Pandora. A mortal woman who was warned by her husband Epimetheus and brother-in-law Prometheus—yes, the guy who gifted fire to humans—not to accept any gifts from anyone, especially if it came from the gods.

Long story short, Pandora didn't listen to either of their warnings and carelessly received a gift from Zeus who told her not to open it under any circumstance.

First of all, who would give someone something and tell them not to open it? That's completely ridiculous! It's like telling someone not to breathe air, or eat pizza. It's impossible to do!

And who could blame Pandora? She was created by the gods to be curious! She couldn't stop her inner workings from doing the thing: opening the pithos jar. No, the gift wasn't a box, which was a common misconception of the myth.

Come on, people! Why is it hard to remember that the gift is a jar and not a box? It's very easy to recall.

Jar. Box. They were two different things.

As I was saying, the lady opened the jar and boom! She was killed!

When you think about it, the saying 'Curiosity kills the cat' fits Pandora's situation.

No, I was just kidding. Pandora didn't die, I think, but she unleashed plagues and other evils by opening that damn jar, which resulted in many people in the world getting sick and ultimately dying earlier than they should be.

And that's why diseases exist. It's Pandora's fault that we get those colds and seasonal allergies. And death.

Anyway, this wasn't the reason why I was thinking about this particular Greek myth. It was just that when I was thinking of going outside the house for some fresh air, I almost stepped on a suspicious package sitting at my doorstep, and I did not remember expecting anything from anyone at all.

I didn't know if I was to take it inside, remove the plastic wrapping and taping, and open the box to see what's inside, or not. Maybe there's some good stuff in there, or maybe just some trash. I didn't know.

Luckily though, I knew someone who was probably expecting the mail today.

"Uncle!" I shouted. "I have a surprise for you!"

"What?" I heard Ben shout back from the kitchen. "I'm busy cooking, you know!"

"Can you come here for just a minute?" I said. "I said I have a surprise for you!"

"Coming, Mel!"

It didn't take long before my foster dad got beside me and looked around, confused. "So, what's the surprise you're talking about?"

"There's your surprise." I pointed at the box beneath us.

He looked down. "A box?"

"Were you expecting something today?"

He shrugged. "Not that I remember. Let's take it inside."

"But what if it's not for us?" I asked. "Maybe someone dropped it by mistake or something."

"Don't be silly, Amelia. You're being too suspicious." He reached down the box and carried it inside.

I reluctantly closed the door behind me and went to the living room where Ben placed the package on a brown coffee table near the couch.

"I tell you. I know fishy boxes when I see one," I told him.

He looked at me oddly. "Is this about some Greek myth you know about? You better stop reading those stuff because they aren't real and they're making you act strange."

"Hey, Greek myths are cool, okay? You just don't get it because you don't read them," I said.

Even though we might not agree on some stuff, my guardian Benjamin is great! His looks are those of a middle-aged man, which was quite strange considering he was already in his late forties. He likes looking like that, he told me once. He also said he wanted me to treat him more like a best friend than a father and call him Uncle. It was kinda weird but I got used to it eventually.

Ben gave me a knowing look. "Let's just open the package and see what's inside, shall we?"

"Fine. Go for it." I sighed.

He slowly took off the taping and opened the top of the box. Inside were some items including a booklet, a set of clothes, a card with my face and name on it, and an envelope on top of them all.

"What's this?" I wondered out loud.

Looking a bit glad all of a sudden, Ben took the white envelope from the box and inspected it carefully. He then scraped off the wax seal, which was a laurel wreath with four identical stars inside it, and took out a folded paper from inside it. He began reading the letter's contents silently.

While waiting for him to finish the letter, I rummaged through the contents of the box. I pulled out the set of clothes that I saw earlier, which turned out to be a uniform. The uniform consisted of a plain white blouse with the same logo from the letter sewn on a breast pocket, a red blazer with a matching skirt. I pressed the clothes against my body and it looked like it would fit me.

"Uncle, what's the uniform for?" I asked. "And why does it strangely fit my size?"

Ben looked at me with a huge grin on his face, which got me raising my brows in suspicion. Even for someone his age, he usually does that when he has something in his head going on.

"Mel, you're going to transfer to a new school!"

Yep, I was right. I knew he had something going on. . . Wait, what?

"Ben, this is not cool at all." I huffed in my seat. "I'm perfectly fine with my old school. Why do I even have to transfer? I'm already starting to have good friends there!"

I can't believe that Ben, the closest person I could call Dad, secretly registered me to Olympian High's 'scholarship program'. I mean, this is just outrageous! When we got the package yesterday, Ben explained the reason why he applied to the school's scholarship program was that I looked like I needed a more 'lively' and 'educational' environment than my old school.

