“HI, I’M Elvyra Montereal, nice to meet you all!”

What’s so excited about the first day of school? I don’t get it. This girl seems energetic over nothing.

It’s been two months since I graduated from senior high. And today is my first day in college.

Among the three, I am the only one who didn’t finish my studies. All my brothers are Accounting graduates. So they let me take the same course. Well, it doesn’t matter for me whatever the course is. I am confident with my IQ.

“Hi! Can I sit beside you?”

Tsk, this Elvyra girl is feeling close. She smiles as if there is no tomorrow.

She has pale ivory skin. And she looks sick and paler in our white uniform, plus the wavy long brown hair. She even has a skinny structure. The only healthy about her is her chest.

“You can sit here, Miss.”

“There’s a vacant seat in the front row.”

“Miss Elvyra, don’t sit with a nerd. You might absorb her nerd powers.”

And the battle of who she would sit with begins.

She seems to be popular already in our class. It's just the first day of school, and they act like they just saw an actress. I am way more beautiful, ok?

“Fine by me.” With Elvyra’s right hand on her waist, she looks at each of the students, specifically at those who offer her a seat. “It looks like you want to stand until the class ends. Offering me your seats and such. I won’t see anyone sitting, huh! Plastic.”

The noise flew out of the window in just a split second.

She’s something… She means trouble, I mean.

I sighed quietly.

One…

Two…

Three…

Nerd mode on!

I tried to speak as softly and shy as possible.

“Miss Montereal…” Seat wherever you want. You’re making a big deal out of it, you moron! What a waste of time. “Ah eh…”

Without a word, she sits beside me and runs her mouth.

“I choose here. Don’t mind them. What a bunch of fools, calling you a nerd? Why state the obvious, right? Tsk. So, what’s your name?”

Calm, Lei. Try to calm down.

What is state the obvious she’s saying? I’m gonna explode here. I will punch her if I lost my patience because of her.

“It’s Ashene Lei Castro, Miss,” I answered.

“Oh, you can call me by my name. No need for formalities. I think we are just of the same age. Except that you look older than me. Anyway, nice to meet you, Ash.” She winked at me.

That irritates the hell out of me. I won’t last a day with her as my seatmate!

After a few more hours, it feels like I worked a whole day. I’m so tired just listening to her talking nonstop even though we’re in the middle of the class.

Why did she choose to sit with me? I just want a peaceful life!

I looked at my wristwatch and started to countdown.

Three.

Two.

One.

At exactly five in the afternoon, the bell rang. And finally, my first day of school ended with nothing to listen to but her contemptuous words.

Well, it’s a good thing that she slaps her words to the person’s face than backstabbing. But it is different if she’s doing it the whole day with the same person- which is me!

I know I look like a nerd, but wearing thick glasses doesn’t make me a nerd. What is this reasoning anyway?

She even offered to be my make-up tutor, and fashion adviser, so that I can find a boyfriend.

Damn! I’m gonna stuff her mouth to shut her.

First of all, I am wearing the same uniform as her. I have long wavy dark brown hair, and I just tied it up in an upsweep hairstyle. Where is this nerd thingy coming from?

And about finding a boyfriend, I’m gonna pass on that.

I get my bag and was ready to go when she called me.

“Wait, Ash!”

Isn’t she done yet? “Why?”

“Going home?” she asked while she retouch.

Isn’t it obvious? “Uhm, yeah?”

“My driver is on the way. You can come with me. Aside from you looking like a weakling, you are easy to bully. There are lots of them around. Just saying.”

Can I punch her?

I can imagine other bullies are literally bowing by now as she speaks.

“No thanks. My brother will be here in a minute to pick me up,” I said smiling. I feel like my cheeks are going numb from wearing fake smiles all day.

“Hmm, is that so?” She put her make-up in her pouch. She stands up, with her violet satchel on her arm, and she looks at me with a boring look.

“I will wait with you, then. I’ve got nothing to do, anyway. I just to the mall yesterday, and there are lots of fake bitches out there. So I’m gonna play it safe for a while,” she said. She even handed me her bag.

Oh? So this is the start of her reigning as a “queen?” I felt sorry for her. She chose the wrong girl to be her slave.

Without a word, I turn my back on her. I don’t care what she felt about my action.

At the door, a few students are waiting for Elvyra. And yes, she’s right about one thing.

“Fake bitches,” I mumbled.

They talk about her.

Do I have to say sorry and help her out of it? I can imagine her being the center of gossip from here on.

I shrugged off the idea.

I get my phone and scroll on the screen. I’m not in the mood to open any of my social media accounts. I don’t want to see something that will irritate me more.

To be honest, my mind is blank. I didn’t even realize that I am now standing in front of the school gate. It’s a good thing that I didn’t fall and die on my way.

I looked back at my phone and saw the safe folder that I shouldn’t be opening right now.

Right after the realization, my eardrums broke from shock.

“Oh my gosh!”