THE INSIDE OF YOU

A simple, smart and kind-hearted Zhara Elijah Ella Cavanaugh is living a quiet and stress free environment in his fathers hometown Clare, Ireland. Living with his father she grow up as a street-smart girl and that helps them live a stable life. "Zee, can you go and fetch some bread in Rosie's bread shop?" "Yes papa, I will also buy some meat to celebrate my birthday today" "Yes, Yes go on and I will cook it for you when you come back" Elijah left their home immediately to fetch some bread and buy meat in the wet market. Riding in her old bicycle she happily roam around the neighbourhood. "Good morning dear Elijah, what can I get for you?" A 40 years old Rosie Anderson greeted. "Good morning Mrs.Anderson I want to get some bread, the usual please" "I remember it is your birthday today Elijah, here you go. It's on me" "No no no Mrs.Anderson I will pay" "I won't receive anything from you today, just enjoy your day got it?" "Thank you so much Mrs.Anderson" Her smile never left her lips since then. When she returned home she helped her father cook for them. Elijah grew up without knowing her mother except for her name. "A mail for Ms.Cavanaugh" The mailman shouted. "Who is it?" Her father asked "I don't know papa, it must be my friends" "Check it, I will prepare the food" She immediately got out and received the mail. It was a black envelope embroided with gold letters. Zee Cavanaugh "Papa the mails odd" "Why?" Her father got out of the kitchen and looked at the envelope in Elijahs hand "The envelope itself, it looks expensive. Look!" "Oh god" Her father stopped his feet from walking just a distance from Elijah. Seeing the envelope makes his father out of his balance and cried. "Papa! What's happening? Why?" "Who-who is it f-from?" Elijah looked confused "Do you wanna see it papa? I don't want you to cry! Why? What is this?" "No! No! Don't!" Her father grabbed the envelope and throw it far from them. "Papa" Elijah embraced her father like a child. She never saw her father like this except for those days when he miss her mother. "Maybe its her. It's her! It could be her!" Her father stood up and grabbed the envelope again and rip it open. Elijah on the other hand still looks confused because of the sudden outburst from her father. "Its her" said her father in a cold tone "Her? Who?" Elijah stood up and gets the mail "Your mother" "M-my m-mother?" "It's for you. Read it" "Wait, what? My mother?" "Yes, after 18 years she sent YOU a mail. She couldn't sent one for me after these long years? How I hate her everyday" "Father calm down" "Read it out loud Zee. I want to know what she wants now" Her father sat on the couch near them and Elijah did the same. Her hands are trembling from confusion, excitement and overwhelm. Knowing that it is from her mother wants her to shout in happiness but hearing her fathers small sobs saddened her. Dear My Love Zee, I don't know how to start this, I know that I owe you an explaination unto what and why. I hoped that you know about me. I love you so much that I have to let you and your father go. Today is your 18th birthday and I don't know if I'm still alive by that time. I have one request to you love, go to the Philippines and attend the invitation of the school I attached in the mail. Be careful, always be brave and kind for I have my faith in you. Yours Truly, Leona M. No one spoke and even move. Elijah gets the other small letter in the same color with the letter her mother wrote. Dear Ms.Cavanaugh, It is our pleasure to welcome you to BRIGHT Academy. We hope to see you soon in the Academy. Sincerely Yours, Bright Miller "What's in that letter?" Elijah gave the letter to his father "Philippines is too far, what does mother want?" "Should I stop you? I want to stop you Zee but it's your decision" "Papa" "I know, for the past years you wish to see your mother. You are brave and kind. I promise her to raise you that way. If you have already decided tell me, okay? I will help you, I will support you" "Papa, i love you" "I love you too Zee" The happy day for Elijah became dull and silent. They ate in silence and gave each other time. On the evening in that very same day, Elijah held a handkerchief near her heart. It was her mother's. Embroided in there is her mothers name. Leona Marie Madrigal She gets on the bed with a lot of questions in mind. What happened 18 years ago? Her father said that her mother is a Filipino citizen, they met in the Philippines when her father was still travelling. Her mother is a teacher/journalist, her father said that they have to go because her mother got jailed. Got jailed? Why? Did she do something? Qhat got her jailed? Why do we have to descend? A lone tear escape her eyes. She never saw her face, his father didn't have any picture of her mother but his father said that Leona was the most beautiful girl she met. Even though he travelles europe and asia before he came to Philippines he hasn't seen such beautiful features. The next morning Elijah woke up late, she has been thinking about the letter and his father. She can't leave his father alone, he's getting old and no one can support him except her. But suprisingly when she walks in the living room a lady and a boy are already sitting in their couch. "Good morning my lady" The kid greeted her "G-good morning" She rans to her fathers room where she saw his father packing his things. "Papa! What are you doing?" "Zee, you have to pack" "Pack? Why? Are we going somewhere?" "Yes, your aunt is