July 2014

13-year-old Jade pretends not to listen to her parents talking on the phone, in English with the person on the other end of the line, and in Swahili with one another. She understands both and knows how disappointed they are with the news.

The Institute finally opened, and she was accepted, passing all the tests except the one her parents wanted her to excel at. The level of ability.

They turn off the phone and don't notice that she's lurking, watching them.

"They'll send the contract. She got the number two position. The first girl will be announced. She's a fifth generation, no one like her. But she's number two in the world, they say. She's not more powerful than her. Lies," Jade's mother's fists curl and her voice resonates throughout the room.

"Number two is good," her father's soothing voice echoes through the room.

"Good? Matthew Moore's invincible. What do they say? We should fear him. We should kill him. Jade's invincible too. And not number one? Why? Only one in the world that is a fifth deviant on a row. Only. How is she not the most powerful? How?"

"The contract's good, no? Good money, suitable position. If number one goes away, she becomes it. What other choice do we have? In Kenya, she won't be number two even. Kenya appreciates Jade, sure, but they don't have what America has. The money, the resources. Here Jade can be better. And number two, that's good. It's a matter of time. We wait."

In the next month, one before the start of classes at the Institute, the world woke up to the world's most powerful deviant announcement.

Until then, such a title didn't exist. Why the Institute had the power to make a top and announce it as it mattered?

The Eurasian organization quickly denounced it, so did most African countries and some Latin American, but with the promise that foreign students would have the chance to study at the Institute, some of the critical voices dimmed.

Jade looks at her phone and sees Emily being announced as number one. She notices her smile.

Are you afraid of being the most powerful? Is that what that smile hides?

One month later, on the first day of the Institute, Jade walks through the building like she owns it, head high and shoulders straight. She smiles while talking to the employees at the entrance and runs toward the elevator doors. Emily holds it for her and smiles when their eyes meet.

"Which class are you in?" She asks with a giant smile, and Jade refuses to even acknowledge the girl. "Sorry, I assumed you spoke English. I guess you don't study here, work maybe? Clean?" she makes a gesture imitating wiping the floor. "Me," she puts her hand on her chest, "Emily Roberts, most powerful in the world."

"Girl, you're not even the most powerful in this elevator." Jade faces her. "If you tried right now to hurt me, you wouldn't be able to. I don't know who sold you that idea that you are the most powerful," she scoffs, "but you aren't. Just some pretty face, probably dumb enough to manipulate."

Emily's eyes are wide, and her lips come apart, but words don't come out.

"I'm Jade Harris. My face didn't make it to the news. But it will be one day. Let's keep out of each other's way."

The door opens and Jade leaves. Emily stays there, speechless, frozen, powerless.

***

August 2016

"Aminu Ikubor, your designated student is... wow!" The employee's mouth opens wide. "Emily Roberts, how lucky. Please wait by while Ms. Roberts arrives. Next."

Why am I lucky? Aminu puts his cheap earphones on and sits on a bench nearby the entry. Focusing on his favorite artists, the ones from the United States that he loves. He sees a petite, Asian girl walking in, her short black hair is perfectly combed, and her clothes are symmetrical.

He tries to focus more on her, but some girls his age approach him and force him to take off his earphones.

"Hi!" One smiles wide. "I'm Brenda, this is Kate, that one Daisy! Which year are you from?"

They all giggle while looking at him.

"15," his immediate reaction is to look everywhere else, but forces himself to meet their eyes.

"We are in the same class!" Kate shouts, and Aminu flinches.

"Welcome!" Brenda says, and smiles wider than before. She takes her time to notice Aminu's curls, his brown eyes, and dark skin.

"Thank you. I'm Aminu," he forces a smile.

"Ah-my-no?" Daisy asks.

"No." Aminu taps his foot. But doesn't correct them.

Emily arrives. The employee points her to Aminu, and she approaches the group.

"Girls," she gets nearer Aminu and notices his stiffness.

"Emily!" They all smile.

Jade enters the building, smiles at the employees, and notices the group. Her smile disappears, and she comes closer. Close enough to hear them talk.

"Tell us, Ah-my-no, where did you learn to speak English? Aren't you African?" Kate asks.

"Kate," Emily laughs and pushes Kate's shoulder.

"I don't understand, o."

"O? What is that? O?" Daisy pushes her glasses down and faces him closely.

