In the classroom.

Novie just finished discussing her topic to her students when the bell rung, lunchtime.

The students rushed out of the classroom after saying their goodbyes.

Novie piled up the books on her table and put it in her bag, she left the room and proceed to the cafeteria.

As always, Novie sat alone, after Ken visited her a few days ago, the other teachers has been avoiding her and she doesn't know why. No one knows Ken or his statue so she had no idea why everyone is avoiding her.

"Can I sit here?" it was a man's voice, Novie looked up and saw the principal with a smile on his lips.

"Of course" she moved her tray to give him more space.

The principal seated opposite to her and starts eating.

No one spoke, but Novie can feel the eyes around peering like a hawk.

(This is so awkward!) she blurted inside, she's a new teacher as well as the principal so there might be a rumor about them she doesn't want to happen.

But Novie finds it hard to say no to him, he's the principal and been so nice to her.

When her plate emptied, she opened the bottle of water and drank it.

"Ms. McSalter, there will be a teacher seminars next month. Our school will need teachers to represent us, and I was thinking of including you. Would it be fine? it's going to be a three-day seminar." John said Novie looked at him, shocked.

She was not expecting that there was a reason why he sat with her, but she'd never been to any seminar, this idea surprised her but she's excited as well.

"Who will be the other two teachers?" Novie asked.

John wipes his lips and replied, "Two teachers from Math department, I will also be there so you don't need to worry. I will give you the details on Friday" He smiled, and it didn't affect her, she heard whispers around about the new principal, how handsome he is and the fact that he's single made every teacher in the school fell for him.

But she never feels any sparks or excitement when she sees him, she doesn't know why but lately every time she sees a good-looking man, her heart doesn't skip a beat unlike before.

"Looking forward to it Mr. Castro" saying that Novie stood and excused herself.

John watches Novie as she leaves the cafeteria, his original smiling face contorted in serious as he took his phone and dialed the same number from yesterday.

When the man answered the phone, he spoke in a low and clear voice.

"Set up everything, Novie will not be around for three days next month make sure that Ken Chu's body will suffer a great beating, but don't kill him. We can't let his family retaliate especially his sister." his eyes narrowed with anger, he has been looking after Ken for some years after what he did to his father. This will be his revenge.

"I also need you to call his mother Bea Chu, set up an appointment this Sunday" John ended the call and squinted around to make sure no one heard him, but the cafeteria is full of people chattering so he's certain that no one heard him.

John stood up and proceed to his office while walking, he looked at his phone screen to remind him of his mission.

He stared at his father's photo, Gregory Swinki, the man lost a hand after Ken Chu cut it with no mercy; it happened almost six years ago when his father acted as the Aldovian Princess advisor.

John Castro, he's a 35-year-old Aldovian/Filipino, his mother was a Filipina who used to work at the Aldovian Embassy while his father was the advisor.

John was close to his father, but he's using his mother's last name since his father Gregory had a wife in Aldovia. In short, his mother was a mistress, but she had died years ago, because of cancer.

That night, he was in the party as well, enjoying when suddenly he saw the people scrambling out of the hotel, then he saw his father's body flying to the tree and Ken strode to his father's direction with a blank face and brutally stepped on his father's hand.

He just watched them, he could not help his father after his friend stopped him, saying that the man was known to be a vicious and ruthless mafia boss, killing people without mercy.

The same night, as they drive back to the villa where the princess was staying, they were ambushed. All of his father's bodyguard died after men with guns rain their cars with bullets. Until now he still had the scar on his right shoulder after the bullet went through his arm, one man opened the door and John watches him take his father away.

He pretended to be dead, but he heard one of the men mentioned Ken Chu's name and delivering his father's hand to the princess and serve it in a platter.

Since that day, John used all of his time and energy following Ken and his family, and he found a lot of things he could not explain, even the reason why his girlfriend Novie left him five years ago.

There are so many holes and puzzle he could not solve but he's hoping that he can use Mrs. Chu's hatred to get the answer.