Chapter II

On 19th of April 2018, the hit teenage sci-fi action series EngiNeERD took a huge fan demand to extend another season. Many teeangers were huge fans of the characters led by the famous Andrew Cortez as Jonathan Castro  and teenage in-demand model turned actress Zoey Montes as Hailey Dela Cruz With the whole crew having problems with Zoey's contract, the director suggested to push with the people's demand for another season.

"We will distract the viewers. We'll make the story be focused on Jonathan's journey until Zoey's modelling contract abroad ends."

Director Jason Del Mundo insisted. Julie Dimasalang, the head writer came up with her suggestion too as the cast and crew sat silently in a conference hall of GBS tv station.

"The most interesting distraction I can think of is another character, and that should be a new girl."

Everyone in the room agreed with the head writer's opinion. After all, she's the head of all the writers in the series. Meanwhile, as the meeting moves on, the concerns of the producers are about the new character's offer.

"With this new season coming up, the pressure is totally wrecking. Zoey alone gets too much of our budget for her popularity, just never mind the acting. If we need to have a distraction, she should be doing this as a charity."

Director Jason taps his chin.

"That's true direk. We can't afford to pay for another actress."

Another producer added.

"Well then let's go with the head writer's suggestion, shall we? We'll name her, Summer. And who says we'll pay for another actress? If it's for a short time, then we can open an audition to the school where the shoot will take place." 

Andrew, seated at the farthest left of the conference table, voiced out.

"It's a lame name."

Everyone looked at him.

"I guess the name's just in time for the series' airtime. It's aired during May so the name Summer is fit."

A junior writer explained.

"I'd like to name her differently but without compromising the season. I’d like to call her Sunny."

The meeting wrapped up with a new plot for the 4th season, new school, an audition for the new girl, and...The new girl, Sunny.

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The production and management teams had chosen Cruz Engineering University as their partner school for the series. CEU is the most popular school for engineering students in the city. Owned and operated by a civil engineer himself, Mr. Alejandro Cruz Barcenilla, PhD.

But the school isn't what it is said to be. Popular and recommended for those dreaming to build bridges, but on the recent years, due to strict requirements, they went on low enrollment. That was when the board decided to allow the school to be the host venue for the series- for marketing.

This was the idea of the head writer, Ms. Dimasalang who was a former colleague of Vincent Barcenilla, the CEU president's brother. Right after ten days, the EngiNeERD production team started to tour the school and endorsed the Be the new Nerd audition for girls. Surely, almost every college girl in school, including those from the Junior and Senior High School departments went to try becoming the new girl.

The tent for the audition was situated at the corner of the inner quadrangle of the university, such a good spot to make girls notice the crowd of interested hopefuls. On the contrary, a 3rd year Civil Engineering student was not impressed.

Dressed in white long-sleeve polo with a dark blue uniform vest,  knee-length dark blue checkered plaid skirt, dark wavy hair in cat eye glasses, Pia Drew Barcenilla stood in disgust some meters away from the tent, watching other girls lining up for the audition. She carried her urban rucksack by her left shoulder and her staedtler t-square by the right. She stood there for a little while, observing the crowd and finally went past going to the engineering and architecture building.

"I'm glad I wasn't born lame."

she uttered with her usual soulless face.

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Two weeks went by and no chance of choosing the new girl was at sight. Andrew finally came into the scene. He decided to sit down with the producers to choose his new girl. After five days of doing the honor to choose, Andrew realized that choosing Sunny was easier said than done. The other casts started to shoot for their scenes while Andrew worked with the rest of the crew to help out.

One lame afternoon, while reading his script, Andrew had a hard time absorbing some of the technical terms included in his lines.

“What the hell does this stress-strain curve even mean?”

Andrew slapped the script on his right cheek.

He then decided to visit the library. He realized some of his scenes would need for him to really know what he was talking about, to be convincing enough so he decided to do a little schooling.

He reached the library in a school uniform, with his head obviously wrapped. He started touring along the different sections but can't decide what to pick when a girl suddenly bumped into him and tossed the books to the floor. His head wrap went with the books, revealing his whole face. The girl who was picking up her books was in shock.

Minutes later, she started screaming.

"Andrew Cortez is here! He's here!"

In a swift moment, the entire room which was filled in silence minutes ago turned into a concert stage. Before you know it, Andrew was already sitting along the study tables with books lining up for him to sign and with girls urging to get a picture with him. This lasted for some minutes when someone break lose the line. With his head down, signing autographs, he didn't notice the one approaching with a math book, cutting the lineup. She lends him the book. Andrew, still head-down was unconsciously reaching for the book. The moment he had a grasp on it, the girl took it back. That was when he held his head up.

Tall girl. About 5'4. Wavy hair. I don't know. Was that big curls? Glasses. Fair skin. 

These words were In Andrew's head the moment he glanced at the girl in front of him.

"Glad you got so many books to sign."

The girl stiffly uttered. Andrew had a loss for words for a moment.

"Do you want an autograph?"

He casually spoke, showing some charms. But the girl didn't care at all.

"Sure. But I like it if you know what's inside."

Right then Andrew knew, it was a phrase intended for someone like him; someone who didn't prioritize education. And he hated it. He felt attacked.

"Ohh.....sorry."

"It’s lunch break. Pack it up."

Everyone murmured but followed right away. Andrew got curious.

"Are you the one in charge here?"

He respectfully asked.

"No."

The girl went on her way to the library counter. Andrew followed.

"I'm sorry but I don't understand."

Andrew's face looked puzzled.

"Which part of LUNCH BREAK do you not understand?"

The girl said stiffly.

"I mean was it necessary for you to act mean in front of my fans?"

Andrew acted as if losing his patience, held his right waist, just as he turned to face the girl, he saw the ID.

Pia Drew  C. Barcenilla. Third year student. Civil Engineering Department.

Pia continued clearing the librarian's counter when Andrew called her name.

"Wait..... do you know me, Ms. Barcenilla?"

Pia stopped what she was doing. With her usual dispassionate face, she smirked.

"Are you kidding me? Oh why you're the famous Andrew Cortez of this year's hottest series!"

Pia remarked, still without emotions.

"Exactly! should you be nice I'm here making your school famous?"

Andrew smiled, trying to get the reason why Pia was that mean.

"I'm sorry but I don't have any reasons to thank you, star boy. Time to go."

Pia shut the receiving window of the counter and went across him to reach the study tables with remaining books to return to their shelves, when Andrew blocked her.

"Is this how smart and poor girls give impression to stars like me? You all really thought we're dumb?"

Pia raised an eyebrow.

"Smart and poor, huh?"

She briskly pushed aside the celebrity, getting the books. Before heading to the book sections, she turned,

"I'm actually smart and rich, star boy."

Andrew clapped his hands.

"Wow! and you're here working for the librarian, telling me you're not in charge. Pushed away all students with your odd remarks. A......nd..... told me I don't know anything about what's inside these books...you must really be smart and rich!"

Pia started stacking the books back.

"What you don't know won't kill you."

Pia displayed an emotionless yet devilish smile while she moved to do a little whisper. Well, if you can call it a smile.

Andrew followed her. Before he took his dramatic exit, he went passed the girl, intentionally moving to whisper too the words:

"But I am...powerful."

Andrew vanished off while Pia continued her errand, not really paying attention to the details of what Andrew whispered.

Right then, the 30 year-old Andrew Cortez went back to his reality, holding the ID that fell from his wallet.

Pia Drew C. Barcenilla, Third year student. Civil Engineering Department.

His eyes started to get red while he felt his heart getting broken, again and again.

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