Chapter 47 - An Assignment

Get me out of here! Orea screamed in her head while trying to keep her eyes on the board. It was her programming class and she was already bored as hell. They had their large and slow PC's in front of them at the computer lab where the class took place. Her hands were itching to open the damn thing and tweak the wires to speed it up. The school gave them outdated computers which were probably made in the 60's and as an expert in technology, it hurt her dignity to use those ancient things.

If only I didn't have to maintain a disguise! She moaned. I wanna go home and watch my dramas.

Moreover, the teacher they had was annoying and grossly incompetent in anything related to computers. The most he could teach them was how to change colors on Word applications.

"So class!" The teacher exclaimed. "As you all know that the first computer was known as the Analytical Machine invented by the Father of Computers, Charles Babbage. Thanks to his algorithm, we now have the modern computers…"

It was Ada Lovelace who created the algorithm, Jackass! She cursed in her mind. Stop undermining that woman!

She fixed her glasses, trying to keep a straight face while the teacher went on and on about the history of computers. It hurt her very core upon hearing his nonsense. On top of that, he would not give her role model the credit she deserved?

I'm about to end this man's entire career! She swore. Opening the file the teacher had handed to them a few minutes ago, she began to work on it. Her fingers typed away as the teacher rambled on and on.

Myung was sitting at the back of the class, not paying any attention to the teacher. None of it interested him and he was simply listening to music on his bluetooth earpiece. All he needed was a pass grade for the class by attending and his father would be off his back.

"And now!" the teacher said. "I want you guys to create a simple code on how to find a product name using the ID. It's easy and-"

"Done!" 

The entire class turned to look at Orea. Myung, who was uninterested in the class, also turned around to find the strange geeky girl with her hand raised. He only glanced at her and then turned away, not interested in anything related to other people.

The teacher gaped at Orea who looked bored yet, confident.

"Orea, I didn't even teach the code," he pointed out.

"I know," she said. "I'm just ahead."

"You can't be ahead!" the teacher frowned. "It's a complex code for high school seniors-"

"I'm done!" Orea repeated. "And this is something most people learn in ninth grade! I don't know why we're learning it this late."

"Nonsense!" the teacher muttered and walked towards her computer. He checked her codes and to his shock, she had completed the codes with perfection. Not only that, she had created a mini software which could be run by a business for their sales and revenue count. It was not a big accomplishment but for someone to complete an entire software within forty minutes…

"You cheated!" he accused. "You took the software from someone else and copied it!"

"I can create it again if you want," Orea said smugly. Her confidence made Myung turn around once again, this time with more interest. The tiny girl was talking up to the teacher as if she knew more about the subject than he did. Myung barely ever noticed her and his impression of her was that she was a weirdo who would stay quiet and demure. He frowned at her sudden confidence.

Orea knew that by showing off such confidence, she was puzzling everyone around her. No one remembered her much since she made no efforts to stand out among the crowd but the teacher's nonsense propelled her to teach him a lesson. 

"Whom did you steal the software from?" the teacher demanded, ignoring her claim.

"I told you," Orea spoke as if talking to an infant. "I can create it again right now. In front of everyone."

The teacher spluttered at her insolence. Was the girl trying to teach him his own subject?

"Detention!" he announced. "For stealing other people's work!"

"She just said she can create it again."

Now everyone turned towards Myung. Even Myung was astonished at himself. The words came out of his mouth before he could even realize it.

"Oh so you're going to take her side as well?" the teacher scoffed. 

Orea was perplexed by his sudden heroism as well. What the hell was he doing?

"Looks like both of them have a thing for each other!" one boy snickered and the rest of the class joined him in laughing. The teacher was also smirking at them. The two kids thought they could gang up on him?

"Fine," he said. "I'll give you two the chance to prove yourselves."

"Wait a minute," Myung said. "Two? You mean me and her?"

He pointed to himself then at Orea. The latter turned to the teacher and stated, "I can make the software by myself. I don't need him to slow me down!"

Slow her down? Myung scowled. I just defended her!

"Both of you will be creating a brand new software for a hotel which will include all the aspects," the teacher went on, ignoring their protests. "From guest check-in to employee database. Revenue and sales database. Everything."

"Everything?" Orea echoed. "What do we get if we manage to make it?"

"You'll both pass my class with distinction and no exam for you!" the teacher declared. "In fact…"

He turned to the class. "All of you can try to make the software. The pair who will create the best working software will be exempted from exams!"

The class murmured loudly and glared at Orea who was the focus of their anger. If it was not for her snobbish attitude, they would not have so much extra work!

"What a bitch!" one curly haired girl named Marley Cho cursed the nerd. "Not only is she getting to work with Myung but also threw an extra assignment at us!"

Marley was a half foreigner with long ginger hair and a killer figure. She was a quintessential beauty with fair skin and tall in stature. Being the most popular girl in the class, she was eyeing Myung but he never glanced at her.

And now some nerd was fishing him away from her!

Myung was also annoyed at Orea who merely rolled her eyes. She would not have normally cared about his existence but now that the teacher had paired them together, she must let him do some of the work. If he messed up, she would be able to fix it anyway.

Then an idea struck her. She stealthily glanced at Myung who was still glaring at her. She quickly looked away but her head was working fast. The teacher might be dumb, but he gave her the perfect opportunity to find out more info about the Lee family. 

Time to get to work, she thought with a smirk.