Entrance Exam

Part I

It has only been a short while since my family and I moved back to the Philippines for my dad's latest corporate expansion.

However, everything is already moving at hyper-speed.

Even though I am entirely used to my family's comfortable lifestyle,

The thought of stepping into a massive, unfamiliar international academy has my stomach tying itself in knots, and today's exam is my first real hurdle.

Right now, I am currently in the middle of frantically packing my pens, pencils, and documents into my bag.

That is everything right? I didn't forgot anything?!

When the bathroom door from the adjacent room finally clicks open,

A cloud of thick, jasmine-scented steam spills into the hallway, followed by Mayu-nee, who is wrapped in a plush robe.

"Oh?"

Mayu-nee blinks, checking the wall clock.

"Is Madam still not finished bathing?"

"Yeah,"

I groan, tossing a spare eraser into my bag.

"It's been an hour now, and I'm getting completely tired of waiting. At this rate, we're going to be late before I even get to fail the exam!"

Unable to take it anymore, I march into the hallway. Directly entering my parents bedroom.

"Mom! Hurry up! I need to get ready too!"

"Almost done, sweetie!"

Her cheerful, completely unbothered voice echoes through the door over the sound of rushing water.

"Just counting to a hundred while my hair conditioner sinks in!"

Seeing me sigh and lean my head against the wall, Mayu-nee walks up beside me, offering a sympathetic, albeit amused, smile.

"Hana-ojousama, if you want to, you can use the bath in my staff quarters,"

"Thanks, Mayu-nee, but I already have all my clothes laid there inside,"

I mumble, crossing my arms tightly.

This wouldn't had happened if the bathroom in my room is not out of order.

Seriously? Why now of all times?!

I shouldn't had let mom used the bathroom first!

"I'll just wait. Just how long can a human being possibly condition their hair anyway?"

Ten minutes later, the door finally swings open.

My mother steps out, looking absolutely radiant, pristine, and glowing, without a single care in the world.

She beams at me as if she hasn't just held the entire bathroom hostage.

"You can go now, sweetie!"

Mom chirps, completely ignoring my glaring eyes.

"Oh, and Mayu-chan? Can you come into my room for a moment? I'm having a minor crisis between the pastel blazer and the linen dress."

"Y-yes, Madam,"

Mayu-nee answers instantly.

"Excuse me, Hana-ojousama."

Twenty minutes later, I emerge from my own bath, blow-drying my hair with one hand while applying a light layer of lip tint with the other.

My bedroom floor is currently a disaster zone of discarded skirts, blouses, and cardigans.

"Hana-chan! Hurry up!"

Mom's voice suddenly bellows from the living room.

"You're taking up way too much time to dress up! We need to leave in five minutes!"

My jaw practically drops.

I march to my doorway a makeup brush still clutched in my hand.

"Are you serious right now, Mom?!"

I yell back, utterly annoyed.

"It is entirely your fault for spending hours in the shower!"

The tension from our morning rush finally melts away once we are settled inside the cool, leather-scented interior of the corporate car.

As Sir Thomas navigates through the pristine, tree-lined streets of BGC, I look over at my Mother.

"Hey, Mom... what is this school actually like?"

I ask, a nervous flutter tapping against my ribs.

Mom turns away from her phone, a beautifully mysterious smile spreading across her lips.

"Well, let's see... I think it's best if you just see it for yourself, Hana-chan."

Minutes later, the car pulls up to a massive, towering arched gateway.

The moment the vehicle comes to a halt, my mouth falls wide open.

Beside me, Mayu-nee gasps, her eyes widening in sheer disbelief as she presses her face against the tinted glass.

Calling this place "school" is an insult.

It is a sprawling, hyper-modern fortress.

Tall, futuristic glass buildings reach toward the sky, connected by polished, gleaming sky-bridges.

The campus grounds are meticulously landscaped— vibrant green lawns, marble fountains, and cobblestone pathways that easily span a size larger than a public city park.

The floors are so polished I can practically see the reflection of the clouds on the pavement.

There is no trash, no blemishes, not a single speck of dust to judge.

In other words... it is terrifyingly perfect.

"Hana-chan, this is the academy you will be attending,"

My mother says softly, thoroughly amused by our synchronized, frozen expressions.

