<code 1>: Infinite Loop;

Chapter 2

I love that kind of challenge. Not the kind you solve with brute force or pure logic, but the kind that needs empathy, intuition, and patience.

And honestly? It's kinda fun. Fun in the same way that debugging a messy line of emotional code is fun. And now, with this theme? Mas lalo akong na-excite. It's like someone handed me a golden ticket to combine both of my worlds—tech and psych.

Parang sinabihan ako ng universe, "Go ahead. Try being that version of yourself you almost became."

Noong senior high pa ako, every time naririnig ko 'yung boses ng personal development teacher namin—na psych graduate pala—I couldn't help but light up. Ang galing niya mag-explain, at kung paano niya gawing engaging ang kahit simpleng konsepto. And dahil sa kaniya mas bigla akong naging super interested sa psychology.

Napapaisip tuloy ako... maybe this project is a chance to explore that what-if version of myself. 'Yung Syntra na pumili ng psych instead of tech. Baka pwede silang pagsamahin this time.

"Ang dami nating pwedeng gawin d'yan," Aunix said, clearly just as pumped. "Miss, uhm, curious lang po... may alam po ba kayo about dun sa Tyrix Morvain?"

Napairap ako nang bahagya. Of course, she'd bring him up again.

Simula nang mabanggit ko sa kanila na siya ang top contender from N.U., mas naging curious pa tong si Aunix about him kaysa sa actual coding challenge. Halatang mas excited siyang makita kung pogi ba 'yung lalaki, kaysa talunin 'to.

"Well," sabi ni Miss May, thoughtful. "Ang alam ko lang ay magaling siya mag-code. Very sharp mind." She liked what she was thinking. "Pero even if you don't win the event, I'll still be giving incentives for participating. And I also heard na may consolation prize din naman—even if you're not the grand winner."

Para naman sinabi ni miss na wala kaming pag asa na manalo laban kay Tyrix. Well, kung alam mo lang miss, wala kaming plano mag patalo.

Napatalon si Aunix sa saya. "Kyaaahhhh! OMG, Miss! We need to win this! Sayang din 'yung consolation. Magkano kaya 'yun?"

Napailing nalang ako sa kaniya, trying not to laugh. "Mukha ka talagang pera, Aunix."

"Hello?" sagot niya, dead serious. "Kung may pera naman, edi why not, diba? Pampalubag-loob kung di man tayo manalo. Pero mananalo naman tayo, for sure."

"Nasabi ko na rin naman sa inyo na isang linggo ang tagal ng event, diba?" sabat ni Miss May casually, as if hindi niya kami binigla sa statement na 'yon.

"Wait—WHATT?!? One week?!?" halos mapasigaw si Aunix. "Syn! Hindi sinabi sa'min na isang buong linggo 'yon!"

Napakamot ako sa ulo ko, trying not to laugh. "Ay... hindi ko ba nasabi? Nalimutan ko ata."

Napasinghap siya. "GRABE KA. Girl, kailangan ko pa mag-empake! Anong klaseng camping 'to?!"

Tumawa nalang ako. "Chill, okay? Provided naman ang stay and food. Tsaka tapos na ang school year natin sa July, remember?"

"Still! I need my skincare, my pajamas, extra chargers, snacks, pillows—Syn, this is a crisis!"

"Ang OA mo," I said, shaking my head but smiling anyway.

"Don't worry, mga hija" sabat ni Miss May. "Everything's arranged. Focus nalang kayo sa ideas n'yo. And from what I see, you two have the right energy for this."

Right energy. Yeah. If by energy, she meant chaotic-but-determined, then sure.

Pero one thing's for sure is, I'm not backing down. Hindi lang para sa incentive. Hindi lang para sa prize. I'm going to prove that Syntra Aeris Verelle can out-code anyone—kahit pa top coder ka pa ng N.U., Tyrix Morvain.