Ruby arrived at Bright Season Academy on time to report her name and went to check on her dorm.
Bright Season Academy was the most famous academy in the country for nurturing talent that will make their name in the entertainment industry. Therefore when it is time for a new semester, the academy was packed to the brim with students along their family members who dropped them off. While they were at it, some families would even take the chance to stroll around the campus and socialize.
Ruby walked against the swarm of people alone. She had an indifferent look and a cool expression on her face. Ruby put her hands in her jacket pocket. Wearing a white cap that covered half of her sight line, Ruby stared at the people standing around in groups. No matter where her gaze swept over, all she could capture were the happy and excited people here and there.
Ruby wondered what is there to be excited about. Remembering that she only felt the weight and the difficulty of answering the expectation she had of herself. And when things didn't go well, she could only swallow it down her throat so that it would never be able to swim to the surface again.
Ruby pulled her thoughts. She stopped at the door of her room, silently looking at the white-silverish door in front of her.
Her hand hung mid-air, wanting to grasp the handle when suddenly the door was opened with a bang.
"Ah? Who are you?"
Ruby replied, "The newly transferred student."
The girl was surprised but a second later her face cracked into a huge smile. "Come inside, I will introduce you."
The girl held Ruby's hand and brought her into the room, to the side of a neat bed near a window of the balcony.
In the room, there were two more girls aside from the girl Ruby first met. The two turned their attention to Ruby.
The girl that held hands with Ruby cheerfully started introducing the rest of the roommates. "That scary-looking girl is Rosa and the quiet one is Lily."
After she finished, the girl pointed at herself, "I'm Erin."
Ruby thought it was her turn so she said unhurriedly, "..Ruby."
Erin's eyebrows raised in doubt, "Just Ruby?"
"Yeah."
Erin was unconvinced, however, Ruby's expression was stone cold like a statue. She felt it was inappropriate to delve further when Ruby clearly didn't plan to tell them.
Lily muttered in a hushed voice, "...Transferred student at this time?"
Erin and Ruby turned their head toward Lily who calmly met their eyes. Lily shrugged. "I'm just wondering."
Erin frowned, she wanted to say something but Ruby gestured not to. Ruby smiled, "I'm also wondering whether it has something to do with you?"
The reply stunned Lily. She would never have guessed Ruby had the guts to talk back, clearly not minding having a feud with them on her first day in the dorm. Lily's face twisted a little. She squeezed a smile and said, "I didn't mean anything. I only want to remind you that not everything in the world can be bought by power, much less money."
Ruby took off her cap. Her black hair swayed under the glow of warm sunshine coming through the window. Her eyes closed while tucking her hair behind the ear and tilting her head to the side, seemingly unaffected.
Ruby said, "I'm aware." A small smile tugged her lips. Her eyes flickered with an unusual light.
Lily's smile faltered. She said, "It's good if you know," Then Lily brushed past Ruby and went out of the room.
Erin sighed, "Don't take it to heart. Lily's been on edge since before the holiday started. Give her some time and she will come around."
Ruby nodded, "It's fine."
Ruby went to her bed and began unpacking, not paying Erin any more attention. However, Erin was relieved. At least, Ruby wasn't offended by Lily's aggressive welcome.
Erin looked for Rosa and realized she had gone before anyone even notice it. Erin sighed for the second time.
---
Ruby's everyday life didn't differ much from before. She slept, woke up, did stuff, and then slept again. Although the class was somewhat interesting. So much so that Ruby put all her mind into it the moment the teacher started talking.
When it was over, Ruby was about to leave the classroom but a figure blocked her way out. Ruby's steps halted. She stared at Erin who had her arms wide open in front of the door.
Erin flashed a smile, "Today, you won't go straight back to the dorm right?"
Ruby beamed. She spoke in amusement, "It's exactly what I'm going to do."
"Ahh," Erin groaned hearing Ruby's response. She continued persuading, "Why don't you go with me to the cafeteria?"
"Mmm." Ruby blinked. Her gaze stayed on Erin's hopeful face.
"Okay, then." Ruby nodded easily after some thought. It's a coincidence that Ruby also felt it was time to look around. It strayed from the original plan to go by herself but maybe in this way, she might gain something more.
