As soon as we stepped out of the office, Eva turned to me, her face lit up with an enthusiastic smile. "Hi! I'm Eva Leong from Axia. And you are?" she asked, extending her hand with a friendly grin.
I hesitated for a moment before accepting her hand. "I'm Margaret Ander...I mean...Del Valle from Montero," I replied shyly, feeling the weight of the new environment settle over me.
We started walking down the long, polished hallways that seemed to stretch endlessly. The walls were lined with portraits and banners of past students, and the faint echo of footsteps filled the air.
"Are you a princess?" I blurted out, curiosity getting the better of me.
Eva giggled, her eyes twinkling. "No," she said with a laugh. "My family's just rich," she added casually, as if it were no big deal.
I bit my lip, unsure how to respond.
"How about you?" she asked, trying to sound casual.
My smile faded into a more thoughtful expression for a moment. "My family works hard," I said softly. I never knew my parents—they died weeks after I was born. My grandparents raised me, and I barely knew anything about my parents' lives.
Eva's face softened as she looked at me. "Well, that's one way to say you're also rich," she said with a light chuckle. I just nodded, feeling the weight of my secret.
She turned to me with a curious glint in her eyes. "Why did you transfer? I mean, we're already graduating in six months. Did something happen?"
I hesitated, scrambling for an answer that sounded convincing. "My parents had to leave for business," I said carefully, "so they found me this school that offers exclusive boarding. It's a last-minute thing."
Eva shrugged nonchalantly. "Well, you're just unlucky that you joined so late. Anyway, you'll probably get used to it." She grinned.
After a short tour of the campus, we stopped at a brick building, the farthest one. Eva pointed toward the door. "This is your stop. Welcome to the dorm. The last place you'll want to be is with Kelsey." She paused, then added with a wink, "See yah."
I watched her wave goodbye and turned toward my new home. Taking a deep breath, I went inside. Some students were scrambling inside their rooms, talking animatedly. I stopped at the last door at the end of the hallway, reached out and knocked on the door.
It swung open almost immediately, revealing a girl my age wearing thick-rimmed round glasses, her hair with pink streaks pulled into a loose ponytail. She looked at me silently for a moment before opening the door wider.
"Hi, I'm Margaret, your new dormmate," I said with a sweet smile.
She didn't respond right away. Instead, she simply pointed at the vacant bed on the other side of the spacious room, then turned back to her laptop, completely absorbed in her work.
The room was surprisingly large, with a shared kitchen and bathroom. Our beds were separated only by a cozy lounge area.
I closed the door behind me, dropping my bag and suitcase onto the bed. I took a moment to survey the room. It was spotless—like it had been cleaned right before I arrived, every surface gleaming.
"You're from Montero?" Kelsey asked from the other side of the room, her back turned to me.
"Yes. How about you tell me your name first?" I replied, glancing out the window. Behind the building, a swamp stretched lazily in the late afternoon light.
"Didn't Eva tell you?" she shot back, her tone edged with amusement. "...or did she even warn you about me?"
I hesitated, then shrugged. "No. I wasn't really listening."
I was about to cross over to her side of the room when she suddenly stood and turned sharply, her eyes narrowing into a glare.
"If you still want to live in this room, mind your own business, Margaret Anderson," she snapped, her voice firm.
My eyes widened in shock—how did she know my name? Had I been caught? Was my cover blown?
I bit my lip, anxiety bubbling up. "Please, don't tell anyone," I begged, voice trembling.
She paused, squinting at me, weighing her options. After a tense moment, she finally said, "If you tell me everything, maybe I'll reconsider."
I swallowed hard, accepting the challenge. "And maybe, if you tell me your name, I will."
She looked pleased with herself, a sly smile curling on her lips. Extending her hand with a playful smirk, she said, "I'm Kelsey Harrington."
I shook her hand cautiously. "Before I tell you my story, can I trust you?"
Instead of answering, she reached over to her desk and grabbed a folder labeled "Student Record" with her name boldly printed on it, a bright red "Confidential" stamp glaring at me from the top.
She passed it to me with a smirk. "Everything you want to know about me is in there. Not everything, but enough."
I furrowed my brows. "Why do you have this? Did you steal it from the Records section?"
She chuckled, eyes gleaming. "Now you know one thing about me."
I shook my head. "That you're a thief?"
Her eyes widened. "Noooo! It's just that I... know everything. So instead of stealing your records, you might as well just tell me."
I hesitated, then opened the folder. Inside, I found her student profile—name: Kelsey Harrington, 18, enrolled since Kindergarten. Her parents owned Harrington Industries, specializing in satellites and cloud services.
