JANUARY 2024

Lucinda stood in front of the silver mirror, her eyes admiring her own reflection. Her flawless skin gleamed, her full plum lips slightly pursed in satisfaction, and her long, blonde hair cascaded down to her waist in soft waves. Dressed in the pristine uniform of Ivory High, the most prestigious school in the city—and, in her mind, the entire world—she looked perfect. Her hair was tied in a neat bun, and when she turned, her short, flared skirt swirled just enough to show off her long, straight legs. She was certain she could drive any guy mad with just a glance.

Her self-admiration was abruptly interrupted by the sound of her mother's voice booming from downstairs.

"Honey, come down here! We're late, for goodness' sake!"

Lucinda rolled her eyes, irritated. She slipped on her designer heels and grabbed her Gucci bag, which boldly displayed the iconic label. With her head held high like a proud peacock, she sauntered down the grand staircase, her every step exuding confidence and grace.

Outside, the sleek Lamborghini gleamed in the sunlight, parked neatly in front of their estate. Her twin brother, Lamia, was sitting in the passenger seat, already looking impatient, while Mrs. Alexandria sat behind the wheel. Lucinda ignored Lamia entirely as she walked over and leaned into the car to kiss her mother on the cheek.

"Good morning, Mom," she greeted, her tone syrupy sweet.

Before her lips could fully land, Lamia snapped, his voice sharp with frustration.

"Seriously, Lucinda? Can you look at yourself? We're already late, and it's our first lecture of the session! Can't you, for once in your miserable life, act responsibly?"

Lucinda shot him a withering glare, her eyes narrowing in disgust. She despised her brother. Useless, she thought, and her mind conjured nothing but venom as she spoke.

"You know what, Lamia? I'm an icon. People adore me, worship me. But you wouldn't know what that feels like because you're just a pathetic, introverted junkie with no friends. And, let me remind you, you're nothing but a meaningless loner."

Lamia's face contorted in rage. His hand twitched, and he nearly slapped her, but their mother intervened, her voice stern.

"Enough! You two are almost adults. I won't have this constant fighting. If it doesn't stop, you'll both face severe punishment."

Lucinda scoffed, folding her arms defiantly. She wanted nothing more than to avoid sitting in the same car as Lamia, and she was about to protest, but Mrs. Alexandria's smirk stopped her short.

"If you don't behave, I'll send you to live in the village for the rest of your life," her mother said.

Lucinda grimaced at the thought, her face contorting in disgust.

"Yuck, Mom! Fine, you win. Can we just go now?" she muttered, clearly defeated.

Mrs. Alexandria smiled knowingly. She knew exactly how to push Lucinda's buttons. With the tension temporarily diffused, she started the engine, and the Lamborghini purred as they pulled out of the driveway and began their journey to Ivory High.

As they sped along the road, Lamia stared at his own reflection in the side mirror, sighing deeply. Something inside him told him this school term would be nothing short of disastrous. Please, let nothing go wrong, he silently prayed.

The expensive Lamborghini glided to a stop in front of a towering black gate, marking the entrance to Ivory High. Lamia gulped nervously, his eyes wide as he stared at the imposing structure before him. His twin sister, Lucinda, seemed utterly unbothered, more focused on reapplying lipstick to her already perfectly shaped plum lips.

Lamia sighed quietly. Lucinda was many things, but timid wasn't one of them. While others were often intimidated by her confidence, Lamia wasn't. He knew his sister too well—her hunger for attention, fame, and riches. She wanted everything, from being the center of every conversation to catching the attention of the most popular guy in school, Hadrain Scott. The perfect guy, as Lucinda called him, though Lamia couldn't care less. He wasn't interested in Hadrain's perfect smile, his muscles, or the way all the girls seemed to worship him.

Lamia glanced at his reflection in the car window. His red hair, inherited from their father, stood out, and his handsome features were often noticed, though he didn't seek the spotlight. His friend Michael always said he looked better than Lucinda, and Lamia wondered if that was part of the reason for her intense dislike of him. Still, he preferred to keep his distance from her world of popularity and power plays.

As the car entered the school grounds, Lamia took in the sight of the beautifully maintained gardens, towering trees, and the elegant school building that loomed ahead. The grounds were bustling with students, each one a mix of excitement and nerves. Ivory High wasn't just any school; it was the most prestigious in the world, attracting students from every corner of the globe. It was the perfect place for future doctors, lawyers, and the elite.

When the Lamborghini finally parked, Lucinda wasted no time hopping out, heels clicking on the pavement. Lamia followed more slowly, grabbing his eco-friendly backpack.

Suddenly, Lucinda let out a high-pitched shriek, her face lighting up as two gorgeous girls came rushing towards her.

"Aaa, gosh, I missed you guys so much!" Lucinda squealed, throwing her arms around them.

Lamia barely spared them a glance. It was her best friends, Sylvia and Emily, as always. They'd been inseparable since childhood, and he'd long grown accustomed to their over-the-top greetings. Without waiting for his sister, Lamia slung his bag over his shoulder and started walking toward the dormitories, ignoring Lucinda's irritated glance.

"Such a mannerless jerk," Lucinda muttered, loud enough for her friends to hear. "He couldn't even help a lady with her bag."

Emily smiled and nudged her. "Don't worry, Lucinda. I know someone who would be more than happy to help you."

Lucinda rolled her eyes but hugged her mother goodbye. "Bye, Mom."

