Ace's POV:
I walk out of my dorm room and down the hallway of Percipience Academy.
Percipience Academy, the most prestigious academy in North America and the one which only either millionaires or absolute geniuses can afford to attend.
Also the most controversial, since the top 5 richest families attend it.
Including mine.
If there's one thing that I've learnt from my parents, it's that money is everything.
If you got money, you've got status.
If you've got money, you've got luxury.
If you've got money, you've got the world underneath your feet.
At least that's what my parents want me to think.
It hasn't even been a day since I got here, but damn do I feel relieved. Finally, a taste of freedom. It feels so liberating to be away from all of the bitchy maids, the airhead butlers and most of all, my parents.
The only people I'm missing right now would be Ms. Nelly and Mr. Harris.
I round the corner and something, or rather someone bumped into my chest. I held onto her so she wouldn't fall. I looked down to see a array of jet black hair against a white complexion. Hazel eyes looked up at me and I think my heart skipped a beat for a moment.
"Bloody Hell" She yelped while rubbing her nose," I'm sorry, I wasn't looking."
"Of course, you weren't"
She looked at me like I had grown two heads.
"Fù èr dài," she scoffed," Ō, tiān nǎ, Tāmen yǐwéi nǐ shì shéi? wèishéme suǒyǒu de yǒu qián rén dōu shìlì? Xuèxīng de húndàn!"
(Spoiled rich kids, Oh god, who do they think they are? Are all rich people snobs? Bloody fucktards!)
"Hǎo ba, wǒ bù huì quánbù shuō chūlái. Dànshì zǒng de lái shuō shì", I replied.
(Well, I wouldn't exactly say all of them. But, in general, yes.)
Her eyes widened as she stared at me for a second.
"Yo-you c-can speak ch-chinese?" She stuttered.
" Why can't I?"
"But..But-"
"Hey you found Ms. Porn.", A guy with bronze hair and forest green eyes shouted from the end of the hallway.
"It's Pon, not porn, you dumb head." She rolled her eyes.
"Well it sounds like porn."
"No, it doesn't." She let out a snort-like sound.
"Wow, you really put the lady in ladylike."
"You really put the ass in asshole."I slowly walk backward and out of the hallway so I don't have to be a part of this awkward conversation.
A readhead and a blonde appear out of nowhere and smile at me.
Yikes. I jump back, startled. Do they know how to do magic or something.
"Ace Martinez, right?" The readhead leaned against the wall.
"Um...Yes"
"I'm Abigail and this is Olivia." She introduced herself and the blondie beside her.
"O..Kay"
"Would you like to hang out sometime? Maybe get to know each other and stuff. I'd love to get out of this place." She flips her hair and gives me a full smile that exhibits all of her pearl like-white teeth.
Wow!!! Those things can blind someone. Her teeth are whiter than mine. Not to self- See your dentist.
She placed a hand on my chest, caressing it.
"Ok then get out." I smiled at her, taking her hand off my chest.
Her eyes widened as Olivia tried to cover her laugh with a cough.
Hey! What did you expect from a rich brat. I can't associate with anyone my family doesn't approve.
"You're so funny." Abigail let out an obnoxious fake laugh, followed by her friend.
"What are you doing, this weekend?" She asked yet again, persistent.
Ignoring you, that's for sure.
"I'm busy."
"Oh go on, don't be so shy, you can ask me out if you like me."
Does this girl not know how to take a hint? I open my mouth to tell her that I'm not interested, but before I could, the announcement resonates over the speakers.
"All freshman students are requested to reach the auditorium within five minutes."
I've never been more thankful for these annoying announcements than I'm today.
Finally saved from this awkward situation.
I sneak my out of there and reach the place I wanted to be at, in the first place.
The auditorium was filled with students, all freshmen. The wooden walls were carved with intricate designs, giving the hall a historic look. It could accommodate more than a thousand people, though it was unnecessary as there are only around 700-800 students at the institute. It was extravagant and luxurious. As it should be. After all it was funded by the world's richest.
I walked down the stairs and the guy with bronze hair, waved me over. I tried to ignore him as I made my down the stairs and to the front but he was too persistent.
