Chapter 1
It's almost back to school!! Yeah! Yippee! Again! Pfftt...
Like every year, we prepare anxiously for the start of classes. But this year, it's even more stressful because I'm starting my first year of high school.
I can't say I'm particularly excited.
I've always been in the same school. But suddenly my parents decided to transfer me to a school on the other side of the country, the same one my older brother and sister go to.
It shocked me. After all, what would an ordinary girl like me do in a school for geniuses? But nothing surprises me anymore from those two.
Today, I have to go buy my supplies with my best friend, Amina. Our houses are next to each other, and even though we've never been to the same school, we are very close. I'm very sad to have to be separated from her.
Amina and I were supposed to meet at our favorite café at 10 am, but she's late. I've been waiting for 20 minutes, daydreaming to keep myself occupied.
It's my turn to cook dinner tonight, and I have no idea what to prepare. Footsteps coming my way pulled me out of my thoughts.
'It's not like you to be late. What happened?' I said.
'Nothing important. Shall we go?' she replied.
I'm sure something happened. Something always happens to her, and most of the time, it's not good.
'I hope I won't be in the same class as Tim this year,' she said.
'Oh? Why?' I said.
'She only talks about boys and always tries to set me up,' she replied.
'Well, it couldn't hurt you to have a guy or two among your contacts. You don't have any *boy* friends,' I told her.
And few girl friends, for that matter.
'Yes, I do!!'
'Oh, really? Who?'
'Uh... Frank and Soul'
'Soul!! Since when??'
'It's been a while... Wait! Why do you only remember his name??'
'For nothing!' I replied with a mischievous smile.
Soul is my childhood friend, and I've secretly been shipping those two for a while.
'You know I don't want to be in a relationship,' she told me.
'And why? I don't see the problem,' I replied.
'I have other priorities.'
'Like?'
'Umm... studies??'
'One doesn't prevent the other.'
'Not if you want to get a scholarship. Not everyone has parents as rich as yours,' she told me.
'Yours aren't poor, as far as I know,' I replied impatiently.
I hate talking about this kind of thing. Rich or poor, what does it matter? Money is just paper.
'It depends on who you ask. All I know is that dad is counting on me to get a scholarship.'
'You have all my support,' I said, still annoyed.
'Okay. Sorry. I didn't mean to offend you. I know you're worried about me, and you're right. I'm not the most sociable girl, but I prefer to have 2 or 3 real friends I can count on, than twenty who would let me down when I really need them.'
'I understand. Anyway, I can't force you to do what you don't want.'
After we finished our shopping, we spent the rest of the day in my room, chatting. It was past 6 pm when Amina went home.
Tatianah, my little sister, and Dani, my little brother, had already come home and were watching TV.
The great indecisive person that I am finally decided to make pasta. Why bother? After all, we're going to poop it all out later.
After serving the food, I call my brother and sister to eat. These two foodies never need to be asked twice.
We spend most of our time, the 3 of us, since our parents are never there.
We are seven in the family. The twins, Bob and Leona, are the eldest. I am the middle one, then there are the other two. The twins left for the school I have to go to two years ago and haven't returned since. Students have to join the boarding school because the school is quite isolated. They hardly ever call and don't even bother to come home for the holidays.
It's true that we're not exactly a normal family. My parents are very renowned lawyers in their field. They opened a firm together and made a fortune. Some even say they are geniuses. But well, they are absent geniuses.
My brothers and sisters are all smart and talented enough to get into a school for prodigies.
In the story, I'm the ugly duckling.
Besides, I still don't understand how I got accepted into that school. My parents must have used their influence.
Honestly, if it's just to get ridiculed by the geniuses there, it's not worth it. I'm only going because I miss my sister. We were so close.
Why don't the twins want to come home? It's so annoying!!! They must have changed a lot there to have become so distant from us.
Anyway, I'll find out soon enough.
Thinking this, I turned my gaze towards the window. It was pitch dark outside. 'We are alone in the house...', I thought. Okay, I'm naturally very fearful, but this is something else. I have a bad feeling.
That evening, after such an ordinary day, I could never have imagined that something so terrible could happen.
