Campus Empress

CHAPTER 16

The vibrating alarm clock woke me up in the morning. Just when I opened my eyes, I remember I need to go to school because today is Monday. I remained laying on my bed. I do not have the energy to go to school after last Saturday.

I don’t know what to expect. I mean, I just came at the town because of my parent’s mission. I do not plan to get a spotlight at the academy, neither do I want it! I was fine being the ‘new girl’!

“Sweetheart, I know you’re awake. Don’t try to avoid going to school. You’ve been sulking since yesterday,” my mom said behind my door.

I’ve been staying in my room since yesterday, I did not went out. Just after I was crowned, I told Tredon I want go home. Charise has been calling me since then. So did Tredon, and Alquette. Certainly Charise gave them my number but I ignored them all.

I just called Lena and Averil and told them how crazy things are happening here. Yet they were so happy I’m the Campus Empress and said that I deserved it. I still complained. It was never my plan to take that position.

“Reyva! You better be preparing yourself right now or else!” my mother shouted to me from the stairs which made me groan.

As much as I want to avoid school right now, I’d rather still go than face my mother’s punishment. If my father gave me military training when I misbehave; my mother arrange a date for me. The thought of it makes me shudder. I quickly wake up from my bed and prepared.

“Wise choice sweetheart. You avoided my punishment,” my mom greeted me as I opened the door of my room. I grimaced, having not much of a choice.

“I want to eat,” I said dodging my mother.

“I prepared sandwich downstairs.” My mom dropping her mood. I smiled in my mind, I won over her. She know I’m avoiding whatever she’s going to tell.

AFTER eating my breakfast, my mother drove me to the academy. I just put my earphones while on the way, I’m in no mood to talk.

“Hey, there’s a man who came at home yesterday asking for you,” I heard her despite the earphones.

“I don’t know any man around here,” I replied.

“He said he’s your date during the ball. You did not tell me you have a date. If I know, I shouldn’t have let your father drive you to the venue. Poor man. I was thinking I’m going to set you a …….“

“Don’t go there mom,” I yelled as I remove my earphones.

“There she go, I finally got her attention,” my mom is smiling widely at me.

“Okay. Yes, I had a date! He is the one who drove me home after the ball!” I made sure to show my mom I’m not happy, but it made me even more annoyed when she chuckled.

“But sweetheart, being the Campus Empress will give you more space to move when I’ll tell you about the mission.” She said, now calm.

“When will you tell me?” I asked her, interested. Weeks has passed and they haven’t tell me about the mission. It made me wonder how massive it is that it is taking long, and we need to move at this small town.

“Soon sweetheart,” she replied and stopped the car in front of the gate. I can see the entrance of the academy. Great.

My mother saw my reaction and said, “You’re greater than this sweetheart. You know it is for a good cause, now go out already.”

I opened the car door and stepped my feet on the ground. Some students were looking at me. I don’t know what they’re thinking. Closing the car door, I look at my mom. She just smiled and bid me goodbye.

I was going to head to the entrance when a black car went directly to the entrance if the academy. It stopped though. And the door opened, showing Tredon’s face. I closed my eyes, I really wanted to scream all my frustration.

“Hey, I’ve been calling you and you weren’t answering. I even went to your house. Are you alright?” he said as he approach me and the car he came from continue entering the academy.

“Didn’t I made myself last Saturday? You won’t bother me anymore!” I yelled to him.

He tried talking to me but I ignored him, instead I walk to the academy. I was walking faster. The moment I wasn’t hearing his voice anymore, I slowed down.

“I was saying my aunt wants to see you at her office!” he shouted after grabbing my hand. He was panting.

“Damn you walk fast,” he said and exhaled heavily.

“Okay, I’ll head to her office,” I just replied.

“Alright.” He said and I changed my path, heading to the principal’s office.

“Wait!” I stopped and turned my back to see him. He’s walking towards me.

“Please don’t be mad at me,” he softly said when he’s near enough.

My heart clenched upon hearing it. I cursed. I hate this. It’s like I’m mad at everything right now and it’s draining me.

I gave him a smile and continue walking to the office.

When I arrived, I knocked the door and I was told to come in. I closed the door upon entering the room.

“Ms. Fern, congratulations for being the Campus Empress.” Ms. Smith first said to me.

“I don’t even know why I’m the Campus Empress,” I frankly said.

“There are things that needs a push to make a progress,” she just said.

“By the way, I called you here to tell……”

“Elizabeth! What was all that about?! That title was not part of the surprise!” A raging Kaitlyn cut what the principal is about to say.

Ms. Jones didn’t notice me first when she entered and closed the door with a loud bang. I can tell she’s familiar with the office. Her eyes went directly to the location of the principal’s table.

“And what is she doing here!?” she shouted again banging the principal’s table when she laid her eyes on me. Seems like I’m not the only person who’s mad today.

“Ms. Jones, please calm down. I won’t talk to you if you continue banging everything in my office,” Ms. Smith said calmly. She has the authority on her voice.

“Mind you Elizabeth, I gave you this office!” she replied. Now with a low voice but with a gritted teeth.

“Your memory seems to fade Kaitlyn, I’ll remind you once again, the academy belongs to Rose!” Ms. Smith shouts to her.

They are both shooting daggers to each other. Well since they are busy staring at each other, I figured I could leave the office.

“Excuse me, Ms. Smith can I leave?” I asked her.

I startled when they both yelled no to me. Because of that, I did not move. Ms. Smith was the first one to broke their staring contest when she noticed my reaction.

“I mean, since Ms. Jones is here, we can talk,” she said to me with a smile.

“Yes, let us talk.” Ms. Jones replied and sat on the chair in front of the table. The principal offered me the other sit which I took.

“So tell me, what’s that all about?” Ms. Jones asked, now with a calm voice.

“Well as you know, your daughter is your husbands’ image at this school. And they are on their last years as highschool, they will be graduating soon. So I thought, it’s better is your daughter to have a competition. It will be a good reputation if she will be able to prove her worth and it will be beneficial to your husband’s campaign for governor.” Ms. Smith explained. Is she serious?

“But why her! I don’t appreciate that you gave a higher title to a transferee!” Ms. Jones exclaimed.

“Well, if you don’t know, she got a perfect score on history on their recent surprise quiz. Don’t that make her a good contender for your daughter?” the principal said in a noble manner.

Ms. Jones was speechless. I can tell she wasn’t informed about it. She look at me, figuring me but I didn’t allow her to get anything from her examine; I gave a blank expression.

“Not only that, she was brave to save a girl your daughter is harassing,” the principal added.

Again, Ms. Jones didn’t say anything. Her reaction say that she didn’t know her daughter do that.

“I’ve been observing Ms. Fern, and decided she is the perfect lady to be your daughter’s competitor.” The principal said with a final tone.

The campus queen’s mother didn’t talk. She was nothing like the raging woman who entered the door a while ago. She seem defeated. Silently, she walked to the door without saying anything.

“If your daughter can defeat Ms. Fern and prove her worth, I can terminate the title I gave to Ms. Fern.” The principal said to Ms. Jones before she finally went out of the door.

Well, she’s the principal. Why didn’t I asked her to do that in the first place? But, being the Campus Empress was actually to become the Campus Queen’s competitor.

“I’m sorry about that Ms. Fern. Your first class have already started, you can go now and join your class. I will talk to you again soon.” The principal dismissed me with an apologetic voice. She went to the door and opened it.

“Please don’t believe everything I have said, there’s a reason for that.” She said, assuring me when I was stepping out of the door.