I jerked awake like I had always done. Every morning, same time, same place, same posture. Nothing new. Every young girl of my age would have been woken up by an alarm clock. But, I get to jerk awake everyday because my alarm clock had been programmed in my head. And FYI, I was the Queen of lateness in my school. I always made my younger siblings late because we all had to go to school together. I being the eldest of them was supposed to set an example for them but no! I Nelly, daughter of Bill Linus, granddaughter of Clement Linus, great granddaughter of Cedric Linus, has sworn never to be early for school. Not like I do it on purpose anyways, it just happens.

Too bad for me again, it was Monday. I could hear my mom scolding my younger siblings and making them sit down for breakfast. Oh well, I grabbed my towel and brush and ran to the general bathroom the whole household made use of. I prayed silently in my heart for an empty bathroom but oops! Dad was bathing. I sighed in my heart. Being poor was a strange kind of disease. I remembered my schoolmates talking about how they video called in thier bathroom. Showing off their nicely furnished bathroom. I don't really worry too much about it. I don't even have a cellphone to begin with. Just then my dad stepped out of the bathroom. Looking all wet. I zoomed into the bathroom not wanting to listen to my dad's complaint about I being so chronic lateness.

I was quite a fast bather because I got out in no less than three minutes I entered the bathroom. I rushed to the bathroom I shared with two of my older sisters. Neatly laid on the table was my school uniform. I had straightened it with the iron the previous night, in preparation for the Monday morning. I had to look presentable the best I could. I didn't have a school bag of high quality. Everything Dad ever bought for us was fake, because it was cheaper. My hair was braided and parked neatly into a bun. I wasn't much of a beauty. I was average. Well, that was how I saw myself. My mom was already screaming my name downstairs, and so I hastily dressed up, grabbed my school bag and rushed downstairs.

Like it had finally dawned on me that I was already late for school. I grabbed my youngest sibling and started rushing out of the door. We took the public transport to school but before we could get to school. The morning assembly that was often held by school had ended. The labour master could be seen issuing out punishments to late students.

When it got to our turn, my siblings were asked to go inside while I was to bear the punishment. Like it had always been.

Classes were already going on when I got to my class. I was already in my senior year in high school. My pleated skirt dangled a bit above my knees as I stepped into the class. It was a norm to get permitted by the teacher before entering the class. But because I had already seen her motion me in. I didn't bother myself with the due process any more. I could feel the stares on me from my classmates. But, it was a normal thing. They already knew me as the Champion of lateness. Funny enough, I didn't find this title offensive, actually I termed it as part of my higher achievements in Providence High School.

Watching my steps, I walked to my desk and sat. It was an English lesson that was going on and fortunately it was one of my favorite classes. I focused and we moved deeply into the topic of discussion. Then the reacher threw a question to the class. Then I heard his voice, my longtime crush. A guy I had been crushing on since my junior year. Dennison Bane. I sucked in my breath as he continued talking. I tried so hard to get over this crush but it had been so impossible for me. The guy was so perfect for me. He was the most popular boy in school of course all the girls fawned all over him, wherever he went. I stood no chance because they'd get a hundreds of beauties in school before it got to me. All the same I couldn't just help but pray that one day he would at least notice my existence.

Of course! He'd get the right answer. Dennison Bane wasn't just a pretty boy, he was also smart. I adjusted my uniform so that it fitted well. I was hoping the teacher would point me to answer the next question. I wanted to show off in front of Denny.

Only for the teacher to finally point at me and I answered correctly. I could feel gazes at me. A lot admired me because of my brain but, I turned around to look at Denny only to find out that he was occupied with some paper game. I felt terrible. Then a hand wanted to probably take a note from my desk but ended up pushing all my books down. I screamed the name of the one that I knew could be so clumsy. Rowen!!!