Mrs. Alexandria, watching Lamia leave without a word, turned back to her daughter. "Bye, sweetheart. Please, look after your brother. Don't be too harsh on him."

Lucinda's smile faltered for a moment, but she quickly recovered. "I'll try my best," she said, though her tone lacked sincerity.

Mrs. Alexandria smiled and got back into the sleek Lamborghini. "I know you will, baby. Take care."

As the car drove away, Sylvia broke the silence with a mischievous grin. "Gosh, Lucy, your brother got even more handsome. Have you seen him lately? Those looks… he's practically a heartthrob. If only he'd notice me."

Lucinda frowned, clearly irritated. "Gross. Can we stop talking about my brother, please?" She then brightened up as a thought came to her. "Anyway, have you guys heard about the new guy joining our class?"

Emily's eyes widened with excitement. "Yes! His profile got leaked online, and oh my god, that guy looks like a Greek god! I heard he's in the science department. Our class is blessed—first Hadrain, then your brother Lamia, and now this new guy."

Lucinda smiled to herself, feeling a surge of excitement. This is going to be a session to remember, she thought. I'm going to enjoy every minute of it.

Lamia walked down the stairs, effortlessly graceful, his presence commanding attention as always. Eyes followed his every move, admiration and desire plain on the faces of students who barely knew him. Some of them whispered to each other, silently begging for a chance to spend even a single night with him. But Lamia was oblivious—or at least, he pretended to be. He moved swiftly, heading straight to his class, his mind elsewhere.

He reached his seat where his best friend, Michael, was waiting with an eager grin. The moment Lamia appeared, Michael jumped up and threw his arms around him in a dramatic hug. "Dude! I missed you so much! It's been so boring without you."

Lamia chuckled softly, though he tried to pull away from the overly enthusiastic embrace. "Alright, alright. I missed you too, but seriously, no more hugs. People are watching."

Michael just rolled his eyes and hugged him even tighter. "Screw that. I don't care who's watching! Besides, man, you've gotten even more handsome since the break. You've been working out, haven't you?" He stepped back and looked Lamia up and down with exaggerated admiration. "Seriously, the girls are going to lose it this semester. I swear, you Alexandria's have all the luck."

Lamia shrugged off the compliment, more amused than anything. "You're ridiculous, Mike."

Meanwhile, across the classroom, Lucinda sat chatting with her friends, Emily and Sylvia. Sylvia nudged Lucinda, pointing in Lamia's direction. "Look at your brother. The girls are all over him again."

Lucinda sighed in annoyance. She glanced over to where Lamia sat and, sure enough, several girls were staring at him, giggling and whispering to each other. "Can we please have one day where we don't talk about my brother? And don't forget—no one's allowed to date him. Girl code, remember?"

Sylvia grinned but nodded in agreement. "Fair enough."

Emily, however, wasn't paying attention. Her focus had shifted to the door, where a familiar figure was making his entrance—Hadrain Scott, the class's notorious heartthrob and potential head boy. As always, Hadrain entered the room like he owned it, walking with an easy confidence that instantly drew the attention of every girl around him. They flocked to him, eager for even a second of his time.

Lucinda's eyes narrowed as she stood up, ready to confront him, but before she could, another girl beat her to it—Alexa Lockwood. The very sight of Alexa made Lucinda's blood boil. Alexa, the leader of the infamous "Sunflowers" clique, sauntered up to Hadrain and slid her hand into his. She whispered something into his ear, and he responded with a cocky grin.

Lucinda's face darkened with anger. "That bitch... I'm going to make her regret this." She sat down, glaring daggers at Alexa and Hadrain, her hands balled into fists.

The classroom's chaotic energy settled as the teacher walked in, bringing with her two unfamiliar students. Once she had the class's attention, she introduced them. "Class, we have two new students joining us today in the art department. Please welcome Damian Wilson and Abigail Shane."

The teacher gestured for them to introduce themselves. Abigail, a quiet and nervous-looking girl, stepped forward first. Her voice was soft but clear as she spoke. "Hello, my name is Abigail Shane. I'm a transfer student from Mission School. I hope we can all get along."

But instead of the welcoming applause she might have hoped for, the class remained silent. Whispers began to spread like wildfire through the room, and hostile glances were cast in Abigail's direction. Alexa sneered, her voice loud enough for the whole class to hear. "Isn't she that scholarship girl? What's she doing here in our school? She doesn't belong here."

Her clique, the "Sunflowers," echoed her mockery, each of them glaring at Abigail like she was dirt beneath their shoes. Hadrain, leaning back in his seat, added fuel to the fire with a cruel smirk. "She's not much to look at either. Who would even want to be seen with her?"

The class erupted into laughter, and Abigail's face turned bright red with embarrassment. She looked down, trying to hide the tears that were beginning to form in her eyes. But before things could get worse, Damian stepped forward. His expression was calm but firm as he took Abigail's hand and pulled her to stand beside him.

"My name is Damian Wilson," he said, his voice steady. "And anyone who messes with Abigail will have to deal with me."

The room fell silent, stunned by Damian's unexpected declaration. Even Alexa and Hadrain seemed taken aback, though Hadrain's shock quickly turned to anger. He glared at Damian, his jaw clenched. "Who the hell does he think he is?"

Damian, unfazed by the hostile stares, led Abigail to an empty seat. Lucinda, watching the scene unfold, found herself smiling despite the tension in the room.

Finally, she thought, someone interesting Lucinda thought.