Ami's POV
I rubbed my eyes and sat up. It was 5:00 a.m. and I needed to get moving. Today was Monday, the scheduled day for my university admission. Of course, I had to be early because it looked like I'd be stuck in line for ages. Thank goodness my alarm clock's ringtone was so powerful.
After showering and getting dressed, I left my room just in time to catch a whiff of the fragrant fried rice. The smell of the fried garlic alone made my stomach rumble, so I quickly went downstairs to our small kitchen.
Our house was a two-story building with white walls. The second floor had two bedrooms and a storeroom, while the first floor housed a small living room and a guest room. The kitchen and dining area were small, probably only fitting about ten people.
My family belongs to the middle-class family, which means we live a comfortable life. The Winter Society has three types or classes of families.
First, the lower-class family. These are families who work for the upper-class, like maids or drivers. They often live in subdivisions.
Second, the middle-class. These are families who are well-off. They work for large and famous companies. They live in Hamlet, where the houses are of a moderate size.
And the third is the upper-class or nobles, as they're called. These are the families who own large companies throughout the Winter Society and in other countries. They live in prestigious and private areas. Some have villas, while others have mansions.
When I entered the kitchen, Mom was putting the fried rice and viand on the table. She was already dressed for work. Dad was turned away, pouring hot coffee into his cup.
"Good morning, my family! I could smell your cooking all the way from upstairs, Mom," I said with a smile, approaching to kiss her on the cheek. "Good morning, Dad! Can I have a cup too?" He turned to me and nodded.
"Oh, you! What course are you going to take? Yesterday you said you hadn't decided yet. I hope you've decided by now! Oh dear!" Mom ranted. I just laughed, because here she was again with her lecture.
"Don't pressure her, Faith. I'm sure she's already made a decision, right, Amethyst?" Dad defended me. I nodded and sipped the coffee he'd prepared for me.
"I'm taking Bachelor of Interior Designer, Mom and Dad. I realized last night what I'm truly passionate about and what fits my skills. Since the admission is open in all universities today, I want to study at West Hill, since that's what we can afford," I answered.
"Don't you want to go to WinMon?" Mom asked, and I looked at her. I shook my head in response.
"You know how expensive the tuition is there. It would take us years to save up for that," I answered with a pout. "Besides, Mom, only upper-class students study there. I'm fine with West Hill, and Andrea will be studying there too," I said, referring to my best friend.
"If that's what you want, my child. Your Dad and I only want what's best for you and your future. You know we love you so much, right?"
I nodded and smiled at Mom. "Amethyst loves you both so much, too," I replied.
After we ate breakfast, we all went out to our destinations. They dropped me off at West Hill, and then they would head straight to the company where they both worked.
After they left, I looked up at the university's name etched above the entrance. **West Hill University**. Their colors were maroon and gray. I looked around, and there were already a lot of students. I immediately ran inside because I needed to beat the other students in line. I checked my wristwatch to see what time it was; 7:20 a.m.
I hunched over, holding my knees, and catching my breath. I was surprised when someone handed me a handkerchief and a bottle of water. I straightened up and saw Andrea. She was making a face.
"My gosh, sis. You look so pathetic. Fix yourself. And what's with the OOTD? You're wearing pants and a white shirt again. Where are you going, a funeral?" she said, raising an eyebrow.
I frowned and pouted. What was wrong with my outfit? It seemed fine to me.
She's Andrea Joyce Tennyson, my best friend of almost three years. We were classmates in my third year of high school and we were on the tennis team together. It might not look like it, but she's a gold medalist in tennis. She's also middle-class, which is why we became closer.
Her parents are both chefs at the most well-known restaurant in Winter Society. She's a bit sassy, but she's good at keeping secrets.
"I'm just here for admissions, not a party," I replied.
"But you should consider yourself a maiden. You should wear dresses, Ami. The last time I saw you wear a dress was when you graduated from senior high. I'm sure you have a lot of dresses, right?"
"I do, but-"
"See!" she clapped her hands. I just let out a frustrated sigh. "You have to wear a dress on the first day of class, okay? I'll bring some with me just in case you try to trick me."
My gosh, Andrea.
I don't know what to do with her. She talks so much.
"By the way, can you come with me to the mall? Mom asked me to buy something."
"Sure, that's perfect, I also need to check out a pop-up store-"
"K-pop again?" she said with a grimace. "What's the big deal with them anyway?"
"Ugh, please! Don't even start, Miss Tennyson!" I playfully hit her. "Of course, I get hyped by their songs. And besides, they make me happy. They're my medicine and my extra happiness," I answered with a smile.
Yes, Andrea and I are best friends and we're close, but at some point, we have different hobbies and likes. I think tennis is the only thing we agree on.
Andrea likes makeup and girly things, while I'm into music and designs.
