PRISTINE
"I heard that the seniors even make you-" Princess Pauline has been grousing over the rumours that have been circulating around the school that the freshers get ragged by the seniors.
"Oh, come on, it can't be worse than what Irene does." Samirah groaned out, exhausted of Pauline's grumbles that have been incessant ever since we have gathered in her room today.
Irene who was filing her nails on a single couch flashed a pleased sneer without lifting her head.
"Indeed, making Princess Eliza pull out her own hair and eat it was definitely worse." Shanon shuddered at the thought.
"Oh, I remem-" Aprialla was cut by Pauline.
"Are you people not tensed?" Pauline restlessly said. "What is bound to happen will happen." Shanon attempted to comfort her. "The most they can do is make you sing or dance." Aprialla prompted.
"I heard that-" Irene interrupted Pauline.
Irene leapt to her feet. "Oh! make it make sense! We are literally the crown princesses-" She briefly glanced at me and corrected herself. "Well, most of us are. Who would dare to make us to anything downgrading if they do not have a death wish."
"They made Pristine's brother do a ball dance with a senior." Sabrina reminded.
Oh yes, he refused to face that senior for weeks.
Pauline gasped. "What if they compel us to do a ball dance with a senior?!" I could hear her voice trembling.
"Then we will dance. I hope it's a hot senior. I might as well kis-" Pauline cut her mid-sentence. "I am not jesting."
"Who said that I am?" Irene snapped.
Suddenly, the door was gently knocked. Shanon answered it and Scarlette walked in. "You were outside?" Shanon questioned while closing the door after Scarlette.
I wasn't aware that she was absent from the gathering until now. Keeping track of members of a friend group of nine is not an easy task. We are often oblivious to the absence of a member or two.
I spotted Aprialla counting the girls to make sure everyone was here.
"Lunch break." Princess Scarlette plopped beside Samirah on the bed. "The seniors have requested us not to leave the classroom after the bell signalling the lunch break clangs."
Pauline appeared as though Scarlette had announced that the world was about to end in fifteen minutes.
I could partially understand her.
My own mind was all over the place. The embarrassment I might face if I am compelled to do something cringeworthy, it will be no less than a nightmare.
The time I desired not to pass had actually flew by in the speed of light.
After a theory class of Magical Creatures and Beings with Professor Rozier, the class immediately broke into whispers the moment the bell clanged.
"Bye idiots~" Irene sassily waved to everyone and was about to walk away.
"Wait! Where are you going?" Benjamin yelled from the back of the class. Irene rolled her eyes. "Running away, duh?"
"Running away?!" Pauline made it sound as if Irene had committed enough crimes to land her in the prison.
"Following someone's orders is not something I usually opt for. Senior or whatever. It does not concern me." Irene said with a deadpan face.
She then snuck out of the classroom while the others waited for the seniors to arrive.
"Irene! Wait up!" Aprialla snatched her own bag and hasted out of the classroom. Seeing both Irene and Aprialla scurrying away, Sabrina sceptically tailed them out as well as she will even dive into a well if Aprialla does.
Three of us have already snuck out.
It tempted me as well.
But what if I get into trouble because of it? My mind was in a dilemma. I turned to Samirah if she was considering to sneak out as well.
"Are you going?" I saw Samirah turn to Kristian. He sniggered. "Why should I? This introduction ceremony is always fun!" "Then I am staying as well." Samirah grinned and shifted her attention to Benjamin. "Are you planning to leave, Benjamin?"
"N-no. I have my principles set. I do not run away. Rather I choose to face the obstacles." Benjamin stammered the moment his eyes met Samirah's.
I could picture Irene's deadpan response to Benjamin's statement about principles. 'What principles?' She would've said.
Before my brain could determine whether I should stay or leave, a huge mob of older year students filled the classroom.
The classroom that is usually humongous and roomy now suddenly felt extremely stuffy. I spotted my brother, Philodemus.
Phil was tall and had an average built with red hair and olive-green eyes. Other than the hair and eyes, no one has ever said we look anything alike. He was the crown prince of Dynstown and my parents' favourite child. He was in his last year of Wisteria.
The older students were the only clattering ones.
The students of our class have never been this quiet before.
"Good afternoon, first years." Prince Uchtred of Arcanon under Athenburg, stood behind the dice. He was tall and willowy with golden blonde hair and teeth whiter than paper. He was my brother's classmate.
Uchtred was also running for the elections of the head boy.
A few 'good afternoons' were heard from our classmates.
"All of you appear to be on the edge." His smiling eyes travelled through the room. "Loosen up, we here only to have a little chit-chat and to get to know you. Please do not be so daunted."
The trouble was not the introduction. It was the tasks that are rumoured to be given out during the introduction.
Uchtred leaned forward on the dice.
"Let us see… Prince Benjamin! Professor Benedict, your father joined the school this year, ehh?" Uchtred smiled at Benjamin. All of the class twisted their bodies at their seats and turned to Benjamin.
If my luck is bad, Benjamin's is worse.
"Apparently. I do not have any clue to the motive behind it." Benjamin was on his feet. Uchtred smiled
"Come up here, mate! Let us make this introductory programme a little more comfortable!" He stood up straight and gestured Benjamin to go in front of everyone.
And Benjamin obeyed.
What if I am called in front of everyone as well?
"Do you have a favourite female senior?" Uchtred kindly asked. "Umm…" Benjamin who was now positioned in front of the class was scanning his eyes through all the seniors that were present. "Princess Susannah of Holloway."
Everyone of us knew Princess Susannah.
Her kingdom was under Brindlemark. She was also in the same year as my brother. She had shoulder length wavy chestnut hair and a million-dollar smile. She has crooked teeth that just makes her smile cuter than ugly. She was the topper of her class and extremely kind as well. She was Uchtred's best friend.
Princess Susannah stepped forward, smiling and shook Benjamin's hand.
"O-oh! Oh yes. Great." Uchtred did not appear much mirthful with Benjamin's decision. "Very well. I did not expect it of course but… alright. Prince Benjamin, why don't you dance with Princess Susannah here?"
A loud cheer echoed from the seniors.
Benjamin appeared disquiet at first but when Princess Susannah shrugged and put him at ease.
Eventually they put on a ballroom dance performance. All while Benjamin was redder than the evening sun and Princess Susannah appeared unfazed.
It was an amusing sight.
The rest of the event was not as ghastly as I expected it too be. Kristian was made to propose Princess Patricia, Shanon was told to act drunk, Angus had to pretend he was playing Aerofence and Pauline probably felt that a burden was lifted from her when she was just asked to list out three appealing qualities about Aprialla.
The rest received similar tasks as well.
While I was asked to name a senior, I thought was good looking. Without any reluctance, I prompted my brother's name.
The answer was taken as valid.
The event was not barbaric at all. Instead, it was hilarious and the class bellowed with laughter.