Livia Argeno POV
It's 6:00 am, and I'm out for my morning walk. Today marks my first day of college. The thought fills me with happiness as I embark on this new chapter of my life.
Yet, this joy is tinged with sadness, a poignant reminder of my parents' absence – no supportive words, no congratulatory embrace for this milestone. It doesn't trouble me as much anymore; I've learned to navigate life on my own.
I was born an only child and raised without parental guidance. My parents are alive and well, but they never saw me as their daughter, only as a burden. Shortly after their marriage, complications arose, leading to their separation and my placement in an orphanage.
For me, my parents are gone. At sixteen, I rented a small place, and now, at eighteen, I've recently purchased a cozy little apartment.
My hard work paid off, and I was accepted into the most prestigious and esteemed college imaginable. I anticipate encountering many privileged individuals there, but it doesn't concern me. Fortunately, I have a friend from my workplace attending the same college – Rann Duciza.
He used to frequent the café where I worked. Our bond grew strong, and I even met his friends. I plan to stay connected with them, maintain a low profile, complete my law degree, and secure a good placement.
LATER
As I entered the college gates, the air was thick with an unspoken language of wealth, power, dominance, and arrogance. I quietly made my way inside to collect my timetable. Afterward, I went to my locker and noticed a commotion near an adjacent building.
People were rushing towards it, their faces etched with urgency. Even teachers were running in that direction, their expressions tense. I sensed something serious had occurred.
"Perhaps I should also see what's happening," I thought, quickening my pace towards the building. The moment I stepped inside, goosebumps prickled my skin.
I saw a group of boys standing together, and another boy kneeling before them, surrounded by six others. The three standing boys exuded an aura of wealth, demanding respect and displaying blatant arrogance. They were positioned on a slightly elevated platform, like royalty holding court.
The boy kneeling before them was trembling with fear, guilt, and submission. His position was lower than the standing boys but still higher than where the rest of us stood.
I noticed a long, blue feather attached to the kneeling boy's t-shirt. Suddenly, one of the "royal" boys stood up. He didn't even seem to be paying attention, yet people lowered their heads and began to shiver with fear. Unexpectedly, a cold, manic laugh echoed through the space, sending another wave of goosebumps down my spine.
"What is happening here? Rann and his friends never mentioned anything like this. And where are they anyway?" I wondered. Rann and his friends are my seniors, so I had planned to meet them after getting my timetable.
Suddenly, I heard the standing boy shout, and what I witnessed next shocked me to my core...