The beginning

Sophie POV

Today is my first day on my new school. I feel so lucky and confused at the same time. Lucky because, the owner of the University, personally called me and offered me a scholarship. And that is also the reason on why I am confused, because I haven’t passed my application letter or my documents in this University. How come she knew me and personally contacted me to offer me a scholarship to their University?

Wait, before I continue what I am about to say, let me introduce myself to you first. My name is Sophia Alexis Villanueva. I was born into a wealthy family with two older brothers. We are raised by our single mother after our father died in a war. My father gets the award of Valor, the highest awards given to the soldiers. When I was in kindergarten, my mom died and left me with my two older brothers. My eldest brother took care of our business, because of his dedication and hard work, he makes our company in the top 5 of he business world. My second older brother followed our father’s path. He is now a captain in Air force. He said that it would be a waste if none of us would use the privilege given by our father. That is, if you’re the children of a soldier who was awarded a Valor, you can have easy access to apply in the military. You are exempted in taking the written exam and all you need to passed is the Agility test and the medical and neurological test given by the Army. That’s why my second brother took the opportunity and apply in the army. While me, I am a carefree college student, I can say that I am not that smart but I work hard to get the grades I deserve. My two brothers didn’t pressure me or pushed me to the things they wanted for me. They support me in every decisions I choose and they are there for me to protect me and correct me if I’m wrong.

After I got kicked out in my former University without any evidences that I bully someone, My two brothers came in the picture. My former University denied to investigate me to give me a chance to prove myself, so what my two brothers did is, they are the one who investigate the issue for me. They did that because the Directors of the University doesn’t want to give my documents for me to transfer to other school. After all the investigations, none of the were proven. In short, I am innocent. But they still kicked me out. Wanna know the reason why they still kicked me out despite the fact that I am not a bully? It is because, one of the investors in this school is my brother’s number one enemy in the business world. They find a reason to discredit my brother and make a fuss about me who is related to him.

Even though we’re all mad. We had no choice but to move forward. I still continue to apply and passed my documents in all universities I know and I want to study. But, I didn’t know that my brother’s enemy is too powerful and he have connections in all local Universities here, where ever I go, they know about my issue. My brother is powerful too, but he never uses his connections to take revenge or have an advantage for us. He said that it is better to our ass of to achieve what we want than to use connections because it was hard to climb to the top. And regarding about my applications to the University, he said that if I won’t be accepted in any schools here in our country, then he’ll enroll me abroad.

“Ouch” I tripped down the road after I entered the entrance of the University.

I closed my eyes, waiting for an insult. After the alleged issue of me bullying the other student, all of the students in the campus started to bully me. They insult me, say mean things in front of me and throw anything their hand could picked. The reason on why they did that is because, they want to take revenge for the victim. That they want me to feel how the victim felt when “I bully her”. I didn’t even know who the victim was and it was my first time to met her in the Guidance councilor’s office.

“Sorry Miss, sorry. I am late for my first class. I’m really sorry” I man apologized to me, which surprises me. It is my first time to hear someone saying sorry to me.

“Are you okay?” he asks. Then he helped me to stand up.

“Thank you” I answered.

“You’re welcome. Uhm, so, I’ll got to go” he said. I nodded my head.

Oh, wait! I don’t know where the office of the director is, I might get lost. I need to ask him.

Before I let him go, I gather my strength and courage to ask him the way on Director’s office.

“Uhh, wait” I said.

“Hmm? Do you need something?” he asks.

“Uhh, do you know where the director’s office is?” I asks shyly. I am an introvert person. And I need a lot of courage to gather before asking a stranger.

“Director’s office? You mean the University’s director and not the department director?” he asks. Huh? There is a department director too?

“Uhh… I don’t know?” I am confused. The letter said that I need to go to director’s office, there is not specification on what kind of director it is. I mean, if it is a department head or what.

“Ohh, sorry. It was a department head. Not department director. Hehe. I got confused between the two. If you’re looking for the director’s office, go straight here then walk to the left. You can see there the main building. It was the office of the teachers and directors. They can guide to what floor the director’s office is,” he said.

“Thank you so much” I said.

“You’re welcome. See you around” he said then he ran away. Wow, he’s a fast runner.

I started to walk to the way the guy advised me to go. And now, I am in front of the main building. I didn’t know that it was too far from the entrance. Maybe it is 1km away? Or 1.5 km.

“Woah, that was too far. I thought it was near the entrance. Ughhh” I am not used in exercising.

Huh? I look around. I feel that someone is looking at me. Weird. Why do I feel like someone is watching me?

Maybe It is from the trauma I got from my former University, that made me anxious.

