Feb 13, 2017, Monday

The entire vibe of the university was full of excitement. The students were very active.

But as for the reasons of this enthusiastic aura, it could be divided into two: the half population of the students was excited for the next day would be Valentine's Day. They have prepared so many activities and was eager to have fun. Whereas, the other half of the students were fired up because of the upcoming Online District Tournament. With the hundreds of squads joining the competition, many were also discussing about it.

Each of these two groups was very busy with their preparations. Some students were occupying the benches and were clearly playing games on their phones.

For the side of the students who were looking forward to celebrating romance, they were also busy with their own tasks. Their classroom walls and bulletin boards were filled with heart decorations. Love quotes were scribbled on tiny pieces of paper and stuck inside small jars. Secret admirers were preparing for their confessions. The entire school was full of red balloons and glittery papers.

Key chains, couple shirts, single roses, bouquets, and other romantic kinds of stuff were ready to be displayed in some stalls. Confession booths, kissing booths, and others could also be seen around the campus.

At a few distances, Sofia was staring at the other students who were pouring their efforts into the Valentine activities of the school. She secretly admired how the group of students was working as a team. Somehow, remnants of her old memories flashed before her.

In her mind, she could not remember any school activity like this in her past life. What she remembered was receiving an exclusive piece of jewelry made of golden rutilated quartz specially designed for her from a suitor. A hundred roses with a dinner invitation to a lavish restaurant. Some memories of her past youth were too vague but she knew there were many boys pursuing to have a romantic relationship with her. Only to be rejected in the end.

For some reason, at present, she could not also find an interest in joining the school's Valentine's event. Perhaps, like her past life, her heart was allocated for something else.

Just like other gamer students who were looking forward to the upcoming tournament, Sofia's mind was completely set to play for tomorrow as well. She has even forgotten about the school activities!

'I died without any romantic relationship in the past. I should at least make effort to cultivate romance in this new life,' Sofia wrinkled her eyebrows in deep thoughts.

Cultivate romance! This seemed to be a very difficult conquest for her to achieve. All her time was allocated to gaming. Just like her past self which also used to bury herself in doing business. Sofia subconsciously clasped her fingers at her back while her expression turned serious.

She slowly moved her feet and walked forward. The sunlight was warm for three in the afternoon walk. Clouds were painted brightly in the sky.

It was too early for her night class to start. But arriving early in school was intentional.

She planned to visit the school's library or find a quiet spot where she could think freely, at the same time, she would not lose track of the moment. Otherwise, if Sofia stayed in her apartment, there would be a tendency that her mind would carry away and forget the time.

"Nevermind, I'll think of a plan after the tournament," she whispered in the air as her eyes were still locked at the group of students arranging some flowers inside a booth.

Just as she was about to turn in the corner, Sofia felt a sudden arm forcefully yanked her shoulder! Darkness quickly enveloped her sight as her eyes were covered with some sort of cheap linen. Someone had blindfolded her!

Her heartbeat quickly went wild. Initial thoughts came rushing in her instinct. 'My new identity is not a distinguished family in this district. Who would be interested to kidnap me?' Sofia asked in her mind.

To think that someone would kidnap an ordinary girl in a broad daylight and inside the school, this situation just doesn't seem right!

She felt a force that shoved her back and Sofia was forced to move and continue to walk. The rapid sound of her heartbeat resembled a drum being hit wildly by a rock band drummer. She was panting and gasping for air.

Sofia was too scared to even speak a word! Beads of sweats started to appear on her forehead and her legs were slightly trembling. She felt like any moment, she would collapse!

Out of a sudden, she was hollered in a chair to sit on. Strangely, some giggles and girly chuckles with suppressed waves of laughter caught by her ears.

"Is this on video?"

"Yes, this is live!"

"Alright, nice! Nice!"

Murmurs around her grew louder and she could not help but think of another question. A probability that any junior high student would experience at some point in her life.

'Am I being bullied? These students, are they making fun of me?' she asked in her mind. But she could not recall any past bullying incident in her memories. She was just a wallflower in the school. There was nothing note-worthy of her existence.

The blindfold in her eyes was deliberately yanked from her face. The arms that were holding her tightly had loosened their grip. Sofia squinted her eyes to adjust her vision.

As she looked up, she saw a boy sitting opposite. A group of students was surrounding them as they sat at the table.

"Sorry, did we scare you? It was a test for tomorrow's event." The boy looked slightly apologetic. She remembered him. He was the senior student who was sitting next to her during the Financial Literacy Seminar that her group attended.

Before Sofia could process the apology of the boy, her hands flew right straight on his face!

The students watching them stood frozen as her palm connected on the boy's cheek followed by the crisp sound of a slap. Their giggling was stopped in an instant.

Nobody dared to say a word. Even the boy did not expect to be slapped.

"OMG! Did she just slap Kevin?!"

"This girl! Hey, why did you slap him?"

Two girls glared at Sofia but her cold face made them cower in fear.

"Are you stupid?! I could have collapsed because of this test!" Sofia angrily snarled at them. Her veins had even formed in the side of her face. She was still struggling to regain her composure.

"HA! You sure are overacting!" another girl from the crowd stated in contempt. In the eyes of the students, there was nothing bad in their actions. The slap was totally uncalled for.

How could they understand? Sofia had been paying attention in games that she could not relate to these types of school activities.

