ONE
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BLOOM
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My day begins when my alarm clock goes ballistic at 6 am in the morning. It makes me want to smash it in the wall and break it into a million pieces. I yanked the comforter off myself and roughly clutched the small alarm clock in my hand. I was just about to fulfill my heart's urge to smash this piece of plastic in the wall when my brain knocked some sense in my senseless heart.
Dad got this alarm clock for me for like 10 dollars.
10 dollars is a lot of money, at least for people like me. If I smash this per my heart's wish because it annoys me so much then I am putting the much needed dollars to waste. 10 dollars of hard earned money gone to what? my urge to break it? Yeah no, I would rather keep this stupid alarm clock even though it sucks the sanity out of me than putting money down the drain like that.
Poverty.
What a great way to start my mornings!
I dragged myself out of bed and tied my long hair into a messy bun that looked worst than a bird's nest. Great! Even birds have more etiquette than me. I took lazy steps to the bathroom and washesd my face and persued with my short morning routine that screams poverty.
Welcome to The International Phenomena of Poverty and Poor People....
A faucet that has no right to be called one.Why? Because its all mouldy and the water does not even come. I wouldn't call a faucet that gives water in drops, a faucet. Next up is the mirror. Well a piece of broken glass. I remember when I was little my younger brother and sister and I used to play hide and seek all the time. Once my brother hid himself in my bathroom and accidentally broke the mirror. It has been 14 years since that incident and I still use the pieces of that broken mirror because my family can't afford to get me a new one.
Up next is my toothbrush.
At least this is something that I bought recently with my salary from a dead end job.
My face wash that barely has any product left, mocks at me. I didn't know things could mock people. Nonetheless, I washed my face and it took me a good forty five minutes to just brush my teeth and wash my face. A total waste of my time. After I was done I changed into an old pink dress that my mom got me from the thrift store. I tied my hair in a low ponytail and wore my decade old sneakers.
Its 18 September today and I start at Harvard as a freshmen in business management and finance department.
Now, how come a poor girl like me afford to go to Harvard? I actually can't afford to go to that prestigious university. It would monetarily choke the life out of me and I would leave behind a bank account thats in negatives and wouldn't even have money to get myself a coffin and a tombstone. I may not have money but I have brain cells. Plenty of brain cells that work efficiently, better than point-zero-zero-zero-percent people on earth.
Thanks to my brain cells I have always aced school and worked my way up to collage and now university. I never had to pay for any kind of education because I would just pay with my brain cells. Easy.
I am actually attending Harvard due to a full time scholarship. At least, I have something that I am proud of.
After picking up my bag I made my way to the tiny kitchen.
''Good morning mom''
''Good morning darling! How are you feeling? Come sit down here. I made bacons and eggs.'' My mom chirped in the sweetest voice.
''Hmm the smell is so good. I bet it will be delicious. Mom, where is Brian and Bella? And I can't see dad anywhere too because he is always lurking the kitchen premisis with that damn newspaper.''
''I don't know darling, check the twins' room, last night he went to them to help them with their homework.''
I went to my siblings room to see them and my dad with their heads down on the table fast asleep. They are using books as damn pillows. I yanked Brian roughly as he flinched.
''WHAT THE HELL BLOOM! CANT YOU SEE I AM SLEEPING!?'' Brian shouted at the top of his lungs waking the other two as well. Thank you Brian you definitely made my job easier. The only time having a brother is useful.
''I can see very well Brian you idiot. Its almost 7 doesn't your school start in like 30 minutes?'' I gave him a reality check as Brian and Bella gawked at the clock in horror.
''And dad what exactly are you doing in their room?''
''Speaking of which, dad you were supposed to help with our homework not watch a damn movie with us!'' Bella shouted in annoyance, followed by Brian's blank and annoyed expression.
''I was helping you with your homework you idiots but wasn't it your idea miss Bella that we should watch a movie and quote, 'take a break from this piece of shit'?''
''Now look Bella! Because of you, I still have 500 words left to fully complete my essay!'' Brian complained as he pouted.
