Chapter 1
"The first day of School in Aquamarine High School"

Jerelca's PoV

"Daughter, you will enter Aquamarine High School tomorrow. A private school that cares and studies ocean resources," said mama with a big smile.

I am happy that I can finally study at my dream school. My parents support me even though others often call me a nerd and weird, I'm still happy because there are people who love me. Others just envy me.

"Where did you get the enrollment fee?" I asked my parents.

That high school is too expensive for us. I can't even afford a laptop having huge ram and storage. It will be impossible for me to survive there. Especially that only rich kids are abled to enter the campus.

"The Village Captain helped us. You are the only hope of our town because you are the only remaining student here. The others became mothers early so they have stopped," replied papa and put a dish and rice on my plate.

"I'll do it myself, you're treating me like a kid," I said to papa.

I'm old enough so I can get food for myself but I'm really happy having this kind of parents around. But I want a question in my head to get answered. Not the Captain. He can't help us. I mean, his status in the society is average but he can't afford to support my studies there and I don't want to owe him.

"You're the only one who's our baby. So don't complain about that," Mama said and took the spoon and fork and get some food from my plates and fed it to me.

"If you refuse, you already have a boyfriend," she added.

That's how they treat me. What am I going to do when I can no longer use a spoon and fork? The whole Aquamarine will make fun of me.

"Fine, then. There's no way I can win against you," I said and ate what they put on my plate.

This is irritating.

"Next time Mama, Papa. I'll take care of myself," I said so mama lowered the spoon and fork.

As for papa, he secretly laughed. They are dramatic. They use my conscience against me. I'm already a teenager. I'm 16 years old, Grade 11 so I should be the one doing it.
Today is the last day of our bonding so I want to understand why they're treating me this way but it's still nonsensw. Anyways, starting tomorrow I will stay at school.

"We will miss you," Mama started her drama.

My parents are like this. I inherited that talent from them. They should've applied to become actor and actress because they're good at drama.

"I'm sorry so don't grouch like that. It's stopping me to study there," I told her and noticed papa was just eating.

I guess, he has no plans to join our drama. But I know, deep inside him, he also wants to

"Just kidding! Don't have a boyfriend so early, ha. Don't forget to take care of yourself, "mama cried.

I thought it was just a joke, why is she crying? Anyway, I'll miss these artists, too.

"You mama, papa. Wait a minute, Papa !!! You're not speaking? Join our conversation," I changed the topic.

Papa stopped eating and looked like he was done so he drank some water.
" You're lucky so remember that all of us are counting on you. The whole town. Even our captain," said papa.