Ruby's gaze drifted to Erin's side which was empty, "You're alone?"
"Yup. Lily was practicing and we will meet Rosa only when she wants to see us. How do I say it, hm, right, Rosa is unpredictable, therefore, don't be too surprised if someday Rosa popped out from behind you."
"That's why you came to me," Ruby concluded lightly.
"Well, that's... not something you should say out loud though."
Erin blushed a little, but Ruby didn't mind it. Her lips curved in accordance with her mood. A normal, yes-smile like how a politician would at a press conference.
They came out of the building and turned sideways to a bigger, wider path.
A row of flowering trees was planted on the side of the road they took to the cafeteria. Ruby recognized one of them as Eastern Redbud, the sweet and small pink flowers Ruby often saw during that cursed period of time.
Ruby slowed her pace and walked a step behind Erin to watch the blooming flowers. Her discerning eyes spotted some heart-shaped leaves waving softly as if to celebrate the beginning of Ruby's youth.
She spread out her palm in the air. When a flower landed gently, Ruby stared at it for a few seconds before expressionlessly clenched her hands, crushing it to smithereens.
Whooosh
The pieces of fallen parts flew riding the wind.
In the middle of their walk, Erin kept chattering about the current situation in the school, the best place to nap, the hottest gossip that could only be heard in certain circles, and so on. Ruby mostly let her words go through her left ear and came out from her right ear without stopping at the brain, except when a particular name emerged from Erin's mouth.
"Huft, I don't know who to cheer on between Crystal and Lily. I want to encourage Lily but her opponent on that audition is Crystal. What should I do.."
Ruby's interest was piqued. Her eyes twinkled. School is alright and the lesson was able to capture her attention. However, Ruby was still quite curious about the protagonists' development. Not to mention after she met Vega's tattered state. Even though Ruby didn't let it show on her face, she didn't believe that Vega really got attacked.
She did suspect that Vega had a sensor to find the twins or that his intel has already found out about them. Since he came out of nowhere near Noah's exact location. But judging from his condition, it doesn't seem right.
In what situation could Vega get hurt that badly?
Ruby had no idea.
And why is it that until now there's still no movement from Vega's side on the matter of the twins? Is it because her first brother is capable or Guy's people were just incompetent that they didn't even notice anything weird was going on? If that's the case, then it makes sense. It's the male lead after all.
A lot of thoughts swarmed into Ruby's mind.
"Ruby? Ruby??"
"Huh?" The bubbles burst and Ruby's messy thoughts instantly settle down.
"We're here."
Erin guided Ruby to the closest stand and pointed at the menu. Ruby's eyes shifted downwards following Erin's index finger. She rubbed her chin with a calculating gaze glaring passionately at the list of foods.
Ruby felt that today was a noodle day.
After they paid, their eyes wandered at the same time, searching for a secluded place, though they were too late. Because it was lunchtime, the seats left were merely in the center of the cafeteria. It left them no choice but to sit there.
While waiting for the meal to be delivered, Ruby asked before Erin could start running her mouth, "Who is Crystal?"
Erin gasped, "You don't kn-oh, I forgot you're new here."
Ruby propped her chin. Her body leaned to her right side. Her posture relaxed and her eyes slanted lazily.
Erin watched her squirm to find a comfortable position and couldn't help but remark, "You look comfy."
"Mhm."
"...."
Erin considered her words. She spoke after she found the best way to describe Crystal, "She used to be a legend from the start of the first semester. She had outstanding beauty and temperament like a princess. Her grades were excellent, to the point that some teachers would sometimes talk about her during class."
Erin paused and her tone changed, "But last time before the holiday, there were rumors about Crystal being adopted and forcing the real daughter to suicide. Although no one knows the credibility of this news, the forum had already blown up. Ever since then, nobody saw her at the academy."
Ruby raises one of her eyebrows, "Nobody? Then how do you know she was going to audition?"
"Someone accidentally saw her name on the list of students who are participating."
Ruby fixed her posture when the food came. After that, Ruby puffed out her cheeks to slowly blow the steam rising up to her face.
Ruby and Erin were in the midst of stuffing their mouth when a commotion broke out. It got noisier as time pass by. The sounds kept closing into their seat.
"Is that you, Ruby?"