Different Worlds: The School For The Rich

The Orientation

At 9:00 AM, everyone was gathered inside the arena, which always amazes me about this school. Instead of a traditional gym, they have a massive arena. The air conditioning kept it quite cool, and I was glad I wore my jacket. The girls were instructed to sit on the right side, and Mia and I chose seats on the front benches.

"I can't wait to see the boys come in!" I overheard one girl in the back whispering about the males from the boys' dormitory.

"I agree! I’ve heard they’re really good-looking," another girl chimed in, giggling.

"But I’m most excited to see the prince of this school!" The girls gasped at their friend’s statement, nodding eagerly.

"I heard his father is the president of this country, and he excels academically and in sports. Plus, he’s handsome!" They all squealed with excitement, and I could picture hearts in their eyes. But who is this 'prince'? My curiosity grew just as footsteps entered the arena, prompting the girls to cheer and squeal.

I quickly covered my ears, finding their excitement irritating. What was happening? I turned to Mia for clarification, and she smiled lightly. "It's the boys. You know how girls can get when they see guys," she said, rolling her eyes in annoyance and disappointment at the girls’ behavior. If only they could calm down and act more professionally.

Mia's reaction made me chuckle a bit as I turned my attention to the guys entering. They walked in with confidence, and I couldn't deny that they were all attractive, like models. I finally understood the girls' fascination with them. As for me, I regarded them nonchalantly. Some of the boys even winked at the girls, causing one to faint. I raised an eyebrow—wasn't that a bit dramatic? Absolutely ridiculous.

"I feel embarrassed for them," Mia said, rubbing her forehead, and I patted her back. "I know, Mia. Let’s just try to ignore them," I reassured her, though she groaned in exasperation, "I’m trying..."

The noise escalated when the one everyone had been waiting for arrived. I turned to see what was causing the commotion, and my eyes widened at the sight of a man with blond hair and blue eyes reminiscent of the ocean. His confident posture exuded charm, and it was evident that he was charismatic. He wore a casual oversized gray t-shirt tucked into light brown trousers, with a sling bag over his shoulder. He looked just like a prince.

"Aisha?"

I hadn’t realized Mia was calling my name.

"Aisha!"

It wasn’t until she nudged me that I snapped back to reality.

"What?" I faced her, and she wore a teasing expression. "He’s definitely attractive, isn’t he?" she cooed. I couldn’t help but glance back at him as he waved at the girls with a big smile. "I can’t deny it. He does have the looks," I admitted, causing her to smirk widely.

"That’s Stellan. He’s the only son of the president of this country," she shared, giving me a bit of information. "That’s all I know about him since I’m not into boys, but I’ve heard he has quite a fanbase both in and out of school." I couldn’t help but be surprised at how popular he was.

I continued to watch him as he walked toward the boys’ side, and surprisingly, our eyes met, causing me to flinch a little. He smirked at me, and without a word, blew me a kiss before taking a seat on the front benches of the boys’ section.

The girls gasped in reaction and all turned their attention to me. Some were annoyed, while others deemed me lucky. However, the girl with red hair, Beatrice, glared at me from the left, flanked by her two friends who shot me icy glares. It was the first time I had seen her entourage; just yesterday, she had been alone.

With the way she reacted, my ego was definitely bolstered. I smiled sweetly at her without saying anything, which only fueled her anger further. She rose from her seat, seething, and approached me, causing the other girls to fall silent. The sound of their heels striking the floor filled the air as they followed her. Soon, the three of them were standing in front of me, glaring coldly. I remained unfazed as I looked at them, while Mia seemed increasingly uncomfortable.

I leaned back against the bench's headboard and crossed my legs, prompting Beatrice to notice and click her tongue in irritation. "You upset me yesterday, new kid. And you've managed to annoy me even more," she stated, her tone dripping with disdain. It was clear she relished the opportunity to confront me.

"Is that so? I'm surprised. It's my first day, and I've already made an enemy." I replied, my voice laced with sarcasm as I feigned innocence. This only seemed to irritate her further.

Beatrice clenched her fists tightly, trying to regain her composure. One of her friends, sporting a short hairstyle with bangs, chimed in confidently, "Let me give you a word of advice, new kid. Stay away from Stellan; he’s off-limits to you." Her lips curled into an unusual smile that seemed more unsettling than friendly.

