When we arrived at the academy, our class was told to proceed to the activity center after morning announcements. I lagged behind and watched as the students split into groups of four or fewer. Even the Gamer’s Club, despite most of them getting along in larger groups earlier, stuck together.
I assumed this would happen, especially when it’s clear today will be our first lecture together on the “Metaverse.” Social Identity Theory dictates that us humans were social-categorizing creatures. Once a challenge was presented, we deemed it most necessary to create or join social groups based on alike characteristics. And even though a challenge isn’t evident, we could assume there was one to come.
Someone tapped my shoulder, and I glanced to the side. Isabella walked beside me, with Priya and Anika striding past.
“I didn’t know you were close with that club or whatever.” Isabella said.
I raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”
“You accepted their room invitation before mine. Granted, I didn’t think anyone would want to have you as a roommate after your overblown speech. Are you all friends?”
“I wouldn’t call them friends per se, nor am I close with them. The resident assistant assigned me to the room without me knowing.”
“Oh, I see. So, do you want to switch out and come live with Priya, Anika, and me?”
I looked ahead to Tiger and Paige, laughing while Chase and Kimberly exchanged cheek jabs. It’s not like I necessarily enjoyed their company, but there was a system I used to calculate a person’s usefulness.
I assessed a person’s worth on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 showing no value and 10 indicating significant benefit. Their rating varied based on their intellect, personality, status, and other existential circumstances. Tiger sat at a 5.5 because of his high leadership potential, and having owed me for accepting his offer to join his club on two occasions. Paige and Chase sat at 3s because of their low leadership potential and uninteresting personalities; While Kimberly sat at a 3.5, with the .5 merely because she was extroverted and could get closer to others.
Overall, their combined numerical worth was fifteen, and since I haven’t found a group with a higher numerical valuation, I’ve decided they’re the most beneficial choice for now.
Priya and Anika looked behind, but quickly turned around as our eyes met. They seemed like the type of girls who felt superior to others because of their numbers. Was that why they wanted me to join their little trio? Hard fucking pass.
“It would be too big of a hassle to unload my things when I’ve already unpacked. I’m sorry, but I’ll have to decline.”
“Well, can’t say I didn’t try,” Isabella replied. “But you’re still welcome to hang out with us at our dorm. Those two couldn’t stop talking about what you said. I think they’re obsessed.”
Priya stopped walking and pivoted around with beet-red cheeks. “I-I am not obsessed! I just thought it would be helpful to talk to someone who’s been at this school for a while!”
“You see that boy over there? Tiger? He’s been at this academy just as long as me. Go talk to him.” I said.
“Oh, please. I can smell a naive goody-two-shoes from a mile away.” Anika said, now walking beside Priya. “I bet he’s the type who’ll do anything you say as long as you make puppy-dog eyes and hold his arm close to your chest.”
From her arrogant tone and use of phrases such as “goody-two-shoes” and “puppy-dog eyes” I could tell she was from the Northern islands. Apparently, a large continent known as North America stood there once. Now it was all islands and craters after the World War.
“But he is kind of cute. I wouldn’t mind making puppy-dog eyes toward his friend Chase either.” Isabella said.
“I think you just have a thing for dudes with glasses. Not all of them are smart, you know,” Priya said while rolling her eyes.
Why did they suddenly start chatting around me? I tried to speed up my pace, but they locked me shoulder to shoulder on both sides.
“But anyways, Reina. Are you like… hooking up with any of them or something?” Anika asked.
“Hooking up? As in sexually active?”
“Way to take the fun out of the word, but yeah. I mean, they went over to your room last night and stay there a loong time.” Anika smirked while raising her eyebrow. “They stay the night?”
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“Ooo, spill the beans, sis!” Isabella said while nudging my arm.
“How would anyone know if someone stayed at my dorm?”
“Aah, so you acknowledge it as a possibility.” Priya said with a mischievous grin.
“Some of the group waves talked about it yesterday and this morning. There’s like ten of them already, so you should’ve seen something.” Isabella said while tapping her Proatrix.
“Oh, right. She stayed late after class with that other girl. The one that came late. She didn’t have time to join a wave since she basically dissed the entire class.” Anika said, holding up her Proatrix-necklace as well.
What the hell’s a wave? And scratch that — Didn’t these idiots have anything better to do than gossip about who entered whose dorm? But it’s good that I learned the depths of gossip between the class early. I’ll keep that in mind that there were eyes everywhere now.
A buzz came from my Proatrix and I held up my hand, initiating the comms screen through a white interface. A notification appeared, asking me to accept a Group Wave chatroom invite. The group was named ‘Girl Trouble,’ and had three emoticons of the girls’ faces, all giggling.