"Is it nice to have a bed now? In Africa you don't have, right?" Kate steps in again.

Jade taps her right foot, and her breathing grows faster.

"I don't understand, o."

"Yes, in your country, in Africa, you sleep on trees, right? Show us some music that you like. I bet it's all beats with coconuts," Daisy says, and they all laugh again.

"I... I like Kendrick Lamar," Aminu raises his earphones.

"No, the music from Africa, silly," Daisy leans in on Emily's shoulder, laughing.

"Africa isn't a country, you idiots," Jade shows up from behind.

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"Come on, Jade, don't be like that!" Kate takes off her glasses and puts them in her hair.

"Leave him alone," Jade's tone sharpens.

"We were just wondering why he speaks English. Shouldn't he speak African?" Daisy scratches her forehead.

"Africa is a continent. With several countries, several languages, cultures. It isn't one thing, Daisy. I know you didn't have school until you were thirteen, but crack a book now and then and use your goddamn phone for anything else other than sending nudes."

"Jesus, Jade. Why are you like that? We just want to meet Ah-my-no."

"Aminu, you idiot. You can pronounce your K-idols, but you can't pronounce Aminu?!" Jade looks at Emily. "And you, the world's most powerful deviant, and can't even fight prejudice when you see it. Useless."

"Let's go, Aminu." Emily makes sure to pronounce it correctly. "We have a busy day. I have to show you around."

"Go to hell, Jade." Daisy says and they leave for the bathroom, where Ánh Nguyễn is.

***

June 2017

Hi! My Sweet 16 is coming up! Whatevs... but like, if you want to, my parents are throwing a huge party at our new house, it will be lit! You should come.

Jade reads the message Emily sent her on social media and rolls her eyes. Ever since their first meeting on the elevator that Emily would try, and miserably fail, to approach her.

She'd ask her to lunch, try to partner with her in the classes, make small conversation when they share a room on the marketing floor.

I'm not going to your stupid party.

On the day she's all by herself in her room, her phone keeps blowing up. Her friends spent the entire week trying to convince her to go. Their last attempt is to send her photos and videos.

At first she ignores it, but eventually gives in to curiosity. They are laughing, drinking, dancing, mocking her for being at home instead. In one video, she notices Aminu all alone.

Why are you there?

She dresses up and leaves for the party, going around every room of the Roberts new house, trying to find him, unaware that he had left already.

She stumbles on a balcony on the second floor and sees the birthday girl all by herself, lying on the floor with an open bottle.

"That's one way to celebrate your day, I guess." Jade closes the door behind her and meanders.

"I didn't think you'd come." Emily's eyes lit up when she sees Jade coming closer.

"I wasn't going to, but hey, happy birthday!" Jade says in a fake high-pitch tone.

"Please," Emily grabs the bottle of champagne and takes a sip, "I know you hate me..." her voice breaks, "I just don't know why."

"Is that why you try so hard to be near me? Because I hate you?" She sits next to her on the floor. "How sad, Emily Roberts. Are you so insecure that you can't deal with some people not liking you?"

"I can deal with people not liking me, Jade," she looks away.

"No, you can't." Jade rolls her eyes and turns her head toward Emily.

"I just can't deal with you not liking me." Emily drinks again and focuses on the stars instead.

She clumsily gets up, puts her hand on the balcony, and looks down at Jade, still sitting.

"I know you'll find it pathetic. I'm sure you do," she laughs, "there's so many people that have feelings for me, and want to be with me, and tell me how much they'd make me happy. And they mean nothing." Her laugh is more contained now and tears fill her eyes. She takes a few steps back, tries to maintain her balance.

Jade gets up and holds her arms, taking her to the balcony rail again.

"They mean nothing. Because you are the only person who my mind finds itself focused on," Emily sniffles, "and I keep trying to know what to say, hoping that you'll at least stop hating me. But I keep saying the wrong things, apparently. Everything I do is wrong with you. And I don't know why." She fights back the tears and avoids looking at Jade.

"You are drunk, Emily Roberts,"

"Obvs... but at least I'm honest, Jade, you..." she hesitates, "you are sober and dishonest." She looks at her now.

"What?" Jade scoffs and looks over the balcony instead, focuses on the loud music and all the shouting happening below.

"You never say what you mean... never!" She laughs, "you always hide yourself. From everyone. I bet even your friends don't know who you really are. But I see it."

