As soon as Bryan left, I started to think.
Why would he think that way? I just wanted to befriend Laeticia. It never crossed my mind to court her..and besides I still wasn't sure if I can even get attracted to a girl, considering I used to be a straight one..even though I was also never attracted to a guy.
“Will you keep in contact with him?” I heard Albert ask as he handed me a tray with snacks and tea.
“For now, I'll play with him.” I answered.
“If your parents knew about this and how you let him enter the house, they'll surely be displeased.” He reminded.
“I know. That's why next time he came and I wasn't here, don't let him in. Also, could I ask Grandpa to keep this a secret?” I jokingly looked at him.
“How could this poor man say no? Especially when I was bribed with a limited edition pocket watch. ” He smiled.
I smiled. Before I forgot it, I called Tarkhan.
“What?” the other line grumpily greeted.
“Want to make some money?” I ignored his tone and asked instead.
“I'm listening.”
***
“Let who?” Tarkhan asked.
“Let me invest to your oil business. ” I said seriously.
“And why would I follow you?”. He irritatingly asked.
“Because I know you love money and as a friend I don't have the heart not to support you when I can.” I said with boredom while chewing the cookie Albert brought.
“You know we still haven't got any authority yet and besides why are you bringing this topic now. What are you playing.” He asked seriously.
“What if I told you that there's a country in South East Asia that is possibly looking for joint exploration in their natural gas?” I said.
I just discovered how some of the places here in this world is similar to ours, with just few discrepancy. And that discrepancy is in terms of technology, developments and discoveries. The other one clearly is far more advanced. This world currently doesn't yet know the value of natural gas and when I saw the news one day of a country where people lit their water for cooking, I just knew we had to go for it.
This world only focuses in Saudi Arabia as it's main source of oil. According to the novel, its reserve will run out due to over exploitation and the search for other source of reserve begins. They never bothered to look in the other country or places like Venezuela, Iran, Iraq, Canada, Kuwait and Philippines. The last one used to be a hot topic in my own world especially the dispute of its access to its Exclusive Economic Zone filled with oil, though it's natural gas is within it's own archipelago.
Right now, I am the only one with this knowledge. It may seem dumb, but this world truly lacks the modern way of thinking of the people in the world I used to belong. I think it also stems from the fact how vague the author was in depicting this place. She just stated “A land filled with natural resource in which Richard managed to discover with Tarkhan”, “somewhere in Middle East”, “Richard managed to get the highest bidder ” of what? What is the bidder's business? Where exactly in Middle East? What land specifically and what processes did they do to extract the oil? Did they drill the site? Hired some geologists?
Clearly, this novel is focused on “drama and romance” only. It's sickening how the author let everything be discovered by the Male Lead. Everything goes according to what he wants and he never suffered. What about the people who were behind all those tedious paperwork..the people he fired when he got elected as their company's new CEO and wanted to have younger workers..what about their family? The people who were behind in finding investors, making negotiations and contracts...and those researchers who discovered those sites? They never got the limelight they deserved. The novel just put all the credits to the Male Lead and he basked in it.
“Hey, are you still there?” I was jolted out of my train of thoughts by that angry voice.
“My bad. What did you say again?” I asked.
“I was saying that if you were joking then stop it. The competition for petroleum and diesel is much tighter now...how would a meager natural gas compete? Plus will that country even agree to let us be their partners? Heck we're just a small one.”
“Well yeah the world sure needs petroleum and diesel now... About that, I also managed to discover other countries in Middle East that also have oil reserves, just trust me.... Think about it,isn't it weird how they all just holed up in Saudi Arabia alone? Man, if I were them, I'll try a new product and site.” Bite this.
There was a pause in the other end. I laughed inside. I know he just realized why no other people tried testing the other sites.
It's because they never thought about it and these “places” are meant to be discovered only by the protagonist and Tarkhan, all for the sake of plot armor and give more authority to Richard.
“It seems you only thought about this now. Don't worry, I'm sure that country is keeping it as a national secret right now and probably no company wanted to team up with them yet because they do not want to lose profits in trying something new. As for the other sites in Middle East, I can tell you where, but you have to trust me and let me invest in all of those oil reserves. I can also accompany you to talk to the authorities and land owners there, but if they suddenly spoke their native language, I'll need you to translate.” I chuckled.
Though there are foreign oil companies within Philippines, they do not want to invest in natural gas...especially when the news about Saudi Arabia's oil reserve running out will probably come out only when I'm 24, 6 years later from now. And in that time, Richard just became the youngest CEO and managed to promote this type of gas first.
“Don't worry, we still have time. If you managed to graduate and become CEO at 21 with me, we'll be billionaires.” I challenged him.
“The hell, why hurry? And I must study for 3 years only? What are you?Insane? You know how hard it must be in college. Quit joking with me.” He appeared to disconnect when I hurriedly said:
“If you don't want, then I'll take it all for myself.” I seriously said.
“.....”
“Interested? Or you just can't skip grades? My bad, I thought you can do it too.” I smirked.
When I was in this body, I realized how easy it was to study and memorize compared when I still occupy my original one. I also got a background in business administration and commerce because I used to shift courses before I finally manage to find my passion in architecture. I know skipping grades will be a breeze....I hope so.
“22.” he disconnected.
22? Ah..He meant 22 years old. Surely we have graduated already by that time. I was also relieved because even if I study easily now, I am not sure if I can skip grades like what Laeticia did. Heck, I just did it to provoke Tarkhan. I wouldn't know what to do if he were to graduate earlier than me.
Since this world seemed to have a lot of plot holes all for the protagonist's taking, then I'll just use it all before he even had the chance to. I know a lot of things from the other world that he didn't.
And that's my edge on him.
***
Tarkhan's POV
The hell. Ethan is making fun of me.
But he sure do have a point. It's weird how all of us just thought of drilling oil in one place only. Also about that natural gas..
My father only heard from a close friend about the possibility of it becoming a great investment in the future. Not all of the people know that the oil reserve in Saudi in starting to deplete. I firmly believe only our geologists and site researchers discovered this. We were even planning to sell this information and discovery to the government.
I met Ethan because he saved Taras my friend. In all the years that I knew him, I know he is smart. He is the quiet type and I thought he is shrewd and only thinks about himself, that's what his looks give off. Though I'll admit the man is kind. I can't help but feel insecure whenever I'm around those rich kids, the people who look down on us. But he is different, no one dared to bully us when he started to hang out with us.
I was tempted to accept his offer. But it seems to good to be true. Anyway, I still have four years left.
We'll see if it's true when I'm 22.