Scarlett's POV
I was quietly walking down the hallway towards the School Council Office when I stopped. It felt like my feet were glued to the floor, and my chest started aching again. I don't have heart problems, okay?
"B-black, I h-heard you're looking for a muse for your club. Uhh... I'm willing to v-volunteer, if I can?"
Muse?
I raised an eyebrow, looking at a student who I think was my year level. She's standing while stooped in front of Black Fletcher, the second member of Winter Flowers. He's wearing an eyeglasses and his hands are in his pockets as he looks at the girl.
He's being like that as always. No response.
I didn't wait for his answer and exhaled to get rid of the feeling I had. I need to be classy, elegant, powerful, and seductive at the same time. I'm holding a title here. I need to be confident. I put on the sunglasses I was holding and strutted towards them.
The sound of my heels echoed on the tiled floor of the hallway. Both of them looked at me. I saw Black's forehead crease. And the other student seemed even more awkward. I smiled sweetly.
"Ohh… So you're planning to volunteer as a muse for the WinMon basketball club?" I asked, feigning surprise. I even covered my mouth.
"U-uhh... Yes, Miss Scarlett," she replied softly.
"Woah! Really? So it means you're one of my competitors?—"
"Competitors?" I didn't expect that question from Black.
"Competitors. I'm planning to volunteer too as your muse. When's the audition?"
"There's no audition, Garcia. We don't need a muse," he answered gruffly. He was looking at me, annoyed.
"Two sentences."
"What?" he asked, confused, his forehead creasing even more.
"You talked back to me with two sentences, Fletcher. Is the world healing?" I asked him happily. His annoyance suddenly disappeared, replaced with a blank stare.
He didn't respond. His hands were still in his pockets as he turned his gaze away from me. He faced the girl student. She looked down again. I waited for him to say something, but he just suddenly left. I was dumbfounded.
"Y-yah! Black!" I called out to him, but he didn't even stop walking. How annoying!
"Black! Talk to me! When is the audition for the muse? So I can prepare, right?" I said and followed him. I took off my shades.
"What should I do to pass the audition? Should I wear a proper coding dress?" I asked and looked at him. He didn't even turn to me, as if I wasn't there.
Gosh! When will he talk to me?
"Do you have a question and answer for that?—"
"Can you shut up your mouth?"
I stopped walking immediately. My words were left hanging in the air. His eyebrows were furrowed, and his face was full of irritation. He even hissed at me.
I closed my mouth, and I felt the pain in my chest again. It felt like I could cry any second. My mind went blank, and I couldn't say anything back.
"Don't follow me again." He said.
He turned his back and walked away without me being able to say anything. I suddenly felt dispirited and let out a deep sigh. My day is ruined again. I just saw him again after two months, and this is what happens.
Why are you pursuing him, Scarlett? Why, indeed? Why Black Fletcher? There are many other guys out there.
"I don't know," I said to myself. I think I'm going crazy.
I just continued walking to get to the SCO. I still need to handle the favor Snow asked of me.
After a few steps, I arrived in front of the office. I was about to open the door, but someone got there first. I looked to the side as someone grabbed the doorknob. He just glanced at me, opened the door, and went in first. I just grimaced and entered as well.
When I came in, Forsythia was facing a computer, busy typing something. I walked closer to her, so she looked at me but then returned her gaze to the monitor.
"Snow said she'll just give you the files at lunch. She can't come in today," I said.
"Ok–"
"Why?"
I looked at Harvey. He was looking at me with a questioning expression. I was also confused.
Why is he asking?
Just a moment ago, he went in before me and didn't even say good morning. He's Harvey Kim, the sixth member of Winter Flowers.
"The announcement for WinMon Clubs Week is later. If we don't pass the files, we definitely won't be able to recruit new members," he added.
I nodded. That's right, he's also a member of their club.
"I don't know. She didn't tell me the reason. But she'll come in later, so she's only coming in for half the day today." I answered. He nodded in response and returned to what he was doing. He's reading something.
