Chapter 2 "THE EMPRESS"

THE EMPRESS

"do not do that..."

" do not go there..."

" do not watch that..."

"don't...don't...don't"…

…"why not...?"

That's the question I always asked as a child, however people around me just replies

..."because it is not right"...

…without any further explanation about what makes it not right.

That is why my famished human curiosity is not satiated ever since , so I always find ways to see what I want to see, do what I want to do and watch anything I want to watch and experience what I want to experience which is to some or most of the people may look like I am acting on impulse but that is not quite right.

True that I always jump head first but before I make the leap I think thoroughly every step I need to take and the risk that comes with as well as the worst case scenario which usually clouded by the best case one. However , because of family's way of life , my exploration always end in the same way...being grounded inside my room for a week. That room ,may look fancy for others but to me it is a cage , a prison made by people around me , people who treats “someone as something.”

As a child I always want things to get complicated. During my 4th grade I realized that my test scores are always 99%. And I am really looking forward to that uncharted next grade level ever since. I thought that it will be a little harder , more complicated, something that will pose a challenge to me. But the results are always the same 99...99...99.Then on my senior year at high school , I realized that there are no 100%. That 100 % is for those people who aims to standardized this society...those kind of people who argue about that "only one correct way" to do things...they creeps me out. I do not like their way of seeing things so I looked at the world in a different way and go against that one correct way of life that they are bragging about. But as expected the waves are too strong to go against with ...finally the challenge that I have been yearning for.

After graduating from high school I muster up all the courage I have to tell my parents what I want to study for college .They immediately shot me down , by telling me that all the papers and preparation are already done. That they have already enrolled me at an art university , "to let my talent for painting and sculpture shine".

It is the most prestigious university in the country, when it comes to arts. But since they pissed me off by deciding a life turning decision that I need to make , I literally throw tantrums at the deans office at that school to embarrass my parents. I do it not to make them revoke their decision because I know , no matter what I do their decision is always final. I never had any voice in this household.

A household with a high standard in everything. That is why people around us brand us as a prominent family. And all of them expect me to follow those standards.That family is not my home, its just a house , a cage that I loathed so much, that I always screw things up on purpose.

During my final semester of my freshmen year there that I got a spat with the dean for some stupid argument to the eyes of some people, but to me , it is everything.

He said...

"creatures so beautiful need to be captured so that people can admire their vanity"

It is the one thing I do not want to hear. He might be complimenting my painting which is a tropical bird , but it reminded me about how I was boxed for all this times . So I burst everything, threw the painting to his face which broke is nose ...then in my head …

…"serves you right"…

After that I got lectured by my parents at that house and as usual grounded me for the rest of the semester including the summer break . Its not like I have a lot of friends to go out with so it is still okay... I guess.

That next school year my parents approach me and apologize for the grounding. For a second I thought that they are being a "parent" but the next second they surprised me again just like last year.

"AN ART SCHOOL...AGAIN." I yelled at them before I slam the door shut at them and barred it with my chair since I know that they have all the keys in every room in this house.

Well it is not like I have a voice in this household so I looked up at the school in the internet while they are still yelling at me on the other side of the door. There I found out that it is an integrated arts and science school. I got a bit excited because of the word "science" , which could only mean complicated subjects.

Out of impulse I rushed to my door, remove the bar and it immediately opened. I saw my dad there alone about to give me an earful , but my hug stopped him, shocked for I haven't hugged any of him in like forever. When I felt that he is about to hug me back I immediately break mine , move towards mom who is actually behind him with the papers . I kissed her cheeks , another thing I haven't done to them in ages, grab the papers from mom's hands and head back to my room , slamming it shut again. I jumped to my bed in excitement to read the letter. I giggled so loud when I saw the front cover of the paper which is the 3 main buildings of the school itself. The main lecture hall , the arts and music wing and the science wing. I could not stop giggling while ogling at the science building , and I think I giggled too loud that it became their cue to leave for they did not bother me anymore that day.

If this is one of those cliché story that have been popular in pop culture right now , I will be branded as a mysterious transfer student, however as I suspected this university is affiliated with my family's business , so I guess , I will be riding in my family's coats tail again. And as I predicted it , in just a few months , guys became all over me. Most of them are first to 3rd years and are part of the arts department. I also befriended the 2 of the most popular girls in the campus, well that last is to be expected since they are the daughter of my family's business partners.

The members of the arts department are given special treatment in deciding their schedule so we are more or less free , which is an upside, unlike the people of the science department who don't have that liberty. Arts department got that much privilege since the science department is just been integrated about 5 years ago and their facilities are not that top notch but still just a little above the standards. Also the way the management treat people from the different department is different. Art students are given priority while the science ones are given less than that and what's worse is when an art student screw up and blame a science department student , the art one will go off they hook even if he/she is the cause while the science department will be sent to do penance for the crimes he /she did not commit.