"Oh, and Mayu-chan? You will also be accompanying Hana once the school term officially starts."

Mayu-nee stiffens, her face instantly turning a ghostly shade of pale.

"M-Madam?! What do you mean by that? Am I... am I going back to school?!"

"Well, it is a wonderful opportunity for you as well, Mayu-chan,"

Mom says, her voice teasing, dripping with artificial innocence.

"You didn't manage to finish high school back then, right? I already filled out your student enrollment forms."

Mayu-nee starts to panic.

The literal light fades from her eyes, her posture going completely rigid as she stares into the abyss of academic trauma.

"I... high school math... essays... Lord help me..."

"Kufufu! Just kidding!"

Mom suddenly bursts out laughing, waving her hand dismissively.

"Oh, Mayu-chan, your face is priceless. I actually want to ask you to work here at the academy as part of the medical staff for the time being. That way, you can closely observe and take care of Hana-chan while she adapts."

Mayu-nee lets out a long, shuddering breath as her soul slowly re-enters her body.

A massive wave of relief washes over her face.

"T-Thank goodness..."

She whimpers, pressing a trembling hand to her heart before her shoulders drop completely.

"Wait... does that mean I am still attending to this place every single day?!"

Unfazed by Mayu-nee's existential crisis, Mom simply offers a serene smile and smoothly tunes her out.

I look back out at the towering glass structures, a heavy pit forming in my stomach.

"Wait, Mom..."

I speak up, steering her attention away.

"Isn't this school a bit... excessive? It looks like a place for royalty."

"Do you not like it, Hana-chan?"

Mom asks, tilting her head.

"No, I mean... I'm incredibly grateful, but..."

I trail off, looking at the sheer scale of the wealth on display.

"It just feels way out of my league."

"Your dad handpicked this school specifically for you, sweetie,"

Mom says softly, her expression turning uncharacteristically firm.

"He wants you somewhere secure. Somewhere perfect."

Gugh... I give up.

I slump my shoulders in total defeat.

Once Mom decides something there's zero chance of changing her mind.

After entering the main administrative building, we approach a sleek, marble front desk.

Within minutes, a strict-looking proctor escorts me away from my Mother and Mayu-nee,

"This way, Ms. Konoe,"

"Good luck, Hana-chan!"

Besides Mom, Mayu-nee waves her still-pale hand,

Honestly, she looks like a tired soldier sending her comrade off to the front lines.

Is she even going to be alright?

"..."

The private testing hall is massive, yet completely, hauntingly empty.

There are no rows of chattering students, no rustling papers, just a sea of vacant desks stretching out under the stark glare of the fluorescent lights.

Being entirely isolated in a room this grand makes the pressure feel ten times heavier.

An absolute silence

I take a deep breath as I sit down on one of the desk, a crisp, thick test booklet placed before me.

It's fine

I comfort myself, gripping my mechanical pencil.

I studied like a madperson in Tokyo before we left. I can do this.

Timer starts.

Section 1 is a breeze.

It is filled with basic reading comprehension, general knowledge, and standard algebraic equations.

I breeze through the pages easily, a confident smile forming on my face.

Hah! Is this it? This is what a prestigious school relies on?

It only takes me a mere twenty minutes to fly through the entire opening portion.

Feeling entirely smug, I casually flip the sheet over.

I bet section 2 is nowhere different to... Huh?

My confident smile instantly shatters.

What the hell is this?!

The pages are suddenly covered in bizarre, hyper-complex geometric patterns,

Advanced data interpretation charts, and theoretical physics questions that I haven't even heard of, let alone studied.

My brain instantly short-circuits.

The text feels like it is written in a completely different language,

Frying my remaining brain cells within seconds.

Its over, there's no way I could—

Then, after losing hope, I remembered,

The entire exam is multiple-choice for placement assessment.

Just as I am about to burst into actual tears, I aggressively shake my head, close my eyes, and cross my fingers.

I have no choice.

I have to gamble.

May favor be by my side!

A for Almighty...

B for Bestie...

C for Please Save Me...

I think frantically, randomly filling in the bubbles on the answer sheet, hoping and praying to whatever deity is listening that my luck will pull through.

An hour later, the proctor's voice booms through the silent room.

"Time is up. Pencils down."