I was beginning to get used to my old school, but now I get shipped to a new one. Again.

"Because this is a great opportunity for you, Mel!" he replied, looking at me in the front mirror. "Not only you'll get free tuition, but you'll also get together with students in your level."

The hell I care about with free tuition, even though we'll save lots of money. I just want to be with my friends in my old school. Why can't he understand that?

I glanced at the letter sitting beside me. I skimmed its contents one more time and toss it beside Ben, who caught it with his left hand while holding the steering wheel with his right.

"I mean, this is just stupid. The principal, whoever she is, clearly doesn't know me," I said. "I'm not as great and studious as she described me in the letter. I'm just. . . trying to work hard for a good grade."

Ben chuckled. "That's exactly what Principal Rhea said in the letter, Mel. Don't be too humble, you deserve this."

Even though I knew it was supposed to be a compliment, I frowned upon his statement. "What could possibly make this new school way better than my old school? Or my old school before that?"

He reached out to the car's radio and opened up a station, completely ignoring my question.

Sometimes, I just can't with him.

After almost an hour of driving and moping around, we finally made it to Olympian High. The towering bronze gates of the school glinted against the afternoon sun as we slowly came down into a halt. Ben turned the car's engines down and we both went out along with my suitcase and other stuff.

"Alright, Mel." He handed me my backpack. "This is it. I really hope you'll enjoy your time here."

"Can't I just stay with you and commute here every day instead?" I groaned. "I don't want to stay in a school dorm because that means I'll have to live with a roommate, which is weird, and I definitely don't want to stay in a place where my school is just a few steps away from me."

Ben looked at me sternly. "Mel. You just read the pamphlet. Every student must stay in the campus dorms for them to be safe, which I'm quite thankful they even thought of. The school is three hours away from home, you'll get late."

I pursed my lips. "Fine! I'll just go then!"

Taking the rest of my luggage, I begrudgingly stomped towards the gates. I didn't get too far when suddenly, two familiar arms embraced me from behind.

"I'm going to miss you, Amelia." Ben sighed. "I'm sorry this is happening so fast for you, but I'm doing this for your own good."

A tinge of guilt crept inside me. "I-it's okay, Ben, I get it."

"Thank you, Mel—"

"But I just don't understand. . . Why do I have to switch schools every other year?" I asked. "I'm already in high school, for goodness' sake!"

"Well, Olympian High accepts transferees, Mel."

"That's not the point!"

I shrugged off his embrace and turned to see him eye-to-eye. "Just tell me why, Uncle. I'm just. . . sick of trying to fit in all the time!"

He rubbed his elbow, his gaze wavering.

My eyes squinted. "Are you. . . Are you trying to get rid of me?"

His attention snapped back at me. "What? Of course not! Why would you think that?"

I crossed my arms. "Because I don't really know what to think."

He sighed. "Do you really want to know?"

"Yes!"

Ben looked around suspiciously before inching close. "Would you believe me if I told you you're in danger?" he whispered.

My blood ran cold. "What?"

Ben must have realized what he said because he suddenly stepped away from me. I stared at him like he just grew out horns.

I was about to say something when he forced out a laugh.

"Did I just say that?" He chuckled nervously. "No, that's not it. Definitely not."

Is he being serious right now? Was that just a joke? This is just unbelievable.

I frowned. "What are you talking about?"

"Nothing, nothing!" He waved a hand dismissively. "I meant that you're in danger of, um. . . getting late for your first day in your new school!"

"What? But—"

Before I could even speak more, he grabbed all of my bags in one go, locked the car, and dragged me along towards the school gates.

I huffed. "Ben, you're acting weird! What are you hiding from me?"

We continued to the gates where a chubby-looking guard stood watch. Ben greeted the man and told him about me being a transferee and everything. The guard nodded after a few moments and promptly opened a smaller gate just beside the large ones we first saw when we drove here.

Ben gave me my stuff when I got just a few steps near the door. As I put the bags on the ground, he handed the package last but not before tackling me another hug.

"I'll miss you, Mel," he mumbled. "I'm sorry I can't tell you anything now, but someday, you'll know why."

Letting go of the embrace, he smiled at me.

"Sleep early and eat the good stuff, alright?" he said. "And call me when you finally get a boyfriend."

I felt heat rush to my cheeks. "Ben!"

He laughed. "What? I'm serious. I'll tell him a million reasons why he chose the most amazing girl."

I giggled. "Ben, you're embarrassing me!"

The guard cleared his throat. "Miss, I suggest you go on your way if you don't want to be late. The first class starts in half an hour."

"Shoot! I still have to look for my dorm to drop off my stuff." I looked back at Ben. "I'll go now."

He nodded. "Call me later if you want, okay?"

"Yeah." I gave him a quick hug and carried my things. "Bye."