Monday came and Olivia dragged herself out of her bed to get ready for school. She stared at her reflection for a moment and yawned. Messy hair, hunched back, drowsy red eyes. She splashed some cold water on herself, slapped her cheeks and stretched her sleepy eyes open with her fingers.
After making herself awake with much difficulty she started putting on her uniform. Black skinny pants, high-neck top and socks with khaki trousers and coat on top. The custom-made coat and trousers accentuated her broad shoulders and long legs. Olivia put on the belt with a 'K' in the middle over her coat. Her tall and well-built stature made her look handsome and beautiful. After combing her hair and tying it in a high ponytail she braided it neatly.
As she descended the stairs the butler and other workers greeted her. Olivia nodded and headed to the table.
After she seated herself the butler said "Mistress will you be visiting the restaurant today? They're waiting for you."
Olivia pinched her temple and asked, "How many people came?"
"The Voyage, our national e-sports team, Manoshi Gharai, the legendary singer..." The butler rambled the name list of the famous people who came to order the restaurant's signature dish.
"...and 259 common folks," he concluded.
By the time he finished, Olivia was also done with breakfast.
She got up and said after giving it some thought "I'll inform you later."
Taking her bag from the butler Olivia walked out. The car was ready. She got inside and set the location of her destination on her watch. After a small beep, the car started. The school was a two-hour driveway from the Basu Mansion. Olivia closed her eyes and took a nap in the meantime. When the car reached the school gate the door opened.
Standing in front of the tall gate Olivia grimaced thinking about her demotion.
'Anyways, it is said time flies. I hope it flies faster now.' She thought and strolled inside.
The area was huge. It looked like a mini city itself. On the left were three five-storeyed buildings next to each other with Ketu Primary House, Ketu Secondary House and Ketu Graduation House written at the entrance.
Before the primary house was a kid's playground. A huge field extended before the Secondary House till far beyond the Graduation House. A little away from the G.H. was a large swimming pool which was covered at the moment. Near that were the dormitories and the canteen. Across the field was the school market and hospital.
Olivia stared at the Graduation House for a few seconds and entered the Secondary House. At the entrance, a huge holographic screen displayed the location of the various rooms in that building. Olivia searched for her class and headed there. Many students were chatting in the corridor. Upon entering such a noisy place Olivia's brows wrinkled tightly. She let out a deep breath and headed towards her class with an expressionless face. Seeing a new face the students looked at her with curiosity and began whispering. Olivia walked faster, annoyed by the sudden unwanted attention.
Her class was on the third floor, X-D. Olivia glanced at the small tablet showing the class name on the top and entered. Without looking at anyone she straight up sat at a window seat. Putting her bag down on the chair beside her she cradled her head in her arms and fell asleep. Those present in the class went quiet for some time seeing an unfamiliar face with weird behaviour.
"Hey, who's that?"
"Dunno. Never saw her before."
"I don't remember studying with her in any of my previous classes."
"Is she a new student?"
"Maybe. But don't new students come with the class teacher and introduce themselves? She just walked in and sat down."
They started chattering.
One boy went near the sleeping Olivia and poked her arm.
"Hey, are you new here?" he said.
"Nope. Demoted." Olivia answered in a hoarse voice and went back to sleep.
The boy came back to his group where they were chatting. When they asked him about what he learnt he relayed Olivia's words.
"Oh, so she failed her grades." another boy said.
"She must be having a hard time after her demotion." one girl said.
"True." the boy beside her nodded.
In Ketu, only the best students in the country got admitted. If someone was qualified to get promoted to the next class but her scores were only passable then she was given a week to study one-sixth of the first chapters of every lesson that would be taught in that class and a mock test was taken. If they passed they could continue in that class else their promotion got cancelled. If the students felt that they were not satisfied with their results they could opt to repeat a class to improve themselves but getting demoted after promotion to a new class was humiliating to their pride and expectations of themselves as the best students in the country.
When the bell rang all the students hurried to their seats but Olivia, oblivious to all the hustle and bustle around her, continued to sleep peacefully. The class teacher came and asked the students to sign in to their Boards for attendance. Olivia, still with her head down and eyes closed, fumbled around with her hand. After finding the right spot she reached out and pressed her thumb on the little scanner at the corner of her Board. The scanner vibrated once her attendance was registered.
Just then the Principal's voice came from the speaker on the teacher's Board "Student Council members please report to the Principal's office."
Olivia's hand which was still on the scanner pressed on it so hard that it almost got broken. She lay still for some time, yawned and sat straight.
Rubbing her groggy eyes she stood up and addressed the teacher in a deep voice "Miss,"
The teacher allowed her to go.
The students who saw her sleeping till now whispered to each other "She's so shameless. Class has already started yet she was still sleeping and only now going to the washroom to splash some water on her face."
"She looks so tired. Might be from late-night studying. She was supposed to be a senior after all."
"Poor girl might be under a lot of stress."
Some sympathised with her while some criticized her lack of manners in class.
Meanwhile, Olivia walked out of the class and went to the bathroom to wash her face before heading towards the Principal's office.
She pushed the door open and said "May I come in Sir?"
After getting an affirmation from the Principal she went inside.
The principal said "Well, all the Students Council members are here. Let me introduce you all."
"They are the new admissions for this year." He pointed to the students sitting on the sofas.
Olivia turned to them and her eyebrows rose slightly.