I faced Forsythia again. She was still not finished with what she was doing. I wanted to enter class with her.
"I gotta go. It's 8:30 already, I might be late for class." I told her.
"Okay, I'm almost done anyway. And ma'am knows I'm busy today, you know, perks of being a SC secretary." She let out a deep sigh. I just smiled and tapped her shoulder.
I didn't bother to say goodbye to Harvey, he wouldn't pay attention to me anyway. All the Winter Flowers have the same blood. They're all aloof. Tch!
I put on my sunglasses again and walked to my room. As I walked down the hallway, I couldn't help but look at the students staring at me, especially the girls. They are gossiping while looking at me from head to toe.
I'm a woman's trendsetter. Everything I buy and wear, even my style, they imitate or buy as well. I'm a model for Elixelle Company, so that's not surprising. But honestly sometimes I'm annoyed with them. It's like they'll even imitate my face.
It's okay with me if they use what I use, but not in all aspects. Sometimes, you'll be surprised to see them the next day, wearing the exact same dress and style I wore. From head to toe.
That's why when I saw that girl student who seemed new earlier, I approached her. I haven't even seen her before. She doesn't have her own car, but all the things she wore earlier suited her. I've only just seen a girl student who looks good in our uniform. I bet she's wealthy.
Everything about her is brand new. I liked her shy smile when she said 'thank you' to me. I can feel that she's friendly and she can be my friend.
What's her course?
It's a shame I couldn't accompany her earlier. But I hope I see her again so I can get to know her better. So I can also tell her who to avoid in WinMon. I always do that for every new student here. If I have a chance, I'll tell them to avoid the Winter Flowers, they are a bunch of jerks and spoiled students.
When I arrived at the room, I immediately went in and sat down. I took off my sunglasses and crossed my legs. While waiting for my other classmates, I checked my phone. I checked my emails and messages. Notifications are flooding. I didn't bother to look at them.
"Scarlett!"
I looked at the person who called me. She smiled at me and approached me for a beso. She sat on the chair next to me. I grimaced as I looked at her hair and what she was wearing. It's braided again and she's not wearing a uniform.
"What now, Nana?" I asked. She smiled widely.
"Guess what?"
"What? What? Huh?"
She rolled her eyes but was still smiling. She handed me a paper and pointed to the large letters written on it.
"See that? WinMon Basketball Club needs a muse! And you know that I'll come to you right away because of this, right? You also know that you're my bias among all the girl students in the university."
I was staring at the paper while reading what was written on it.
Scarlett Garcia
Winter Monarch Basketball Club Muse
"You're not kidding, right? You chose me to be the muse of the Basketball Club? For real?" I asked happily and turned to her.
She nodded. She winked at me, so without hesitation, I hugged her tightly. I don't know what to say, but right now I feel so happy. This means there will be no competition. And Black can no longer refuse.
I broke away from the hug and smiled widely. I don't care if I look silly from smiling so much because I'm happy, that's what I feel right now. This is probably to make up for my sadness earlier.
"But there's a problem, Scarlett," she said. I looked at her. I looked at her with a questioning expression because her face was sad.
"What is it?" I asked. She looked at me and smiled sadly.
"I won't be the club manager anymore."
"Wait... What?" I asked, surprised. I turned sideways to face her properly. "Why so sudden?"
"Director said I need to focus on my studies because I'm a third-year now. He told me yesterday. They already found someone to replace me."
"They found someone so fast?" I asked, puzzled.
"That's why when the director said they're looking for a muse for the club, I volunteered to find one. And I thought of you. They might find someone else!" she answered. "I have to go now, your teacher might arrive."
"Go? Where are you going?"
"Ah, right! I can't attend class for now. I need to handle the paperwork I haven't finished for the club. So when I leave, coach won't bother me anymore." She said, so I nodded. "Okay, I'm leaving. Bye!" She waved and left the classroom.