outside. We will go home" "Aunt? You said we don't have any relatives here! And home! This is OUR home" "Well I lied. Come on Zee pack up and I will explain on our way, okay?" "What?" "Go on" She has no choice but to get ready and pack up. Her confusion from yesterdays happening became doubled. When everythings done she sat at the end of her bed. "What is happening?" She stayed there for minutes before they left their house. Outside their house is a limousine, her throat got stucked. "What the!" Their other neighbors are sorrounding the car, the others are eyeing them weirdly as if they're someone they don't know. "Let's go" The lady motioned her to get inside. Their things are being put in the other cars from the back of the limo. They sat inside silently, no one dared to talk but her mouth is itchy and her brains pumped up. "Papa?" "Yes?" "What is this?" She hissed in a small voice "I'm sorry I lied" "Yes! Like obviously? What is happening?" "I am a Cavanaugh and so you are" "YES! Ofcourse I am! But the point here is WHAT?" "I am a royalty and I am originally from Northern Ireland" "Kevin, you should've said it to her years ago so it won't be hard for you now" "I want a simple life Amethyst, I just don't have a choice now" "Well my neice is confused! You're still stupid until now" "I know but she'll understand, right Zee?" "I can't. I don't know like you're uh what? Royalty what? Is this a joke? A prank? Papa its not funny!" "I'm sorry Zee I just want you to have a normal life. Being a royalty is stressful and your mother doesn't want it" "I can't process it. I can't" Elijah distanced herself from the people inside the Limo. Wow, after 18 years they just suddenly said the truth and my mothers request! Yestersay was my mother and now my father? How can I take it all in if their doing it in just a small span of time? The travel lasted for 5 hours. Elijah felt exhausted and tired from thinking about the happenings. "We're here Zee" The car stopped at a castle, the big doors are open and there are maids outside waiting for them. Elijah seems uncomfortable so the kid held her hand and guided her inside. She felt relieved from the happenings outside. The receiving area is big enough to hold a grandball. The place screams how rich the people are living there. From the antiques and gold marbles, the chandelier and big frames. "Kevin, thankfully you're here" An old woman ran towards her papa and embraced him. "Ma, I am with my daughter" "Oh! My beautiful granddaughter is here" The old woman embraced her "Zee this is your grandmother, Lady Margarette Cavanaugh" "It is my pleasure to meet you" I bowed down to pay respect to her but she held my head up "No no you shouldn't bow down" "Ma let her rest first we travelled far" "Yes ofcourse!" The old lady gestured her to a maid, she glanced at her father but he just smiled and nodded at her. The maid guided her to a room as big as their house. "If you have anything you want you can press this bell and someone will attend for you" Elijah just noded and roam her eyes in the room. It's spacious for her alone, she walks towards the bed and crawled. It's light as a feather and smells like roses. She slept for hours in there, no one bothered her. There are maids who left the food on the table outside her room and she was thankful for they respect her space. Her father wanted to talk to her, to explain but she refused to because first. She hasn't taken the hang from the first two days, second she have thought it wisely and she have decided to do as what her mother wants this time. She pressed the bell in her room, seconds later someone knocked on her room. "My lady, how may I help you?" "Uh my father, where is he?" She spent 3 days to calm down and take it all in and now she decided to do what she wants to do. "He's with Lady Margarette, My Lady" "Please escort me to them" The maid escorted her in the garden where her father and grandmother is talking. "Papa" "Zee! Are you okay now?" "I'm fine papa, can we talk?" "Yes yes come here sit down, we can talk with your grandmother" She sat down at the empty space and rested her elbows in the table. "Sit properly my dear you should be prim and proper at all times" Her grandmother corrected her posture "I don't think I have to right papa? Besides I don't think I'm staying here for long" "Let her be Ma, my daughters fine. Yes Zee ofcourse you have decided" "You have decided first papa, I will say no to mama if we just stayed in the house but right now it looks like I have to go" "Where is my granddaughter going Kevin?" "She's going to her mother mama, its her decision anyways" "I will be leaving tomorrow if I can papa, grandma" "Okay, we will ready everything you need today" The talk went smoothly, they also did a little chitchat about what her father was like before. Her grandmother said that she look nothing a like with her papa. Later that night she packed and get everything ready. The people helped her with everything she needs while her papa gave her the ticket and a bag full of money. "This is too much!" "Nothing is too much for you Zee. You will be alone in this journey, call me everytime okay? I will wait for you" "Papa" "If you ever see your mother tell her I miss her okay? Be careful in there, be wise and brave. Don't trust anyone easily" "Yes papa, thankyou" The next day she left from Ireland to Philippines. It took almost a day to arrive in the Philippines. While on plain she contacted the number in the letter that Academy gave. When she