Suddenly, Aldo had a moment of clarity after bumping into a student who didn't even bother to apologize. Priska had almost shattered his glasses, and despite her innocent demeanor, there was something oddly attractive about her—at least for a playboy like Aldo. Even if the sweet girl harbored feelings for him, Aldo had never wanted to get too involved. It was too risky. That was why he had always pretended not to notice. But today, something nagged at him—a wicked little idea forming in his mind.
"Why didn’t I think of this sooner?" Aldo muttered.
He had come up with a plan—one that wasn’t exactly honorable, but at this point, he had no other choice. Aldo was going to be a jerk to Priska, all to avoid the 50-million fine hanging over his head.
Priska hadn’t walked far. Aldo’s gaze followed her slim figure. From the moment he met her, he knew she wasn’t from a wealthy family. Her clothes were too simple, too cheap. Her face was bare, without excessive makeup. Even her shoes looked like they hadn’t been replaced in years.
Feeling oddly refreshed, Aldo left campus with a new plan forming in his head. He was going to win Priska over, make her fall for him, lure her into his trap, and keep the game interesting.
"Whatever. Maybe she’ll even be happy that I’m making her fall for me," Aldo mused, stealing a glance at his reflection and smirking at himself.
He was eager to head home. At least tonight, he could sleep soundly, knowing he had found the easiest solution—far better than paying an absurd 50-million fine.
When he got home, he immediately contacted one of his secret informants, a hacker he had known since he started his journalism career years ago. Aldo still remembered how the man had reached out to him out of nowhere, leaking a government official’s scandal just so Aldo could write an exposé. A truly selfless guy—or rather, someone who preferred to stay in the shadows.
Fortunately, Aldo had his contact number, though the guy rarely answered his calls unless he had his own reasons. Perhaps he knew Aldo only reached out when he needed something. Cloudy never got involved unless there was something in it for him.
"Cloudy, can you help me dig up some info on someone?"
Aldo asked as soon as the call connected. He could hear the clinking of a spoon against a glass—probably Cloudy stirring his coffee or something.
"What’s this about? Is there something in it for me?" Cloudy asked bluntly.
"Brother, you know what’s the hardest part about tracking someone? If they’re not active on social media, and I don’t have access to national records or university databases. One more thing… I’m not psychic. But I need her address and full background info," Aldo grumbled.
On his way home, Aldo had tried searching for Priska on every social media platform. But she didn’t use her real name on any of them. She was clearly too preoccupied with real life—her last post was from five months ago, just a photo of a textbook and a glass of drink on a table.
"Relax. Do you even know her full name?" Cloudy asked.
Aldo scratched his head, biting his lip as he hesitated. Damn. He didn’t remember. Maybe he had read it somewhere before, but right now, he was drawing a blank.
"Nope. But I have a picture of her. Hang on, I’ll send it."
Aldo sent a photo of Priska that he had come across while stuck in traffic at a red light. As a man who had been with all kinds of women—from the smart ones to the clueless ones—Aldo refused to approach Priska unprepared. She was sharp. She wouldn’t be easy to fool. He needed a precise plan—one that would make her believe this was fate.
"What’s this about, Do? She’s cute, though. You always have top-tier taste, playboy! Why don’t you just ask her directly? You’re acting like a stalker," Cloudy teased.
"Just help me out as a friend. Someday… if you ever need a favor, maybe an article or something, I’ll help you out," Aldo promised.
"Alright, I’m hanging up," Cloudy said, not asking any further questions.
Aldo placed his phone on his stomach, closing his exhausted eyes. Between work and his Master’s degree, he was drained. But at least he could breathe easy now, knowing he had dodged that ridiculous fine.
"Damn you, Indra!" Aldo cursed under his breath.
***
Thanks to Cloudy’s generosity, Aldo found out that Priska was an orphan—never successfully adopted because she was considered a troublemaker.
The orphanage she grew up in was struggling financially. They could barely cover basic utilities like water and electricity since their regular funding had dried up. Priska, the oldest among them, helped the caretaker look after the younger kids.
Aldo drove to that area, just to take a look. There was a church nearby that was still active and provided some aid to the orphanage, though it wasn’t much.
Not long after, Aldo suggested to his team that they write an article about an inspiring community figure from a remote area. He never mentioned Priska’s location, but it felt like fate when one of his colleagues suggested interviewing a priest from the church near where she lived.
Aldo and his team visited the church often to speak with the priest. He even started making late-night trips to the area, just to ‘accidentally’ run into Priska—to catch her attention. From his silent observations, he learned another thing: Priska worked at a small food stall and often came home late.
That night, Aldo waited behind the stall, staging a ‘coincidental’ encounter. Priska walked out carrying two large trash bags, and Aldo snuck up behind her.
"Boo!" Aldo called out.
"Aaaah!" Priska shrieked in fright, her face turning red when she realized it was Aldo.
"Kak Aldo?" Her eyes widened in surprise.
"You work here too?" Aldo asked cheerfully, trying to project an image of a good guy. He reached for the trash bags, but she pulled them away.
"Oh, no need, Kak. Your clothes might get dirty," she protested.
"It’s fine, Pris. It’s not like I do this every day," Aldo coaxed, careful not to sound too rehearsed.
Priska hesitated, then asked what he was doing there. Aldo smoothly spun a story about interviewing Father Robert for an article on inspiring local figures. She believed him easily. He even playfully offered her a ride home. Internally, Aldo wanted to laugh at how easy it was to make Priska swoon.
"It’s late. Let me take you home. My car’s parked over there," Aldo said, pointing.
Priska stared at his car, torn between accepting and declining. Aldo wasn’t sure what she was thinking, but he kept his face relaxed.
"No need, Kak. I’m used to walking home alone. It’s safe here," she declined.
But Aldo wasn’t one to give up easily. He gently took her hand, giving her a warm, reassuring look. In the end, Aldo managed to drive her home—though the whole process felt like an overdramatic soap opera. "Exhausting!" he thought. Normally, Aldo didn’t go to such lengths for a woman. But this time, he had to adjust his approach. Priska was different.
From then on, Aldo escalated his game—offering her fake job opportunities, taking her on romantic dinners, and setting up sweet, casual dates. With every compliment and flirtation, he reeled her in. And for now, he kept this little scheme a secret from his four friends. He wanted to surprise them with the results.