I looked at the paper I was holding and then smirked.
Just thinking that I'll see Black every day gives me butterflies. I'll get to watch him practice and see how good he is at basketball. Then I'll hand him a towel or wipe his sweat for him. Then I can cheer for him, and he'll be more motivated to play. Then we'll get closer until his feelings for me develop.
Then he'll confess his feelings, court me, and of course, I'll say yes. Then we'll become a couple! We'll get married after we graduate and have children. Until we grow old, nothing will be able to separate us.
"Sigh, Black Fletcher. Why are you making me crazy over you?"
"Right, Miss Garcia?"
I was startled and looked ahead when I heard Miss Laso's voice. She's looking at me with her eyebrows raised. Her right hand is on her waist. Her eyebrows are also furrowed. I just smiled because I know what she's going to do next.
"Stand up!" she shouted to the whole class, so everyone stood up at the same time. "Good day everyone!"
"G-good day, Miss Lasooo...–"
"Wait! Wait! Wait!" she shouted again. She looked at all of us with an angry stare. If looks could kill, we would all be dead from Miss Laso's glare.
"What kind of greeting is that?! What's with... Gu-gu-good day?! Are you choking?! GOOD DAY! It should be GOOD DAY! Not gu-gu-good day! Direct! Straight! Don't stutter!" she shouted. "And, what's with the last thing?! Miss Lasooo?! What kind of greeting is that?! Are you in kinder?! It should be MISS LASO! The tone of your voice should go up but not SHOUTING! You should say it professionally because you're saying your teacher's name!"
Her shouting is making my ears hurt, my gosh!
"The right pronunciation and greeting is... GOOD DAY, MISS LASO! Not the low energy like... Gu-gu-good day, Miss Lasooo. You sound like you're all dead if you greet like that!" she said and took her stick. She propped it on the table and put her hand on her waist. "Again! Good day everyone!"
"GOOD DAY, MISS LASO!!" my classmates shouted loudly. I don't know if I should laugh or what, but I'm laughing at my classmates' voices. It's obvious they're annoyed with Miss. Who wouldn't be?
Miss still looked annoyed, but she let us sit down.
"Let's check the attendance first!" She then sat down and opened her attendance notebook.
While Miss was busy calling our last names, there was a knock on the door. She stopped, and so did my other classmates who were chatting. Miss stood up with her eyebrows furrowed again.
For sure, whoever it is will get a scolding from her. She hates students who always come late to her class.
She hates it when students are late for her class, especially since she knows that everyone in this section is an heir or heiress. They have many helpers, so all they have to do is bathe and get dressed because their food is already on the floor, and they go straight to the university. Why would they be late?
She opened the door, and in front of her was a girl who was sweating and looked like she had been running. She was still panting. She smiled at Miss and bowed.
"G-good day, Ma'am." she greeted softly.
"Oh?! Why are you only here now? Why are you late for my class?! Do you know what time it is, huh?!" Miss Laso raised her wristwatch and showed it to Amethyst, yes, it's Amethyst. "It's 9:20! You're 20 minutes late! Are you still a student, huh?!"
"A-ahh... B-because... I had a hard time finding this room," Amethyst said. It was obvious she was nervous.
"What's with the 'pu-pu-po'? PO! That's the correct pronunciation! Why?! Are you a new student?" Miss asked, still strict. Couldn't she just not shout, right?
Amethyst nodded and showed her ID. Miss took it and looked at it. Afterward, she looked back at Amethyst and stared at her.
"Your code, hurry!"
Amethyst quickly showed her code. And Miss scanned it using her cellphone.
Winter Monarch University students have codes for their information and identity. The code means a lot to every student, because it also contains your grades for every grading period for every semester. They don't give out paper cards, your grades go straight to the system, and using an app that the university itself made, you scan your code, and your grades will appear there. They don't even announce it.