The moment the booklet is pulled from my desk, the remaining strength completely leaves my body.

I slump forward, my forehead hitting the cold wood of the table as I sulk in pure, unfiltered despair.

I have even barely finished filling out the circles, and ninety percent of it is pure guesswork.

As I lay there wallowing in my failure, I slowly turn my head to scout my surroundings.

My eye snap wide.

To my surprise, just a few desks away, someone else is in the exact same miserable state as me.

'Wait... there's someone else in here?!'

I blink rapidly, staring across the rows of vacant wooden tables.

Because the private testing hall was so profoundly, hauntingly quiet when the proctor first led me in,

My brain had entirely convinced me that I am the only student undergoing this academic torture.

It is a girl near my age, wearing thick glasses.

She is currently slumped face-down against her table, her shoulders radiating an aura of complete defeat.

Sensing my gaze, the girl slowly tilts her head to the side.

Our eyes meet.

She offers a wry, hollow smile before burying her face right back into her arms, continuing to despair.

"I was so confident when the test started, only to get completely shattered in the end,"

She mutters into her sleeves, her voice muffled.

"What do I even say to my mom now? She's going to disown me."

"I feel you,"

I complain, raising my head slightly to join in on the grief.

"I have the exact same thought. What the heck did they put in that second section?! Aren't those literally college-level questions?"

The girl instantly sits up, staggering a bit as she gathers her things.

"Right?!"

She lets out a heavy sigh, her expression utterly defeated.

"Also... you talk a bit funny. Are you a transfer student or something? Your accent is super distinct."

"Ah... yeah, I just moved back from Japan,"

I answer, rubbing the back of my neck.

"Figures..."

She mutters, slinging her bag over her shoulder.

"Anyways... I'm going home to prepare my funeral. See ya."

I watch her shuffle out of the room, blinking in curiosity.

I wonder who she is...

Part II

A few minutes later, I walk out into the main hallway.

I spot my mother standing by a large, floor-to-ceiling window, quietly gazing out at the grand campus landscape.

"Mom?"

"Oh, sweetie! How did the test go?"

Mom asks, leaning in eagerly.

Exhausted, my shoulders slump as I give her a deadpan look.

"It's fine. If you consider an absolute academic massacre 'fine'."

Seeing my utterly drained expression, my mother chuckles softly, patting my head in a comforting gesture.

"I see. Don't worry, sweetie! Even if you completely fail, there are always other schools."

".."

"Besides... if you really, really wish to pass this one, your dad and I could always convince the board with a very generous donation."

"Mom?!"

I gasp, my face flushing in embarrassment.

"Don't say such scandalous things like that!"

"Fufufu, anyways... Let's just take a stroll for now, Hana-chan. I asked the receptionist earlier, and she says there's a cafeteria in the adjacent building."

"Mnn... okay."

The academy's cafeteria looks more like a five-star hotel buffet, with glass displaying gourmet pastries, and a team of professional chefs preparing meals on demand.

We grab a table near the window, the cool, soothing air conditioning slowly reviving my fried brain.

"By the way, Mom,"

I ask, taking a sip of water.

"Where is Mayu-nee?"

"Oh, she is currently being interviewed by the head of the campus medical board for her nurse application,"

Mom explains, cutting into a flawless slice of cake.

I pause, a sudden wave of worry washing over me.

"I see... wait. Will she really be fine? The people in this school seem incredibly intense."

"Don't worry, sweetie. I'm sure she will be completely—"

Before Mom can finish her sentence, the cafeteria doors slide open.

Mayu-nee walks inside.

Or rather... she drags herself in.

She looks entirely exhausted.

Her perfectly pressed maid-turned-civilian clothes are slightly rugged, her usually flawless hair is visibly messy, and her face is a ghostly, frail shade of pale.

Staggering over, she finally reached our table, wobbling like a jelly fish.

"Oh... Hana-ojousama,"

Mayu-nee speaks in a weak, trembling voice, her hand shaking as she reaches for the edge of the table.

"You... you look terribly pale, Hana-ojousama. Are you alright...?"

"I am the one who should be asking that question to you?!"

I cry out, instantly jumping up to help her slide into a chair.

"What on earth happened to you, Mayu-nee?! Did they torture you?!"

"Now, now, Mayu-chan, Hana-chan... please sit down,"

Mom intervenes smoothly, gesturing for a waiter.

