Chapter 1 Good Choice, Baby

I WAS in the middle of writing the minutes of our meeting in the student council when suddenly, I heard Prescilla, one of the student council members, flirting with his boyfriend, Vincent, who isn’t a part of any organizations here in the university. “Baby, I love you so much… and you know that right?” said Prescilla in her most sweet, seductive tone, which I found annoying, especially in the situation we’re in right now. “Of course, baby… I know. I know it more than everyone,” answered Vincent, his tone low. I turned my head due to curiosity, but I froze when I saw them… kissing. Prescilla was sitting on Vince’s lap, facing him, and straddling him. Vincent, on the other hand, groaned hard while his hand traveled onto Prescilla’s legs. Seriously, are they doing this here? “Sapphire Jade Miller,” Evangeline, our student council president, called me. “Are you even listening? Don’t forget that your role here is to write the minutes. Without that, this meeting will be in vain,” she added, her tone intimidating. Evangeline is known as one of the students with beauty and brains at the University. She is approachable, although people say that she really has a rude temper. But when it comes to me… she was different. It was like my very own existence irked her. Maybe it was because I wasn’t as rich as everyone here. I only had the privilege to study here because of my academic scholarship. It needed a lot of work, though, given that I needed to render hours being a student assistant to make up for the tuition fee. “I’m listening, and I’m taking down notes,” I answered before showing her the paper. I didn't just write down what was on her whiteboard; I also noted everything she said verbally. “You can check it now if you want.” “Hmm…” Evangeline raised an eyebrow before scanning my notes. “It was messy. How can we understand this if it’s messy? This is the only thing you should do, yet you can’t do it properly?” “I will organize it once I transfer the notes to the word file, president,” I answered, my tone subtly sarcastic when I addressed her position. “Don’t worry. Although I’m poor and no one can accept that I’m studying here, I’m doing my best at my job.” Evangeline gritted her teeth as she gave me a deadly glare. I didn’t mind her and just shrugged before taking down notes again. All of them could study here because of their money, while I study here because of my intelligence. So, who had the upper hand here? Me. “Tch.” That was all Evangeline could say. Serves her right. She underestimates me too much. She hated me for a reason I didn’t know, yet she imitated my natural curly hair a few months ago. Too bad, she can't. Evangeline continued the meeting after that, while I continued writing. She hated the fact that I was using a pen and paper in meetings, but she couldn’t scold me about it. As long as I do my job right, everything will be fine. “Let's meet again next week to discuss our progress on freshman week. I'll let the secretary know the date and time so she can disseminate it to you…” Evangeline looked at me and scoffed. “Meeting adjourned." I sighed in relief. It's finally over. I can go home at last. It's exhausting to deal with people who don't like me just because of my freakin’ social status. It was because of my father’s gambling debt. I hate him. ‘But once I graduate, they won’t be able to look down on me like this anymore. Just two more years... and I'll be able to stand up for myself,’ I repeated like a chant at the back of my mind before leaving the student council room. “FRESHMAN week is such a pain in the ass,” I muttered while in front of the laptop in the school library, transferring the notes to the Word file. “ Freshmen Week is a program designed for freshmen to enjoy their stay at the school before professors start piling on assignments, reports, and final projects. It's like a farewell party before someone leaves, or a celebration meant to make you happy for a moment before the real pain begins. They may be happy in the beginning, but in the following weeks, they'll be crying from the workload. They'll experience the frustration of doing everything they can to study and pass, only to find out after the exams that their efforts weren't enough. As a third-year accountancy student, I can relate to this dilemma. That feeling of having done everything to study, but still feeling unprepared when taking exams. But despite all the hardships, I still managed to make it. One more year, I'll achieve what I've been striving for. Graduation. A bachelor's degree. Freedom. “Done. Fuck it,” I groaned and stretched my back, before calling Evangeline. “I already sent the minutes to your email. Kindly check it, thanks.” “Why do you need to call—” Before she could even finish her sentence, I ended the call. Why would I bother anyway? She'll just rant about why I called her instead of texting. Does she hate me so much that she doesn't even want to hear my voice? I haven't done anything wrong to her. I haven't done anything wrong to anyone, but the way they judge me in this school, it seems like I’m a criminal. I shrugged off my thoughts before leaving the library. It doesn’t matter. I looked at the clock and saw that it was already nine o’clock in the evening. I love the cold and dark atmosphere, giving me an unusual chill yet peace. Enduring the cold, I continued walking while holding the strap of my black backpack. But I stopped when the wind blew my short blue checkered skirt, almost revealing my shorts. "F.uck," I hissed and quickly adjusted my skirt. But I stopped when I heard a whistle from the side. I turned to look, only to see Ash looking at me with an intense gaze. He was wearing the boys' uniform: a white blouse and blue slacks. The top two buttons were undone, revealing his undershirt. He paired it with black leather shoes, a black Jansport backpack, and... wait, how dare he smoke on school premises? "Do you want to say something, Miss Student Council Secretary?" he asked, raising an eyebrow before taking another drag from his cigarette. I froze, debating whether to call him out or not. My responsibility as a student council secretary is to reprimand and report rule-breakers like him to the guidance. But at the same time, I'm afraid of him. It's because he's much more influential than Evangeline, my classmates, or anyone else in this school. Ash Cassius Coleman, the son of one of the owners of this university, and the one I should avoid at all costs. "Nothing," I answered. "Hmm…” He smirked. His eyes darkened as his gaze moved from my face... to my lips... to my legs, which were now fully exposed because of the sudden gusts of wind. Despite the annoyance, I continued walking. I shouldn't be talking to him like this. If other girls saw me talking to him, it might just create more issues and complicate my life. And I don't want that. “Good choice, baby,” I heard him say as I walked away from him. “Good choice.”