1

“Damn,” I can’t help to mumble these nightmares again; I angrily off my alarm and put it back on my side table before leaving out my bed.

Okay, I have to register today.

“Hey, girl. You up for tonight?”

“Of course, it’s Jace party, and I can’t miss any possible highlight,” Alivia laughs, “Wait, will Danni be attending the party later? I heard that weeb has a major crush on Jace?”

“Jace’s friends will invite her, I overheard, and besides, the party would be really boring if we haven’t one in the house.”

“Come on, let’s go; I’m going out with my boyfriend today; he’s texting me already.”

The moment I heard the door closed, I exited the cubicle I was occupying; well, Alivia wasn’t talking to me; she was talking to Fanny, her best friend. They were talking about Jace Agsunta’s birthday party, the school football captain, and like the usual, they are bringing someone to shame to that party.

They are doing that every year, with the freshmen students, of course, people who attended that party ended up either being the talk of the town or transferring schools, that must be hard for them, but I have no time to think of others, my plate is already full.

My lips automatically curled up when I saw my registration form; I’m already on my grade eleven. I just needed to finish another two years to apply for a scholarship to the city. How I wish time would fly so fast.

I grabbed my phone when I felt its vibration, it’s Pat, he’s asking when will I arrive, we’re both working students, but were not studying in the same school, he’s attending a school next to ours, I can’t blame him, this school is one of the schools that have a really tremendous amount of tuition fee, I just got lucky, that I passed their entrance exam with a partial scholarship.

But paying two hundred thousand per year is no joke since I’m paying for my own; I was an orphan since I was fourteen, my mom died out of serious illness, and my dad died when I was a kid; I can’t even remember why and when.

I finish my registration for my new year and visit my section, so it wouldn’t be hard to find it on my first day; I have a lot of experience being late just because I couldn’t find my designated room. Studying in this kind of school does suck sometimes.

My part-time job is just across the second street, so I decided to just walk, but heaven must have a huge grudge, the moment I stepped out of the school, heavy rain started to pour out, and I had no other choice but to run under the rain, good thing, I saw a waiting shed.

“Come on, bro, it’s just a girl,” I heard someone talking on his phone, “She’s crying? Let her be; she’ll eventually stop; yeah, I know, dude.”

I gave him my disbelief look; how the fuck can he say that to a girl? I bet he dumped her, and now, he’s telling his friend to let her cry; this must not be the first time he broke someone’s heart. I shot him a glance. A basketball player, hmm, a captain, perhaps?

“Was für ein Arschloch, jemandem das Herz zu brechen und so zu tun, als wäre es nichts. Was für ein Idiot.” I mumbled, hoping he wouldn’t understand it since it’s my second language. What the hell am I even wasting my time here? I stretch my arm, trying to test if the rain was bearable to run off, and it is.

I pulled off my hood from my bag pack, wore it, and was ready to run when I heard the guy spoke faintly, but enough for me to hear.

“Hey, that’s rude, telling other people they’re jerk just because you heard them talking with their friends.”

My forehead crease, trying to hide the embarrassment that’s building up inside me, damn it, me and my filthy little mouth. “And? Don’t talk to me, jerk.” With that, I run as fast but careful as I can, hoping to save my face with that shame I put myself on.

Jeez.

—-

“Damn it!” I utter, when I remember something, it was my scholarship examination. Shit, I hurriedly fixed myself and went back to school, goodness. How could I forget that essential exam?

I made my way to look for the administration office; I heard it changed this year, it used to be with the registration office, but since my little dumb brain totally forgot about it, I have to come again; I hope they’ll still accept me.

I was instructed to go to the second floor, right side, and blue room; there, I saw the room with an imprinted name, “Administration office.”

I knocked three times before opening the door; I saw no one but a middle-aged man reading something inside a paper.

“Good morning, sir.” I greeted him, he must be the admin officer, “I’m here to request a scholarship exam? I wasn’t able to have it yesterday; I’m sorry.”

“Why?” he asked and sat down to the swivel chair in front of me, “Why did you miss an important examination? Do you not value your studies?”

I cleared my throat; well, he has the right to be annoyed, I know, it’s another job for him, it’s my fault, anyway.

“Well, I work two jobs to finance myself; I know it’s my fault; I just need another chance for this.”

He grabbed a paper and put it in front of him, “Answer this one.” I nodded and sat down; I pulled off my pen inside my bag and started to answer the sheet; I was a little shocked with the set of questions. It’s a little odd, like, I was expecting some theoretical questions, and take note that it’s too personal.

“You might be wondering with the set of questions, don’t worry, it’s confidential, and all your information is safe with us; we just need it for business purposes.”

I just nod and finish answering the paper, “Here.”

“You said you’re working two jobs, am I right?” I nod, “I have a possible job for you; you can do it while studying; I’m uh, I’m the school admin, I just want students to be able to afford to study here.”

“Uh, why would you offer me a job? Is that even legal?” I can’t help but think that it’s illegal; why would someone who doesn’t know me suddenly offer a job? Right? Sounds suspicious to me.

“Well, I can see that you’re a good student, trying to finish your study to have a great career, and besides, I won’t offer it to somebody I know would waste it.”

Well, he had a point, “What’s the job?”

“To babysit, for boys,” he reread my paper, “I saw that you have some experience with services and taking care of other people as your job.”

“Sir, it’s a full-time job.”

“No, I mean, you just have to watch over them, not twenty-four-seven; I’ll give you a room to stay, foods, amenities, salary, of course, bonuses, some day-offs, what do you think?”

“Uhm, well, I came here for a scholarship, but uh, thanks for the offer.” I still don’t feel good about his offer, so I respectfully decline it.

“Just think about it,” he handed me a black-white card, “Here’s my number and name; call me when you change your mind.”

I just nodded and exited his office; okay, that’s so sudden.