Sofia opened her mouth to speak a response, but a teacher beat her chance to say a word.

"What going on here?" the teacher asked.

"Teacher, that girl slapped Kevin in the face. Look, her palms were even formed on his skin." one girl quickly reported.

"Miss, violence is not tolerated in this school---" the teacher apprehended her.

But Sofia met the teacher's icy gaze with her cold stare.

"Wait until I sue you for attempted kidnapping! You brought me here against my will! You attacked me just as I was walking peacefully on the campus! Oh, I forgot, you have this live on your video, right? Good, you have spared me the effort of getting a piece of evidence!" she warily eyed everyone inside the booth.

Some students laughed at her remark. They have no idea what Sofia was talking about. They just shrugged and continued to call her an over-acting! They even started taunting her with names.

But standing few feet away from her, the teacher was shaken by Sofia's tone.

"Everyone! Go to the guidance office!" the teacher immediately ordered. Such serious word like kidnapping was too much for the teacher to handle.

Kevin stood from the seat, feeling humiliated. His family was recognized and respected in District 7 for their involvement in the real-estate business. The entire school knew his identity, or so he thought?

It turned out, one junior student was not aware of who he is!

Kevin strode silently together with the other students. Girls quickly gave him a sympathetic look.

"Kevin, are you okay?"

"She was crazy! We should have not picked her!"

To say, Sofia was randomly picked by them. She was the only student who was walking near their blind dating booth. So, they conveniently took her. They just didn't know that Sofia would react badly. They blindfolded her as their activity involved blind dates!

If glares could kill, Sofia had long been dead. She could feel that the students behind her were staring wickedly at her back. The intensity was too obvious.

Sofia was walking ahead of them. Ahead of the teacher even! As if she was leading them towards the guidance office!

Office of the Guidance Counselor

She paused and knocked on the door.

"Come in," a voice consented from the inside.

Sofia bowed at the guidance counselor and stood on the side, letting the students get in.

"What's the matter?" the guidance counselor asked.

Sofia did not speak of any greetings. Her afternoon was no longer good. The peaceful mood within her had drastically changed into 180 degrees. Worst. So much for her earlier plans to go to the library, she actually ended in the guidance office instead!

"The Valentine's activity that the seniors will be doing tomorrow is too risky and could be considered as an assault! I was walking on that building towards the library when somebody yanked my arms and put a blindfold on my eyes. I thought I was being kidnapped!"

"W-wait for a second, young miss... Why would you think that you are being kidnapped?" the guidance counselor frowned.

Sofia was in a momentary daze after hearing the question of the guidance counselor.

If it was her original soul, the young Sofia would have thought that the counselor was also stupid! She just declared what happened to her, which could clearly give the man the picture of a person being abducted. Yet, the counselor asked why she had thought that she was kidnapped? It was indeed a silly question.

But for the 24-year old soul within her body, it was not stupidity. The counselor was just acting like a fool to provoke her! To make her make mistakes so that she would be punished.

'Too bad for you, counselor, you would be a fool if you think you can fool me!' Sofia eyed the man with seriousness.

Sofia took a deep breath as she finally recovered from the shock she just experienced. "Guidance counselor, could it be that you have forgotten what was an abduction meant? If that is the case, I will be happy to search and read it to you," Sofia's tone was full of boldness.

The counselor did not expect her to retort in such a manner. The man was experienced in psychology. And the student's usual reaction when he treated their complaint with indifference was full rage or anger. Students would start yelling or shouting profanities at him. And when that happens, he could trap the student and give him proper sanction for the improper reaction that he also instigated.

This time though, the student in front of him had managed to maintain cool composure. She even answered him boldly!

"Do you want me to search the meaning, counselor?" Sofia repeated after the man did not speak for a long time.

"Ehem! So this is a misunderstanding! You thought you were abducted but it was just part of the activity of the school." the guidance counselor was forced to confront her with a different tactic.

"I see," Sofia muttered. She quickly perceived which side the guidance counselor was taking. It was on the side of the senior student who remained quiet up until now.

"I'm glad that you have reflected it, young miss! This misunderstanding is common." the man clicked his tongue and smirked. Sofia clenched her hands and balled them into a fist.

"You have widened my horizon, sir!" Sofia quickly replied with a meaningful tone. One that can be hinted at with sarcasm and detachment.

"Alright, all of you reconcile. The seniors can go. Young miss, I have more words to discuss to you." the man instructed. The students quickly went out.

Kevin gritted his teeth. He glanced at Sofia once last time before he exited the office.

"Young miss, you are smart. You can understand why I am not partial to you. The student that you slapped is an important figure of this school. He was our benefactor. His family donated a huge sum of money for this school to develop like this."

Sofia crossed her arms on her chest, "Counselor, my concern has nothing to do with his family. I slapped him because I almost lost my mind about what they have done. I am not against that Valentine's activity. I know that it was for fun. My point here is that there should have been an announcement made before they performed it. In that way, an ignorant student like me who was oblivious to this type of activity would be aware. If I was aware, I wouldn't react that badly!"

The counselor gawked in amusement, "Good, you have a point. I'll make sure that the school activities will be announced later."

"That's good. Awareness is essential if they pull this kind of activity. Then, I'm taking my leave. Goodbye, counselor. Sorry to trouble you." Sofia said and walked away.

The guidance counselor could only stare at her back until she was out of the office.