A mix of white and gold buildings appeared before me.
It was luxurious, too grand.
A university for the elites, really. A prestigious one.
"Phoenix University, huh," I whispered in my mind.
I was late in enrollment yet somehow I got in because of my perfectly made-up transcript of record.
"Class, attention please! Let me introduce your new classmate."
As the professor declared it, I entered the well-designed classroom. It is white and golden colored classroom.
"Miss, kindly introduce yourself."
I smiled at her. "Hi everyone! I'm Amore Seraphina Waze, you can call me Amore or Sera, 17 years old. I'm really looking forward to getting to know all of you and learning alongside you."
"Thank you, Ms. Waze. Are you comfortable getting and answering questions from your classmates if they have?" I just slightly nodded.
"Class, do you have any questions for Ms. Waze?"
There, someone raised their hands.
"Yes, Mr. Perez?"
"Sera, do you have a boyfriend?"
"I don't have any boyfriend or suitors."
"I volunteer!" shouted by the boy sitting in the back.
I innocently smiled, not taking any bad take on that one.
Another one raised his two arms, it made the classroom burst into laughter.
"Class! Next question!" Mrs. Cruz reprimanded.
The next one who asked a question was a woman.
"Hi, Sera! I just want to know kung sumasali ka ba sa pageantry? You are so pretty kasi."
Pageantry? Thankfully, I learned some of those words back then. And, I learned their language.
I expressed friendliness. "Thank you for the compliment, you are so pretty too. To answer your question, hindi pa ako sumasali o nakakasali sa pageantry," I answered in their language.
After that, someone raised their hands. I nodded.
"Bakit ka lumipat ng school? Taga saan ka before?"
Luckily, we prepared something for these questions.
"I'm from the States, lumipat kami here because of my mom's business work."
It's obviously a lie, I am sorry everyone, part of the mission.
The mom that I was talking about was Ms. Gale.
"Last question, Class," Ms. Cruz declared, crossing her arms.
Without any hint, a man suddenly spoke, "Not to offend you, Sera?" he paused. "Why can I feel that you are lying?"
In my inner mind, I was shocked. I look at him and assess him. He's a normal human being but he has dark energy lingering on him. Well, it is similar to some people.
It's Obsidumius doing, he might be near here as stated in the information reports given to me before I started.
Going back to that boy. I smiled, nothing to worry, he's not an enemy but something's wrong with him.
"I'm not offended, so it's okay but why would I lie to you? Ano makukuha ko dun?" I calmly answered.
The boy at the back tilted his head and gave me a playful smile. "I see, you are answering my question with a question."
"That is enough, Mr. Mendez." Mrs. Cruz came closer. "Pasensya ka na, Ms. Waze. That boy is always like that."
"It's okay po," I smiled broadly. Still assessing the boy.
I am sure that boy is a mortal human but there's something wrong with him. Maybe I am being paranoid.
"You may sit beside Ms. Flare."
I sat in the seat pointed by the adviser.
I glanced at the boy who was smiling weirdly.
He is still looking at me with his weird smile.
"I have a meeting, so I will send you your activity for today. Class dismissed."
After Mrs. Cruz left the classroom. Most of the girls in the room came closer to me. All pretty.
"You are so pretty, Sera. I'm Celestia, by the way."
I will bet that Celestia definitely loves the color pink. She is all pink from head to toe! What a pink girly.
"Grabe, you are so pretty yet hindi ka pa nakakasali sa pageantry?" She's the one who asked earlier.
"Thala, hindi porket sobrang ganda ay laging may experience sa pageant," a girl interrupted. "I'm Rizzy pala, nice to meet you!"
Thala? We have the same name… my true name.
"Rizzy said my name na, so ako na lang magpapakilala nitong si Hanna, she's not that talkative kasi but yeah good human being naman 'to."
The Hanna girl only smiled at her. What do these mortal humans call it? An introvert, I guess?
My mind says Thala is the total opposite of Hanna.
I turned my gaze to the woman who's not yet talked. She's my seatmate.
She noticed that I gazed at her. "Tsk, my name is Freya," she introduced, rolling her eyes.
She exudes a dark feminine aura.