arrive a big tarpaulin is written with her name on it. Zee Cavanaugh She felt ashamed as she approach the mans in their all black suit. "Miss Cavanaugh?" "Yes" She was escorted by the guards to the car and helped her with her things. She's carrying the bag with momey on her. They left the airport immediately, the country is beautiful, its crowded and almost traffic. She slept in for she don't know how long. "Miss Cavanaugh, we have arrived" She opened her eyes and roam them, she adjusted her vision on the place and there she saw a castle. Bigger than the Cavanaugh's. Some people from the inside helped her with her things and a girl approached her. "You must be Ms.Cavanaugh?" They might be the same age, the girl looks strict. "Yes it is me" "Follow me" She just followed her around, while following her eyes roamed around the castle. This place looks like a dream to her so she pinched herself. "What are you doing?" the girl asked her in confusion "N-nothing" they stopped in a big wooden door "Mr.Headmaster, Ms.Cavanaugh has arrived" the girl announced from the outside "Come in" A baritone voice answered. The girl pushed open the door and it revealed the person inside and the room. "Hello Ms.Cavanaugh, it is our pleasure to have you here" "Oh it is my pleasure too" they shaked their hands and sat on the empty chairs "You should rest after this Ms.Cavanaugh or should I call you Zee?" "The latter please" "Okay, do you know her now Zee?" The headmaster gestured the girl. "Um no, not yet" "How rude of you Samantha" "I'm sorry Mr.Headmaster, I am Samantha Lewis, you are?" "Zhara Elijah Ella Cavanaugh, Zee for short" Samantha just raised her brows and noded. "Well you can escort her to the girls dorm Samantha and please the attitude" "Yes Mr.Headmaster" Samantha got out of the room but Elijah stayed. "Do you have anything in mind?" The Headmaster asked "Um do you by chance know my mother?" The headmaster rested his head on his hands "I cannot disclose anything that is from the outside Ms.Cavanaugh. You should know the first rule and that is 'What you see, hear and do inside the campus, remains in the campus' okay? Now go and rest, Samantha has everything you need to survive this school" She slowly got out of the office while Samantha just waited for her. "Lets go I still have homeworks to do" Samantha escorted her to the girls dormitory and to her assigned room. "This is you school uniform, the papers, the things you need and lastly the last thing you need" A uniform is on the bed, the papers in an envelope and the bag that has materials for school and lastly she gave her a swiss knife. "What is this for?" "Kill yourself" "What?" She blinked multiple times "Just kidding! You will need it if you will be in danger right?" It even confused Elijah more "In danger? We are in a school, how can there be danger here?" "Well you never know whats on your back, someday you will know" "What?" "Ciao" "Wait!" Samantha left her dumbfounded. She sat at the couch when the door sudden opened. "Hi! You must be my new roommate?" "Uh yes" "Your room is behind that door, yours is the right side while mines on the left" "Oh thankyou" "No problem! Where are you from by the way?" "Ireland, How about you?" "Japan! Oh silly me! I'm Sokui Higariwa" "Zhara Elijah Ella Cavanaugh, Zee for short" "Your names long thank god you have a nickname hahahaha" Sokui helped her with her things and started arranging them. They talked for hours before dinner. "15 minutes before dinner, get changed. Also where's your badge?" "Badge?" "Yeah! Like this" Sokui showed her badge to Elijah "I don't have one" "Ofcourse you have!" Sokui got the envelope and gets the badge inside it. "Here, you have a badluck starting Zee tsk tsk" "Why is my color different?" "No one informed you?" Elijah shook her head "Oh god! You're doomed! Thankfully I'm your roommate and ofcourse friend! Well our badges differ depends on your status outside. There are 4 colors of badges the first one is" GOLD- Hier/Prince & Princesses BLACK-Executives/Actors/Models Yellow-Managers/Middle-class White-Poor/Poorest "Mine's black because I'm an executives daughter while yours are white, how poor are you?" "What? That's racist!" "Well school rules sucks!" They changed into their comfortable clothes. Sokui is wearing a high waisted shorts and an off-shoulders while Elijah is wearing a white sleeveless dress. "You really do look like someone, I just can't point it out who" "Is she beautiful?" "Yes! Very beautiful! Lets go, we're gonna be late. The students should eat with everyone and we shouldn't be late! It's your first time so enjoy and observe okay?" They walked for 10 minutes before they arrived in the Dining room full of students. "You sit in your badge color while I am going to mine, see you later" Elijah looked around, some students eyed her from head to toe. There are only few of them in the table. 10 if everyones here. "Hi, I'm jules" "Zee" The tables are separated, the whites and yellows are on the back while the gold and blacks are on the front. In the mini stage there is a red table and seated there are the teachers and the headmaster. A bell rang and the maids placed food first on the red table then gold and so on. "This place screams racism" Elijah whispered "Well the world isn't fair" They ate silently when the door opened in a loud bang and there a man walking lazily in between every tables. He stopped and sat down in the Gold table. "Stay away from them, especially him Zee. His a walking trouble"