"Right, keep mouthing off with those surgically enhanced lips," I said, rolling my eyes with a grin that left them all taken aback, particularly Mia, who was beside me and heard everything. She shook her head vigorously, urging me to back down, but how could I? They had started this confrontation, and I intended to finish it.

"How dare you?!" The girl was momentarily rendered speechless by my response.

"That was uncalled for. You're being rude," the tomboyish girl interjected, her purple hair tied back in a ponytail.

"I apologize, but I can’t respect those who show me disrespect first. I believe respect must be earned, not given without reason," I stated bluntly, raising an eyebrow that left them momentarily stunned.

It was their first encounter with someone unafraid to stand their ground, and now they were unsure how to react. Except for Beatrice, who wordlessly grabbed the collar of my jacket, causing me to catch my breath. She yanked me closer, her eyes blazing with fury.

"You little brat—"

"Everyone, please return to your seats. Ladies in the front, kindly take your places," a woman who was the principal's assistant interjected. Beatrice clicked her tongue in frustration and released me, shooting me a frosty glare before retreating to her seat. I exhaled in relief, surprised that things had escalated so quickly.

"Our program is about to begin," the woman announced before stepping off the stage. Mia gripped my arm with concern. "Are you okay? I told you not to provoke them. Now they'll be after you for good," she said, sounding genuinely worried about my safety.

"I'm prepared for whatever they have planned to take me down," I declared confidently, prompting a sigh of frustration from Mia. "I can never keep you in check, Aisha. You do you," she replied, raising her hand in a gesture of surrender, which made me smile.

But what she didn’t realize was that I was actually feeling anxious. The thought of having an enemy on my very first day at school weighed heavily on me. I scolded myself for my inability to hold back my words and for my determination to always stand my ground when provoked. I had inherited my fearlessness from my mother, who was never intimidated by anyone. She once confronted her boss for unfair treatment, simply because she came from a lower socioeconomic background, causing everyone to fear her. I definitely got that trait from her; even my dad preferred to avoid crossing her.

“Alright, everyone, please take your seats. The principal is here to welcome the new students,” a woman announced as applause filled the room. At last, the principal made his entrance; a short, plump man wearing round glasses who had to stand on a stool to reach the microphone.

"That's my dad!" Beatrice exclaimed joyfully, and I felt my complexion drain slightly. This was a disaster waiting to happen. I focused on the principal's speech.

"Freshmen, I wish you happiness this year and in the years to come at 'The School of the Rich University'! Seniors, please support and guide your juniors!" His words ignited cheers from the crowd, their excitement echoing throughout the arena. Suddenly, the sound of trumpets and drums filled the air as a band appeared, accompanied by twirlers and majorettes. They wore sparkling white costumes that accentuated their figures, performing beautifully while the audience acclaimed them. I watched, captivated by their display.

Leaning in closer to Mia, I asked, "What year are the girls who approached us earlier?" She whispered back against my ear, "They’re third years." I nodded, leaning back as Mia began swaying her head to the rhythm of the drums.

After the band finished their performance, seniors from various departments began introducing their courses and their main focuses. Meanwhile, I sensed someone gazing at me from the group of boys seated on the front benches. Turning to look, I saw Stellan smirking at me. I gave him a puzzled expression as he mouthed something that I couldn’t decipher, prompting me to raise an eyebrow before he casually mouthed 'whatever' and turned his gaze away.

This interaction felt odd—what could he possibly want from me? I decided to brush it off; I was already overwhelmed with enough stress. Time went by, and eventually, the orientation came to an end. As we all left the arena, Mia nudged my arm, and I turned to face her. "I'm going to the canteen to grab some snacks," she informed me, and I nodded in agreement. Now, I was on my own.

However, my moment of peace was interrupted when an irritated voice called out my name. Turning around, I saw a group of girls approaching me aggressively, their faces contorted with anger. "I’m not finished with you yet, new kid," Beatrice shouted, tossing her hair back. Bystanders watched the scene unfold, whispering predictions about how my life was about to get much harder.

"Oh, you're addressing me?" I laughed nervously, attempting a smile, which only seemed to fuel her smirk. "Stop acting innocent and get over here!" they shouted as they began to chase me. Instinctively, I ran, hearing their loud, irritable shouts behind me.

"Don't you dare run from us! How dare you call my lips surgical! I worked hard for this, you brat!" yelled the girl with bangs.

“You ungrateful witch!” shouted the tomboyish girl who surprisingly kept up with me, even in heels.