"Let's just order some food so we can all recover."

As the food is served, the heavy silence at our table finally breaks.

I slump forward, my chin on my palm as I stare miserably at my plate.

"It's just completely unfair, Mayu-nee,"

I vent, my voice trembling with genuine frustration.

"It was like they expected me to calculate the trajectory of a rocket ship using ancient hieroglyphic patterns! I didn't even read half the questions! I literally just gambled my way through."

Mayu-nee sets her fork down, her pale face softening with deep empathy as she looks across the table at me.

She lets out a long, heavy sigh, clutching her napkin tightly.

"I completely understand your pain, Hana-ojousama,"

Mayu-nee whispers, her eyes clouding over as if she is reliving a nightmare.

"The moment I stepped into that medical board room, the air felt freezing. The head doctors didn't even look at me like a person."

She mutters.

"They also threw complex clinical scenarios at me so fast I could barely breathe. For a moment, I truly felt like my soul was leaving my body."

A few inches away, my mother leans back in her chair, a beautifully amusing smile spreading across her face.

She sips her tea, looking thoroughly entertained by our synching, dramatic despair.

"Pfft-!"

Mom lets out a sharp, choked-up giggle before quickly clearing her throat and lowering the napkin.

"Oh, goodness, I am so sorry. I really shouldn't laugh... but listening to the two of you sounds like watching a tragic opera play out over a plate of gourmet pastries."

At the sound of her laughter, our dramatic exchange instantly dies out.

A heavy, agonizing flush climbs up my neck, My face turning in a mortified, shades of pink.

"Mom, please! This is a serious life crisis!"

I whine, burying my face entirely in my hands as the sheer embarrassment of being openly mocked sinks in.

"Our souls literally left our bodies today, Don't Laugh!"

Beside me, Mayu-nee goes completely silent.

The energy drains from her posture instantly as her cheeks turn bright red.

Shifting uncomfortably in her chair, she fixes her gaze entirely on her teacup, picking up her fork and nervously staring down at her plate.

Seeing our utterly defeated, red-faced expressions, Mom only laughs harder,

Her cheerful chuckles echoing through the elegant dining space.

"..."

By the time Sir Thomas drives us back to the hotel, the sun has fully set, and the sheer exhaustion of the day finally catches up to us.

The moment we step into the hotel suite, I march straight into my bedroom and collapse face-first onto the plush mattress.

In the adjacent staff room, Mayu-nee has been completely rendered out of commission.

The stress of the day, combined with the blistering tropical heat outside, has given her a sudden, intense fever.

Being the stubborn professional she is, she aggressively tries to stand up to prepare dinner, but her legs instantly give out.

Eventually, she has no choice but to give up her pride and let my Mother handle the household chores, hiding under her covers in pure embarrassment.

Late that night, the front door clicks open.

"I'm home,"

His deep, tired voice sounds from the entryway.

"Welcome home, dear,"

Mom greets him softly, taking his briefcase.

"Hmm? Where is Hana? Did the entrance exam and interview go well today?"

He asks, glancing toward the quiet hallway.

"She is currently in her room sleeping,"

Mom explains with a gentle chuckle.

"Apparently, she got entirely exhausted from the test. Mayu-chan as well-the poor girl developed a high fever the moment we got home."

My father lets out a soft sigh, his shoulders relaxing.

"I see... then it's okay. You don't need to wake them up. Let them rest."

And with that, the long, exhausting day finally comes to a close.

The quiet hum of the hotel suite fades into the dark, wrapping the night in a peaceful silence.

Part III

The next morning, I wake up with my eyes still heavy and sleepy.

"Ugh... yesterday was such a hectic day,"

I mumble to myself, rubbing the sleep from my eyes.

"Hmmm??"

Suddenly remembering Mayu-nee's condition, I quickly slide out of bed and hurry out into the hallway,

Heading straight for her room to check on her.

The moment I reach her doorway, the door suddenly swings inward.

Oof!

We bump right into each other, both of us taking a startled step back.

"Ah! Hana-ojousama!"

Mayu-nee gasps, holding a laundry basket.

Her face looks much better, the fever having completely broken overnight.

"Mayu-nee! Are you alright now?"

I ask anxiously, inspecting her face.

