One thing I was looking forward to this trimester was the yearly school trip, separate from the camp the school held in trimester three. Knowing how rich and prestigious this school was, it was highly likely that the school would let us first years decide the location of our excursion.
In other news, I had no damn clue what to do about that. How do I gauge her feelings? How do I tell her? I mean, this isn't entirely new to me, but it's still foreign territory. At least I'm not a loser so I can still interact with her like a human being.
"Hey there brochacho"
"What's up Oliver?"
"You seem slightly off, just a bit"
"Uhh.."
"What changed?"
"Let's just uhh..Let's say something changed"
"Hmm.. I get the gist"
"You do??"
"Probably"
"Wha-..? How?"
"You tell me"
"I tell you..? What?"
"You like her don't you?"
"Hut-!"
"Looks like I'm spot on"
"You're so not.."
"Oh really?"
"I don't like her.. I love her"
"Oh hot damn!"
"You tell anyone I'll crush you. ESPECIALLY Randan"
"Don't worry, it's our little secret"
"That was super forward damn. I just straight up said that like what.."
"Caught me by surprise!"
Well, now I'd confessed to him I had a bit less worry about me. I still have not a single clue what I'll do about telling her though..I'll wait until the right time I guess.
"Hi Daniel"
"Oh! Uh.. Hey there" This girl had a knack for sneaking up on me, like seriously scary.
"You're a little on edge today.."
"No.. What're you talking about.." Not much point in actually denying it, like I'd tell her what the reason was anyway.
"Oh you definitely are on edge!" Randan exclaimed as he grabbed my waist. "Damn you're really this thin?"
"Whuh?!? YOU KNOW WHAT I LOOK LIKE!!"
"Just restating!"
"Stop violating me!"
Randan knew how social situations worked better than anybody I had ever met. He pivoted the conversation completely away from my 'nervousness' and I was thankful for that. He was a very useful friend to have
around.
"Anyway, why're you so on edge?" Damn you. I should've never thanked you!
"None of your business"
"Then whose business is it??"
"Mine, obvi"
"Ah well, he's not telling us a thing. Let's pack it up"
"Sakurako, can I speak with you?"
"Yes you can, where to?"
I led Sakurako out of the room. Now keep in mind this is not where I'm telling her, this cannot be happening right now.
"So what did you want to speak about?"
"Do you know the Vice-president?"
"Yes. His name's Radoslav Brontë, and he's a 3rd year right now."
"Anything else?"
"Hmm. I could show you his ability rating I suppose"
"Yes, please do"
Academic Ability: A- (91)
Intelligence: A- (93)
Decision Making: A (96)
Physical Ability: B- (82)
Adaptability: A- (90)
Social Contribution: B+ (87)
Cooperativeness: A (94)
Work Ethic: A+ (98)
Attentiveness: S (100)
Overall: A- (92)
Potential: A (95)
"Damn he's good"
"He became Vice-President purely off of merit, he's likely slightly better than the actual President"
"How intriguing.."
"What are you planning?"
"I'm scheming, so don't worry about it"
As I turned around, Sakurako swung her body in front of mine so as to make me face her again.
"Don't think I wouldn't be interested just because it's untoward"
"Huh?"
"I want to help you. I think that it'll be a useful experience"
"Is it because of what I'm doing or because it's me doing it?"
"Wha- Huh?? Uhm.. Both I guess??"
"Good enough for me. I'll tell you everything I plan to do come December"
I proceeded to explain everything to her. Even things I wasn't sure of, but was planning to do anyway. I had a way to get at my brother, and I was sure as shit going to take it.
"Can you contact him? The Vice-President"
"I believe I can, I wonder if he'll go along with your plan"
"I hope. It's not so intricate or intelligent, but I want to do this"
"I hope my next exam results don't rock the boat too much. I need a little bit of covertness for the big reveal"
"Oh well, guess you might have to refrain from beating me this time around"
"I doubt I could do it even with my level of effort. So I'm still gonna try cuz like why wouldn't I?"
"Good luck then!" Sakurako flashed me a smile before heading back to the classroom. In honesty, that was the best thing I'd seen all day, probably all week.
Intelligence is a fickle thing. Many are labelled as gifted in childhood, only to flail as they get older, and they prove to be remarkably average. I am no such individual. I possess true talent, real gifts.
I don't quite understand why everything is running so rapidly. My head is in a spin, it's like the events of this year just threw themselves at me so incredibly quickly I could barely process them. Well, that would be lying, I can process them perfectly fine,
easily even. None-the-less, it feels like everything's happening strangely fast. I feel better, but I'm not recovered, like I fixed the
paint but not the wall. Perhaps one day I'll truly beat myself.
He entered the room. The Vice-President. It was just Me, Sakurako, and Him in the room.