"You will pay for what you said, new kid!" Beatrice taunted with a sinister smirk.

I bit my lip, continuing to run until I found myself at the back of the arena where there was no way out. Frantically looking for a hiding spot, I noticed a hole in the wall covered by long grass, just big enough for me to fit through. I quickly crawled inside, hearing them get closer.

"She’s going into that hole!" one of them yelled. I kept crawling, pushing the grass aside to see better. At last, I spotted a ray of light. When I finally emerged, I recognized the garden—it was near the dorm, but I hesitated to go there, knowing they’d likely track me down.

Thus, I opted to stay in the garden. It was beautiful and soothing, which helped calm my racing heart. The refreshing air made me close my eyes for a brief moment of relaxation until I heard their voices again as they continued their search. Quickly ducking down among the tall flowers, I moved stealthily until I spotted a large tree. I knew I could climb it—I had often climbed trees with my dad on our adventures.

I made my way to the tree and crept around the back, only to stumble upon Stellan in an unexpected situation—he was kissing the principal's assistant. My eyes widened in shock as I took in the scene; his hand gripped her thigh as they engaged in a passionate kiss, completely oblivious to my presence. I turned to leave discreetly, but accidentally tripped over a small stone, letting out a small squeak that startled them, causing them to part suddenly. The woman looked at me in shock, fearing for her reputation, while Stellan remained calm, a trace of lipstick on his lips. He was looking at me as if he had anticipated my arrival.

Stellan gestured for the woman to leave, and she promptly did so. I stood silent, hearing the approaching girls behind me. My breath quickened, and without thinking, I stepped closer to him.

“What are you doing?” he asked, flashing a charming smile. But I wasn't there to engage in light banter; I was trying to escape from the relentless girls chasing me.

"None of your business," I snapped, then began climbing the tree, prompting a low whistle of admiration from Stellan.

"Amazing. You seem to know how to—” I interrupted him with a quiet shush. “Just be quiet and act as if you’re by yourself,” I instructed firmly, noticing his raised eyebrow, intrigued by my demeanor. I tucked myself behind the dense foliage while he leaned casually against the tree trunk.

Eventually, the girls arrived, their irritated expressions transforming into smiles when they recognized Stellan.

“Hello, Stellan. What a surprise to see you here. Are you on your own?” Beatrice inquired, a blush creeping onto her cheeks.

“Hello, lovely ladies.” Stellan took her hand and kissed the back of it, prompting a surprised gasp from her. He released her hand and slipped his own into his pockets. “Yes, I’m by myself,” he replied.

“I see. Have you seen a woman running by?” she asked, and Stellan raised an eyebrow, feigning ignorance, though he was fully aware.

“I’m sorry, ladies. I haven’t seen anyone around. I’m just here alone,” he said, sounding sincere, and the girls seemed to buy his story.

“I understand. Well then, goodbye, Stellan. Have a great day!” Beatrice giggled as they departed, and I overheard them whispering about the possibility of me being back at the dorm, completely unaware that I was concealed in the branches above.

“You can come down now,” Stellan said, glancing up at me as I peeked through the thick leaves. “Thanks,” I replied softly as I began my descent, landing gracefully on the grass.

“It’s my first time meeting someone like you who enjoys climbing. Most of the well-to-do ladies prefer more feminine pursuits.” His eyes sparkled with curiosity and interest in me. I contemplated revealing the truth but decided against it, worried he might judge me and wanting to keep my secret for now.

“Well, Sir ‘I don’t know who you are,’ I believe that’s a personal question,” I replied, crossing my arms, which made him chuckle at the nickname I had given him. I found it necessary to act as if I didn’t recognize him, even though I did. I didn’t want him to think I was one of his admirers—that thought was repulsive.

“Stellan. Just call me Stellan,” he said, taking my hand and kissing the back of it, causing my heart to race. He then released my hand. Did he treat all women this way? I discreetly wiped his kiss off my clothing, and he laughed again. “I see you’re quite the spirited one,” he commented.

“Nope. I simply call it respecting boundaries.” Without saying anything more, I started walking toward the dorm, and I heard him call after me. “I still don’t even know your name, miss?” I took my time before responding.

“You don’t need to know who I am!” I replied with a louder voice so he could hear, and I caught the low, sultry sound of his laughter in response.

“I’ll find a way to get you to tell me your name, miss!” he said in a teasing tone. Still, I chose to ignore him until I was completely out of sight.