the other hand, is Arya's finest competitor. His ego was hurt when Arya exceeded his skills, wit and ability. Due to his insecurities and his strong will to become at the top, he asked his brother, Ythan, for a huge amount of money. He is going to use it to bribe the professors and school heads. Ythan didn't have any idea that his brother was going to do something dirty under his nose.

"Cylon, you should pay me back when you get your first job huh! This amount of money isn't a joke. So, where did you plan to celebrate your graduation? You better invite our dad and your mom, of course. I'm so delighted that you got the highest award!"

"Don't worry Detective Ythan. I will pay you twice this amount when I become the youngest Police Captain. Regarding the venue, I will let you know soon. You can also invite your dear mother to my party."

"I bet my mom will not like to be there. You know how much she hates the crowd."

"Sorry. I have forgotten it already. Oh, before I forget, please do invite Divonne okay?"

Ythan just answered him with a smile. He knows how bad his brother likes his comrade.

After Ythan leaves the school premises, Cylon swiftly gathers his closest friends to start his evil plan. Unfortunately, while they are having conversations, Arya accidentally hears all of it. Being an honest and an ideal student, she made a report on the Commission on Higher Education. She didn't let the school management know about the issue since she was very aware of the power and influence of the Pasatiempos. After the investigation, Cylon was proven guilty and the school had no choice but to drop him.

Ythan personally comes to the university to confront Arya. Cylon told his brother that she is the only one who is capable of reporting the issue to CHED. He never considered that his brother may really have made a huge mistake because Cylon lied about it on his face so many times. Ythan wants to protect their family name and businesses more than anyone and anything.

"I know how desperate you are to take my brother's place BUT GIRL you should think first before you act. Did you know that it can stain our reputation? Did you even know that we can lose millions because of that incident? I know that you are smart since Cylon always tells us about you and he's threatened by your presence; but I am disappointed in you. You are SO reckless. "

"I bet you didn't know your brother well. Correction also, Cylon doesn't have anything which I want to snip from him. I am okay with whatever I have right now. You know what; I pity you because you have been his toy lately. I guess money isn't an issue to your family, that's why you can easily give him whatever amount he wants. I thought you were a good detective since my parents are always proud of having you in their team. Oh well, don't waste your energy on me, instead focus on correcting Cylon's behavior. You should know better." Arya rolled her eyes on the Detective and left him speechless.

On the day of Arya's graduation, she was expecting her parents to come. She was disappointed when General Lary called and told her that her parents were assigned to a very important mission. Arya got mad at them because they didn't even call to notify her. Moreover, her professors and the BODs are expecting them to come and just like Arya, they become frustrated. The ceremony was ruined further by Cylon.

"Arya! You are a pathetic loser, a fake and a murderers' daughter."

Everybody, including Arya, was shocked by Cylon's statement.

"Stop making false accusations, Cylon. I know that you are so mad at me because I have reported you to CHED but never disgrace our family's name! You know how exemplary my parents are. I can sue you for blabbering nonsense against my parents. Please step out and I will forget what you have said earlier."

"EVERYBODY LISTEN TO ME! OPEN YOUR MOBILE PHONES AND WATCH THE RECENT NEWS. I AM NOT LYING! ARYA IS THE DECEIVER HERE. SHE SET ME UP SO THAT I WILL BE DISQUALIFIED AND DROPPED OUT. IF SOMEONE DOESN'T DESERVE TO BE HERE, IT SHOULD BE THAT GIRL (Cylon pointed Arya)!"

Her professors and classmates immediately get their phone to see if Cylon is telling the truth. After some minutes, they started gossiping about the Oligarios. Arya immediately calls Lary to clarify the issue about her parents and the General told Arya to go home but Arya chose to go to church instead. She cried her heart out and prayed for her parents. She didn't want to believe the news. She still trusts them.

On her way home, she saw Cylon and Ythan. Cylon teased her again. This time, Ythan reprimanded his brother and told him to get lost. Ythan showed sympathy to Arya but Arya said she never needed it.

Ythan was the detective assigned to Arya's parents' case. He has black eyes and hair. His bone structure is pretty bewitching -his cheekbones, his jawline - it's almost perfect! He has tattoos on his arm and back. You can be hypnotized by his intense broody eyes if you stare at it closely for a couple of minutes. His looks make him younger than his actual age.

He told Arya that evidence shows her parents did it. Arya shouted at him saying her parents can't even kill a fly. For her, it is very impossible to kill nine policemen at once, using one gun.

General Lary came and begged Arya to call them whenever her parents went home. They fled from the scene and no one saw them since then. Arya begged Ythan and Lary to give her space. Her mind still can't digest what happened. Lary just nodded and told her that she should beg her parents to go to the station for interrogation.

Days have passed and her parents never went home nor contacted her. Arya became distressed and she just wanted to believe that her parents did it. Media followed her wherever she went. The grieving families also started to confront her. They want her parents to be put in jail. Arya took all the blame and she can't even go to the university to get her transcript of records and diploma because her classmates and professors hated her so much. Their school's dean's husband is one of the policemen who died or whom they believed was murdered by her parents.

One night, Arya was awakened by the sounds of gunshots. She quickly ran out of her room to see what's going on. She saw her parents lying on the floor holding a gun, full of blood, while still wanting to talk to her. She immediately gets something to stop the bleeding. She called 911 straightaway.

"SEND SOME HELP RIGHT NOW! MY PARENTS ARE IN CRITICAL CONDITION! HURRY!"

She didn't know what to do. She can't even apply what she had learned in school because she was still shocked by what happened. Tears continuously flow on her precious eyes.

"Aarya... Please ne-ver trust any-one except ... yourself."

"Dad, I'm so sorry, please save your energy. I'm sorry that I doubted both of you. I'm sorry I got mad at you. I only have one wish on my special day and that is to see you both smiling at me because I have made you proud."

"You have never disappointed us. We are so blessed that God gave us a responsible and loving daughter. We are very sorry. We didn't make it on your graduation day. I and Dad love you so much."

"Mom, please tell me who has made you criminals! I will make them pay for this! Hold on. Please stay alive! I still need you both! I can't even imagine living in this world without you."

Arya bursts into tears as she says "Sorry" so many times. Her parents just smiled at her and reminded her to become a good person whatever the situation is. They have died in Arya's arms.

The next morning, the news makes Arya hopping mad. It was announced that her parents' committed suicide due to too much shame in the public. She throws every single thing in her room. Her scream gathered her neighborhood's attention. She wants to kill someone at that very moment.