God, he looks ugly when he does that.
''Dad, mom is waiting for you in kitchen and you two pieces of plastic go freshen up and come for breakfast. Mom is waiting.'' I said.
Dad left the room after kissing all three of us on the foreheads. I love it so much when he does that but Brian is much a crazyass, he finds it awkward.
''Not pieces of plastic, Bloom. More like pieces of elegance'' Bella taunted me with that voice of a fake millionaire and running her hand through her hair.
''And pieces of intelligence'' followed by Brian.
''You wish!'' I remarked as I left their room which echoed with their voices fighting for who gets to use the bathroom first. So usual Bella and Brian.
I checked the clock and its seven-two am.
I went to the kitchen again as mom served me breakfast while dad shook his spectacles while the reading the newspaper. He was dressed in his office clothes. Rather quick my dad is.
I dug into the plate in front me devouring four strips of bacon and two eggs. The most heavenliest breakfast ever. ''Dad could you please have my faucet fixed. Its quite problematic in there.'' I spoke politely.
''Honey, I will get it fixed next month okay. I am still many days away from my salary.'' my dad answered with a disappointed expression.
''Alright dad. Its fine, I completely understand. Mom I am done with breakfast. Thank you it was delicious.'' I reached for my bad and slid it over my shoulders. ''I will be leaving mom.'' I called out.
''whish me luck!'' I yelled from the gate of our small house as I heard a loud 'good luck' by four united voices.
Luck or not? Let's go find out.
I stopped at the bus stand waiting for the bus. It was still early for university but I decided to go early anyways because I have some dealing with the uni administration and I would get a tour around the university's vast campus.
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The ride to university was the usual. Bumpy, noisy and absolutely chaotic. I don't get the logic of the bus drivers. If the seats are full then why then hell do they pack it with more people and making it hard for us to breathe. Nonetheless I made it to the university gate.
I walked into the university welcoming my future wholeheartedly.
Unknowingly, a smile crept its way on my lips. I have been happy very little times in my life and now I would like to say that this is one the moments of my life which I would like to include in the happiest moments of my life. Sometimes, you find happiness in the little things that you least expect and this is certainly one of them. I was lost in my fantasies when I heard a familiar voice.
''Bloom! Oh my god girl its so good to see you!''
I turned around and saw my bestfriend from childhood, Aysera.
''Surprise!'' He cheered happily.
''Oh my God, what are you doing here Sera? its so good to see you here.''
''Well, I got in through scholarship obviously.'' She stated back. Its no surprise she got a scholarship as well. Aysera is one the most smartest and intelligent person I know. She has been with me since age 4. Its also not surprising that she has the same financial circumstances as me. We have a lot of things in common and most significantly we understand each other like no other.
''Congratulations! Aysera I am so proud of you. Thank God you're here or else I would die of loneliness in the world of spoiled rich brats.''
''Couldn't agree more. So where were you headed to?''
''Uhh...I was gonna go to the business administration department to collect the schedules and syllabus but I am obviously so lost. I don't know the way to it in the campus.''
''Same. I was headed to the computer science department but looks like I am in the same position as you. How about we go to the administration office to check out.''
We both found our way to the administration office.
Aysera informed a woman of our situation and after some short introductions later we were walking behind Jenna, one of the admins who volunteered to show us around the campus.
Fina-fucking-lly.
Jenna walked through the campus showing us our respective departments along with other departments and places such as the cafeteria, a state of the art library, a gym, an indoor sports arena and the auditorium hall. But every where around the campus I noticed posters and banners of 'KAZE 4'. Not to mention girls practically drooling over the posters of four boys. Out of natural curiosity I asked Jenna about the deal.
She smirked lightly as told a dumbfounded version of myself and Aysera to follow her. She increased the pace of her long legs that was hard to keep up with.
''Slow down Jenna. We both can't walk that fast, what's the rush?'' Aysera told her who happened to increase the rate of steps per second every passing moment.
She finally came to a hault and turned towards us both. I looked around to see that we were in some chess club.
We panting like crazy due to all the walking around the campus. I have never walked so much in my life.
