It's a dream come true to be here.
Maryúna University—the place I once only imagined from afar—is now right in front of me. A dream I'm still chasing, held together by hope and the possibility of a scholarship I'm not even sure I'll get.
Still, I remind myself: Do your best. That's all you can do.
Standing at the center of campus, I watched students rush past me, their footsteps quick and purposeful. No one looked my way. Everyone seemed so focused, so sure of where they were going.
I felt a small pang in my chest.
Will I ever belong here?
Before I could gather my thoughts, someone suddenly shoved past me.
"Hey! Are you blind? You're blocking the way!"
I stumbled slightly and turned to see a girl—beautiful, confident, and clearly wealthy from the way she carried herself.
Her friends snickered behind her.
"Amei, don't waste your time," one of them said. "She's not worth it."
Something in me snapped.
"I didn't realize this school accepted people without basic discipline," I shot back. "I thought this was a prestigious university—not a place for people who act like that."
Her expression changed instantly, eyes widening in shock—and anger.
Before things could escalate, a voice cut through the tension.
"Girls, what's going on here?"
We both turned to see a teacher approaching us.
I forced a small smile. "It's nothing, ma'am. Just a misunderstanding."
The teacher looked between us, unconvinced, but chose not to press further. Instead, she turned to me.
"You must be new."
"Yes, ma'am. I'm here for the scholarship application."
Her expression softened. "I see. Come with me—I'll help you."
That's how I met Miss Aliza.
She guided me through the entire process with patience, explaining everything clearly. I felt a sense of relief I hadn't realized I needed.
After we finished, I gave her a grateful smile.
"Thank you so much, Miss…?"
"Aliza," she said gently. "Just Miss Aliza."
"Thank you, Miss Aliza. I would've been completely lost without you."
She smiled. "It's no problem. Your mother is a friend of mine."
I blinked in surprise.
"My mom…?"
"Yes. So don't hesitate to ask for help, alright?"
I nodded, still processing everything.
"Thank you… really."
After saying goodbye, I decided to stop by the supermarket before heading home.
The streets were busy, as expected. While crossing the road, I didn't notice the motorcycle speeding toward me until it was too late.
A loud honk.
My heart dropped.
I stumbled back, losing my balance and hitting the ground.
For a moment, everything went still.
Then I saw him.
A tall boy stood a few steps away, dressed in a black jacket and cap. Even from a distance, there was something about him—neat, composed… almost untouchable.
Our eyes almost met.
But he hesitated.
Then he walked away.
I pushed myself up quickly, brushing off the dust as if nothing had happened.
"Are you okay?" the driver asked, his voice a mix of concern and irritation. "You should be more careful."
"I'm okay," I said softly. "I'm sorry."
Even if it wasn't entirely my fault… I didn't want trouble.
Not today.
By the time I got home, the sky was already starting to dim.
"Mom, I'm home," I called out.
"Oh, you're early," she said, taking the grocery bags from me.
"The process was quick. Your friend—Miss Aliza—helped me."
There was a brief pause.
"Oh… Miss Aliza," she said. "That's… good."
Something in her tone felt off.
"Mom?" I slipped an arm around her. "Is something wrong?"
"Nothing," she said quickly, then noticed my arm. "What happened to you?"
I glanced at the small scrape.
"It's nothing, Mom. Just a scratch."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes," I said, forcing a smile. "I'll go change."
As I walked to my room, I could feel her gaze lingering on me.
Once alone, I lay back on my bed, staring at the ceiling.
My first day.
A confrontation with a girl named Amei.
A near accident.
A stranger who didn't help.
And my mother… hiding something.
I let out a quiet sigh.
Can I really survive in a place like this?
Putting on my earphones, I closed my eyes and let the music drown out my thoughts.
For now… that was enough.