Samantha Aguilar

As the train moves towards the destination, tall buildings of the city can be seen from outside the window. There are a lot of passengers that are riding the train there are people going to work, there are also students that are like me.

I sighed.

Why does Mama have to be transfer to a different site of work? Tss. My sibling and I are even transferred to a different school because of her. I wish I didn’t study that hard all these years, it’s useless anyway. I was running for valedictorian, but now? Tss. Thanks to her, it’s not happening anymore, I wish I earn a grade of 75, it’s still a passing grade after all.

I really thought that we are going to live there for good because we are living there for a long time already, we’ve been living there for five years. It’s irritating. Why do we have to move to Rosethorne City?!

Passengers getting off at Choni Station we will be there after five minutes, please prepare for your stop. Thank you.

I stood properly and tighten my grip of the handle of the train for passengers that are standing up during the ride. After a few minutes the train stop, this is my stop. There are passengers that get off the train. I saw some students wearing the same uniform as I am, I followed them.

I don’t know where my school is because I’m just a transferee. I kind of had a bad feeling while following the students in front of me. Well, they are just chatting as they walk down the side walk. The area is kind of quiet. I mean, it’s not that busy. The community is calm and quiet to be exact.

There are also students walking from behind. I guess we are all heading towards the same direction. We also passed by a lot convenience stores and other shops. I also saw a house where an old lady is watering her plants at her backyard. As the students turn around the corner, I was stopped in my tracks. I saw a huge gate. Students went inside. My jaw dropped because of the appearance of the school.

I mean, my previous school is actually great. But, the heck! This school screams expensive and class! They have huge buildings! Even though I’m still standing from the outside, I can see five buildings already. Wait, am I in the right place?

I took my cellphone which has a cracked screen out of my pocket. Hays, I should save some money to buy a new one. What’s the name of my school again?

Cognitionis Imperium Academy

I looked at the gate, above it there is a design that are letters “CIA”. The students that are wearing the same uniform as mine went inside. Maybe this is the place.

“Transferee?” I looked towards the one who spoke, the school’s guard.

“Yes, uh, is this… Uh, Cognitionis Imperium Academy?” I asked.

“Yes, hija. Come inside, maybe you’ll get late.”

“Uh, where is the principal’s office?”

“Go to the first building. You can see the principal’s office when you arrive at the lobby.”

I thanked him and walk my way inside. My jaw dropped once again, I entered the school. The school is huge! Their school field is very wide, next to it is a garden with a lot of trees. They have benches under the trees, probably for students to relax during break time. It’s beautiful, maybe that’s why Mama is very happy yesterday, for sure, their tuition fee is very expensive. I guess I shouldn’t feel bad being transferred here, after all I received a scholarship.

I found the principal’s office and I knocked three times before entering. I can smell the scent of coffee when I opened the door. I saw a man sitting at a swivel chair, probably in his mid-30’s, not sure though. He greeted and smiled at me.

“Are you Miss Aguilar?” he asked.

“Yes, I’m Miss Aguilar,” as I nodded.

“You look like your mother, hija. Come in!”

I nodded and closed the door. He gestured me to take a seat. I need to submit a few papers, requirements to be exact, because Mama wasn’t able to bring it yesterday. Mama told me before leaving the house that I should drop by at the Principal’s office to submit it.

“I’m Antonio Zulepeta, the principal of Cognitionis Imperium Academy,” and he offered his hand.

“Samantha Aguilar,” as I accepted his hand for a handshake.

“What do you think about the school?” he asked.

“Uh, the structures are beautiful, hehehe,” I nervously answered.

He nodded and smiled. It looks like he is excited because there is a new student enrolled at the academy.

“My mother wasn’t able to bring all of my requirements yesterday,” I said while taking a folder out of my bag, the lacking requirements are inside the folder. “Here are the papers,” and I placed it above his desk.

He smiled and check the papers I give to him. I roam my gaze around his office. There are awards given by the government to the school. I guess, this school has a huge reputation. I think I heard about this school, but I’m not sure. Our place is far away from here, we travelled between three cities just to get here. Tss.

“I saw your report card, hija. You are intelligent, for sure you will be happy with this school. We have good educational system and also, most of our teachers here graduated from prestigious universities from different cities.”

I just smiled and gave him a nod.

