Chapter 5: The Past

18 years ago; a young boy was running home excitedly. He's very excited to see his mom and tell her the good news.

The young boy pushed the gate to open and then shut it again.

" Mom? mom? mom?!" He shouts, happily running towards the backyard of the house.

There he saw his mother watering the plants in the garden. The garden is filled with different varieties of beautiful flowering plants. But the main attraction is the extremely beautiful white, pink, orange, and red roses. The roses are in full bloom and it's very soothing to the eyes.

The little boy grins, "Mom! mom! I have good news for you." The young boy smiled ear to ear. Then he kisses his mother on the left and right cheeks.

“Oh my, dear, you look so happy, huh?" His mother said. "What is the good news that made you so happy?"

“The quarterly exam results came out and I got another perfect score again in all the subjects,” he said with sparkling eyes. "And, I also managed to stay at the top again." The young boy happily told his achievements to his dear Mom.

"And what's new about it?" The mother said jokingly. "You're always got a perfect score and always been on the top ever since the day your foot stepped into school." She said, squeezing the boy's cheeks together.

"You're so killjoy, mom," he said.

"Mom, I'm not finished yet." The boy opened his school bag and took out a sheet of paper.

" Tadaaaa!!!"

“What is that?" asked his mother

"It is an application form mom. The school principal gave this to me earlier, Luke, Dylan, Marius, and Riley got this too, hehe!” He giggles.

“Application form? For what?” the mother asked. "It is an application for a scholarship abroad. The principal said if we could maintain our grades and stay on the top until we finish our elementary school, then his company is willing to give us a full scholarship and free accommodation with a monthly allowance starting from high school to college. But after we finish our studies we have to work for this company for at least 5years. And after that, we can choose if we want to leave or stay at the company. And mom, it is not just any school. But the school of gifted and geniuses. So what do you think mom? Isn't it very very very good news?” The boy had a very long explanation without a pause.

The mother was speechless for a moment, as she watched her son gasping for breath. “You, silly boy, you can speak slowly, you know?" She said then pulled him for a hug.

"Mm! Mom, I can't breathe," The young boy said jokingly. "So, what do you think about this, mom?” He showed the paper to his mother again.

"My Shinshin, I'm so happy for you." Mother said while patting Shin's head gently.

"Whatever makes you happy my dear, Shin. I and your dad will always be here for you and support you no matter what, you know that right?"

"Yes, thank you; mom, you're the best. I love you so much, mom," He said, then embraced his mother tightly.

"Let's talk about this again when your dad is home, okay?" Shin nodded. "Now, now, go change your clothes, you're stinky." Mother pushes Shin lightly inside the house. "After you change your clothes, come to the kitchen, okay? I'll prepare your snacks and you help me peel the vegetables I'm cooking for dinner!" His mother said a bit louder since Shin is already inside the house.

"Sure mom," Shin shouted and dashed upstairs to his room. He changed his clothes and went to the kitchen.

"Mom, what time is daddy coming home?" He asked.

"He said he's coming home a little late tonight." Why? Are you that excited to tell your father the good news?" She asked and Shin giggled. A perfect picture of mother and son cooking together.

Two hours later; "Mom, Dad is here." He shouted as his mother was in the kitchen, then got up to welcome his dad.

"Hi Dad, how's your day dad? I miss you, dad." Shin while taking his father's briefcase.

"Son, it's just twelve hours since we've separated. I even walked you to your school." His dad said while ruffling his hair.

"Hehe, Dad; I just miss you so much, and I have something to tell you."

"Oh, I see,'' Warren said with a doubtful face. “So what is it?"

Later dad, let's eat first, mom is preparing dinner."

"Okay, but don't tell me... you already have a girlfriend, huh?"

“Dadddd!!!" Shin shouted with a pout. "Dad, I'm only 11 years old. How can I have a girlfriend? Your unbelievable dad." The boy pouted again and his mom and dad just laughed at him.

"You two that's enough, both of you wash your hands, and let's eat." Katelyn just shrugged her shoulders as she watched the two washing hands at the sink while bumping their sides.

After dinner, the family sits down in the living room. Shin told his Father about the exam results and the scholarship abroad.

"Whatever makes you happy, my son. But always remember, don't just study and study. You have to loosen up too and take time to enjoy your youth and go hang out with your friends." Said Warren

“Aww, that's my dad, the best dad ever!” Shin then spread his arms and hugged his father.

