A while ago...
The morning started with the echo of the system's voice:
"<It's 6 am>."
The message repeated,
"<It's 6 am girls, get up from your beds and prepare for your 8 am classes. Your phones will now be handed to you to aid with communication later on.>"
The persistent ringing disrupted the peacefulness of the dormitory, stirring everyone from their slumber.
I begrudgingly sat up in bed, my eyes heavy with sleep. The relentless voice of the system had become an unwelcome wake-up call. Wasn't there a way to power it off? Disengage it? Whatever that was the appropriate term, I just needed this thing to stop ringing in my ears.
<It's 6 am...>
I never bothered with alarms because I was certain I would end up smashing them within days. In high school, I was consistently late and faced consequences from my teachers. Little did I know that I would eventually find a system that could force me out of bed against my will.
As I glanced at the window, the sun had yet to cast its warm glow over the landscape, and a thick fog hung in the air.
Coco, full of energy, greeted the morning with enthusiasm, "Good morning, y'all" She had said, Her eyes twinkling with excitement; surely, she must be used to getting out of her bed every day by the sound of an alarm.
While Leah, still visibly tired, acknowledged the wake-up call with a weary yawn.
"Morning," she responded with a yawn. It occurred to me that she was still tired and wanted to get some sleep, but couldn't because the system would start blaring again.
From my end, "Good morning," I greeted them with a smile in my voice.
The rules and regulations of the school were explained to me by my dorm mates only yesterday. Coco mostly did the talking while Leah chimed in once in a while.
It occurred to me that Coco and me were in the same department, while Leah was in another, as she chose to study Physical Education. I learnt of the strict schedule; classes generally started by 8 am and ended by 4 pm, with a few minutes break tossed in between. The mandatory participation in extracurricular activities, and the enforced curfew; all students were to retreat to their respective dorms by 10 pm, and failure to adhere would warrant severe punishments.
It felt like an extension of high school.
Even the system's control over our phones and the dormitory lock was a constant reminder of the school's authority. It was enforced to ensure students have a good rest at night, so that their bodies could function properly the next day. There'd be no unnecessary excuse not to attend classes.
I was in a jail. Yeah, it wasn't high school any longer but a jail.
What if I was too lazy and wanted to skip classes? I could lie to the system and get away with it.
Back at home, I would lie to Mom, feigning severe illness just to skip school. It had always worked, but I doubted if it would here.
Things could get worse if the system was a lie detector.
Aha! I just remembered. It had the privilege to check my vitals. There's no way out, no way out.
Sigh...
We started getting prepared, with Coco taking the lead while I took the opportunity to do sit-ups on my bed. After I had finished washing up, I quickly dressed in a white shirt, a pink skirt, paired with shoes and socks. I did my hair, twisting the upper half into a bun while letting the rest cascade down my back. I finished with enhancing my brows, applying a moisturizing sunscreen and applying a lip tint.
Coco had dressed similarly, although she had put on a waist coat and bracelet. She unbuttoned her shirt to expose some cleavage, and wore an expensive shoe. Her blonde hair was straightened and left to flow behind her back.
Leah ... Didn't dress much. She put on a baggy pant, oversized tee and a strap bag. Her hair was let down and wavy.
We left the dormitory and joined the stream of students making their way to class. The corridor was alive with the energy of the students, some rushing to their classes while others lingered, exchanging greetings and catching up with friends.
It felt good to see people around.
Suddenly,
<All students must leave the corridor and attend classes.Lingering around at this time is simply not allowed> The announcement to attend classes reverberated through the corridor, signaling the start of the school day.
Oh God! I thought inwardly. I do not think the air conditioner was the first thing I would hate, maybe it was the controlling systems. How the hell are we supposed to know each other if they wouldn't let us stick around?
As if reading my mind, Coco mused to my relief. "We're free to linger around once our classes are over till the time of curfew"
Was that better?
Or the absence of Controlling systems?
Everyone began strolling along a direct concrete pathway, avoiding the lush green grass. I observed that several students had their own cars for getting around the school, while others relied on hitching rides with their friends. To my surprise, I witnessed some students gliding by on hoverboards, effortlessly whizzing past the rest of us who opted to walk like regular humans.It was cool.
But This was daylight oppression! And then again, who cares?
I was the one who willingly stepped into a school meant for the elites.
"I'll be heading that way" Leah informed us. I stopped looking around and turned to her, wondering why she wouldn't be walking with me and Coco. Then I recalled that we wouldn't be in the same department, so her path was different.