A small meeting room far out of the way, Sakurako called him here on my behalf, seeing as she was associated with the
student council, he agreed to meet me.
"So. What is it you want from me first year?" He held a commanding presence about him, more than the president, but less than my brother for sure.
"I want to ask you a question, confidentially"
"Go ahead.."
"Do you want to be student council president, Brontë?"
"Why are you asking me this?"
"Just answer the question, then I'll tell you"
"...Yes of course I do, but I'll wait my turn like everyone else has, and run when the upperclassmen graduate. That's how things are at this school, only once has a third year won the election, and that was 8 years ago"
"You see, I also want you to be president Brontë"
"How delightful, I'll be counting on your vote next year"
Condescending, I don't like it, dismissive, even worse.
"Are you aware of what I'm proposing you do, Brontë?"
"Hmm?"
"I want you to run Brontë, I will help you win"
"Why would I want help from some upstart first year who doesn't like his brother?"
"Because I'll make it two third-years"
Brontë sat in his chair for a moment, pondering. Perhaps he considered it at this moment.
"No"
"Do you need more proof we can deliver this to you?"
"Perhaps.."
"Well, me and my partner here are not just certified geniuses, but we have some really useful allies"
"Geniuses huh?"
"We did it yesterday to provide a little push for you"
"Interesting, that's quite intriguing"
"Thank you, now what do you think?"
"Alright, that's quite remarkable. But what about these allies?"
"Do you know Randan Mercutio?"
"Oh yeah, the guy dating that popular first year?"
"First year??"
"Yes"
"He got another girlfriend!?"
"Is that a thing with him?"
"Doesn't matter, anyway, the fact you know of him shows he's popular, well-known, and holds heavy influence over both first and second years"
"Are you trying to say that with him, the first years are certain to vote for me, and the second years would be open to it?"
"Exactly"
Once again he thought hard about it, massaging his temples as he decided.
"Fine, I'll do it, I'll run for you"
"Good choice"
"So what do one of you want to be the Vice-President or what?"
"No, no need, you can choose whoever you want"
"You have a deal then. Let's do this thing!"
I shook his hand firmly, he has a strong grip, one befitting a leader.
"Looks like we did it, and you didn't even need to say a thing Sakurako"
"Easier than I thought it would be"
"Thanks for the support. Hopefully we down this bitch"
"That's a way to say it"
Revelling in our victory here, now we need to prepare for the win.
"Hello, brother"
I froze in an instant, Sakurako jumped around on a 180 degree spin.
"I wonder what you were talking with the Vice-President about. Perhaps the prospect of him beating us?" I stayed completely silent. "Well either way, cheers for the promotion, looks like I will be the
next Vice-President now"
Smart as he is, Michael is incredibly patronising, and has an ego for the ages, paired with his confidence and he seems unstoppable to the weak. I am not weak though.
"Are you so sure you'll win?" Despite that, it wasn't me who spoke back to him.
"What do you think, girl?" A hot-head too. My brother was exceptionally quick to anger, I have a lot of healed bruises and scars to prove that. He even broke my wrist when I was 7.
"I think you'll lose"
"Oh do you now!"
"I most definitely do, I have the utmost faith that we will defeat you"
"You and my failure of a brother?!"
"You seem to grossly underestimate your brother, perhaps you're the real failure?"
"THAT'S IT" He raised his hand.
Smack!
How cliche.
"Jeez Michael, you seriously can't stop hurting me, can you? "
"Eh??" Sakurako was completely stunned.
"You little shit!"
Michael drew back his fist and plunged it into my side. I tried to block it but he is a lot stronger than I am. Hurts like a bitch.
"Quit your childish games, or there'll be far worse I can do to you both"
He walked away, hands in his pockets like he hadn't just attacked us both. God knows how he gets away with this stuff, but now I truly know he doesn't just attack me cause I'm his brother, he would do it to anybody.
"Ack!" I dropped to my knees, the pain was just too much now.
"A-Are you okay?!?" Sakurako had snapped out the transient shock she'd been locked into.
"Just about.."
"I'm so sorry that I did that!!"
"Don't worry about it, that asshole deserved it.."
"Why didn't he hit me..?"
"He doesn't own you like he owns me, Sakurako"
"Is this how your brother always is?"
"Yep, sure is..he's never liked me neither and he left me plenty of little reminders of that"
"Huh?"
"Nicks, scars, most of the small ones are from him. He even broke my left wrist years ago"
"Did he do it to your sister??"
"I never let him, so I got plenty of unwarranted hits from him"
Michael was seriously messed up. He didn't enjoy violence for the sake of it, he attacked me to reinforce something. To reinforce his belief into me, that being that I belong to him. If he hurts me, he can subjugate me, if I'm subjucated then I belong to him, he can make me do his bidding, be his little tool so he can further his own prestige and success.
I hate it.