~Ring~
~Ring~
"Argh..."
That is all I remember saying to myself mentally. I wish I could run away to a place I didn't know but who was I kidding? I am the daughter of the Great Hernandez Family - the richest family in Spain.
Mom: Karina! Karina!
I closed my eyes, pretending to be asleep.
Mom: Karina Hernandez!
My Mom busted the door open and removed my blankets.
Mom: Karina Hernandez, how many times should I wake you up? Esta nina...
Me: Morning Mom. How did you sleep?
Mom became furious.
Mom: Does it look like I am having a good morning? Karina just get up and get ready for school - it's your opening day today and we are running late.
Me: We?
Mom gave me a death glare.
Me: Lo siento mama, I will go now.
I quickly stood up and ran to the bathroom. I looked at myself in the mirror. I yawned and shut my eyes.
Me: Guess today is the day.
Mom: Karina Hernandez, I don't hear the shower running! Do you want me to drag you inside?!
Me: No mama.
I walked away from the mirror and went to take a shower. The nice warm water was so refreshing. It made me forget about all the problems that I was currently facing. My happy bubble popped when my Mom opened the door and shouted.
Mom: Here is your uniform for school!
She hung it on the hanger.
Me: Gracias mama.
Mom: Gracias mama que? Finish taking a shower and dress up! There are 30 minutes left and we have to be there by 8 a.m.
She couldn't even thank me. That's how Gabriela, my Mom always was.
Me: Can you please leave... Mom?
She opened the door and went out. I then came out of the shower and took a good look at my uniform. The school or preferably, the academy I was going to attend was Everest Academy. It is located a little bit in the mountains, but also close to the city. The uniform design looked great, and I never knew that cream could go well with green.
I wore my uniform, brushed my teeth then fixed my hair. I came out of the bathroom to see my Mom with the death glare.
I avoided her gaze and wore my shoes, wore my accessories, and fixed my bed.
Mom: Karina, fixing the bed is not your job.
Me: But it's not wrong for me to fix it regardless.
Mom: No me respondas Karina.
I kept silent.
Mom: Are you ready to go?
Me: Yes Mom.
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We went out of my room and headed downstairs to see Dad staring at his watch.
Mom: Morning.
All the other staff greeted her in unison. Mrs. Marina, my nurse and closest person, saw me and smiled.
Mrs. Marina: Karina, manana.
I smiled back.
Me: Manana, Marina.
I walked over to Dad.
Me: Morning Da---
Dad: Karina! It is 7:40 a.m. The gates close at 8:00. Where do you think you are going? Vacation?
My Dad was also not having it with me this morning.
Me: Lo siento papa. No volvera a suceder.
Dad: Let's get into the car.
Me: Bye everyone!
Everyone else: Bye Karina!
We walked out of the house and into the car.
Dad: To the school.
Driver: Yes sir.
I sat in between my parents silently. I fidgeted with my hands, not wanting to meet their death gazes.
Time: 07:50 a.m.
I could see us heading for the mountains. The roads were curvy and I didn't mind it. Before I knew it, I could see the academy building with the big sign: Welcome to Everest Academy."
Me: (mutters) The start of my nightmares.
Mom: Karina!
I looked at my Mom.
Mom: What did we say about muttering?
Me: That you don't like it?
Mom: Then why did you do it? Drop that stinking little attitude of yours.
Me: You should do the same.
My Dad looked at me in surprise.
Dad: Karina Hernandez! Don't you dare speak to your Mom like that!
Me: I hate the school, activities, classes, and routine! I am doing what every Hernandez family member did!
Dad: Because it is the true way of a Hernandez!
Me: It is just a school! It's meaningless!
Dad: It has been highly regarded as the most excellent academy in Spain! You are the daughter of the Hernandez family! We know what's best for you!
Me: Do you know what's best for me? It's me not---
Mom: Karina, shut up!
I kept quiet. I didn't know what got into me to say that, and I knew I was in for a huge punishment after school. That didn't matter - the biggest obstacle for me was to survive for the whole day in this so-called highly regarded Academy.
Time: 07:55
We officially got into the school. It was big and its aesthetics looked stunning. My pride was too high for me to admit - I still didn't want to be here.
There was a fancy drop-off area for parents and we got off there.
My parents came out and I came out after them.
Me: Mom, where is my bag?
My Mom looked at me and whispered.
Mom: Child, does this place look cheap to you? Of course, there are no bags. Everything you need is provided by the school - not us. Lo entiendes?
Me: Si mama.
We walked into the school building, and there were quite several new students waiting. The principal caught sight of us and walked over to us.
Principal: Hernandez Family! Hola!
My Mom wrapped her arm around my shoulders. She squeezed it tightly as a signal to greet politely.
Us: Hola! Buenos dias senor!
The principal then looked at me.
Principal: Ah! Is this the Karina Hernandez I heard about?
Mom: Si senor! Karina Hernandez. Our smart little girl.
I stretched out my hand and smiled.
Me: Buenos dias senor! Good morning sir.
The principal took my hand and shook it.
Principal: Ah! Buenos dias Karina! I am very happy to have you here.
Me: Same. Thank you, sir.
Principal: (looking at my parents) Your daughter is very well-behaved! This is the standard we want to set for the kids in this Academy. I am truly impressed by the way you raised your daughter - set to become an Imperial Scholar.
Mom: (happy) Gracias senor! When will school start?
Principal: As soon as everyone is here. There are about two more families that need to be here.
Dad: Which families, to be specific senor? I would like to know the families my daughter will be associated with.
Principal: That's commendable and we will get to that soon. The two families left are the Gomez Family and the Ramirez Family.
Mom and Dad: Ah, gracias senor.
Principal: My pleasure. I have to check up on the others, but I will come back to you guys.
Dad: No problem. Take your time.
Principal: Thank you. Bye Karina.
Me: Goodbye, sir.
I waved at him. My Mom kissed me on the cheek, and my dad hugged me.
Dad: That's Daddy's girl!
Me: Thanks, Dad!
Mom: That was fantastic my girl!
My Mom then lowered her voice.
Mom: If you can keep up with this, you can become an Imperial Scholar this term.
Dad: Indeed. That's the second focus of what we are here.
I looked at Dad confused.
Me: What is the first one then?
Mom: Karina, stop asking questions and focus.
She then turned her attention to Dad.
Mom: Speaking of becoming an Imperial Scholar, what would the Ramirez Family be doing here?! Do you think they are here for the same thing?
Ramirez? I felt like I knew the surname but I couldn't put my finger on where I knew the surname from. A rich family like ours? A family rival? A childhood friend I knew? Whoever they were, my parents and the family didn't seem to get along.
I looked at the time on my watch.
Time: 08:15
What was taking these two families so long to get here?!
Not so long after,
"It's Karlos Ramirez."
"Karlos Ramirez will be attending here?"
Two girls started whispering as they spoke about Karlos Ramirez.
"Sorry, everyone! Traffic held us back."
Everyone looked at the family walking in.
"Did they have to let their son attend here?" I heard Mom say.
As soon as I turned around, I saw a tall boy with black, silky hair, and an ear piercing on his right. Since uniforms are not the main focus, he wore a black, leather jacket.
He screamed "bad boy" vibes.
Looking closely at him, it struck.
"Karlos Ramirez!"