Chapter 5: Forestalling Scheme

It was as if yesterday didn't happen. William convinced me to forestall our plan of finding my father because the path we got to take was dangerous, and we needed to prepare more.

I worked to William in his little scheme. He illegaly distributed weapons and drugs to treacherous people, something I didn't quite understand. When they caused conflict, my job was to depart lives so William's business wouldn't be put at risk. That was the reason why I wanted to quit. Because I couldn't let myself killing people.

Now we had to stick to the plan. I needed to keep on going while I wait for William's mark.

It was the next day of school, and I was with my considered friend, Nick. He chose to assist me around, and he was the only person who was willing to make friends with me. As we walked down the hall, students were throwing us confused glances. I darted my eyes to Nick but he just seemed eased.

"People are weird," I muttered, a bit confused. Nick glanced at me and smiled.

"It's obviously because they thought you are one of the Royals." He chuckled with a gleeful smile.

"The Royals?" I furrowed my eyebrows curiously and stopped when we reached my locker.

"They are the sons and daughters of the richest politicians and businessmen studying in Kingsley. The school is providing them special treatment: a glamorous lounge room exclusive only for their circle of friends," he said as if it was the most normal thing.

The discreet room I accidentally saw last time, it was probably the lounge room for The Royals.

"Why would they have special treatment for them? Kinda weird, but aren't you bothered?" I asked with a tone of distaste.

He shook his head and leaned on the locker beside mine. Pursing his lips, he crossed his arms above his chest.

"Their parents contribute a lot in the school just to give scholarships to those who are in need."

That explained where I got the scholarship from.

It might seem that I didn't need a scholarship despite my families wealth, but I learned how to be practical when I was living on my own for the past two years. I also learned to stand on my own feet and be responsible for my everyday expenses. Until now, even though I was home, I didn't really like depending on my family because I already had a life on my own. I just went back to protect the company from Mom, the only reason why I was living with them.

Since this was the only school that didn't require straight A's to get a scholarship, I wouldn't be pressured.

"What does your family do for a living?" he curiously asked, and I was anxious for a minute. I hesitated to answer, but it just blurted out my mouth.

"My . . . father was dead. Mom's nowhere to be found, I have no sibling and I currently live on my own." A nervous smile crept across my face, as my heart thumped fast from the lies I had spat out.

He nodded in response and kept silent for a second. I hope he bought it because I wasn't really good at lying.

I nodded back at him, putting my English textbook inside my sling bag. If I failed to bring my pen again, I should probably slap myself from stupidity.

"Then how do you pay for the fees?" he asked.

I sighed. "I got a scholarship in Kingsley and I'm working for my uncle in his shop. I also rent an apartment so that's pretty much it."

Lies. God, please help me change the topic, I pleaded to myself.

Then the bell rang, signaling the start of the first class.

~*~

I entered the room, my mind focusing on the seat next to Miguel as I walked through the aisle. The teacher wasn't here yet which gave me relief. He was looking down at his phone, leaning comfortably against the chair.

Looking up from the screen and meeting my gaze, I started approaching the seat beside him. I curled my lips into a warm smile and sat on the vacant seat.

"Nice seeing you again, Lala," he greeted, his attention averted to me.

"Hey, Miguel." I sheepishly smiled.

He chuckled before speaking, "I saw you yesterday. What were you doing outside our lounge?" he curiously asked.

I could feel the heat rushing to my cheeks, as the embarrassing memory flashed back. He saw me yesterday. He might had thought that I was following him. But it was really just a coincidence.

"I'm new in Kingsley and I must've lost my way to the cafeteria," I answered.

"I didn't know you were new." He shrugged. "But you really seem kinda familiar, to be honest."

I think we had met before. Every time I saw him, something seemed to flashback that I couldn't exactly place in my memory. My mind was too cloudy and if this was just a deja vu, I wouldn't be feeling it by now.

"Aren't you an actress or some sort of celebrity?" he asked, a little too serious that made me laugh. He looked at me, quite confused before plastering a smiled. "I knew it! Your blue eyes tell it."

I looked away, trying to hide the redness that was starting to form on my cheeks. I laughed at him and shook my head.

"No, I'm not," I chuckled playfully. "But you also seem familiar too." I said, making him raise his thick brows.

"Weird," he mumbled.

Looking around, I saw every students' eyes laid on us. But then they quickly looked away when I stared back at them.

"Why do people keep throwing me looks?" I whispered to Miguel.

"Your appearance seems to draw attention, Lala," he said as if it was normal. "Don't worry, they are just trying to figure out who you are."

They are just trying to figure out who you are. It echoed loudly in my ears. My anxiety triggered in just a blink of an eye, as I started to fidget my fingers. Why in the hell would these people try to know me?

"Lala, you okay?" he asked, hand laid on my shoulder. "Don't worry about them. You'll get used to it."

For the past few years, it was my first time drawing this much attention and it was making me uncomfortable. Maybe the reason why these people were looking at us was because I was talking with Miguel, knowing he was one of The Royals.

"Porqué eres bonita," he said in Spanish that I really didn't understand, but it sounded so fine.

My eyebrows raised and my hands were sweating.

"I don't speak Spanish," I sheepishly responded, as I averted my gaze to him.

He laughed slightly. Seriously, what's up with him and chuckling?

"You need to figure that out yourself," he said, leaning back on his chair. It took him a few seconds before adding, "By the way, what sport do you play? Coaches are looking for trainees if you might ask."

I had a lot of things in hand, and I was too consumed by those at the moment. Maybe engaging myself in sports was probably a great idea.

"I swim," I answered shortly.

"Goodmorning." He was cut off by Ms. Fervings who was sauntering towards the platform.

~*~

The sound of the bell rang loudly inside the Psychology room. It was lunch. I remembered Miguel from my English class, he told me to head at the natatorium so I could talk to Mr. Grey about the swimming tryouts. I was hesitating to train because I had a tight schedule. Given that I was doing Hansel errands in the office and William ordering me around, I would be having a stressful week or even my entire life.

I headed to the array of lockers in front of the English room and stuffed my locker with my textbooks. So this would be my daily routine every day in school: just attend, wait for English class for god knows why, Nick was nowhere to be found, leaving me alone in my next subjects.

It was really weird not having any girl best friend to talk to. When I was young I used to have one: Cathy. I remembered those times when we went to the same campus in my middle school. She would bring me snacks that her grandma made her, and we shared it at lunch. When I was in fifth grade, something went up and my parents became overprotective, so I was home-schooled for a few years, not seeing Cathy anymore. She must've grown so beautiful and intelligent and happy.

I shook off the memory inside my head and shut my locker door before proceeding to the natatorium.

I had never felt more uncomfortable in my whole life by all these stares thrown at me. I wasn't a bombshell, neither an interesting person. There weren't weird students like these yesterday, why were they acting like that?

Then someone patted my shoulder, causing me to drift my attention to the people behind me. I thought I just got myself into a whole new level of timidness.

The three real bombshells were standing behind me.

~*~