I walked inside the Main building.

Wowww!! It looks like a hotel reception. I mean, just wow. It looks so expensive and world class. Maybe because it was an international University?

“Yes? Are you looking for someone?” I hear someone said. Oh, it was from the reception desk. Woah. They have something like this here? I mean, a receptionist?

“Uhh, I’m looking for Ms. Liu? The Director?” I said.

“Oh, are you Miss Villanueva?” I nodded my head.

“Great! Miss Liu is waiting for you. Come, follow me” she said. Then I followed her.

She clicked the 25th floor. Wow. That was the last floor of this building.

The elevator stopped in the 25th floor and the door opened.

“Come” she said. The receptionist knocked on the office’ door of the Director.

“Uhm, before you go, let me tell you that she is the head director and the owner of this University. But of course, we have an investors too and some co-owner. But madam, is the brain of this University that’s why we are rank as one of the top international Universities in the country,” she said. I nodded my head.

“Good. And please be yourself when you face the director. Madam doesn’t want someone who is pretending in front of her” she said.

I don’t understand what she means by that.

“I mean, she doesn’t want a two-face person. Someone who is so kind in front of her but will insult her at her back,” she said.

Ahh. I guess she have trust issue huh? Same as me.

“Noted ma’am” I said.

“Come in” We hear madam’s voice.

The receptionists opens the door,

“Madam, Miss Villanueva is here,” she said.

“Let her in,” she said. I come inside the office,

“Good morning madam” I greeted. Gosh, I feel so nervous right now.

“Come in, come in, have a seat” she said. Pointing with her hands, the sofa for me to sit.

“You can go now, Mica” Madam said. Ohh, so the receptionist’s name is Mica.

“Hello, dear” Madam started.

“Uhh, hello, Ma’am” I said. Gosh. I wonder why she called me. There is only the two of us here.

“Welcome to our University” she said.

“Thank you ma’am” I replied.

“Have fun studying here. And don’t be shy to come to my office if you have any complains” she said. Her approach to me was so warm and I feel like I am welcome here and I need not to worry about anything.

“Thank you ma’am” I answered.

“Also, let me personally orient you about our school” she said, then she started to introduced to me, how the University was build, how it was started from scratch and how the University were look up to where it is today.

I am curious, did she called me to personally orient me about this? Because if that is her reason, why didn’t she asks one of the admin or teachers to do that for her?

It’s not that I don’t like it, I just kinda feel it strange. The Head of the University personally orient me about the University.

Oh… or maybe she did this because she wanted to warn me that she have her eyes on me? Maybe after the orientation she would warn me not to bully the students?

After a few more minutes of her discussing about what I need to know about the University, she finished and drank a water.

“Do you have a question, ija?” she asks

Ija? What word is that? My name is Sophia.

“Oh, I’m sorry for calling you that. It is a Spanish word for a younger girl or daughter,” she explains.

Ohh, I see.

“Ahh, it’s fine, ma’am” I said.

“So… any questions?” she asks.

“Uhh, yeah. I have one” I said.

“What is it?” she asks

“Uhm… why did call me personally? Have you heard about the reason on why I was kicked out on my previous school? Did you know that I was kicked out?” I asks.

The director Chuckled.

“Relax dear, I know what I am doing. And before I personally contacted you, I did a thorough investigation. I am not just admitting random students because of their money” she said.

“First, you have a bad record for bullying someone at your previous school. Second, none of the Universities wanted to admit you. But, someone begged me to admit you. Someone powerful than me. That person showed me a lot of evidence to prove that you’re a nice girl and you can’t do such thing to other people” She said.

Someone powerful? Ahh, I knew it. My brother will do something to help me. I know he can’t afford to send me abroad since he can’t watch me when I’m away. I know that my brothers still treated me like a baby. They all spoil me a lot.

“I see” I said.

“Yeah. And I can say that the proofs that I received were right,” she said.

“Thank you for trusting me, ma’am” I said.

“Nah. I just did what your protector asks me to do. You owe a lot from that person,” she said.

Of course, I will surely visit my brother in his company. He always nags me about not visiting to his company. I will buy him the dumpling and rice cake that he likes.

“I will, thank you again, ma’am” I said.

“No worries. Anyway, I asks one of the admin to tour you around the campus and I already informed all the teacher that you will enter their class tomorrow. For now, just have some tour to our University. So that you can be familiar with the buildings and places here. And after that, please come back here in my office. I will inform Mica that you will be coming again here” she said.

“Sure thing, thank you ma’am” I said. Then she dismissed me.

I really didn’t expect that. I become helpless and thought would be sent Abroad to study. I didn’t knew that my brother would still do something to help me.