Chapter Two: Money is a necessary evil

Money is a necessary evil. It's needed to buy food, clothes, and shelter. However, most people spend their lives working themselves to the bone to earn money, only for those in power to take it away from them. The greedy use money to keep us working and indebted to them forever. At least that's what I thought before I met her...

"In today's news, the daughter of the infamous Crimson Merchant had all charges dropped. The international courts have yet to make a comment on why the charges were dropped, but it's been speculated that government agencies may have been involved..." The news droned on as my consciousness slowly faded in and out.

"Yuka. YUKA!" My half-closed eyes opened as I jumped up. "Yes, Mom." "You're going to be late for school." I looked at the clock and saw I had twenty minutes left to make it to school. I panicked, quickly scarfed down the rest of my breakfast, and charged towards the door.

I took a glance at the mirror and noticed my messy bedhead. I attempted to brush it with my hands, but my hair had a mind of its own. I let out a deep sigh. If only my father's side didn't have foreign blood, then maybe my hair genetics wouldn't be so bad. After all, my hair has an odd auburn hue that clashes with the all-black hair of the rest of my family, and well, most people in this country. Plus, it's annoyingly curly.

"Yuka! The time." My mother pointed to the ancient clock, barely hanging on the wall. Oh, crap, she's right, I was spacing out. I quickly darted out the door. "Yuka! Your bag!"

I quickly ran back and grabbed it from her. "Thanks, Mom." She gave me a smile, then gave me a light shove as I took off running down the long driveway. "You got this!" Mom yelled as I went down the driveway. Halfway down the driveway, I saw Grandpa working on the tractor in the field. "Hey Yuka!. Good luck at your track meet today!" "Thanks, grandpa!"

If only we didn't live all the way up the hill, far away from the town. Well, I can't complain too much. Our farm was special to me. It's where my family grew up for generations. It has so many special memories for me and my family. If only we had the money to save it, since it won't be too long before it completely falls apart or gets bought out.

Farming isn't making much money anymore. It's gotten to the point that my dad had to leave town to get a decent-paying job to help out. That and Mom works pretty much all day and night in the city. That just leaves my ageing grandparents to actually run the farm. I've offered to help many times, but they have always told me it's their responsibility, not mine, and that I should get an education and move on with my life.

That sounds nice and all, but I can't abandon them like that. My parents were devastated when my sister left us. Not that I can blame her, but it still doesn't sit well with me. She abandoned us for her own future, but it still hurts that we don't even know where she went or why she left. We only know that she is alive because she occasionally sends us letters.

I shook my head and smacked my face. Now's not the time to think about that. After all, I need to graduate from school, and I can't do that if I'm always late. If only I didn't have to work so late. Then I wouldn't have overslept. Well, at the very least, I'll get some track practice in.

I ran nonstop down the hill towards the school on the outskirts of the city, and by the time I got there, they were just closing the gate. "Late again!" "Sorry, teach, but I need to get to class," I said as I ran past the teacher, who was closing the gate.

When I finally arrived in the class, I was met by my teacher's and students' stares. My teacher let out a long sigh and said. "You're late again." "I know, I'm sorry." "Just go take a seat." Some people were snickering as I walked to my seat in the back. "All right, everyone, settle down. We will be having a transfer student starting today." He waved in the person who was waiting by the door. "Go ahead and introduce yourself."

The whole class started getting chatty as she walked in, and it's not hard to see why. The girl who walked in was, well, stunning. She was tall, had long, straight, black hair, ivory skin, and beautiful, bright blue eyes. She looked like a foreign model. All the guys in the class had their eyes fixed on her, while the girls looked filled with jealousy. I, on the other hand, don't care because I don't have the time for such petty things.

I have school, track, and a part-time job. I don't have time for friends, rivalries, or even romance. I forced myself to forget about such things. After all, family should come first, and unlike most of these students, some of us have responsibilities. My family's farm and our livelihoods are resting on my shoulders after all. So I can't waste precious time on dumb things like that.

"Quiet down, class, and let her speak." The class grew quiet, and the girl began to speak.