No one had ever called her out like that before. Her house of cards crumbles down, and she leaves. If Jade wanted to be honest with herself, for once now, she'd have to admit that she always lingers whenever Emily was around. That she hides her smile whenever the girl tries miserably to get her attention. How the day isn't the same if Emily doesn't try to, and how she finds herself passing in front of her on purpose, all to ignore her, all to cause a reaction.

This can never happen. It would be a mistake... nothing but complications. She tells herself while lying in bed, seeing the photos and videos Emily posted from her party.

A few months later, Jade kisses Emily for the first time. Only to leave her right after, not talking to her for months, only to kiss her again and this time staying longer. On and off, always a cold send-off, and a relationship that Emily doesn't understand, and that Jade has no interest in defining.

When the girls turned 25, Emily threatens to leave unless Jade makes up her mind.

An ultimatum that rationally Jade doesn't fear, but emotionally, the thought of it coming through scares her enough to accept actually being together this time.

It's 2026 and Emily finally has lunch with Jade's parents. It goes perfectly. They all laugh. Jade smiles whenever Emily compliments the food and their house. But when she left, Jade knows her parents can finally be honest.

"We like the girl, Jade, we do. But you have responsibilities. New deviant. Sixth generation," her mother tells her.

"Again this? What will a sixth generation matter if the fifth didn't?"

"Power. A sixth generation will be more powerful than her."

"Do you think that being sixth or tenth or the 1000th deviant generation matters?" Jade laughs, "do you think that I'm not more powerful than Emily?!" She shouts. "That she is number one because no one else in the world could be?" Her voice is lower now. "Mother, I love Emily, but I know she isn't all that. But she's what they chose. Having a new generation, a unique child, like we are already, won't change that."

"Then you change that, Jade! The girl loves you, make her give up her title for you."

Jade meets Emily later on that day in the park. They hold hands and smile. Emily's eyes glow while she talks about Jade's parents.

"Emily," she brings her to sit on a bench, "if someone asked you to give up being number one, would you?"

"No, that's who I am!" Emily waves to a child that passes by.

"What if... they asked you that so I would be?" Jade turns toward her and holds her face.

"That's... that's different..." Emily smiles, "if being number one mattered to you, I'd give it up for you," she lowers her head takes a deep breath and looks at her eyes, "I... I love you. That's what you do for the person you love."

That's not love.

"I'd never ask you to give up the title for me." Jade looks away and takes her hands from Emily's face.

"Of course you wouldn't... but hypothetical, if you did. I'd do anything for you, even that."

That's not love.

On that same night, Jade's parents aren't around the house, she lights up her hands, grabs a kitchen knife and makes several cuts on her legs, throws herself off the window, and after not feeling any pain on her body, now it's her emotions that are comfortably numbed.

She grabs her phone and calls Emily.

"We are done. You are pathetic and I have wasted my time with you." She hangs up, ignoring Emily's pleas to explain what she means and what happened.

***

September 2028

"Are you marrying the girl, is that it?!" Her mother shouts while going after her through the kitchen.

"Someday... I love her, mom," Jade faces her.

"Love. Love. What about your responsibilities, Jade, to your family? Do they not matter to you?"

"Kenya doubts Emily's levels. When she was there, mental controllers said it's not that high. Your level is much higher." Her father steps into the kitchen and asks Jade to sit down.

"Mental controllers can't determine that by a few seconds," she obeys, and they all sit on the table.

"They can. We'll use this information, Jade. That way, you'll be number one."

"They can't. And it doesn't matter, because only one person will be number one, making Emily number two. That won't be me." Jade's heart is pounding at an increasing rate.

"Then who?" Her father asks.

“The child that I’m having.” She swallows her saliva.

Her mother hugs her and calls for a celebration.

***

The day after the interview, everyone praises Jade at the Institute. They congratulate her on her words, told her how much she inspires them. She smiles when she sees Aminu and goes to the bathroom. Inside, Kate, Daisy and Brenda are retouching their makeup, unaware that she's in the stall.

"Like, she doesn't even care about Emily. She is delighted to claim the top spot at last!"

"Yeah, they were together for years, and like, she doesn't care. Emily was just a backup whenever she felt like it. This was a long con, one that paid off."

Jade leaves the stall and the temperature in the room drops.

"I'm number one now. You'll show me the respect that I deserve or you'll deal with the consequences."