I really love music. Music is healing for me. Music can give me different emotions and different vibes.
"I really can't relate to that. By the way, did you know that the new Louis Vuitton models are the Winter Flowers? Gosh! It reminds me of how handsome they were in their teaser. Like- those biceps on Art, I wish I were the one hugging him. Sigh, why is the WinMon tuition so expensive?" she said.
"Of course, they're the children of the rich. They were born with a silver spoon in their mouths. The heirs are really different, aren't they?" I asked, and she nodded. "They can do whatever they want."
"I know, right. That's why sometimes I envy those heirs and heiresses. A big future awaits them. That's why I want to see the Winter Flowers in person so I can get Art Washington's attention," she said with a smirk.
"Winter Flowers? Who are they?" I asked, confused. Was it a new boy group?
Her smirk suddenly vanished, and her mouth fell open. She covered it with her hand and looked at me with wide eyes. She hit me on the shoulder and looked behind her. She moved closer and whispered.
"'Don't say it so loud! You really don't know them?" she asked in disbelief. I nodded. "OMG! Girl, what planet are you from? Is that the effect of K-pop on you? You really don't know them? For real?"
"Yes! If I knew them, would I be asking you? Of course not, right? I don't know them, okay? And whoever they are, I-don't-care!" I replied.
"Requirements."
I turned to the teacher who was assigned to receive the requirements for the freshmen. I handed her all the documents and cards I had prepared for admission. She looked at them before nodding at me and placing them in a mountain of files. Andrea did the same.
After the teacher nodded at her, I turned around. I heard the sound of her heels as she ran to catch up with me. We walked down the hallway to leave the university.
"Sis, you know— no, for your information, Winter Flowers are the most perfect of all perfect students in WinMon. They're all heirs, smart, talented, they excel at everything and most of all..." She rested her hand on her cheek. "They're handsome!" she said, giddily.
"There's no such thing as a perfect person, Andrea. We all have flaws. Okay, let's say they're the most perfect of all perfect students, but the question is, are their attitudes perfect too? You can't be sure, right?" I said, raising an eyebrow.
We stopped when we got outside the university.
She rolled her eyes. "Oh, of course, they're kind. Being respectful is a must when you're upper-class, right? Of course, that's the first thing they're taught."
"Kind? Respectful? Hmm, I'm not convinced by what you're saying. You'll only convince me if I see and meet them in person."
"Whatever, Amethyst Benson," she said, annoyed and let out a frustrated sigh. "Let's just go to the mall. Maybe we'll see the Winter Flowers there so you can see them in person," she said sarcastically.
I laughed because her face looked so annoyed. We rode a taxi to Winter Mall. She was still pouting.
I didn't get mad earlier about the k-pop thing, but she got mad just because of those Winter Flowers. What's so special about those Winter Flowers that my "oppas" don't have?
After about a twenty-minute ride, we arrived at the mall. She got out first, so I followed after paying the fare. She walked with her arms crossed and her lips in a pout.
"You're going to turn into a duck, sis?" I joked. But she still didn't speak. "Okay, fine. Then the Eli- company won't get you to be their model-"
"It's all your fault! You're so annoying!" She hit me.
"Why?" I asked, laughing. "I didn't get annoyed earlier. That's so unfair, Miss Tennyson," I teased.
"So you're trying to annoy me too? You should be thankful we're best friends," and she came closer to me. She smiled. "You're treating me at EBP, sis!" she said happily and pulled me along.
"Let's go to the pop-up store first. BTS just released some new limited edition merch-"
"That can wait-"
"No!" I interrupted her. I even put my index finger in front of her face. "It's limited edition, limited stocks. And my fandom are warriors, okay?" This time, I pulled her.
"Later, Ami. Let's go to EBP first," she insisted. I faced her.
"Mom asked you to buy something, right? You do that first, and I'll do mine. After that, we'll go to EBP together, okay?" I suggested and was about to turn around when she pulled me back to face her.
"Are you sure? No lies? Promise? After I buy what Mom asked for, you'll treat me at EBP, right? I swear I'll get you if you trick me!" she replied and poked me. "Okay, you should go now. Your limited edition might run out," she said with a smirk and turned away, sashaying towards the escalator. She even waved at me.
Sometimes I really don't like Andrea's smirk; you just know she has a plan to empty your savings. I just shook my head and walked towards the elevator.
I pressed the open button and waited for it to open. A moment later, people got out of the elevator. I was the only one who got in before it closed again. I pressed number three and waited to reach the third floor of the mall, but before I could, it stopped on the second floor and opened.
A middle-aged woman entered. She looked upper-class because of her clothes and jewelry. She was carrying a sling bag with the logo of one of the most famous companies in Winter Society, the Elixelle Company. But even so, she looked kind.