She almost collapsed yesterday the moment we leaved the building.

Of course I will worry.

"You shouldn't be up moving around if you're still sick!"

"I am perfectly fine now, Hana-ojousama, please do not worry,"

She reassures with a warm, bright smile.

"A good night's rest is all I needed. In fact, I have already prepared breakfast for you in the dining room."

"Also... I must remind you that the official exam results are being posted on the campus bulletin board today."

"Huh?"

My stomach instantly does a violent turn.

"T-Today?!"

An hour later, we are back at the academy.

The main plaza is packed with hundreds of anxious students and high-society parents, all crowding around the massive, digital bulletin boards.

"Hana-ojousama, wait, please be careful!"

I squeeze through the crowd, my heart hammering against my ribs, my eyes scan down the long sequence of passing students.

Not there...

Not there...

Missing...

Panic begins to constrict my throat.

I reach the final, closing section of the list, my hands turning completely cold.

Did I really fail?

Am I going to have to rely on a corporate bribe?

And then, right at the very bottom edge of the passing list, my eyes lock onto it

Number 991: Hana Konoe.

I let out a massive sigh of relief, my hands flying to my chest as I practically sag against the security railing.

I passed!

By some miracle, my random guessing has actually worked!

"Oh, thank god..."

A shaky, emotional voice breathes out right next to me.

I turn my head.

Standing right beside me is the exact same girl from the testing room yesterday.

She looks like she is on the absolute verge of tears.

Smiling, I take a step toward her.

"Hey."

The girl blinks, looking confused, until her eyes snap wide with recognition.

"Ahh! It's you! The girl from the testing hall!"

"Yeah,"

I chuckle, extending a hand.

"I'm Hana. What's your name?"

"Sarah,"

She replies, shaking my hand with a bright, genuine laugh.

"Honestly, I thought I was a goner. That second section was purely a gift from God."

"Tell me about it!"

I am really happy.

I'm genuinely glad I had found a familiar face.

"Well... I guess I'll see you around campus when the term starts, Sarah! I hope we meet again."

"Uh-huh! Yes! Let's definitely meet again, Hana!"

She waves cheerfully as she turns to find her parents.

I smile, turning around to walk back toward Mayu-nee, who is waiting near the edge of the plaza.

The moment I step away from the railing, a hurried body suddenly collides directly into my shoulder.

"Wha—!"

Thud!

I trip over my feet, tumbling straight onto the polished pavement, face-first.

"Oww..."

A small cloud of dust from the nearby flowerbed covers my face, my palms sting from hitting the ground.

"Hana-ojousama!"

Mayu-nee's panicked voice screams from the distance.

Before she can even reach me, a shadow of a tall figure falls over me.

A long, elegant hand suddenly extends into my line of sight, offering a pristine, folded handkerchief.

Then, a voice washes over me.

Calm, quiet, and carried on a cadence that instantly makes my entire universe stop spinning.

"Are you okay?"

He asks softly.

A sudden, violent jolt shoots straight through my chest.

Slowly, I blink through the dust covering my vision, my eyes locking onto the boy standing before me.

He is tall, slim, and incredibly handsome, with strands of jet-black hair falling perfectly across his forehead.

His deep, calm eyes look down at me with genuine concern.

I can't speak.

Entirely captivated, my hand trembling slightly as I take his hand.

There is a deeply familiar, agonizingly nostalgic sensation wrapping around my heart

A feeling so strong it makes my lungs seize up.

Have... have I met him before?

"I'm glad,"

The boy says softly, offering a polite, brief nod after accessing that I am not seriously hurt.

"There are a lot of people crowded around the boards today, so please be careful."

With that, he turns smoothly on his heel, his tall frame effortlessly melting back into the sea of students.

By the time Mayu-nee finally catches up, he already vanished into the dense crowd.

She catches only a brief glimpse of his back before turning to brush the dust off my clothes.

"Hana-ojousama! Are you unhurt?!"

"No..."

I whisper, staring blankly at the white handkerchief clutched tightly in my hand.

"That boy just now...? Hana-ojousama?..."

A single tear.

Completely uninvited, threatens to spill from my eye, blurring my vision slightly as the phantom melody from seven years ago echoes in the back of my mind.

That person... I should have asked for his name.