Of course, your happiness is more important than any achievements, okay? remember that, son.

"Yes dad," Shin replied and let go of his dad.

"Okay, now go to your room and sleep. You have class tomorrow." Said Warren

"Ok dad, goodnight Dad, goodnight Mom." "Good night," Replied the couple then watch the boy climbing up the stairs.

Shin woke up in the middle of the night to pee. He walked to the toilet and urinated. He felt thirsty and then went to the kitchen and fetched a glass of water and then drank it. He was about to go back to his room when he saw his parent's room still had a light on. Shin was about to leave when he heard his father and mother talking with obvious concern.

Shin stood in front of a slightly open door. He leaned his head a little to the door frame so he could hear what they were talking about.

"You just did the right thing, hon.

I can't believe such humans exist and such things in the name of money! Too much greediness and power blinded them! What would happen to the world if you hadn't destroyed those things? I felt goosebumps just by imagining it!" Said, Mrs. Katelyn

"I know hon, I too felt the same goosebumps as you when I accidentally heard them talking in Mr. Chen's office last week." Warren continues. "I was about to leave his office after putting some reports on his desk regarding the new medicines when Mr. Chen and one of the Pharmaceutical scientists Mrs. Crystal Wang entered the office. They seemed to be arguing seriously about something so I hid behind the bookshelf.

"Roue, I won't tolerate this, stop whatever you are planning to do. We have been friends since childhood. That's why I agree to work with you, but this?" Crystal tossed a folder on the table. "If I didn't accidentally discover this, what would happen, huh?! This is insane! You are risking the whole world, you know that?!" Mrs. Wang sternly said while still keeping her sanity because of what she discovered. "Once those insects got their way outside what would happen then?

"Crystal, listen to me first, okay. Fine, fine you're right, I get it. I will destroy them now. I was just curious and wanted to try something, thank you for reminding me. Although I'm sure I will lose millions, I realized it now. Greed overpowered me for a moment,

I'm sorry, okay?" Said, Mr. Chen

"That's good then, or else I won't forgive you." Crystal let a deep breath out calming herself before she groped her ringing phone.

"Hello, honey, "…" Mn, Yes, yes I'm coming, wait for me there, okay? bye, son; love you." Crystal ended the call.

"My son and husband are waiting for me. I'll go ahead now. Don't forget to destroy those things and delete all the data. I'm telling you; Roue, that thing is not a joke! You're putting everyone's life at risk."

"Yeah, yeah sure, I promise. Now go, they're waiting for you, bye." Mr. Chen then waves his hand.

Mrs. Wang then walked out of the room while I'm still hiding behind the bookshelf when I heard Mr. Chen laughing ominously after Mrs. Wang left.

"What an idiot! Tsk! Tsk! Tsk!

She thought I would obey her just because I had a crush on her? I'm sorry Crystal, but I love money more than you! Enjoy your last supper with your beloved husband and son." He laughed like a maniac and then called someone.

"I have a job for you,"......." "I'll send you the details after this call, make it look like an accident." With that, Mr. Chen ended the call.

Mr. Roue sat down on his swivel chair and read some reports then after a few minutes he received a call.

"Hello, "..." ok ... "Let's meet outside, don't come here to my office, keep laying low." He said and left the office. I came out after he left and then took the documents Mrs. Crystal Wang left on the table. The next day, the news of head pharmacist Mrs. Crystal Wang has died in a car accident that has spread throughout the company.

"I was very nervous back then, hon," said Warren while holding his wife's hands.

"And earlier before going home, I went to the underground laboratory, and there I saw glass containers filled with cultured flies and mosquitoes that they are going to use as virus carriers.

It's past closing time and that's why only two people are guarding the entrance.

I secretly put sleeping drugs in their drinks. And after they slept, I sprayed hydrogen cyanide through the tube that connected to the glass containers. After that, I deleted and shut down the computer data, analysis, and all records stored by overwriting and replacing with them fake data. But I'm still anxious. I don't know if they have other records.

"Honey, what if you resigned?" Said Katelyn.

"I can't right now. They will suspect me if I leave so suddenly."

"Ok let's sleep, for now, it's already midnight. And don't go to work tomorrow, just call for sick leave.

Shin slowly moved his ear at the door and went back to his room. He was shocked but also very proud of his Father.