Courting the dean.

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Merliah’s Point of View.

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'My beautiful Queen, please wake up!' That was my cute alarm clock.

Gosh! It's already morning, here I am walking up; beautiful as usual. I stood up and spent enough time in my tub. After taking a bath, I attended breakfast with my parents. I wonder why they are still here and it's a miracle that we are complete in the dining, sharing breakfast. Usually, during this hour, they are nowhere to be found in the house because they have already gone to work. My dad is a company owner and my mom is the mayor of our locality.

“How’s school so far?” Daddy asked.

“Tehee~~ we’re doing good, dad.”

“Liah, I hope you are not having flings again. I will cut your allowance if you messed up. You should behave well, you are carrying Faunteen’s surname. I was able to hide your fling rumors so you better behave like a fine lady.”

Blah…blah whatever. It is always the same scenario. Every time we share the same room, they always remind me of how heavy my surname is. After that, a long silence would eat the place.

Honestly, we are not close and open with our parents because they are always busy. They always talk about their expectations and plan for our future, which we don't have a choice at all. Sometimes I find it suffocating. I can’t even date, but I manage to hide my relationships. They told me that I am not allowed to date because it will ruin my studies and future. You know having a relationship has nothing to do with academic failure, if you are dumb you're dumb, the relationship does not disturb your education.

“We decided to give you the chance to live independently, now that you are in your 3rd-year college. We have procured a simple yet secure dormitory. Maurice will live next to your dorm, Liah. We would summon you here in the mansion if there are private matters to discuss. We would also do a surprise visit, so you should be wary of your conduct and behavior.”

Amen! Hoely heavens grace! It has been our wish since the first year, finally, they are allowing us to live in a dormitory. Obviously, money is not the reason why they kept on declining, my parents are effin rich. Yeah, it is them who's rich, not me because it was not my hard-earned money. I wonder why they suddenly changed their mind, could it be because they realized that we are old enough to be treated like a child and they are too overprotective?

It’s a good thing, then…

“Also, we are putting limits on your cards. You should learn not to live lavishly, especially you Liah.”

Wait… what? Cutting my allowance means cutting my lifeline! What if my budget for the whole month would be gone for one week? Crap!

My hands are fidgeting. I can't demonstrate that I am against the budget cut, but I can't voice it out. My parent’s words and decisions are always absolute.

“You’re going to be late. Both of you should leave now,” says mommy. 

“One more thing. Liah, you should control your weight. You should maintain a good figure. I already told you beauty and physique are important in society, you will earn respect just by having a beautiful face and body.”

“I will exercise and go on a diet, mom.”

My mother was once an actress before she became a politician. That's why she has this habit of presenting herself as a flawless lady. For her, this world has cruel judgment whereas, your beauty, your wealth, and education is the measurement of how people respect you. She wants us to be perfect too.

I feel suffocated, that is why sometimes I intentionally make a slight mistake just to feel that I didn't lose the real me, to feel that I am a human and not a doll.

We were not making any noise inside our van, still silent until we reached Elysian Dream University. 

As we headed inside, my twin tapped my shoulder. “Don’t take her word seriously.”

I was almost touched by my brother's warm words, but this fella has a nasty mouth.

"Even if you turn into a whale, I think you are still beautiful?" He ran and I chased him, just when my hand almost reached his hair, Lore appeared out of nowhere.

“What are you doing with my future husband?”

I saw my idiot brother turn into shades of pink.

“Don’t you think you are being rude to your future sister-in-law then?” I replied. 

“Who told you that I would marry you? Lore, stop dreaming, you are not my type." He walked out like a child throwing a tantrum.

“Your twin brother is so cute. Are you sure he is not gay?"

There she goes again and her unreliable gay radar. “Who knows? Why don't you just ask him?" 

She suddenly lost her word, she blushed? What kind of face am I seeing?

 Something's fishy hmmm… Anyway, I think my day is completed already. I am so lucky, my vitamin eye is here already. He is walking in the hallway, and we bump into him.

“Good morning, dean.” I smiled at him to show my respect. Knowing that there are eyes around, he will not ignore our presence, he will not ignore me just like what he usually does when we are alone.

“Good morning. Ms. Faunteen and Ms. Buencamino.”

See? He is being civil towards me because I am with Lore and there are other people around us.

I intentionally stopped when our shoulder bumped into the other, I whispered through the air, “I hope you didn’t forget what I told you last time, darling.” 

I am sure he heard it because our height was not too distant, he is standing 5'10 in height while I am 5'6. We continued heading on our way and bypassed our dean. Before finally taking a right turn to enter the room, I glanced in the dean's direction, then I found him glued to the ground, my statement for a while had him statue.

You never failed to entertain me, dean.

I have decided on ways to court you… just wait.