Family,

It's all about connections and bond between your blood.

Connections,

A relationship in which a person is associated with something else.

But in my case, it's money the only bond and connection in my family.

♦

Alessia

Everyone in the house is busy with the family business; Father's out on business ventures, Mother is on overseas, Brother is busy in his work and master's degree, Expected that I will be alone at home. As I reached home, the door opens and I was greeted by our housemaid.

"Umm, ma'am. May I take your ja-"

"No, I'm fine." I took off the school coat as I walk through the halls with paintings and fine decor around the house, and as I reached the door to my bedroom, I noticed that my housemaid is following along me.

I turned to her direction and asked,

"Uhh, why are you still following me?"

"Sir Arthur Guese said that you'll be attending in a party tonight, and I am tasked that you will wear the dress that Arthur provided for me."

My father is the CEO of the company Guese Group of Companies who are responsible for logistics in the biggest businesses the country; of course, other businessmen and politicians look up to our family. Some may like the rich lifestyle as a dream as one of the most influential families in the country. But in reality, it's all a nightmare that I cannot wake up.

"I'm not going to attend to that party," I said as I open the door, but the maid grabbed my left hand in force.

"You will attend the party," She dragged me and she closed the door.

She glared daggers at me as if she's pointing a gun at me trying to something she wants. She looked at the mannequin,

The mannequin is wearing a long peach colored dress with ruffles, studded with white jewels forming a rose pattern, there's no cloth in the upper chest, the fabric is smooth and made of silk that fulfills the definition of elegance in a form of a dress.

"Wear it." She said while crossing her arms.

I run my fingers through the fabric and it's smooth as if I'm touching a cloud, and there are studded crystals embroidered on the dress.

"Those were Bwarovski crystals." the Maid said.

She looked at me carefully as I start to strip off my uniform and clad on my black underwear.

I was looking at the mirror reflecting my pure white porcelain skin, a slender limbs, ample breasts with a mole the left of my breasts. I was looking blankly on the reflection of my body.

Most of the nights, I am attending parties that my father throws or attends solely for business and tonight is one of those shareholders party and I will be attending the party like an accessory. An accessory that isn't worn, but someone to bring along.

The maid approached me as I start to wear my dress. She assisted me on wearing the dress from the corset to the fine and expensive dress. After the dress, she did the make-up on my face with highlights and mascara, gave a designer high heels that I should wear tonight. And then finally, she wrapped the necklace with gold, plating with some emeralds on it. She dressed me like a doll. A doll that can worth millions by seeing the dress itself.

After dressing up, I was lead to the car and found my Father, the most selfish prick in my life. He was dressed in a grey suit and slacks with a white undershirt, a teal necktie with a metallic GGC emblem pinned in it, and black shoes make him that type of person who looked like he has a lot of money in his pockets

"Alessia, looking pretty as ever." He said in a provocative way that used the same tactic in talking to women, even mom fell for it.

"..." I didn't speak as I was boarding the car and remained silent on the trip to the event.

Ever since I turned sixteen, Father would dress me the most 'presentable' for him in every party he attended. As he walks to his friends in the field, he would show me around like a trophy to rub their faces to the investors.

And every time I attend these events, everyone is looking at me as well as the middle-aged businessmen who are looking at me in a lascivious manner worry me the most. Every time this happens, I was always in the case of a rabbit in the fox's den risking myself to be devoured anytime.

At the end of each night when we go to every party, he would always bring up the people he met and asking me a barrage of recommendations to marry that guy for the sake of the business.

However, tonight will be the end of this bullshit. I turned to Father’s direction and spoke,

"Dad, enough. I still don't want to marry anyone."

And he suddenly he stops talking about my future partners and plans, and his eyebrows started to furrow from what I said.

"Don’t you dare talk back to me," He said as he pulled my ear. “I’m going to find your perfect partner for our business.”

He released his hand from my ear and the pain still lingers on my ear.

“I am going to choose your groom once you graduated Senior High in Ecotec understood?” He said in a dreadful manner and dismissing the whole conversation.

“…” I was left silent on the remainder of the trip home.

As I reached home, I removed all my makeup and wore my nightgown and threw myself on the bed looking back the horrors happened that night and that fight with my father on the car. Every night, there is always a fight against my father but ends up dismissing my opinions.

I fell asleep in complete uncertainty as the next day arrives and I would wonder what kind of torture that my father would do tomorrow.

♦

I had the slowest morning in my life; I had to prepare my own breakfast, wear my uniform, and board the taxi to school which ended up me being late for the first period and Sir Lucas is a strict teacher so I decided not to attend his class instead of appearing late to his class.

I went to the library to read books about Psychology since I want to learn more about the person. As I was reading, I hear a conversation about a group of students across the table.

“Hey, hey, are you part of a club?” A female voice asked the guy with her friend on the group.

“I’m part of the book club.” The guy in glasses replied to her question.

“Seriously?!” The other guy was shocked,

“Was it fun there?”

“Yep,” He nodded, “I’ll ask them to get you guys in there, and they’re just kind people.”

“I see. I haven’t tried asking them yet”

“Let’s try joining one later after school.” The other guy with a high voice one said while pumping his fists as if his positive energy radiates all over the room.

I recall my conversation with Mrs. Garcia yesterday, about joining clubs. I used to be part of the tea club since Father pushed me to join a year ago. I was supposed to be the president of the tea club, however; I was kicked out due to in-club politics. I was accused of causing fights within the club and overuse of the club funds when I was the tea club officer.