“Our facilities here are complete. We have different laboratories that can help students to excel in different fields. We also have a gymnasium beside the cafeteria building.”

I nodded about the things he said. Well, I can say that the school has complete facilities, they have a lot of buildings. Duh.

“It’s almost time for your first class. Here’s your schedule,” and he handed a paper to me. “Your mother accidentally left it, but don’t worry. Your building is just at the other side.”

“Other side?” I asked as I frowned, what does he mean about that?

“See that building over there, hija?” and he pointed outside.

I looked at the direction he is pointing. I saw a four-storey building. Wait, that’s the building where my classroom is located?

“Your classroom is located at the 4th floor.”

“It’s too far,” I unconsciously said those words. I immediately covered my mouth and looked at Sir Zulepeta. He just chuckled.

“It’s too far but you’ll get used to it, hija. There is an elevator so there won’t be any problem. Also, your section is there in your schedule.”

“Okay, Sir. Thank you,” and I stood up.

“Have fun at school, hija!”

I sighed when I went out of the office. I slowly walk my way towards the building that he said. This school makes me speechless, just wow. It’s huge and… I don’t know, it’s too hard to describe. Maybe I’m just feeling overwhelmed right now that I can’t think straight. I’m a scholar of this school. Hays, I won’t become a valedictorian, but I hope things will come out good.

First of all, I was really against that we are moving to another place but I can’t do anything. I was so frustrated yesterday that I left the house and wasted my time at the park near our new house. When I went home, Mama already enrolled me to a school here at our new place, which is this academy. It’s quite far from our house, it’s at the other part of the city.

Shine is lucky to be enrolled at the elementary school near our house. Tss. Mama was delighted because the school gave me a scholarship, a full scholarship to be exact, because they saw my report card yesterday. There is also no entrance exam at the school that I’m transferring, that’s the reason I got enrolled immediately even though I didn’t go with her yesterday. Well, I’m not happy about it. I find it irritating. It’s only a scholarship. Just because I’m a transferee and I have a scholarship doesn’t mean that I’m qualified to be a valedictorian. They will prioritize students that are studying there for a long time when it comes to giving that title.

When I arrived at the lobby, I wipe the sweat dropping from my forehead. The sun is too hot and I crossed the field just to get here. I sighed when I heard the bell, it means I’m late. I saw the elevator that Sir Zulepeta is talking about, I pressed the button going up. After a seconds it opened, I went in and press a button going to the fourth floor.

I want to be a valedictorian when I’ll graduate from high school, but that’s not going to happen anymore. There are a lot of schools that will offer scholarships when you finish as the top student, then this thing happened. No matter how many times I will complain to Mama, it would only hurt her feelings. That’s why I left the house yesterday to cool down because maybe I could say hurtful words to her. She’s the only one making a living for us after all. Papa left us, I don’t know what the main reason is. One day, Mama and Papa argued about something and he didn’t come home since then. I don’t have any news about him and Mama is not saying anything about him. Shine was too young back then, she doesn’t even remember him. I guess I’ll look for a part-time job in this city so I can save up some money.

I sighed again when the elevator door closed and went up. After a few seconds it stop moving and I heard a small “Ding”, a sign that I arrived at fourth floor. I went out and fixed my hair, our uniform is also kind of hot because of the blazer. Unlike my previous school that we don’t have a blazer as part of our uniform. Just a white polo, green ribbon, and green skirt for girls. We can also use any kind of footwear as long as we are comfortable with it. I usually wear my rubber shoes.

But, now? No. I’m wearing black shoes with matching black knee socks, it’s hot! I hope there is an air conditioner inside the classroom, then it can be reasonable why we have to wear this kind of uniform. Tss.

What is my section?

4th year – Titanium

Oh?

I look for my classroom. Well, there are four doors here. The first room there is a name of the section above the door, “4th year – Gold”. It’s not my section. The next two doors are locker rooms. I guess it would be this last door.

4th year – Titanium

I can hear people chatting inside. It looks like it’s a mess inside. I hope I don’t have classmates that are troublemakers, if I have, I hope I won’t be included in their mess. I took a deep breath and knock three times. They went silent. There is a part of the door that is made of glass, you can take a look who are people inside through it but it is covered from the inside, preventing me from looking inside.

“Come in,” I heard a guy said from inside.