One thing that struck me: she was incredibly rich. Her psychological report said she kept to herself, with only a few friends.
I gently placed the folder back on her desk and looked at her. She was munching chips on the sofa, watching the news.
"My turn," I said softly.
She looked at me, her expression unreadable. I told her how and why I was there. Then, finally, she spoke.
"I know," she said simply.
Confused, I looked at her. "You know what?"
She leaned back, crossing her arms. "I know everything about you. The news about the Raffle Queen in Montero—everyone's talking. I just had to check twice because you look different from the pictures. Are you trying to hide from someone?"
I nodded silently.
She studied me for a moment, then chuckled. "Well, you're lucky you're here with me. I don't think you're one of those spoiled rich bitches." Her eyes twinkled mischievously. "Even with your five million, you're still the poorest in the academy's history."
I blinked in surprise, then managed a nervous smile.
She grinned wider, leaning back on the sofa. "Don't worry, some of us don't mind. I'll introduce you to my friends later."
A strange mixture of relief and apprehension washed over me. I wasn't sure what this friendship would mean, but it was clear—Kelsey Harrington was a force to be reckoned with.
"Come here," Kelsey called from the bathroom, her grin mischievous as she held scissors in one hand and a pair of eyeglasses in the other.
Curious, I stepped inside. "What is that for?"
She flashed a quick wink. "If you really want not to be recognized, nothing beats a new haircut, some bangs, and these bad boys." She gestured to the glasses. "Are you ready?"
Before I could process what she was planning, she gently combed my hair and started snipping. When she was done, I looked at myself in the mirror—completely unrecognizable. My once familiar face now looked like a shy, bookish girl trying to hide behind a new disguise.
Kelsey handed me a borrowed academy uniform—black pleated skirt, white knitted polo shirt with the school insignia embroidered on the left chest, and an oversized black blazer. We were required to wear knee-high socks and black shoes, and I suddenly felt a little more immersed in this strange new world.
She grinned. "Now, let's hit the cafeteria. Lunch time."
The cafeteria was a grand hall, almost like a palace—silver trays of buffet food lined each side. Nearly a hundred students filled the space, some chatting, others quiet, as they grabbed their food from the buffet tables on the sides. In the middle, long rows of tables stretched across the hall, students seated and eating, while statues of angels and warriors stood sentinel near the end. Elevated above the rest was a long, raised table where a select group of students sat—the "elite," I guessed.
As we entered, I spotted two familiar faces—Eva, laughing with a group, and Princess Calixta, regal and aloof, sitting in the middles.
Some students were busy with their meals or chatting, but then everything suddenly went silent. The clatter of a utensil hitting the floor echoed through the hall. Heads turned instinctively toward the entrance.
My breath caught. Standing there, looking impossibly handsome in his uniform, were Hudson and Hunter. My eyes widened in shock. They looked so composed, so powerful—like they belonged in a different league. Some girls' mouths dropped open, and I saw one girl drop a piece of potato from her mouth in awe. Others whispered behind cupped hands, eyes glued to the newcomers.
Two boys approached Hudson and Hunter, shouting, "Welcome back, bros!" and the hall erupted into cheers and chatter again.
Hunter moved toward the end of the hall, settling at a table where Calixta sat. Hudson, however, looked visibly uncomfortable, his jaw tightening as he scanned the room. He then started walking toward us, and my heart skipped a beat. I instinctively pushed my glasses up, trying to hide my own surprise and identity.
Kelsey nudged me gently. "Keep going," she whispered, guiding me toward the food.
As I reached for the last bowl of potato salad, my hand suddenly collided with someone else's. I froze and looked up—straight into Hudson's eyes. My breath hitched.
Realizing my mistake, I swiftly withdrew my hand and grabbed a bowl of assorted sliced fruits instead. Moving forward, I saw Kelsey already waiting at the end of the line, casually chatting with her usual smirk.
"Hey, Kels," Hudson's voice rang out behind me.
She turned sharply to see him standing there, a faint smirk on his face.
"Hey-o, Huds," Kelsey greeted with a teasing smile.
He chuckled softly. "Got a new friend? Congrats!"
"Yeah. Got to go," Kelsey said quickly, grabbing my arm and pulling me away before the conversation continued.
Their closeness made my stomach twist. What if she'll tell him about me?
As we hurried toward the table, I couldn't help but ask, "Are you two close?"
Kelsey rolled her eyes but kept her tone casual. "Not really. We go way back. Classmates since middle school. Don't worry—your secret's safe with me."