Chapter 1
“What happens when all the love becomes pain?”
“Why’d you wake up early?” Esther asked as she went downstairs. She quickly put the breakfast Esther had cooked. In a wide range of dining areas, she was alone having her breakfast. Well, she got used to it.
“Thank you Esther! You didn’t forget the breakfast I requested,” she said gladly. Esther smiled.
“Good thing Jeoffrey woke up early,” she speaked. Charlotte gazed.
“I’m going to school on my own today,” she informed her. “Please allow me to since this would be my first day in the university. So please,” she pouted.
Esther looked bothered. She tilted her head. “Your mother would be mad,” she explained.
“Please Esther,” she pouted. “I promise I’ll tell dad about it later,” she added.
Charlotte, the ever obeying daughter, wants to settle for what she wants this time. She planned to get to school all by herself starting that day. She doesn’t treat anyone treating her like she was different from them. For almost eight years, she’s been getting to school by their family charioteer. Even though she wants to go to school alone, she was never allowed by her parents. Her mother is very controlling. She always wants to be followed. Their family is well-known in the high society of Kingsley Village. Everyone thinks of her as a spoiled brat, especially her peers. Only a few students could approach her normally. They thought their family is using their power in some areas.
“Just don’t forget to message me when you get to school, Senorita” she thanked her gladly. Charlotte, walking in the middle of streets, chariot came “King-QueenSley School?” the charioteer asked. She nodded and hopped in the chariot.
“Didn’t your family driver accompany you to the school?” he asked. Before she could utter a word, the chariot stopped near the towering house. The man came, “Good morning!” as he greeted the charioteer. The man hesitates to hop in as soon as he sees her. ‘The reigning princess,’ he told himself. She noticed how a man looked at her. He frowned.
“May I sit beside you?” he asked with a baritone voice. She only nodded and looked away from him. And by that, she knew she was right. He was not different from her classmates. She felt like everyone was loathed at her presence. She feels awful. She just wants to cry, thinking that even if she’s a college student, neither of them would treat her with condescension. Until, she shed a tear. She bent down her head and continued wiping her tears. She couldn’t almost breathe as she tried to stop herself from crying.
“Please… stop here,” she stuttered.
The charioteer conjectured, “Senorita?”
“But, it’s still meters away from the school,” he added.
“It’s clearly okay,” she felt relief as she said it straight. The charioteer stopped near the sidewalk and she quickly rose. She handed her pay to him.
“Don’t you have coins?” he asked. “I don’t have enough money for an exchange,” he said. She opened her purse but there was none.
“Please take it,” she gave the money.
“I can’t take it,” he uttered, handling back the money.
“Include her on my payment Douglas,” the man said. Before she could dismount from the chariot, her head knocked over the top of the wooden chariot.
“A dumb should not ride on a typical chariot. Be careful,” he said sarcastically. “You’re really annoying, huh” he added. The man looked at her intently but she did not bother. She thanked the charioteer even though she felt awful. She turned her back. It was her first day, but she was already indisposed.
She doesn’t mind her time to reach the school. She was nearly there yet she felt furious. Never did she imagine a man could disrespect her. She did not encounter a man shaming her like that and she could not even utter a word. She does not explain the rage she felt upon remembering how he speaks to her. Charlotte did not know why he showed angst to her. It was questionable for her since that was the first time they’ve met.
It was seven-thirty in the morning as soon as she reached the school. She was hesitating if she would attend her subject or not when she saw that the man earlier was in the room number she was scheduled for. He rose from his seat and walked in front of the class. ’Is he our professor?’ she asked herself. ‘That’s impossible, with his attitude!’
“Senorita Charlotte McKinley, are you gonna stand there all day?” he asked sarcastically. Her eyes widened as he allude her name.
“Come in Senorita,” he said. He looked at her keenly and she did not have the urge, even just glance at him. She sat on the last vacant seat in the last row. The person sitting on her left side stood. A few more minutes passed, he walked to the last row and stayed there for a minute. Later on, he sat beside her. ‘What the heck is he doing?’ The moment he did that, she was certain he was not a professor. ‘Is he trying to pull a prank on me?’ she asked herself.
“So, how’s your first day?” he asked. He pulled sarcasm at her. He smirked. In return, she showed disinterest.
“Aren’t you stupefied that you had to act like a cry baby in public? You’re from a wealthy family, but you’re acting like you have so many problems than those who have nothing,” he shamed. She bent her head giddy and pretended she heard nothing. She thought he would stop but he continued.
“It’s too early for those swollen eyes,” he said. After a minute he left her.
“Good morning!” the professor greeted. Charlotte glances at him. She seemed like he looked like the guy who spoke to her earlier. The professor introduced himself to them. She recognized the same features of faces. The professor looked like they were the same age to them or four years older.
“Good morning Sir Jethro,” they greeted. Her classmates introduced themselves one by one. And, when it was her turn, her classmates laughed and a group of girls whispered.
“Everyone, will you please give her time to introduce herself?” he uttered. Her classmates quit chattering.
“Good morning! My name is Charlotte Gaile McKinley Fazìö. I’m eighteen years old,” she introduces shortly. Then, Alexander stood proudly after she introduced herself.
“Do I need to introduce myself?” he asked. She looked at him surreptitious.
“Yes, of course” Professor Jethro smirked. Charlotte deduced that her classmate and the instructor were close to each other.
“My name is McCartney Alexander Cozt. I’m twenty-one years old,” he said and quickly took his seat. The professor only held orientation during that time. As she went out of the room she messaged Esther because she forgets to text her when she arrived at the university.
She sat on the bench in the vicinity of the court. Her eyes widened, shocked when someone threw cold water. She quickly glanced to where it came from. It was her mean classmates. They all smirked at her.
“Oops sorry,” one of the girls uttered. A girl with red-short hair. When she rose from the bench, they moved backwards. ‘Coward.’
She was wondering how she could change clothes when she has no extra uniform or at least decent clothes in the locker. While she was nearly in the restroom, Alexander came across her. He looked keenly from head to foot then to her eyes. Not so long, she noticed his eyes darted on her chest. Her face heated. She stiffened as soon as he came nearer and looked closely.
“What kind of dumb thing you think are you doing?” he exclaimed. She could not even utter a word. She turned her back from him.
“What happened Ms. Fazìö?” she was unaware that professor Jethro came.
“I got wet in the restroom,” she alibi.
“Come with me,” he said.
“Huh?” she wondered. “I’ll just wait for our charioteer because he would bring me clothes to change,” when the truth her parents had no idea she was bullied.
“Mr. Jethro!” as they both turned to see who it was. He went to her side. Her anger boiled. “I’ll take care of her. You still have subjects to administer,” the professor heeded and went straight to the faculty. She left him on the veranda and decided to leave the university. But, before she could reach the first floor, someone pulled her hand. She concluded that it was him, again. And, when she glanced, she was right. Alexander.
“Get off me,” she muttered. Even though she wanted to shout at his face, she couldn’t. She knew it would only put her in a bad situation that it only embarrassed her more.
“And, you’re being inauspicious now?” he sarcastically asked.
“Hell. You’ve already accursed and yet you’re still startled about me. You should already know it,” she muttered.
“I guess you’re right. But, does a girl like you get hurt? Seriously?” he smart-mouthed.
“What are you trying to say?” she asked.
