DEROLD HIGH (A school for the elites)

"Brooooo! I've missed you!" Mike threw his arms around Riwan the moment he spotted him, hugging him so tightly that Riwan nearly lost his balance. "Get off me!" Riwan grumbled, shoving him away. "Since when did you become this comfortable hugging another guy? Should I be worried about you?" Mike stared at him in disbelief. "Wow. Is this how you welcome your best friend after being apart for weeks?" "Best friend?" Riwan raised an eyebrow. "Did I miss a memo?" Riwanna burst out laughing. "So, you only missed him, right?" she asked Mike mischievously. Mike rolled his eyes. "I only missed my drinking buddy. The rest of you can manage." "Don't mind him," Tabitha teased. "It's not his fault. He probably couldn't recognise you because of those glasses." Mike slowly turned towards her. "Excuse me?" "What? Am I lying?" "Keep talking, Tabitha." "Or what?" Mike opened his mouth but couldn't find a suitable response. Riwanna burst into laughter. "Guys, please! My stomach hurts!" Riwan shook his head dramatically. "I don't know why I agreed to come shopping with you people. No peace, no respect, just pure madness." "Yet you're still here," Riwanna pointed out. "Unfortunately." "And you love us." "Speak for yourself." Before Riwan could respond, he suddenly gasped and pressed a hand to his chest. "Oh my God! I almost forgot!" The others turned towards him. "What now?" Mike asked suspiciously. Riwan's expression softened into an adorable pout. "I miss my girl, Elsa." Tabitha stared at him. "Your girl?" "Yes, my girl. Do you have a problem with that?" "Since when did Elsa become your girl?" Riwanna asked, narrowing her eyes. Riwan ignored her. "Her flight should be landing in about two hours. We'll see her tomorrow, and trust me, that girl has enough gossip to keep us entertained for a month." He clasped his hands together excitedly. "I can't wait!" Tabitha shook her head. "Riwan, you seriously need to stop making that face." "What face?" "That innocent little baby face! You're a grown person, for crying out loud!" Riwan pouted harder. "This face?" "YES!" "What's wrong with being cute?" "Nothing," Mike replied, "except when you use it to manipulate people into paying your bills." Riwan gasped. "How dare you accuse me of such a thing?" "Because you do it every single time!" Riwanna slung an arm around her twin's shoulders. "Leave my baby alone. It's not his fault he's so adorable." Riwan smirked triumphantly. "Finally, someone with sense." Riwanna smiled sweetly. "I mean, look at me. I'm gorgeous, and he takes after me." Riwan's jaw dropped. "Excuse me? YOU take after ME!" "Are you hearing yourself?" "Are YOU hearing yourself?" Mike groaned. "Can we please shop in peace?" "I was born beautiful," Riwan declared. "And I was born unforgettable," Riwanna shot back. "You're both born annoying," Tabitha muttered. Mike burst out laughing. "Finally! Someone said it!" Tabitha pulled out her phone. "Anyway, I have an announcement." "Is it about your new boyfriend?" Riwanna asked. "No." "Your secret admirer?" "No." "Your plan to finally get a brain?" "RIWANNA!" Riwanna doubled over with laughter. Tabitha took a deep breath. "Can I finish speaking, please?" "Go ahead, Your Majesty," Riwan replied. Tabitha lifted her chin proudly. "I got my dad's black card." Silence. Mike slowly turned towards her. "Say that again." "My dad's black card. The one he uses for his business expenses." Riwanna grabbed Tabitha's shoulders. "DO YOU LOVE US?" Tabitha laughed. "Obviously." "NO, BECAUSE I LOVE YOU MORE!" Mike immediately stepped forward. "Tabitha, my darling, my sister, my favourite person in this entire universe—" "Please don't start," Tabitha interrupted. "Too late. The love has already started." Riwan folded his arms. "So we're celebrating financial irresponsibility today?" Everyone stared at him. He held their gazes for two seconds before grinning. "Fine. Bills are on her!" "THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!" Riwanna screamed, grabbing Tabitha's hand and running off. Mike followed immediately. "I LOVE YOU SO MUCH, TABITHA!" "YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT WE'RE BUYING!" she shouted. "I DON'T CARE! JUST