"Bye," I waved at her. Leah threw down the skateboard I hadn't seen her holding before we left the dormitory and then rode away.
"Hey, Coco, how would you be getting around school?" I asked as we continued walking. I reckoned she must have a car or some high-tech gadget because she seemed wealthy.
Coco chuckled. "A bit of everything."
"Seriously? Cars, hoverboards, flying contraptions?" I prodded with widened eyes. I believed her very quickly.
Coco laughed and playfully nudged me. "I'm just kidding. Let's stick to walking like regular humans."
"Alright," I said with a laugh. But as I turned forward, I got splashed in the face. "What the heck?" I thought to myself, smelling chocolate.
Coco's face fell as she pulled me aside. "Oh my God, Carol. Your shirt," she exclaimed, pointing at the chocolate stain on my white shirt. She fumbled through her backpack hastily, and brought out something.
She handed me a handkerchief, and I quickly wiped my face. Embarrassed and frustrated. "Thanks," I mumbled.
"Where did that come from?" I asked, trying to keep my cool. I was so frustrated; I do not have time to change before class.
"That car" Coco answered, her brown eyes looking at a black Maybach car.
I followed in her line of sight and my anger could only double. Why do these elites think they could misbehave anywhere? Why would someone in their right mind throw away a chocolate drink from the car? Couldn't they at least have dropped it in the car and disposed of it later?
All the reasonable questions in my head were left unanswered. I didn't know when I left Coco's side and began walking towards the car that had pulled over at the entrance of the hall.
In haste, I failed to notice a figure had slipped out of the car from the other side, clutching their bag and running as far as their legs could carry them.
I walked closer to the car, fuming. I gazed into the tinted window only to see nothing but darkness.
I stood for a while, hoping the person would at least come out and apologize. And when he did, he even slammed the door against me, pushing me to the side.
I couldn't have been more furious today.
Why was everything turning out worse?
He attempted to close the door when his gaze fell on me. My breath caught in my throat. I couldn't find proper words to say. He had a gorgeous face, jet black hair with a taper fade cut, full eyebrows, and dark grey eyes. I could only stare into his eyes. They were hypnotizing.
He did the same, staring at me wordlessly, but then a hint of annoyance started to wash through his eyes, and his eyebrows furrowed at me.
"Y...you spilled a...a drink on me" I stammered.
As he leaned closer, my eyes narrowed at him, the thought that I've seen him before crossed my mind. On my brother's graduation with that young girl. He had gazed at me with an annoyed expression just like now.
"I'm sorry" He apologized, and then reached for his pocket to remove a white handkerchief. "Please, see if this will do," He said, shoving the cloth into my hand. The light graze his fingertip made with my skin was enough to send electricity jolting through me. I felt my body tingle. My heart was beating at a fast pace.
He then politely bowed to me before leaving my presence. I was stunned.
I stared at his disappearing back before looking back at the handkerchief. At that point, I knew I was smitten.
****
As Julian began sauntering towards the hall, he could hear his heartbeat hammering in his chest, but for a different reason other than Carol's.
He initially thought the girl was coming to confront him, and he despised confrontation in his life.
His charm seemed to have affected her, because immediately their eyes locked, and she found herself unable to break the connection. It prevented her from carrying out whatever mischief she had planned.
It was all Harper's fault!
Back in the car, discussing Julian's request for a loan, Harper was outlining her terms when a fly suddenly zoomed past the window and landed in her drink. "Eww," she exclaimed, flinging the drink out of the window without realizing it.
As she registered her actions, her eyes widened. She glanced at Roman, but he was busy retrieving his phone that had slipped from his grasp. Then she looked at Julian, who turned his head away as if it had nothing to do with him.
"What have I done?" Harper murmured as she peered out the back window to see a girl wiping away the spilled chocolate drink. When the chocolate-soiled girl lifted her gaze, her expression turned to one of fury.
Harper swallowed hard. Abruptly, she turned to Julian. "Let's switch seats."
"Never," Julian promptly refused. He understood the potential consequences of her actions. If the chocolate-soaked girl were to confront them and Roman found out, they would be in trouble.
"That's my condition. Otherwise, you're not getting any money," she declared with a smirk, fully aware that Julian wouldn't refuse.
He clenched his fist, silently conceding to her demand. Harper shifted to the other seat and exchanged places with Julian. Roman caught a glimpse of her at the last moment, but she offered him a smile. He averted his gaze.