"Freya, don't be so mean naman kay Sera," Thala said, as if protecting me from Freya.
"It's okay, Thala. I don't mind. Nice to meet you all."
Would they be my friends here? Hopefully, I badly need someone to help me get to know the people here.
"You are so hinhin 'no? Ganyan ba talaga pag lumaki sa States?"
"Omg, Thala! Yung mga tanong mo!" Rizzy scolded her.
"What? I'm just asking Sera about her being mahinhin."
I giggled upon witnessing how energetic they are, yet I can sense how they are genuine to one another. What a lovely group.
"No worries, it's okay. But, about me being demure is maybe my nature? I actually don't know."
Freya rolled her eyes which didn't leave unnoticed.
"Freya!" Rizzy scolded again.
I observed that Rizzy may have the older sister vibe.
"I think I know now why Freya is so mean to Sera." Celestia laughed. "Sera is the total opposite of her."
Kinda. She's like an Aerona version. Oh… how I missed them.
"Our little Freya is not sanay sa mga mahinhin like Sera."
They all laughed… and I joined them.
They taught me to blend well by mimicking or joining them on whatever they are doing, as long as it is safe.
"Sera, tara sabay ka samin maglunch. Matagal pa 'yung next class, tambay muna tayo," Rizzy invited me.
In fact, all of them are waiting for me and crowding in my seat.
"Thank you!"
I let them lead the way. While walking, I remembered the boy earlier, the weird one.
"Sino ang huling nagtanong sakin kanina sa classroom? The boy at the back?"
"Oh, that's Jayson Vermi. Don't mind him na lang, he likes mangtrip ng people kasi."
I see. But, it's really bothering me. Something's wrong with him.
"But, not to mention, they are famous here on campus."
"They?"
"Oo, apat silang magkakaibigan. Lahat sila sikat dito."
"They are all assh*le!" Freya rolled her eyes again.
"Really? Even Mark, your baby sweetie pie?"
What? I was shocked. That is so cringey but sweet though.
"Shut up, Celestia!"
They laughed, so I am. And, take a quick look at Freya.
"Sera, I will tell you a story soon. Just don't look at me. Tsk!" and Freya walked out.
Oh.. did I do something bad?
A guy popped up from somewhere. "Hi, girls!"
He's not familiar, he's not from our class.
"Where would Freya go?" he asked.
Rizzy just shrugged her shoulders.
"Blakeee, pretty boy! This is Sera, a new girl," Thala introduced me to the guy. I gently smiled at him.
"Hi, Sera! I'm Yuri Mendez, nice to meet you."
He looks so calm and a good guy. He had this very accommodating and very light aura.
"Hi, I'm Amore Seraphina Waze!" I said modestly.
Of all the boys in this university, he's the most handsome… as of now.
"Anyway, hindi ba natin susundan si Freya?"
"Don't worry about her," Celestia clung into my arms. "Let's go?"
After a while, we reached the cafeteria. I knew almost all of the dishes in the country. One of the most strict studies I did, learning these foods.
However, to my surprise, their food is so unhealthy. So, I decided that I will act as a vegetarian.
I ordered a halloumi salad.
"Vegetarian ka, Sera?"
"Yes!" I smiled.
They talk about things while waiting for their food.
"That is really so healthy living, Sera ha. I want din ng ganyang lifestyle." Thala said that while eating her Hawaiian pizza.
"Try mo, it's fun and healthy."
"Ugh, no! I can't live without my pizza." Then she bites on her pizza.
I blinked. I thought she wanted this kind of lifestyle?
"Oh! The new girl Sera is a vegetarian!"
It's Jayson Vermi!
"Come on, Jayso ! Leave Sera alone, she's a newcomer. Can you be a little kind to her?" Celestia said, as if she's already done and pissed at the guy.
"Why would I be kind to someone who's lying?"
I innocently looked at him, trying to stay composed about his statement… which definitely is true.
He sneered and laughed. "Acting innocent, huh? Aella?" he smirked, looking at me like he already cornered me.
I stayed calm, still innocently looking at him as if I didn't know what he was talking about. Yet, my inner organs are already screaming.
At that moment, my mind felt stuck. That statement alone stunned me. Who is he? Does he really know me?
Did I mess up?