In an expensive-looking circular office adorned with lavish paintings and beautiful vases, a man and a child were in a discussion. The shelf was lined with bookcases, and a chandelier hung from the ceiling, casting a warm glow over the room.
"Are you Klara Aswidu?" the man behind a large oakwood desk asked. He appeared to be in his mid-forties, with curly black hair touched by gray. A tall brown-skinned man with mesmerizing yellow eyes that made him look wise, he smiled at the girl. The nameplate on his desk read, "Kevin Barton."
"Yes, sir," Klara answered.
"And you're African?" Kevin asked, his yellow eyes studying her carefully.
"Yes, sir."
"I see, I see."
Klara, a twelve-year-old girl, sat straight-backed on the chair before him. She resembled a porcelain doll, long, silky black hair framed her face, and her golden eyes shimmered under the light, though her expression remained eerily neutral. Dressed in a pink gown and matching pink boots, her firm lips pressed into a faint frown.
"You did extremely well in our scholarship exams," Kevin said thoughtfully without glancing at the open file before him. "I see you want to take an IT course in our school?"
"Yes, sir," Klara replied firmly. "And not just any IT course, but the AI Development and World Changing Ideas course."
Kevin's brows lifted. "Why? The course is expensive, and your financial situation won't cover it." His golden eyes searched her face for a hint of anxiety, but she remained unshaken.
"That's why I joined the scholarship program. If I passed all fifteen subjects, I could choose any course I wanted. You wouldn't have called me here if I'd failed," Klara retorted confidently.
Kevin leaned back with a crooked smile. "You're right, young miss. You didn't fail, in fact, you passed so well that you left the teachers in shock."
He sighed. "But the scholarship covers all classes except that one. The course is sponsored by Diamond Industry, one of the top IT companies in the world, and they only accept male students."
Klara's expression didn't change. She merely sat up straighter and stayed silent.
"I'll make an exception for you," Kevin said after a pause. "But you're too young, only twelve. Come back in four years. And since the course is for males, it would help if you dressed as a boy."
Klara's fingers tightened over her pink dress. "I don't mind dressing as a boy, but why can't I start now?"
"Child, you're much too young," Kevin said gently. "Your mother wants to prove her experiment was a success, a human being without emotions but with the highest IQ imaginable. But I believe you do have emotions. You just haven't found them yet."
Klara frowned faintly. Kevin circled his desk and patted her head.
"I understand, sir, but what does this have to do with my age?" she asked.
"Now is the time for you to make friends."
"I have no need for such worthless things. Everyone is a pawn with their own value. Use the pieces wisely, and you'll win the game," Klara said coldly.
"Ugh, you're much too stiff." Kevin chuckled. "So, you don't have friends?"
"I do," Klara answered.
"Oh, that's good," he said, patting her head again. "Since you're so smart, could you teach my son Shio? I've been looking for a good teacher for him, and a girl as brilliant as you would be perfect. You could even be friends."
Klara raised an eyebrow. "I'll have to ask my mother first." She took her smartphone from her blue backpack. "Mother, please, Sir Kevin would like me to teach his son."
"Kevin! Why do you want my daughter to teach your son? She's supposed to complete her course and become the smartest person alive! I won't let something irrelevant like teaching distract her!" a furious female voice barked through the phone.
"Hannah, you're pushing her too much," Kevin rebuked calmly. "She's still a child. She deserves to make friends, not just chase your ambitions."
"So what? I want to prove that my experiment succeeded! Those scientists destroyed my work and called it a curse!" Hannah snapped.
"She won't enter my school until she's sixteen, and she'll live with me until then," Kevin said firmly, arms crossed.
"You have no right!"
"I funded the experiment. Without me, you wouldn't have succeeded," he countered.
There was silence on the other end.
"Good. Klara will teach Shio and visit your home every evening. I'll send a driver. She won't attend my school until sixteen. Do you understand, Hannah, or must I repeat myself?"
"Yes, I do, you old man," Hannah spat.
"Hush now. Don't curse in front of the child," Kevin sighed, ending the call. Handing the phone back to Klara, he said with a smile, "Your mother's quite the hassle."
"I know. She's selfish and doesn't care about what I want. I'm tired of her, but I still love her since she raised me. She's not as bad as she seems," Klara said emotionlessly.
"So, will you teach Shio?" Kevin asked.
"Yes, and I'll take payment, but only for four years," Klara replied, meeting his gaze. "When I'm sixteen, I'll take every course in the school, even the IT course."
"Oh? Will you change your gender?"
"No. I'll stay a girl, just dress like a boy. I like my gender."
"Okay then," Kevin chuckled. "I'll keep your secret when you attend my school."
Klara eyed him warily. "You promise?"
"Of course!"
"I sense no ill intent, so I'll trust you," Klara said finally.