WinMon, in short for Winter Monarch, is a University where every child that belongs to an upper-class family can study and graduate. They don't accept middle-class and of course, a lower-class. It's a school law.
There are also universities for the middle-class, West Hill University. While the lower-class is South Arc University. But the difference between the three universities is... WinMon has all you needed, they can give. High-class, high-tech gadgets, foreign and professional professors from different places, and of course, the Winter Flowers.
"Go sit in the back. You don't have any eye problems, do you?" Miss asked when they both entered. Amethyst shook her head.
She went to the seat Miss pointed to, and Miss continued to check the attendance. While she was in the middle of checking, someone knocked again. She stopped again, and her eyebrows furrowed. She slammed the notebook down, stood up, and took her stick, her hands on her hips again.
For sure, someone's going to the guidance office today, pft!
Miss Laso angrily opened the door, and the Winter Flowers were there. Black was standing in the middle with his hands in his pockets while with his other friends. Harvey was busy with what he was reading.
"Sorry we're late, Miss." Black said and just passed by Miss. I didn't hear Miss get annoyed, and especially not shout. Well, she can't dare to do that.
Winter Flowers are the most respectable students in WinMon. They are the standard of a perfect student.
From the looks, style, aura, talents, and wealthy. They have all the descriptions of the best. They excel in everything, from academics to sports and all sorts of things. They are like a high-quality brand, untouchable.
I followed them with my eyes to where they were going to sit. They went to the very front and sat next to each other. They're like ants, wherever one goes, the others follow.
My seat is far from where Black is sitting.
After a while, more people came in. I covered my mouth to hold back my laughter. She's out of breath. It's obvious she ran up the stairs to the fourth floor where our room is.
Our room is called 'treasure box'. Full of highly expensive students from different wealthy families. We are a bunch of students that everyone admires. Everyone in this room is an heir or heiress of the family they belong to. We are in a section called, Class-A Monarch.
Winter Flowers is our main gem. They are the ones who carry our section's name. They consist of seven members.
Black Fletcher, he's the second member of Winter Flowers. He's the President of the Music Club. He's also the team captain of the Basketball Club. He loves playing instruments. Doing arts, but music is his lifetime hobby, and composing music is his talent. His family owns hospitals. He's an heir.
Harvey Kim, the sixth member of Winter Flowers. Just like me, he's also a trendsetter, for male students. If you're gonna ask me if he's handsome? Definitely, indeed! He's the V-President of the Photography Club. He won for the best perfect face in the world and is still a title holder for now. His family owns haciendas and farms. They are producing goods in the market and also exporting. He's an heir.
"Girls?! Why are you late?! My time is almost up, and you're just getting here?! Is studying even important to you?!" Miss shouted, enraged.
"Lo lamento, Señorita." Annalisa answered.
"Something just happened, Miss, that's why we're late. It won't happen again!" Brianna added.
"Get in! Careless brats!" Miss Laso said.
I waved at Kimberly and Brianna. They are my friends but not so close and best. I don't have any close friend except Snow.
They both sat next to me, and Brianna was smirking.
"Oh?" I asked, confused. "Happy?"
"Happy!" she answered, smirking.
I looked at Amethyst in the back. She was just quiet with her hands on the desk. I want to go to her. It's obvious she's not used to the university uniform. She keeps scratching herself.
"Do you know her?" I looked at Brianna, who was also looking at Amethyst. "She's a new student, right?"
"I guess so. I just saw her earlier. I think she's wealthy and an heiress. You think?"
"Maybe. She's in this class, she might be very rich, right?"
But why isn't she familiar to me if she's the daughter of an upper-class family and an heiress? She suddenly came out of the blue. I think she's a hidden heiress. Like in books, right? To be safe when the time comes that they'll announce that you're the heiress.
I should talk to her later.
---
### Ami's POV
Winter Flowers, just die!
I feel like punching someone. That feeling like you're about to explode from anger and you just want to shout.