And thus, I decided that I won’t join in any clubs again, I’m always certain someone will drag me down to get me out of the picture.

“Since when did you have some interest in joining clubs?” She raised her eyebrow.

“It was on the board, and I wanted to do something different.” I declared, and Miss Garcia smiled.

“Maybe it’s your chance to take a look into different clubs that you aren’t part of.”

She said while sorting out the documents on her desk.

“Hmm, I have no particular club I wanted to be…”

“Join another club, how about the Student Council Help Desk? Just think of it as a second chance.”

“As I said, I have no interest in joining any clubs,” I said in protest.

“I kinda know that you can trust your members there since they’re from your class,” She was confident on placing me with my classmates.

“I don’t want to waste my time around those idiots.”

“They can be a handful, but they can do the job right.” She said, “Especially that Nishimura kid.” She replied with a smile. Father used to force me into the tea club even if I had some interest in some clubs.

It might not hurt trying out some clubs then. Especially that club Miss Garcia is talking about.

♦

I went out to the campus and suddenly volleyball landed in my direction I was walking. As I pick it up, a tall girl in a ponytail wearing the volleyball jersey approached me. I raised my hands and do overhead pass and the girl catches the ball without jumping.

“Thanks,” she said while smiling. As another girl in volleyball jersey that is also taller than the other girl approached,

“Come play with us,” She said.

“I’m still busy… Wah!”

Suddenly the tall girl took my wrist and dragged me into the court and placed me at the end of the volleyball court and she threw me the ball that I catch it.

“Just a single game won’t hurt,” she said smiling at me.

Everyone’s staring at me at the court, and it’s different from last night, all of them are staring at me in anticipation as I serve the ball.

I did an underhand serve and it flew to the other side of the court to be received by the girl behind the net, and the girl from close to the net and she blocks the ball back to the court from the other side. It was a back and forth receiving and blocking until the tallest girl from out team secures the point by hitting a smash to court from the other side.

Of course, I did my part receiving the ball when it goes too far beyond the girls in front of me. As I was positioned at the front of the net, and my team scored as I hit it with the kill.

After that round, the two tall girls approached me with their eyes shaped like stars.

They did offer me to join their club but I refused since training can take time to reach to their caliber. It’s fun to play sports in general but what worries me is the possible injury I would have in case I screw up.

Sports are both fun and scary.

♦

I took the opportunity to try out clubs that I had an interest for a long time. I went to every club that I was interested back then and they were always looking at me in anticipation. I wanted to join some of these clubs but either they were full or not accepting newer club members, I was even kicked out on the drama club by critiquing and ruining the play they crafted.

I went back to Miss Garcia and I asked her about the clubs I went that I had an interest, but all of them are either full or not accepting members, especially on the drama club which I hated the director’s attitude for not accepting criticisms.

As I go to her office, I saw two students shaking hands while Miss Garcia is wearing an upset face as the two students shook their hands.

After the two left the room, I went in and Miss Garcia made a sigh.

“You know, bullying can be a handful to deal with.” She sat on her desk, “Anyway, did you found a club already?”

I shook my head.

“Ahh, I see. You’ve faced the same issue as Mister Nishimura.” Miss Garcia brought the set of documents. “I guess I have no other choice then?”

She traverses through the folder and took a folder,

“If you’re really interested in joining any clubs, how about the Student Council Help Desk.” She suggested and I noticed something the same from our last conversation, she’s been pushing me to join the club.

“You know you’ve been pushing me to join Christian’s club right?”

“Apparently yes. It’s some sort of a convenient plot device.” She admitted in a straight voice.

“I knew it. Also, since where did you picked up that writer lingo?”

Miss Garcia made a bitter smile, “My point is, there is room for growth and I know you don’t have that opportunity before but life opens up something better.”

Growth? I have never given an opportunity to grow at home with my parents. My temporary friends

“Sure, I’ll join in the Student Council Help Desk… But I’ll watch over the club for now.”

“So you’ll be a temporary member?”

“Probably. Maybe I’ll stick into the club if I like it.” I said while rolling my eyes away.

“Whatever… Sure.” She said as she types away from her laptop and suddenly a woman in her late fifties in a teal colored blouse and an office skirt arrived at Miss Garcia’s office, and she’s carrying some papers with her. They began to talk to matters about the school as I leave the office.

I started to look for the club Miss Garcia is talking about since yesterday. I went to the vending machine area and found some posters belonging to different clubs, some of them are simple, yet some of them stood out from the rest. But I found a piece of paper that was posted on the boards and it feels out of place from the well-made posters.

That poster stood out for having a lot of erasure and bleed marks from the marker. To top the poster off, a crude drawing of what it looks like a human.

The poster itself looked goofy but this is the club that Miss Garcia keeps on pushing me about.

I went to the designated room and it is close to the biology lab, as I was approaching at the room, the door has a paper written [Student Council Help Desk] with 2 pieces of duct tape sticking from the paper to the door.

From the looks of it, this may be a club that was recently created. I took a breath before opening the door.

As I open the door, I was greeted by 2 familiar faces, the same face I’ve clashed with yesterday and one of my classmates.

“Can I talk to Christian Bartolome?”

My heart was pounding as I say the name, my fists were clenching deep inside I can feel the excitement in my body but I can’t find a sufficient way to express this ‘Excitement’

Christian looks into my direction and his eyes widen and his mouth is in gape of shock.

“I’ll be joining in your club,” I said locking my gaze the whole room which both the boys were frozen.

From this I have declared something, I found something I want to give my time into… A new journey.