"Ace! Over here!" He yelled, catching everyone's attention and earning a few looks of disapproval from the teachers.
I stood there for a second, contemplating ignoring him again but decided against it and walked over to him and slumped down on the plush seat.
"I'm Luke,"he said, introducing himself,"this blondie is Aiden- " he said pointing at the dirty blonde hair and gray eyes who scowled-"this is his royal dumbass Adeel-" he pointed at another guy with black hair and amber almost golden eyes who hit him on the back of his head. I would too if I were him-"and that guy over there who looks like an obnoxious asshat but isn't, his name's Noah." The brown haired guy frowned at him but didn't say anything.
Of course I already knew all of them. They are the most spoilt brats of America aka the heirs to some of the wealthiest families in the world.
Lucas Anderson, the heir to the biggest fashion industry in the world.
Aiden Lockhart, heir to Lockhart Inc., one of the biggest names in Iron and Steel Industry.
Prince Adeel bin Nadeem Khalid Al Hadid, the heir to both the throne of Saudi Arabia and the biggest oil company in Middle East.
Noah Sharma, the future owner of one of the most successful Pharmaceutical company, mostly because of their Ayurvedic medicines.
"And you're all freshmen?"
"Noo... I'm so glad to have passed that phase, I'm a sophomore." Adeel let out a dramatic sigh,"and Aiden's too."
"Then what are you doing here? Isn't it supposed to be an orientation for freshmen students?"
"It is. That's why we're here. Meet the president and vice president of the student council of Percipience Academy."
Well not much of a surprise there.
The headmaster started speaking and everyone stopped talking. Everyone seemed to be paying attention. But I knew better. High schoolers have the attention span of a goldfish. Most of them were either listening to music through airpods or texting each other on their cells.
"I know it's hard to believe that these air heads are a part of the student council. But what can I say? Miracles happen." Luke whispered.
"Hey! Who are you calling an airhead?," Adeel shouted, earning a disapproving look from the staff.
They kept bickering for the rest of the orientation. All the while, the old bald headed teacher was giving them the side eye. And I couldn't be more grateful when the headmaster finally let us leave this god damn wretched place.
I sneaked out of the auditorium before Luke or his friends could stop me.
I walked back to my dorm room and thankfully there weren't any more weird interactions.
I walk to my desk and take out the last letter Jane wrote to me. I know it's stupid that we still don't know each other's name but it's kind of a secret agreement between us that we won't tell our names until we actually met each other. And I can't wait to meet her. If only my parents would let me. I still remember the day mom found out about me writing letters. That was nothing short of a nightmare.
Flashback:
I sat at my desk, looking out the window, not listening to a word the private tutor uttered. I looked at the clock and it was almost time for the class to be over. Mr. Merle was looking at the board, explaining something while I took a mini nap. One of the best things or rather the only good thing about Mr. Merle, he is so focused on explaining the topic that he doesn't bother to ask or even turn around to see if I'm understanding it or not.
Dear Jane,
I've been really busy these days. I have to work really hard to get good grades. Plus I'm surrounded by different tutors teaching me different languages. I've (almost) mastered French, Spanish and Russian. But dad says that I've got to learn a lot more languages if I want to take over his business one day. So I'm now learning Chinese, Italian, Japanese and German.
Yay!!
Note the Sarcasm.
I hate studying. I hate life.
Oh and I read Romeo and Juliet. I didn't like it. At all. I don't understand why the authors even write a book if they're just going to kill the main protagonist.
I also read The Fault In Our Stars. Again, I didn't like it, at all. John Greene literally went like," Oh, here's an idea lets write a sappy story about a girl who has cancer. She's miserable and thinks that she's a time bomb, a grenade. Now add a perfect guy who understands her and takes her on a life changing trip, nonetheless to Paris. Jazz it up with a perfect dinner. Hmm, something's missing, oh right, now let's ruin it by introducing the much anticipated but jerk of an author. Hmm what can be worse, oh right, let's say that Augustus' cancer returned. To add the final cherry on top of the cake, kill Augustus. Yeah that would totally make for a great book."