SWIPE THE CARD!" Riwan watched them disappear and sighed. "Children." He adjusted his designer sunglasses. "I guess I'll have to be the mature one today." Three seconds later, he took off after them. "WAIT! DON'T SPEND ALL THE MONEY WITHOUT ME!" At Derold High, money wasn't merely a privilege. It was a lifestyle, and these four were determined to enjoy every second of it. The moment Elsa stepped off the plane, she pulled down her sunglasses and scanned the airport. Then she spotted a familiar face near the arrivals gate. "Megan!" Her voice rang through the air as she rushed towards her nanny. Megan barely had time to open her arms before Elsa wrapped both arms around her and buried her face against her shoulder. "Oh my God, I've missed you so much!" Megan hugged her back, laughing. "Good heavens, child! Are you trying to suffocate me? If I die here, who's going to be your best friend?" Elsa tightened her embrace. "Don't even joke about that!" "Then loosen your arms, you little troublemaker!" Elsa finally pulled back, keeping her hands on Megan's shoulders. "I missed your face." Megan smiled warmly. "I missed yours too, sweetheart." Elsa hugged her again. "Elsa!" "What?" "I just told you I can't breathe!" "Okay, fine!" Elsa stepped backwards dramatically. "There. Happy?" "Very." They laughed before Elsa suddenly leaned closer. "Wait a minute. Did you change your perfume?" Megan's eyes lit up. "Yes! I knew you'd notice!" "I KNEW IT!" "You always notice these things." "Of course. Who else is going to keep track of your perfume collection?" Megan laughed. "I got tired of my old collection, so I decided to try something new." She leaned closer. "And guess what?" Elsa narrowed her eyes. "You bought one for me too." Megan smiled. "You know me too well." Elsa clapped excitedly. "This is why you're my favourite person in the entire world!" "And here I was thinking your father held that position." Elsa's smile faltered for a moment before she shrugged. "Daddy is Daddy. You're Megan." Megan noticed the change in her expression but chose not to question her. "Speaking of your father, he's waiting for you at home." Elsa brightened. "He came home early?" "Yes." "And let me guess. He cooked?" Megan nodded. Elsa burst out laughing. "Oh, this is going to be interesting!" "Don't start." "The last time Daddy cooked, he nearly burnt the kitchen down!" "He has improved." "Really?" "Well..." Elsa stared at her. "Megan." "What?" "Don't tell me he burnt something again." Megan pressed her lips together, trying not to laugh. Elsa threw her head back. "OH MY GOD! I KNEW IT! My billionaire father has all the money in the world but still thinks he's a professional chef!" Megan shook her head affectionately. "You know your father better than anyone else." Elsa's laughter slowly faded. For a moment, she looked towards the airport windows. "Yeah," she murmured. "I guess I do." Megan reached for her hand. "Come on, sweetheart. Let's go home." Elsa smiled and followed her. Neither noticed the man standing several metres away, watching them leave. He immediately reached for his phone. "Sir," he said quietly when the call connected. "She's back." He listened before continuing. "Yes. Elsa has returned to the city." Another pause. Then he lowered his voice. "Should I proceed with the plan?" A few kilometres away, Riayung pushed open the door of a small fried-chicken shop and dragged herself inside. Her shoulders sagged, and her face carried an exhaustion that sleep couldn't fix. Behind the counter, Mabel looked up. "Riayung? You're back already?" Riayung didn't answer. She walked to the nearest table and dropped into a chair. Mabel wiped her hands on her apron and approached her. "Sweetheart, what's wrong?" Riayung remained silent. Mabel sat opposite her. "Talk to me. What happened?" Riayung released a frustrated breath. "They said no." Mabel frowned. "Who said no?" "The school, Mum." Her voice cracked. "Derold High. They said they don't offer scholarships, so I can't even apply." Mabel's expression fell. "Oh, my child..." Riayung quickly blinked back her tears. "I went there this morning. I explained that I was willing to do whatever it took to get admitted." She laughed bitterly. "Do you know