I chose a schedule that starts from 9 to 2 which includes only 3 subjects.1 hour per subject and an hour in between them. After the 2 pm subject , I hate it but , I am required to interact with the painting or sculpting club for an hour. I hate it for 2 reasons, one is because it is ordered by my parents and the people on those clubs are just there trying to get close to me for my family's prestige.

Well I always acted the loner type pushing everyone away, I juts go there and work on something . When someone tries to approach me to start a conversation , I just brush them off by saying ...

"I am busy right now , I need to focus here so would you mind not getting in my way?" in a loving smile which will turn into a cold look at them at the last part of the sentence. When that happens the club's adviser will tell me to interact more with my classmate ill just put an argument like this...

"Art is a solitary process , the only interaction the artist need is with his/her medium and the subject...in their case they are neither both so it is unnecessary to interact with them at all" and he will go away eventually.

After an hour of club activity I always have 2 options , either to hang out with those 2 which I don't particularly like for they act so chummy yet fake to me so I ditched them, as well quite often. And wander around the buildings of the science department which is the other option .Since that department is just integrated they have a small population compared to us in the arts department.

I said before that even though the management gives the science department less treatment compared to us , still this school is wealthy so the science equipment are a little above the standards. They have computer , chemistry , biological , physics , and astronomy labs. They also have a mini workshop facility for seniors only and a library which is an old chapel before.

I got excited with the thought of visiting the other side of the campus to see a new world but sadly , my parents caught me. They drive me to the house in order for me to get ready for a business meeting. Probably this is another prospect fiancée . I have already been engage twice , both I broke on purpose. The first one is a guy a decade older than me while the other is the reversed of the first one. I don't know if my parents see me as a child , or as a person , or just something that they can leverage to make their business prosper.

We arrived at the house where I saw a luxurious car parked at our doorstep . While still at the car , I closed my eyes and think that if we are going to do it here , it will be easy for me. Because I can just locked myself in my room and not let anyone in but that is just wishful thinking , since it is my parents we are talking about , they must have already planned everything .

As I walk inside the house , there I saw them , an old man and a guy that seems inside my age bracket. Well I don really care so I tried to rush to my room but they stopped me and told me to help them entertain the guests.

What...they want me to "entertain the guests", what am I supposed to do sing or dance in front of them...no way , not going to happen ever, I got irritated by that notion but I dealt with the situation this way.

"I'll just go to my room and change." I said and walk in a dignified way to my room , a perfect excuse to be inside of a place where I can really call my own in this house.

Little did I know that they also put a counter measure for this. When I tried to open my room , it was locked. Even my keys wont work...at that moment I realized that my mother is behind me , looking at me with a distasteful eyes.

"So you're planning to lock up yourself in your room again?" she inquired

I just looked away without saying a word.

She sighed disappointingly , and I sensed that she is about to lecture me...again. But before she could start my dad came , I thought that he will join her too but , he just ordered my mom to bring me to their room to get me change.

In their room , a pink dress I waiting for me . Truly , my freedom is voided in this place, even while changing my mom is lecturing me from their bed .

"listen...we are sorry for the first one , that was a great mistake"-she begun

I just answered with standard small talk replies

"Oh yeah"- I said , I wished it would make her feel that I don't want to talk to her but i am wrong again.

"the second one was just an experiment... I think"- she continued. Which pissed me off so much that I want to tear this dress apart in front of her

"this time he is just a year older than you and your father and I and his parents as well really think that you two will make a good couple He is good looking , smart , and the heir of our next business partners ...so your future is secured with him" – she continued

It really pisses me off , playing safe and deciding other peoples decision .

We walk out of the room to the living room where the guys are. I walk behind my mother who flashes a big smile , while I'm wearing my usual serious face . We chat for a while , my parents and this guy's dad is sitting at the long sofa while we are sitting on both ends of that sofa on a single sitter chairs.

They are complimenting or should I say "flattering " each other with redundant sugar coated words. I felt sick with it for they want me to join them , so I wore a mask. I laughed to their dry humor jokes , agreed to their empty compliments , and get along with their planned everything way of life. I want to get out of here right now , that's why I glanced at the window quite often during this interaction.

The night ended by us biding farewell to one another at our front door. It is already bad for me to interact with those kind of people , what's worse is that jerk suddenly kissed me in the cheek, I was so sudden and caught me by surprise and so I just stood there frozen. His and my parents complimented his boldness , but a second after processing it I really want to stab his eyes with this tiara in my head. The second they have left , without saying a words they gave me my keys. So I headed there as fast as I can to remove everything that they have put on me.

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The university has a private website where only the science department students and the upper class or "elite" students of the arts department have access to. Here I play strategic games like chess and join forums that talks about a lot of scientific stuff . It is a compilation of ideas that helps junior year students to come up with ideas for their senior year thesis. Practice test , practicum tips and tricks as well as tutorials are all here. So basically this website is a treasure trove for new bloods of the science department. We from the arts department are only bystanders here.