I hate it. I hate it so much. I hate it when good people die. Why do good people have to die early. And why is it that only guys die? Why not girls? Every book that I've read. Every movie that I've seen.
Romeo and Juliet
The fault in our stars
Titanic
Me before you
Keith
Dying young
Bright star
Remember Me
I could go on for pages. The list is that long.
Plus today was much worse than-
The letter was snatched from the table and I looked up to see Mr. Merle standing at the end of the table with a neutral look on his face. Emotionless. Always emotionless. Just like the rest of the staff. He looked down at the paper and then back up at me.
Wow! Today had to be the one day, he actually bothered to know what I was doing. Just my luck.
"I believe Mrs. Martinez doesn't about this." He stated more than asked.
"No." I said simply.
"Then, I suppose we have to take this to her," He smirked at me.
"I don't mind. I'm sure she'll be fine with it," his face dropped and he glared at me.
"We'll see about that."
The tattle teller blurted out everything to my mom who was sitting on the couch, playing the part of the sophisticated billionaire's wife and the concerned mother she is supposed to be. Her act could fool anyone. She is that good an actress. But not me. I know her for who she really is. I know what she is doing. Putting on the facade of being the perfect family we could never be.
"I believe he did nothing wrong writing to his friend and I'd very much like it if you didn't make a fuss about it. I don't need to keep track of every single thing my child does. That's not a part of good parenting. Teens need their space and I think you would know that as well. I'd appreciate it if the next time you find out about something like this, you would respect his personal space. However I do believe it was wrong of him to do something like this in a class. And I'm sure he regrets it. Don't you Ace?," She looked at me expectantly.
I nodded and said the lines I'd learnt by heart, "Yes, I apologize for my mistake. I wouldn't do it again."
"See, now you may leave," She gave him another smile and dismissed him.
As soon as he step foot out of the room, Mom dropped her facade and looked me sharp in the eyes.
"How many times do I have to tell you not to cause trouble? You are such a disappointment. And who is this girl you've been writing to?," she screamed. I jumped back, startled.
"Sh-She's a-"Mom cut me off.
"I don't care. You're not going to write to her anymore. That's it. Now go to your room and don't bother me," she said dismissively.
I stood there for a second before gathering enough courage to try and speak up before she looked at me again and raised a perfect arched brow.
"What are you still doing here? I thought I told you to get out of here and leave me alone."
"Mom, I-I" I started.
"You what?," she snapped, losing her patience.
I finally decided to pull on my big boy pants and took a deep breath before blurting out, "I'm not going to stop writing to her."
"What-What did you just say?"
"I said I'm not going to stop writing to her anymore." I said, putting emphasis on each word.
"And why exactly?" she scoffed, standing up.
"Because she's my friend and I like her. And you can't stop me," I said, feeling bold.
She takes strides in my direction and grabs my neck before looking me square in the eye,"Listen to me, you brat, you are going to be a good little boy and listen to your mommy like you always do. Understood?"
"No," I raise my head defiantly, " And you can't stop me. You know why? Because you're a coward. You're scared of what the world says about you. You're so scared to tarnish the image of a perfect family you have going on here that you'll never be able to do anything."
Even if it means your family is hurting.
"Also, you don't want me to go around babbling about all your secrets, now do you? Mother? Do you want everyone to know that-"
My head turned to the right as her hand connected with my left cheek, leaving me stunned for a moment before I turned to look at her with so much hate in my eyes for the woman I call my mother.
Even though this wasn't her first time hitting me, this hurt as much as it did the first time when I was five. A little child wanting his mother's attention and time, being stubborn about not going away from her. The only difference was that first time I was sobbing uncontrollably, aching for my Mother's love. But now, I couldn't be bothered to spare another tear for this woman. I once again looked at her with dissent, daring her to do it again.
"Go to your room," She yelled at me.
She huffed something under her breath, her face turning red and her eyes burning with anger at my audacity to defy her. She turned around as she saw I had no intentions of moving and she strutted her way to her room.
I walked to my room, sitting at the edge of my desk once again as I wrote another letter to my only escape from this hell of a life, my only confidante.