“Well, aren’t you going to accept it?” Anika asked while hovering over my shoulder.
“I don’t take part in online social groups. They are tedious.” I said and closed my Proatrix. “Maybe I’ll join at a later date.”
Priya giggled and held onto my hand with a smile. “You’re funny, big sis! Would you mind if we became friends?”
If I remembered correctly, Isabella was in CT-S1, ranked 6th in the LPL rankings. Priya and Anika were at least above rank twenty on the chart as well. They’ve already been useful thus far, and being in a more social circle of beneficiaries would make them all around 6s since petty gossip is something I’d rather not do myself. That would mean they’re at least around an eighteen as a group. Not much higher than the other four, but higher nonetheless.
“Sure. We can be friends.” I said with a smile.
We made it down to the academy lounge hall and walked over to the elevators leading to the activity center. Most of the students were joining in clumps of four, but I entered my elevator alone to think. Before the doors parted closed, a hand moved through the small slit, causing them to open.
I wanted to get away from that trio of girls. But to my surprise, it was Leila. Unlike yesterday, she now wore the Seya uniform, though her intensely focused jade eyes and stern expression hadn’t changed.
“Do you mind if I ride with you, Reina?” She asked.
“I don’t see a reason to decline,” I said.
Isabella and Priya, a few paces away, waved and began walking toward the elevator. Leila looked back. Her piercing gaze made them stop in their tracks as the doors shut closed. I couldn’t blame her. But if she wanted to be alone, why ride with me?
I pressed the button on the elevator panel for the activity center, but it was now replaced with a room named the “Alexandria Complex.”
That’s odd. Maybe the elevator interface was malfunctioning. Though I’d rather not be the last one there. If it does send us somewhere else, I’ll just get off. I pressed the panel button and leaned on the wall.
Leila crossed her arms and stared outside the elevator glass, slowly opening to the bustling Yenagree city streets with passing shuttle cars and massive-metallic skyscrapers.
“May I ask, what you’re trying to achieve in this program, Reina?” Leila inquired, her gaze still averted.
“You probably have a better idea of what to achieve than me. Better yet, ask the two students that are above me. I’m sure they’ll give you a sufficient answer.”
“Yes, well, I’ve already spoken to most of CT-S1 about their motivations, besides you, anyway. I wanted a different perspective on why they’d divide us based on leadership potential. What that might imply. I thought the second-highest ranked student based on academics might give me some closure.”
She mentioned the idea of only asking CT-S1 students for inclusivity and brought up my academic achievements to potentially appeal to my ego. Maybe she and the others took the bait, which I laid out yesterday by giving that ostentatious speech. If that’s the case, I would be better to give an answer that appeased her characterization of me.
“If it’s any motivation, it’s the fact I get to stay above the rest of the class in the ranked-hierarchy. In my opinion, none of you deserve to be here. Someone needs to keep you all in line.” I said.
“Denouncing your subordinates, then swearing to reach the top of the rankings, would’ve been a bit more believable.” Leila said, while swiping her hair behind her ear. “Sure, arrogance leads to underestimation, but your last statement lacked clarity.”
The elevator window became opaque, casting us in a dim shadow as we headed a few levels below the school. Despite the darkness, her eyes shone with a greenish glare and the elevator walls felt like they were closing in.
My throat felt dry, but I couldn’t swallow. And all I could focus on was the dribble of sweat racing down my back.
“Well? I’m waiting for your actual response to my question.” Leila said.
For a few moments, I couldn’t think, distracted between her authoritative aura and firmness. She was somehow making me feel unsure of myself. What the hell was this presence she was carrying?
The elevator stopped, and the doors spread themselves apart. Leila walked out and turned around with an impassive face.
“You should think about what I said. The next time I’d like an answer, and not a blatant facade.” She said, then walked down the hall.
The elevator doors closed in front of me. I walked over and kicked the door, then slammed both hands, causing the entire elevator to vibrate with an eerie metal churn.
I didn’t know whether to be impressed or apprehensive of her. She picked me apart and left me dumbfounded. And the worst part is, I didn’t even expect it.
I smiled, then a giggle escaped my lips. Before I knew it, the entire elevator reverberated with my laughter.
What was this new feeling I was experiencing? Did I enjoy being put in my place? The growing need for malicious retribution against her? No, not at all! It’s as if I’d finally found someone worth the challenge, a rival, an adversary!
That composed stare, that stoic nature. If she was the prime leadership candidate, I could understand why. Yes, while I didn’t have one before, I had a motivation now.
She was my challenge — I wanted to utterly destroy her self image, that arrogant fucking bitch.