"Your dad is right, don't forget that." smiled and continued eating.

~~~~~
I travel to Aquamarine with my father until I reach the campus. We only leave each others a 'goodbye' then we separate our paths.

I get, here, in my rented room which isn't like a dorm having dorm mates. It's a very big school. It's also very unique. Different than usual. I just don't know if my family can afford the tuition at this school.

Anyway, All I can do is fulfill my role well. To study hard and graduate. I already wore their ocean blue uniform. The lower is a mini skirt and the upper is long sleeves. I also have an ID, already.

This school is great. Preparations for the first day are quick.

I put on my eyeglasses. I put some lip tint on my lips and combed my hair. This skirt is too short. I don't wear a dress like this. I feel like I'm going to faint in no time.

My books are complete for the first grading. I just don't know where the money they spent for all of this come from.

I walk down the hallway and I see rich students comparing expensive things. Even if I say I'm already here, I still don't reach their levels. I don't fit in here. Though, that don't matter right?

I just ignored them and caught sight of my most idol model. Honeylyn Brigary. Even though my idol is a model, I save my money for emergency and school purposes so I can't buy new clothes.

"Look at! There's an alien stranded on the wrong planet," a student insulted me and I glanced at her.

The jewelry hanging from her ear, neck, and hand glowed. Rich kid.

"Excuse me, I'll be late on my first day," I said and I would have walked away because she just blocked my way.

She didn't make any move.

"Excuse me," I repeated.

She acts like she doesn't hear what I say.

"A nerd? Did you go to this rich school? You're a lowly cultured nerd. Pauper as in very poor? How come?" one of her comrades asked dramatically.

I ignored them because I had no intention of ruining my first day and I walked to stay away from petty fights but their acting leader grabbed my arm so I let go of my books.

"Walking out from us is prohibited. We are ranked as A. Second highest rank in this whole Aquamarine High School" said the woman holding my arm arrogantly.

I still tried to walk but she holds my arm more tightly. It hurts.

"Don't disobey or else you'll get hurt"her comrade sarcastically speak.

" I don't care who you are or what your ranking in this school or even in this whole universe. All I care is that I'm here to study and graduate," I replied.

So she raised an eyebrow that was too thick due to make-up. My day was ruined. Such a pain. I removed her hand that was holding my arm and took the books that were on the floor. My whole town worked hard on these books so I had to take care of them. Especially the Captain that helped us pay the tuition here.

"Shut up and don't answer us lowly cultured brat!" they shouted.

I finished picking up the books I dropped so I stood up properly. If I stay here I will be deaf for sure. Their voices are making me sick.

"Where are your guts, lowly cultured nerd? Did it leave you, alone? Hahahaha. That's what will always happen to an unworthy student like you," said the acting leader who was very proud of being sarcastic.

"Know your place" she added.

I bowed down because it's true. When you're poor, you have no place in the world of the rich. Am I? Should I give up? For what? For whom? For myself? How selfish. My parents are counting on me.

"How arrogant of you, low ranked Valerie?" a guy joined and asked the so-called Valerie while giving her a bad smile.

He looks familiar. Yeah, that's him. Karl Astral. He was with his dad the day they tried to destroy my house. Arrogant rich people.

"Shut up, Karl! I don't need you useless words," annoyed the person they call Valerie.

Karl shifted his gaze to me and stared at me intently. I want to go. I want to leave this school. It's killing my inner self.

"Have we met yet? You look familiar. Oh, yeah. I remember you are Jerelca Steffania. Their only hope against us" he said gently. "Newbies are ranked as E so do your best. If, you can stay here longer" he added and laughed.
I noticed that Honeylyn Brigary came. Oh my gosh, she's beautiful in person. The smoothness of her skin. Maybe she's taller than anyone. "Stop it! You still have classes. Don't waste your time. Do you want to be expelled?" Honeylyn shouted angrily at them and I noticed they were scared. Thank goodness.
"Relax, Miss President. We still have time" replied the selfish Astral. I left because I was still going to class. Those arrogant people blocked me. I looked at my watch and I still had ten minutes. ... I have arrived in my classroom. As expected, my classmates' belongings will be expensive but what can I do? Education isn't about wealth, it's about studying a profession so I 'lo be fine as long as I have resolve. "Good morning cheapipay.You are always welcome to enter coral reef section." a girl classmate greeted me. My morning is bad. "By the way, I'm Jamaica Sterling, your class president. Rank A" she would have been sensible because she greeted me good morning but she just said the word cheapipay. That word was insulting and discriminating against me.
"Good morning too, Class Pres," I replied to her so she smiled.
"That's a nice start, newbie nerd. Your seat is in the middle. Don't worry even if you feel like we're not on the same level, my goal as a class president is to treat everyone fairly" she said that made me relieved. I thought all the rich were arrogant, there were others like our class president. Even if she was just doing that for fame and at least, few things in this school favored me. "Oh my! This is unbelievable. You're a newbie, nerd, and we're not at the same level but then you joined the section of the smart." said the man next to the Class pres. "He is your vice president, he's name is Zehgfred Kosenhgram. He is half french" said Class Pres. I have a classmate who is already rich and half French. It looks like I went to the wrong world.
"It's nice meeting you, Class Pres and Class V-P. I'm Jerelca Steffania." I introduced myself to them.
I went to my chair and arranged the books I had brought. I hope I can breathe well in this classroom.
... I was next to Class Pres and Class V-P.
"Be careful newbie nerd. Valerie and her comrades, Aizyl and Karin, are our classmates but I want you to show your talent because the arrogant one reigns here in the classroom. Even I, can't beat her because she's better than me" Class Pres whispered.
Even the class president can't do anything. Is Valerie that rich? Of course, cowards will cheat.
"Don't worry, I am used to be SSG president and class representative at my previous school," I whispered back to her.
It's good that someone is also kind, but I'm that not sure.
Maybe she's a backstabber.
...
Valerie and her comrade have already entered. Honeylyn Brigary, who seems to be burning with anger, is also outside. She is really good, she is a famous model, she is also a school president.
...
A few minutes passed and our teacher arrived for the Math subject.

"For the newbie, my name is Lila Main" she introduced herself.
I noticed that my rich classmates were gossiping. How lucky am I? I became famous. They were shocked because a cheapipay nerd who was lowlily cultured got into an expensive high school in this country. I will not disappoint the whole people who depend on me. They are rich in money but they do not know the true meaning of everything because they lack knowledge. All they know is to increase the money and be even higher than high. ____________