MATTHEW'S POV
Closing the door of the faculty office, I carried my uniform that was wrapped inside a plastic bag. A mannequin with the school's uniform could be seen from the window on the faculty office.
The boys' uniform had a button down, white polo shirt underneath a very light yellow jacket. The upper outfit was completed with a yellow tie. The lower part were just black pants with pockets and dark brown shoes.
As for the girls' uniform, it was the same colors as the boy's. White button-down blouse with a yellow ribbon tied around the collar underneath a yellow jacket and a black skirt. The brown shoes were paired with knee-high white socks.
Fixing my scarf, I exited the 11th-grade building. Since I had found the building on my own, I thought navigating the campus would be easier now, but no. I got lost again, I was aimlessly wandering the university, relying on hope that I would find the dorms.
For some reason, I ended up in front of a strange building. A red building with few windows, fewer than the others. It was also tall, and from the sides, I could tell it was very wide inside. It was different. It had... A vibe of danger and superiority to it. I couldn't seem to walk away. I felt like I was completely drawn to the building. It was sunny, but why did the building look so dark?
S̶t̶e̶p̶ c̶l̶o̶s̶e̶r̶. A voice rang in my head. I looked around to see if anyone heard that, but I realized it was just me present in this area of the school. Putting one foot after the other, I did what the voice had said. As I got closer, a feeling of dread instantly washed over me. I couldn't stop walking, it was as if the building somehow hypnotized me.
"Hey! Stop right there!" A person shouted. I snapped back to reality and looked behind me. A boy who already wore the school uniform went in front of me and crossed his arms. He had brown hair that was gelled back with dark green eyes.
"Don't you know normals are prohibited to be even near this building?" I raised an eyebrow when he referred to me as a 'normal' but shook my head to answer his question as a no.
"Hm, a new student, probably. Fine then, since you don't know, I'll let you off the hook this time. But if I catch you coming near this building again, you will be sorry." His threat gave me goosebumps. I quickly muttered an apology and went the other way, leaving the guy there.
When I could no longer see him, I breathed a sigh of relief and grabbed my scarf tightly. Not only did his threats scare me, but his left sleeve. His left sleeve had a red button. School didn't even start yet I had already encountered a human my mom warned me about.
I get why mom didn't want me to be involved with them now, they were scary as hell. Wishing I wouldn't end up there again, I began my search for the dorms.
-
I found it - the dorms. Almost crying in relief, I went inside with a smile. "Did something good happen today?" The woman behind the counter spoke up, copying my smile. I scratched my head and walked a good distance in front of her, "Actually, it's a little bit the opposite." I let out a nervous chuckle, remembering my encounter with a student from earlier. Speaking of students...
"School starts tomorrow right?" I asked the lady. She nodded her head to answer me, but it just left me even more confused. "I got lost earlier, and I encountered this... Weird building. Suddenly, a guy came up from behind me wearing a uniform and called me normal. He also asked me to stay away from the building." I almost laughed at the word 'asked'. More like threatened.
"Oh, you must have met one of the elites!" The lady's eyes twinkled like a kid was given a piece of candy. But I must admit, they did sound cool... If only they weren't so scary.
"Elites? Can you tell me more about them?" I pressed on further, now intrigued and forgetting that I got scolded by one.
"Well, only the strongest, smartest, kindest and independent can be one of them. I don't know how one could be an elite, but it is said that there's a secret to it. At exactly 9 o'clock, when everyone is almost asleep, the elites will exit the school together with the principal to a mysterious place full of darkness and fogs. Now, nobody knows where it is, since it doesn't exist on the map. Heck, others even say it's not on earth!" She did this spooky hand gestures while telling the story, but it looked like she was swatting mosquitoes or something.
"Woah, that... sounds ominous." It did, though the look on her face said otherwise - she was amazed by them. "Oh! Oh! That's not all, they also say that each of them has a 'special power', one that is impossible to have." Now of all the things she said, this one was the most extraordinary. She told me to come behind the counter with her, when I asked if it was okay, she said it was fine so I did.
Now being closer to her, I took note of her black hair and green eyes. "So, a rumor has spread around the school that the elites have the ability to summon something, I just don't know what it is. And whoever made that rumor must have a wild imagination." She chuckled and continued. "An elite has a red button on the left sleeve of their uniform. Now, a theory indicates that button somehow is involved in the summoning, because why would there be only one button?" She put her hands up in the air. Good thing we were alone or else someone would have thought she was crazy.
"What if it was just a symbol?" I contradicted her statement. She tilted her head to the left meaning she needed an explanation. "Like what if that red button is used to differentiate them from the others? How would you know the student walking around the campus is an elite or not?" She seemed to be thinking about what I just said. "Yeah, that could just be it." Then she shrugged.
"Thanks for telling me, uh..." Realization of not knowing her name descended upon me. "Oh, call me Stacey." She smiled brightly, her eyes turning crescent. "Yeah, thanks Stacey, I'm Matthew." After the introduction, I got ready to leave but she stopped me. "Wait, you said you're new here right? And that you still don't know your way around?" I nodded and turned around to face her. "Well, I have a sister around your grade. She could show you around."
"Uh, I don't want to be a bother..." She laughed sweetly at my words. "Don't be silly, my sister is kind and loves helping people. She'd be thrilled to see you." I smiled at her and showed my gratitude.