Well, maybe I have.
''Girls, KAZE 4 is a group in which our university's pride lies in. As you can tell KAZE 4 is group of four senior year boys who are the shining stars of this university and the champions of the university's chess club. They are the masters of chess and have many international and national awards on chess championships.'' she explained with a hint of proudness in her tone.
Who wouldn't be proud of that kind of excellence.
Jenna pointer towards a poster and we both turned our eyes towards it.
''See the first boy on the left, his name is Kade Alexander Artino also known as 'Mr. Chess'. He is the leader of KAZE 4. Kade is in his senior year in the business and finance department same as you, Bloom. He has shown excellent results not only academically but entrepreneurally as well. He belongs to the Artino family who are well known in the world of business. His mother, is the CEO of Artino Enterprises and Holdings which is a multi-billion dollar company. The promising and young future CEO of Artino Enterprises, Kade is the splitting image of perfection. He was also made the chairperson of Harvard's chess club in the beginning of this year. He is also gifted with excellent chess abilities. No one has ever won from him and that is pretty clear given his chess ratings of 2700.''
''Wow'' was the word I managed to say. All that excellence for one person, now thats truly impressive.
Jenna continued,
''The boy next to Kade is Adrian Alvarez Agosti. Son of Italian-American surgeon and businessman Dominico Agosti, is an outstanding student in the Harvard Medical School branch. He is known in the university as the 'doctor of all doctors' given his outstanding and absolutely rare medical skills. He is a true champion and an evil genius. He is soft by nature and honoring his wonderful intellect he was made the president of the art club. He loves art and shows a special aptitude for art. His family owns the Agosti Hospitals and Co. which is the largest chain of hospitals in the world. He is also the member of the chess club and has won many international chess competitions and championships for the chess club.''
''Now see the third one, next to Adrian, he is Zayne Christian Rosintin-''
I cut Jenna's words, ''Rosintin! Like the Rosintin Family from whom the president belongs to?''
''Exactly. His family has an influencial name in the world of politics and law. The Rosintins are one of the oldest families in America, their power and influence spanning back to many centuries. He is the 'walking constitution of America' as he has most acknowledgeable political and constitutional understandings not to mention he learned the constitution by heart and knows the articles better than the chief justice of America himself who happens to be one of his uncles. He was named the ambassador of the university the previous year and like the other two he is also a chess master but a major playboy at that. There is no girl whose heart he hasn't played with. But despite being a heartbreaker and a major party freak he is exceptionally talented academic wise given the fact that his grades never decline.''
''And the last one to the right, he is Elliot Braziel Tzentner. The last member of KAZE 4 and the most promising student in the computer science department. He has exceptional hacking skills and is the chairperson for the Computer Science and AI club. Belonging to the Tzentner Family, Elliot is the future of the Tzentner Group which is the most successful and unbeatable business in the IT world worth billions and billions of dollars. Like Zayne, he also happens to be a major playboy and even worse a complete heartbreaker and he doesn't even care. He is also the member of the university's sports club and chess club. A bundle of talent and total perfection.''
''But as perfect as they seem, you wouldn't want to put your nose up in their matters. They are the brutal bullies of the university and have caused many students to withdraw themselves from the university. Try to stay away from them as far as possible if you want to spend your time here at peace otherwise they will turn your five precious years into hell and you probably wouldn't want that.''
Yeah I probably wouldn't want that.
Just then her phone began to ring and it was probably a call back at the office.
''I have some urgent piece of work, now I will leave you girls to your way and best of luck for the day and welcome to Harvard.''
Before I could ask my questions Jenna left.
After wishing us good luck Jenna left for duty calls and Aysera and I parted our ways and started walking to our respective departments.
KAZE 4 seems so perfect but given the type of money they have, they could easily buy their way in. What if they did? Whatever. Now what I need to do is to stay as far away from them as possible. Only studies. No KAZE 4 whatsoever.
Deleting KAZE 4 from my thoughts, I walked into my class with clarity in my mind.
Bloom, here goes nothing.
Word count - 2721
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