chapter 1
Venus pov
I woke up to the sound of my alarm clock, and when I opened my eyes, I saw my cousin, Lexi, standing over me with a scowl on her face. "What the...?" I muttered, rubbing my face. "You're late, get up!" she said, throwing something at me. I quickly got out of bed and rushed to the bathroom, noticing that I was already running late for school. I hastily got dressed in my uniform and ran downstairs, calling out to Lexi to hurry up.
My parents were already downstairs, and they seemed amused by my sudden urgency. "Good morning, anak. You're up early today," my mom said, smiling. I explained that I was running late, but my dad pointed to the wall clock, which showed 6:00 am. I glared at Lexi, who just smirked.
We had breakfast together, and I devoured my food quickly. Lexi teased me, and I retaliated with a playful insult. After breakfast, we headed out to catch a jeepney, and Lexi paid for our fare.
As we rode to school, I introduced myself: I'm Venus Athlea Sarvantes, a 19-year-old fourth-year college student at Saavedra University, a prestigious school that only the wealthy can afford. We're able to attend due to a scholarship. Lexi and I are both smart, despite not looking it.
When we arrived at school, students greeted us, and some commented on our appearance. Lexi responded with her usual sass. I smiled and noticed two girls, Zhia and Zyla, waving at us. They were twins, but not identical, and they hugged us warmly.
However, Lexi's mood soured, and she stormed off. Zhia and Zyla commented on her grumpiness, and I jokingly said she was born with a scowl on her face. But before I could finish, Lexi appeared behind me, her face red with anger. "You think you're funny, Venus?" she growled.
The bell rang, saving me from her wrath. "See you later, Venus Athlea Sarvantes," she warned, her voice dripping with menace. I panicked and ran to my next class.
In my haste, I bumped into someone and apologized profusely. The person, a woman in her late 20s, smiled and forgave me. I noticed the time and panicked, realizing I was already 30 minutes late for my next class. "Bye, miss pretty" I exclaimed, rushing off.
As I ran, I heard her ask for my name, and I replied, "Venus," before dashing away.