Hacker Academy

Forgiveness

When I get back to the dorm, it's already well into the night. The world is complete silent. The only things that light the path back home are the golden lights beside each dorm door. Hesitantly, I crank open the large and heavy door.

The light floods in our dark room, and I see a small figure hidden underneath the covers. I sigh. Even though I'm not as high strung as I was before, I still have to apologize to Unix. I notice a slight movement.

"Unix... I know you're awake."

Nothing.

"You don't expect me to believe that you'd sleep at twelve, right?"

An aggravated grunt comes from underneath the covers, and Unix rises up with half-shut eyes. I slowly turn on the lamp on my desk. The light shines dimly on this dark night. I can see the red outlines underneath her eyes that give away her weariness. She must've been crying. Because of me.

Once again, I catch myself fiddling with my fingers. My heart is beating a hundred times quicker than before, and I know it's from the fear of apologizing before Unix. It would be much easier to send her a sorry text and not seeing this frail and vulnerable girl in a tank top whose heart I just broke. As much of a wimp I am right now, I know if I don't apologize now, I'll regret it for the rest of my life. I lock my fingers together.

"I came back to apologize."

"Why?" She says sharply.

"I lost my temper and took it out on you. I'm sorry... You've been through a lot."

"Domain told you everything, didn't he?"

"He told me enough to know I was a jerk this afternoon."

Her glare suddenly turns softer.

"Look, Unix-"

"I don't want to talk about it."

My heart freezes. I understand if she doesn't ever forgive me, I don't think living in Hacker Academy will ever be the same. She's my dorm partner, and my first ever friend when I first came to Hacker Academy. If I ever don't resolve this and have her forgiveness, I'll continue living my life with regret.

Suddenly, she looks into my eyes for the first time tonight. "You're forgiven, Ada."

No words have ever sounded sweeter. A breath of relief escapes me. The rock in the put of my stomach has disintegrated. I am given a second chance.

"T-thank you, Unix."

She nods and hops back into the covers. "Now get some rest."

I frown. "Wha-"

"I am going to start sleeping early. Domain has offered to tutor me for free if I have a regular routine." She sticks out a waving hand.

"Goodnight, Ada."

I laugh softly. "Goodnight Unix."

When did Domain become such a mother hen? I turn the lights off and hop into the bed.

Bzzt.

Bzzt.

Bzzt. Bzzt. Bzzt.

Irritated, I pull out my phone. A thousand notifications appear saying that my group chat has exploded. They're popping up so quickly my eyes can hardly track the messages. One after the other in a string of systemized priorities. A news report suddenly catches my attention.

For the first time, HN1 has become HN300.

My hands freeze around my phone as my heart stops. Cyber just ranked down. A million questions plague my mind. When? How? What made him lose his focus that he's had since... forever?

His visit this afternoon floats in my mind, but I brush the thought away. I couldn't be the cause. It's not like his ranking down will impact me in any way, either.

Bztt.

This time, it's a softer sound. I look at my phone.

Congratulations, Ada. You've ranked up to: HN350.

I want to cheer for joy, but something doesn't sit right with me. I think about my schedule tomorrow. Make a monthly payment transaction at the bank, go to classes-

Crap. Classes.

The class ranking that Unix showed me a long time ago appears in my mind. Hacker number 300 to 400 have classes together. Cyber is HN300. I'm HN350. Which means I'll be in the same class as Cyber.

I quickly shut off my phone and settle underneath the covers. This can't be happening. I can't bear to see him in class when I clearly said I never wanted to see his face again.

I could skip class tomorrow. And the day after that. And the day after that- no, it'll be a bad record. Hopefully, Cyber won't go to class tomorrow. I close my eyes and force my berserk thoughts to rest. I'll think about all this when morning comes.