Rumors has it that this sit is created by a sophomore 2 years ago just before the first batch of science department graduate left the university. He is unknown to the masses and only a handful of science department students know who he really is. But one thing is clear , he is a senior year now. I admire his work for such complexity that he had done.

To the science department he is a big legendary figure only known by a few. In one forum , They talk about him ...as I scroll down all their comments , I figure pout that they really like the guy for all their comments are words of gratitude. He helps them through their tasks by teaching them how to do it and not doing it for them. And he do it with no fee at all. Which is the reason why he became the laughing stock of the junior and senior year of the arts department. They called him "dumb academic" because he just gave all that resources that could have made a ton of money for free.

The comments of science department and arts department usual clash and sparks a war between department. Those wars are just petty wars. But since the arts department gets a lot of support from the management , they almost always win.

It was my first time to really dice into this site with my personal account. After some minutes of browsing a pop-up came out welcoming me in the site .

"Welcome to the Science Dome , as a newcomer you have the privilege to interact the founder of the dome... please click the link to continue"

Its as I have heard , a privilege for the newcomers to meet the founder , so without any hesitation i clicked the link which brought me to a chess game and i am playing white.

I was confused for a second and then at the chat box i received a message from the supposed founder

"hurry up greenhorn , make a move , your time has begun"...

I got irritated and want to give this guy an earful but due to my excitement for this challenge I did not replied and made my first move on this would-be unexpectedly long chess match.

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That morning , the antagonizing situation my parents had put into last night and the frustration of losing all 3 matches in that chess game , made me so unstable in terms of mood swings. I feel like I am a volcano about to erupt an any given moment. I arrive at school at 8 and waited for my 2 "Friends" at the right wing bench of the entrance. I sat for a while and observe people around here. There is a 3rd year handing out prints , some freshmen gathered on the left wing , and there is that guy with a book buried on his face , I wonder if can see where he is going. I smirk when I look at him further for he dodges everyone on his way without even lifting his face from that book...what , does he have another eye or something .

My friends arrive and we decided to sit for a short while before going to our lecture room. They talk about a transfer student , who is according to them is really good looking and from a prominent family. I just responded with standard small talk replies since I still don't have that much energy to engage in any conversation .all because of those 2 exhausting happenings last night and besides, talking about a good-looking guy from a prominent family is the least topic I want to talk about right now.

At the room , to my surprise , that jerk from last night was there. Seems like he is that transfer student. Crap , and here I thought that this school is a safe haven from parents but looks like they have planted an inside man right now.

In an instant he charmed all the girls in our class. While the guys are stuck in the middle of awe and envy. Girls are fidgeting , giggling and whispering at each other and they squeal like pigs whenever he looks at them. Amidst that situation , one of my friend asked if he had a girl friend.

"Excuse me...what's your name again “she started

"Its Duke " he replied

" Okay , so Duke , I think all the girls here are dying to know this ..."she continued

He just looked at her with a wondering look. Then she finished her question

"Are you seeing someone right now?" she said

They all squeal and the guys cheered as well. He acted like an innocent child then answered

"Actually , I have..."

The class sighed in different polarity. Boys in relief , while the girls are in disappointment. My sigh is with the boys , for if he has a girlfriend right now my parents will have no choice but to call off the engagement.

"Actually I only met her once , for it was a relationship that was arrange by our parents ...but I can honestly say that I have fallen for her..."-he continued

The class cheered for that statement, and I already got the information I need so I lost the tiny interest that I have before , so I just gazed at the window beside my chair. I was about to drift in a daydream when I suddenly felt everyone's stare. Immediately his word echoed in my head .Words that I though I did not hear for I did not pay much attention to it , its finally becoming clear now.

..."SHE IS SITTING RIGHT THERE"...

I confirmed it when I saw his hands gesturing towards me . A second of silence and then the class went crazy. Girls circled around me with my 2 "Friends" in the lead. Guys circled around him , cheering .They completely ignored the instructor who was sitting at his chair for more than 5 minutes now.

I am getting overwhelmed by their inquiries, ,so when I reached my limit , I exploded, I slam my desk with both hands to stand up and shouted

"SHUT UP!"-I screamed, everyone turn to me without saying a word.

"Oh... my bad I did not know that you want our engagement to be a secret for a while."-Duke said a moment after.

Everyone looked at him then to me.

"Oh God"-one of my friend said beneath her voice

I glared at him , everyone around me moved away a little.

"you think just because your father and my parents agreed to it , I would too...?...you got to be kidding me"-I begun

Girls around me are gradually spreading away guys are stoned. Even him does not have any words I grabbed my bag and walked towards the door.

"you are the 3rd engagement that I will be breaking so better have a plan B you overconfident jerk."-I said as I open the door , get out of that room and slammed it shut then run through the hallway where a lot of people gathered due to the commotion that I created. I headed and hid on the library of the science department after that , and I did not go to my other classes that day.

…Czarina’s Perspective Ends…