what the woman at the office told me? She said Derold High is for wealthy families and that I should look for a school that suits my financial situation." Mabel covered her mouth. Riayung looked down at her hands. "Apparently, my financial situation means I don't deserve to dream." "Riayung, please..." "No, Mum. I'm fine." But she wasn't. She had spent months dreaming about Derold High. She imagined walking through its grand entrance, sitting in its classrooms, and accessing opportunities that could change her future. She had studied hard, hoping someone would recognise her potential. But today, she had learnt a painful lesson. Sometimes, being brilliant wasn't enough. Sometimes, the world wanted to know how much money your parents had before it cared about how much you had in your head. Mabel reached across the table and held her hand. "I know how much this school means to you." Riayung swallowed. "And it breaks my heart that I can't give you that opportunity," Mabel continued. "If only I had more money..." "Mum, don't." Riayung sat up immediately. "Please don't blame yourself." "But what kind of mother am I if I can't even send my daughter to the school of her dreams?" Riayung squeezed her mother's hand. "You're the kind of mother who works hard every day to make sure her daughter has something to eat. The kind who worries about my future and would give up everything just to see me smile." Her voice softened. "That's the kind of mother you are." Mabel's tears spilled over. Riayung moved beside her. "Mum, please don't cry." "I'm sorry, my child." "For what?" "For not being able to give you more." Riayung shook her head and wiped a tear from her mother's cheek. "There's nothing to apologise for. And for the record, it's their loss for refusing a brilliant girl like me." Mabel laughed weakly. "That's my girl." "Exactly!" Riayung lifted her chin. "I might not have designer bags or a rich father, but I have this brain. Trust me, it's worth more than all the expensive shoes in Derold High combined." Mabel tried to smile, but the guilt remained in her eyes. Riayung noticed. "Mum?" "Yes, sweetheart?" "Please promise me something." "Anything." "Never regret being my mother. Not even for one second." Mabel's lips trembled. "Riayung..." "I mean it. I would choose you in every lifetime." Mabel pulled her daughter into a tight embrace. And Riayung held her just as tightly. Because if the world refused to make room for her, at least she had a place where she would always belong. Her mother's arms. A few minutes later, Riayung picked up her schoolbag. "Where are you going?" Mabel asked. "To change my uniform. I need to get it cleaned." Mabel nodded. Riayung walked towards the back room but stopped beside the window. Outside, expensive cars drove past the little shop, their polished bodies reflecting the afternoon sunlight. Somewhere in the city, students her age were probably shopping, laughing, and spending money without worrying about price tags. Somewhere in that city stood Derold High, its gates open to those wealthy enough to enter. And she was standing in a tiny shop, trying to convince herself that a dream she had carried for so long no longer mattered. Riayung swallowed the lump in her throat. "Some dreams are never meant to come true," she whispered. Then she disappeared into the back room. Mabel remained seated, staring at the doorway. She wanted to tell her daughter not to give up. She wanted to promise that everything would somehow work out. But what could she say when she had no money, no connections, and no idea how to change their circumstances? All she could do was pray. Neither woman knew that someone, somewhere, was about to change their lives forever. A wealthy woman would soon enter Riayung's world with an unexpected offer, opening a door that had always seemed firmly shut. But why Riayung? What did this woman see in a girl she had never met? And why was she willing to offer Riayung a future her own mother could not afford? For now, those questions remained unanswered. Riayung had already begun teaching herself to live without the dream she had fought so hard to achieve. Little did she know that her story was only just beginning. END OF CHAPTER ONE