Our eyes met. She smiled faintly and stood next to me. The elevator closed again.
I smelled her perfume. She must be upper-class.
As we were both standing and waiting to get to the third floor, I didn't expect what happened next. She suddenly fell, which surprised me. She fell to the floor of the elevator, and I panicked, kneeling to help her.
"M-ma'am..." I said, my voice trembling from the anxiety I felt.
I didn't know if I should touch her or what to do, because I didn't want to get involved in any problems, especially with the upper-class, because they can turn the law and the situation around. They might even say that I was the one who hurt her.
"Ma'am, wake up!" I lightly touched her arm and shook her. I sat on the floor and put her head on my lap.
She's so hot! Does she have a fever?
Suddenly, the lights inside the elevator went out and it stopped.
What's happening? A blackout? Why am I so unlucky today?! Why is this day so unlucky?!
"Ma'am, wake up," I continued to shake her.
I took out my phone and checked the time. 10:57 a.m. It was almost eleven. I typed a text to tell Andrea that I was stuck inside the elevator. But to my bad luck, it didn't send.
I HAD NO LOAD!!
I just turned on my data and went to Messenger to chat with Andrea. But she wasn't online. Still, I tried and it sent.
"Ma'am, wake up. We're stuck. It's a blackout," I said even though she was asleep.
I could already feel the heat because no air was coming into the elevator, so I took out my mini-fan. It didn't give off much air, but it was enough to keep me from sweating. I also pointed it at the woman to give her some air.
I leaned against the elevator wall and let out a sigh.
It's a good thing I'm not a nervous person. But I'm afraid of heights. I hate being in high places. I feel like throwing up and getting dizzy. I also imagine myself falling and my head cracking open. Ugh! I don't want that!
It was probably almost twenty minutes before I felt the woman move.
"Hmm..."
"Ma'am?" I gently shook her. "Wake up," I said and helped her sit up.
"Who are you?" she said softly, but it was enough for me to hear. Her voice was hoarse, so I grabbed the bottled water Andrea had given me earlier.
"My name is Amethyst. Please drink this first to get rid of the dryness in your throat," I offered her the open bottle of water. I was nervous because she might not accept it. You know? Upper-class.
"Thank you," she replied and smiled at me before accepting the water and drinking it.
"You're hot," I said.
"I suddenly felt sick. I'm so-?"
"Amethyst."
She smiled. "I'm so sorry, Amethyst, for bothering you. I'm truly sorry."
I shook my head. "Oh, it's nothing. I was just worried that you might feel worse, especially since we're stuck here."
"Huh..." She gasped and slowly stood up, holding on to the rail. "Oh my- how long have we been here?" she asked, concerned.
I also stood up. "Around 30 or 35 minutes, I guess." I replied.
She didn't answer and opened her bag, took out her phone, and typed something before putting it to her ear. She was calling someone.
"Zico, help me. I'm stuck inside the elevator- yes, I'm with someone. Hurry. Okay. Yes. Thank you." After she talked to that Zico, she hung up and looked at me.
"Do you have somewhere to go, my child? Your parents might be looking for you."
"No, my parents are at work."
"Are you middle-class?"
I gave a faint nod.
"Oh, I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to ask that. Do you have somewhere to go?" she asked again. Her question wasn't pretentious or sophisticated. Her voice was soft. I didn't feel annoyed or angry.
"Somewhere to go? Ohh..." I thought for a moment.
I feel like I had somewhere to go, right? That's why I'm at the mall, right? What was I supposed to buy? What was I going to buy? It's on the tip of my tongue. Liii...-
"Oh, if you can't remember, no need to answer my question. Where are you studying? Maybe I can help. I can grant you a scholarship," she said.
A scholarship from an upper-class person?
"I'll be a first-year student this year. I enrolled at West Hill." I replied. She nodded.
Suddenly, the lights flickered and the power came back on. The elevator started moving again and chimed, signaling that we had reached the third floor. It opened, and three men greeted us. They were well-built and wearing blue uniforms.
"Mrs. Silverstone!" the one on the side shouted.
They immediately helped the woman. I also got out and followed them. I stood on the side and watched them. But Mrs. Silverstone stopped and looked at me.
"Thank you, Amethyst. I will pay you in triple-fold." And she smiled at me before continuing to walk.
I will pay you in triple-fold? What did she say? But what was I here for again? Liii-?
"It's a shame we didn't make it in time for the limited edition!"
"I know! That was supposed to be my first BTS merch! Ugh!"
I turned to the two girls who walked past me. They were carrying paper bags, and I was sure of what was inside. BTS merch.
It's a shame we didn't make it in time for the limited edition!
It's a shame we didn't make it in time for the limited edition!
It's a shame we didn't make it in time for the li-
"LIMITED EDITION!! AHHH!"