My feet bounced against the wooden floor as I shot out of my room without even shutting the door. Excitement burned through me so fiercely I nearly slid down the stairs, breathless, heart racing .
By the time I reached the sitting room, I was panting.
Mum's head snapped up, her fingers curling around a steaming mug of tea. She searched my face like she was trying to read my thoughts.
"What's got you so excited?" she asked, carefully setting her mug aside.
Her papers were already stacked neatly, laptop shut, she'd clearly been preparing to call it a night. Bella wasn't anywhere in sight; she must have gone to bed already. School tomorrow. Early nights were her routine.
I looked down at my toes, where my red nail polish had already chipped and faded. My chest tightened. I couldn't believe it. I was officially a student of Dale's High.
Dale's High.
The name itself sounded like a crown, like an honor whispered across the city. I couldn't help but wonder if the other students who took the exam with me had gotten their emails too.
"Mum…" My voice trembled as I broke the news. "I've been accepted to Dale's High."
The mug was forgotten. Mum's eyes widened, and then pride spread across her face as her hands clapped together.
"Oh my goodness! Sophie, I'm so proud of you!" she exclaimed. "Congratulations. I told you you'd make it in. Uncle Josiah has to hear about this, he'll be so proud."
I passed her my phone, my heart hammering. The email was still open on the screen. But in the back of my mind, I was already imagining my friends' reactions in our group chat. I could practically hear the squeals and see the flood of messages.
"Oh, God… thank you." My eyes lifted toward the ceiling as relief washed over me.
Mum's arm brushed against mine as she leaned closer to read the email. Together we tapped on the link at the bottom, the official Dale's High admission portal.
"Welcome to Dale's High. As your name appears on this page, you have been accepted into our prestigious list of students. Please fill out all required fields before submission. Note: once submitted, changes cannot be made."
I held my breath as I took the phone back. Excitement and anxiety tangled inside me.
Name. Age. Headshot photo upload. Easy.
Then came the question that made my fingers freeze.
Boarding or Day School?
"Mum…" I whispered, staring at her. "We haven't talked about this yet."
Her gaze softened. "Three hours of driving every morning or living at Dale's High hostel."
I had no answer.
Her lips pressed together, and then she said firmly, "I suggest you click hostel."
My shoulders dropped. I'd never lived away from her or Bella in my eighteen years. The idea felt like a weight pressing down on my chest.
"Should I?" My voice was small.
Her hand reached out to tuck my hair behind my ear, her touch warm and certain. "You'll be able to study more at the hostel. You'll pass your exams, get into college. Yes, Sophie. Click hostel."
I hesitated for one heartbeat longer before tapping the box.
The system processed, and then the fees appeared on the screen.
My breath caught.
$2,000,000.
I blinked hard, doing the quick math in my head. (That's about 2.7 million Singapore dollars.)
"Mum…" My throat went dry. "That's insane."
Her face stayed calm, but her fingers quickly copied down the school's account number. Dale's High Admission Board.
I exhaled slowly, nerves twisting in my stomach as I clicked Submit.
The house suddenly felt quieter. Heavy. I hadn't even lived here long, it had only been weeks since we moved in, and yet I already felt the sting of missing it.
"Now," Mum said briskly, her voice cutting through my thoughts, "we need to buy you school necessities. And your hair and nails, look at that polish, it's already faded."
She was practically glowing as she packed up her files. "The office can wait. Tomorrow, we'll call Uncle Josiah. Be prepared to leave for Dale's High by the weekend. Start packing, Sophie. You don't want to forget anything."
Her arms wrapped around me, her voice warm in my ear. "Congratulations again."
Later that night, I curled under my thick blankets, listening to the rain pounding against the windows. My heart wouldn't calm down. Tomorrow, the next day, soon, I'd be sleeping in a Dale's High dormitory. With strangers. Roommates. Would they be snobs, like the ones at the exam hall? Would I make friends? Or enemies?
I turned over, staring at the dim glow of my phone. My thumb slid to open the group chat.
The last messages made me laugh softly, Tessa teasing Joan about her crush on her brother, Elvis.
He has mucus on his face when he wakes up, Joan. You don't want to deal with that.
Joan had replied without hesitation: I don't care. He's sexy. I saw his abs the other day, I wouldn't mind waking up to that.
I smiled, shaking my head. Tessa had quickly shot back: Snap out of it. I don't want you falling for him. Elvis doesn't commit, he just flirts and leaves girls heartbroken.
My cheeks warmed. Elvis really was attractive. Coffee-colored skin, tall, muscular, charismatic. The kind of boy who could flip my stomach inside out with just a glance. He'd done that once already at Tessa's house.
But I shook the thought away and began typing.
Girls, I've been accepted to Dale's High! Just got the email. I'm so excited!
Message sent.
No one replied. They were probably asleep. My phone slipped onto the sheets, screen glowing faintly until it went black.
I pulled the covers over my face. Tomorrow could wait.
Or so I thought.
Because morning came with news that made my heart stop.