He's smiling like an idiot as if he did nothing wrong! They are really a bunch of boastful, jerks, and spoiled brats! How can they say these people are the perfect of all perfect students? Perfect at being crazy, is that it?
Flashbacks...
After Scarlett said goodbye, I looked around. There were quite a few students walking in the hallway, so I let out a deep sigh before I started walking.
I took out my cellphone and looked for my section and class schedule today. It's a good thing WinMon is so high-tech. You just need to use an app that's exclusive to students studying at the University to find what you're looking for or if you want to search for something to make it easier to find.
Class-A Monarch, fourth floor, West Building
"Fourth floor?!" I almost shouted.
Is this the last section here, and it's on the fourth floor? Wow! How unlucky am I today?
First, I didn't know that the gate was far from the University's main building. Second, this! I have to walk to the West building and climb the deadly four floors! If there's a third one, I don't know what I'll do!
While I was on my way to the West building, I felt my skin itching from the uniform fabric. I've wanted to take it off for a while because I'm uncomfortable. The fabric is thick, so I'm not comfortable.
The other students were also looking at me as I walked. Maybe they've only just seen an Amethyst Benson in their lives.
As I was going up to the third floor, water suddenly hit my face, so I immediately covered it.
Nooo!!!
"HAHAHAHAHA! Aha! You thought I wouldn't score?! Not on my watch!"
My eyebrows furrowed when I heard a voice. I wiped my face with my hand.
"HAHAHA– haha– w-wait... You're not Axel?"
I opened my eyes and looked angrily at the man in front of me. I looked down at the water gun he was holding and then back at him. He still had a questioning expression as he looked at me. I don't know why, but I suddenly clenched my hand.
I'm really going to punch this guy!
"Yah." I said, looking at him with a glare. "Say sorry." I said calmly.
"¡¿Qué?!"
"What's with the 'K'?! I said, say sorry!" I answered. He's going to 'key-key' me!
"And who are you to command me that?! Do you know me? I'm Ace Park!"
"I. Don't. Care! Just say sorry!" I shouted fiercely at him.
"No! I won't say sorry to you. That was just an accident. I thought you're my friend, Axel. So, basically, that's an accident and a mistake!" he answered at length, insisting that he wouldn't say sorry.
"Even if it was an accident! You should still say sorry!—"
"Never! I'm Ace Park, the first member of Winter Flowers. I shouldn't do that thing."
What I was about to say was cut off. It was as if my tongue was suddenly tied by what he said. The anger I felt earlier suddenly disappeared.
'He's a member of Winter Flowers? The first member!'
"Y-you—"
"Hi!"
What I was about to say was interrupted when someone suddenly put their arm around my shoulder. I looked at him, and he also looked at me. He smiled sweetly at me, but I could tell it was fake.
"Hi, Ace! Where's Holland?"
"I don't know." He answered and was still looking at me with a furrowed brow. I'm sure he's cursing me in his mind. Well! So am I!
"Ohh, haha, I see. Let's go!"
"H-huh? But, w-wait—"
"Sshhh! Just forget it," he said and pulled me away.
I glared at Ace and then rolled my eyes. He also glared at me, and was about to shoot me with the water gun he was holding, so I just walked away.
End of flashbacks
That Ace Park! He's so irritating. I think Andrea's description of them was wrong! Especially that Ace Park. He could have just said sorry, even if it wasn't sincere, I would have accepted it, as long as he said sorry. Is it that hard to say the word 'sorry'? It's just one word and two syllables!
"Oh?! I'll let all of you who are late off today! Because if you're late for my class again tomorrow, just drop out! Careless brats!" Miss said her last words and angrily left the room.
That teacher is too much! It's like she never gets tired of shouting.
I let out a breath and leaned on the chair. I feel suffocated here. I'm surrounded by rich kids.
Ahh! I want this day to end because I feel like I can't handle what's happening today. I still can't process it in my mind. I'm sleepy.