My Happy School Life 💓

After layering me with more jewelry and gemstones, plastering talismans all over my belongings, and stuffing the car with so much incense I felt suffocated, I am finally allowed by my worried mother to go to school.

I will give you a few seconds to guess what I am studying. I am in my first year of university and I am seventeen years of age.

‘Stay away from me today!’ Euffie says as we stepped out of the car. ‘Your misfortune will rub off on me!’

As if I ever intentionally sought after you? Whatever!

It is a beautiful sunny day and my wavy hair is bouncing just enough with the wind.

What could go wrong? (Narrator Mai: Only everything)

‘Melodette! Good morning!’ Meow and Myla greets me in harmony.

These two are my closest friends, and we all share more or less, a similar upbringing. Meow lives in a Chinese temple where multiple languages are offered for tutorials. On the other hand, Myca is residing in a martial arts temple. I think they offer Wing Chun amongst other types of Kung Fu.

‘Good morning!’ I chirp at my friends.

I absolutely adore them. Every single day, both of them eagerly await my arrival at the school gate. They flank me on either side, forming a protective and loyal entourage.

Meow has the biggest bosom in town while Myla has the most smoothest skin I’ve ever seen. No amount of cream I lather will get me to the same level as her Snow White perfection. Still, I am pretty and I have pretty friends. Life is good.

As we walk to our first class, Myla and Meow discuss their respective nights prior. A mix and mash of talks about language tutorials and defense lessons.

‘Hi Mellie.’ One classmate greets me as we reach our seats.

I glance towards Myla to assess her reaction. She seems unhappy.

Myla likes this boy. I won’t interact if it makes her unhappy.

I give the classmate a curt nod and turn my attention back to my friends, signaling them to continue.

Even my friends use my full name, Melodette. Who do you think you are to “Hi Mellie ☺️” me? As if.

'Beautiful morning class!' Sir Corbin greets us heartily, but is welcomed by an array of mumbled 'good mornings' in response, some filled with enthusiasm and others lacking engagement.

We all settle into our seats for attendance checks. While my classmates’ names are being called out, I also hear a low voice calling out to me.

‘Mel…’

Huh?

‘Melo…’

Do I suddenly have spiritual powers now? 🤔…

‘Psssst! MEL!’

AAAYOOOO Let’s go I am probably going to be the prettiest medium ever!

‘Melody…’

Yey!! 🥳 Take that Euffie!

‘Melodette!’

OH It’s real!

I turn my head to the loud source. Everyone else in the class turns too. This definitely isn't a figment of my imagination anymore.

'Mr. Aurelian, is there something you would like to share with the class?' Sir Corbin acknowledges him as well.

In response, Aurelian flashes a polite smile and waves his hands in denial, prompting a ripple of giggles from the students.

Ge~ (repulsed, Japanese noises)

Despite his attempts to court me, I remain uninterested in Aurelian. I don't quite understand his appeal, even though others seem drawn to his charm. No matter what he does, or how rich his family is, he just doesn't capture my fancy. And to make things worse, my disinterest seem to make him try even harder. Like I am some prize to be won. Eww.

Meow is shaking her head in embarrassment. I nod to her in utter agreement. Myla is laughing with the other fan girls.

‘Ok quiz time guys! Pass these around.’ Sir Corbin suddenly springs a bundle of stapled papers to the students on the front row.

Hah! That’ll teach them!

The test handed over by the student in front of me is riddled with mathematical equations I couldn’t understand, paired with some lengthy scenarios on the side. Have you guessed my uni degree now? I will reveal soon.

Huhu that’ll teach me! I hate maths!

‘Class, you have an hour to finish. This is the last quiz before your finals, then your most awaited school break. Do your best.’

If I fail to land at least top 10 of the honour roll, my mother will beat my ass.

‘Melodette, I’ll let you copy from me. I am very good with Maths.’ A wild Aurelian spawned on the seat beside me.

Ass beating it is…

*****

Meow and Myla finishes the test waaayy ahead of me. I am the last to submit my exam. Sir Corbin tries to pry it off my hand even.

‘Please… You could save a life Sir! Just five minutes for your time. Or just give me hint for this number 5 part.’ I say as I point to the jumble of numbers that I only hope Sir Corbin can understand.

‘Miss Verexa, you are on the top of your class, I am sure a few numbers wouldn’t change that.’ He says as he steals the test sheet from me, almost tearing it apart in the process.

‘Kyaaaa STOOPPP!!’

I wish it just tore so I can restart...

‘Class, listen up. For your finals, I won’t give you an examination.’

We all look at each other in confusion.

‘Listen up, kids. I want each of you to present your business ideas to me as if I'm a judge on Shark Tank. I'll send the evaluation criteria to your school emails. Make sure you really think through your pitch and explain how your business is worth investing in. It can be any kind of business, not just the ones you already have. Got it?’

‘Ehhhhhhh?!?’ I overreact.

‘That’s so lame!’ Another classmate joins in.

‘No I think it’s cool!’ And another one adds to the noise.

'What the heck? Are we seriously doing this now?' I Iost track of who’s speaking now.

The whole class goes wild as Sir Corbin drops this unexpected take on the finals. Some are pumped up and ready to go, while others are more oppose. The classroom becomes a hot mess of excited chatter and nervous energy. All of us are all over the place, discussing ideas and figuring out what we are going to pitch.

And that's my uni degree. I am studying Business Management. And I am also fked. I do not enjoy flaunting about my family and I also do not have any other business ideas in mind.

Why take the course you might ask? Well, I could manage the family business like my mother is doing, but I do not need to go out of my way to advertise for it. In fact my sister is probably out today to do the local reading for the morning television news. The old lady you see giving you the lucky stone or number for today? Well that's my sister replaced her now.

To be fair, the typical old lady fortune teller on tv position could've been given to my grandmother, but she's already contracted by investigation teams, to sense if the missing person being searched is still alive or no longer with us.

All I really had to do is manage the business. I have enough competitive workers (family lol) who will do the advertising part for me.

‘Melodette, be the model for my pitch.’ Aurelian whispered from the seat behind mine. 

Weeeellllll….. I'm not entirely opposed to being the model of the region’s most popular jeweller… hmmmm….

*BAD FEELING! BAD FEELING! BAD FEELING!*

I turn to face him. ‘Thank you so much Aurelian. I would have to pass on that wonderful opportunity this time.’

I forgot to mention, on rare occasions, I experience a warning or a foreboding feeling before something awful is about to happen. I do not view this as a skill since, when this feeling comes to me, it usually means that the unfortunate event is inevitable, and that I am unable to change it. At best, I can only anticipate it.

Why does most of the warnings happen when I interact with Aurelian?