I entered the elevator and it was about to close when suddenly... "Please wait! Hold the door!" A guy's voice shouted loud enough for me to open the elevator doors once more. Someone about my height with blonde hair and black eyes went in with me.
"Thanks, dude." He patted my back and the elevator ascended to our destined floors. 'He must be on the same floor as me.'
"Yo, what's your name?" The guy beside me asked, breaking the silence. "I'm Matthew Martinez, yours?" He smiled proudly and introduced himself as Elijah Donterlo.
"So are you the same grade as me? Grade 11?" I nodded and he grinned. "Yeah, I thought so. I saw you exiting the 11th-grade building earlier." I laughed and spoke. "I got lost on the way." His grin became wider. "Really? Me too, it's my first time here." So, I wasn't the only new student. Thank god.
"Hey, not our fault this university's big!" He exclaimed and I agreed with him. When we reached the third floor, we got out and went in the same direction. "Hey, what's your dorm room, buddy?" I pointed at the door that had the number 123 on it. He gave me a thumbs up. "Well, my room's at the very end. Room 150, it may be far, but you're always welcome to visit if you feel like it." He smiled and waved goodbye, walking further down the hallway.
I went inside my room and took my uniform out. I had 3 of it in all so laundry wouldn't be a hassle. I tried it on and wow, it was exactly my size. A mirror was attached to the closet, I examined how I look with the uniform on. 'Pretty handsome if I do say so myself.'
I brushed my hand to flatten my almond brown hair. When I looked at the mirror once again, I stared at my brown orbs - I inherited my eyes from my mother.
When I changed back to my casual clothes, the night sky could be seen outside the window. 'The view's great in here.' I opened my window and stared in awe at the stars twinkling like dust that decorated the black sky with its bright light. The moon was nowhere present though.
I snatched my bag that was laying on the bed and to my surprise, a Tupperware with rice and fried chicken was inside, then a sticky note was on top of the Tupperware. I read the note, it said, "Good luck on your first-day son, remember what I told you. Love, mom." I missed my mom already, this was so like her to leave a note and food. I also felt guilty, the first day at the university and I already met an elite.
Opening the Tupperware, I ate in silence.
-
It was time for school already. Wearing the school uniform and carrying my bag, I locked my room using the key and stuffed it inside my backpack. I saw the elevator was closing so I yelled, "Hey! Hold the door, please!" Whoever was inside heard me so I ran as fast as I could.
"Well, guess we're even." The one who held the door open was Elijah. I greeted him good morning before the elevator went down and thudded to a halt.
Once we stepped outside, Stacey was chatting with a girl with orange hair. When the girl turned around, I was captivated by her green eyes, the same shade as Stacey's. They were so... Enchanting. Her face was slightly chubby, making her rosy cheeks stand out more.
My jaw dropped when I realizrx I was staring.
I shook my head. 'Stop it, Matthew! You're being a creep.'
"Matthew! You're here. This is my sister, the one I told you about." Stacey's sister waved at me with a small smile. I waved back, mouth slightly agape.
"I'm Sasha Kalgera. Nice to meet you, Matthew." She extended her hand for me to shake. We did. Her hands were so soft. "And this is...?" She stared at someone behind me. I almost forgot that Elijah was there.
"Elijah! Elijah Donterlo. Nice to meet you." After the introductions, we were all chatting freely with each other. Walking towards our building, the school seemed livelier than yesterday. Students of all levels wore smiles on their faces, saying 'good morning!' Or 'first day of school today!' To each other.
"Sasha, how long have you studied here?" I asked the redhead beside me as we passed through the crowd of students. "Ever since 8th grade." Was her reply.
We got to the building quicker than expected. Well, of course, we didn't get lost. That's why. "Where are your classrooms?" Sasha asked when we stopped in front of the grade 11 building. I got my schedule out. I got history first in the 11-E classroom.
"I need to go to 11-E. What did you get Elijah?" I looked up from the paper which was my schedule. "Aww, man. I got math first. Which is 11-F." The black-eyed boy whined and stomped his foot. 'Math isn't that bad.'
"I'm sure you guys can read the letters on the doors. I still need to go to classroom K which is upstairs." Sasha sighed and pouted. "I'll meet you guys in the canteen when it's lunchtime!" The only girl who went with us was now climbing up the stairs.
"Wait!" I called out to her. Sasha stopped midway and turned around, facing me.
"Won't there be an assembly or anything? It is the first day of school."
"Oh... No. We don't really do that thing here. Something about the principal being too busy."
With an understanding nod from me, she continued to leave for class.
"Bye dude. Best of luck to us." Elijah jokingly punched me on the shoulder and left, hands in his pockets. Since our classrooms weren't that far apart, I saw him enter his classroom.
I opened the door to classroom E. There weren't many people yet.
'I must be early.'
It was only 8:15 in the morning. The class starts at 8:30. Taking a seat in the middle, I placed my backpack at the side.
Then, I felt it again. The feeling of dread and danger. When I looked around to find the source, my eyes darted to the window - the elite building could be seen a few meters away.
I didn't know how to explain it but... Something was dying to be freed inside of me whenever I was near that building. I pried my eyes away and just looked down on my desk. The feeling still stuck with me, but I tried my best to ignore it.
"Alright class, settle down, time to begin." A male voice brought me back to reality. It was the history teacher - Mister Thomas.
"Today we shall do introductions first. Let's start from the front row to the left until the last row." And so, my first day at this university began.