Desired by The Kings

Chapter 5

And so I did. After I put on the Harry Potter-like uniform, I carried my bag with my books, and minutes later, I was one of the other students walking around and rushing through their first class. I already had my schedule and subjects memorized, and I know where the buildings are.

I remember being thrilled on my first day back at my old university. I was excited to start my day, learn, and just enjoy a new chapter of my life. I did not compete with anyone but myself. Every day, I tried to be the best version of me, and I eventually made friends too.

Sadness filled me when I remembered that I had to leave Britney and Stella to move back home. Our promise of graduating and attending prom together won't happen anymore. I remember how they cried when I said goodbye, but I knew I had to leave them. We promised to stay in touch, but I knew things just wouldn't be the same anymore. Especially because I know I'm hiding things from them.

As I quietly walked through groups of people and their buildings, I could feel eyes on me. A typical reaction to newbies like me. They are probably celebrating that they have a new pawn to play with.

I could see it in their eyes, however. The proof behind Ethan's words that I saw in pawns like me who have no ranks yet. I see guards already thinking about what kind of person I am. I noticed scholars huddled together who barely spared me a glance. And I spotted a small group of ministers with their heads held high, chests puffed out, and stances proud and confident.

But I also saw some eyes I couldn't read. Much like what I assumed.

I continued my journey to the Arts Building, eager to start the day as an art student this time around. It has been my hobby since I was young, and my parents let me do it only when my grades were beyond their expectations. I will never forget how they threatened me not to pursue such a 'useless' hobby, however. And so I never really got to see what I could do, but now that I can while I'm here, I will take this as a chance to get to know myself more.

To find me while I find out the truth.

I was just a few steps away from the entrance when I heard a commotion somewhere, and I just ignored it but I was shocked when someone grabbed my wrist.

"What the hell?" I exclaimed in shock as I stared at the man in front of me with wide eyes, and to my horror, he was also as naked as the day he was born!

I squeaked and shut my eyes in fright before forcefully yanking my wrist away from him, but he only tightened it.

"Please cooperate with me, girly. I need money to eat today. I just lost mine to a bet yesterday, but oh, well, it's worth it." The guy blabbed, and I tried to get away from him in disgust.

"You just terrorized me with your male anatomy, and you expect me to help you, you pervert?" I said in horror with my eyes still closed. As if it will wash away the fact that I just saw his d*ck!

"Oh, don't be shy; you can even touch it."

"Ugh!" I exclaimed in disgust.

"Okay, I'm sorry. Just give me your name, please. I need two to earn three, and I just earned a dollar. Please help a friend here.

Despite my disgust, I understood what he was trying to do and said my name through gritted teeth.

"I love you, Majiko!" The crazy guy screamed, and laughter followed his confession. "Thank you, girly."

When he let me go, I turned around to cover my eyes and groaned in frustration. Great! The first day, I already saw a guy waving his d*ck around, a victim of this university's ridiculous rule!

Despite my unpleasant encounter with a pervert who selected me to confess to out of all the female students, my first day started great.

The number of my classmates is only half of what I had before. I expected that because not everyone had the talent to take Art courses. I love all forms of art, but painting is my calling, and I'm confident that I have the talent. It's just that I didn't have the chance to enhance it.

They all ignored the newbie, and I didn't mind. I just focused on myself and drowned them out. After all, I'm not here to make friends.

"What do you think the ministers will do to the newbies this month? I'm excited to see what they prepare," I overheard someone say from my left while I was cleaning my desk.

"I hope they make it interesting."

I watched them leave the room, wondering what that was about. Some sort of initiation, maybe? But that's just absurd. This isn't a military academy, hello?

I decided to not pay it any mind, thinking it was just nothing, but minutes later, I was proven wrong when I came back from the bathroom to find my desk and chair empty of my backpack and satchel.

Not a moment later, a voice was heard around the whole university. "It's time for a little game to welcome the new pawns. You are given an hour to find your bag; if you fail to find it, you will not be able to retrieve it, and there will be a consequence. Tick tock. Tick tock." The guy ended his speech with an annoying laugh, and I took a deep breath in frustration.

"What are we, kindergarteners?" I asked in irritation but began to search the room for my things because I figured I have no choice anyway. "Are you all that bored to play a prank like this? Even kids these days don't do this anymore. Bunch of jerks." I mumbled under my breath and noticed a couple of pawns like me also searching for their things.

When I failed to find it in the room, I blew out a breath and put my hands on my hips. Just where did they hide it? I was not even gone for a long time; surely it's just around here.

The building was filled with frustrated pawns like me who were searching for their things. Some are getting angrier by the second, and some are trying not to cry as the minutes pass by. I, on the other hand, am calm as I try to assess the situation. I looked around and thought of possible places they could have hidden it. When I failed to see my things in our room, I figured I wouldn't see them in nearby rooms as well.

And when I looked out the window and saw the bushes and trees, I knew just where they hid it. I passed by pawns looking for their things. As well as those with ranks that are calmly watching, and some are looking over in entertainment. As if seeing someone's frustration is something to be entertained with.

And just as I predicted, I saw my things behind the bushes, probably flung out of carelessness. I sat on the ground as I inspected my things and sighed in relief when I saw that they weren't damaged and that the bushes had saved them. These are expensive, you know!

"Childish. Immature. This whole university is a circus." I mumbled under my breath as I dusted off my bags.

I stood up with my bags but almost face-planted when someone bumped into me. I turned fast to see who it was and saw a girl.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I was searching for my bag, and I wasn't looking around."

“It's, uh, okay," I told her with a frown.

There is something about her that just feels off to me somehow. She's pretty, and she seems nice, and maybe it's just me.

Her eyes saw my things, and she pouted. "You found yours. I envy you. I have no idea where they could have taken mine, and it's been half an hour. I heard the consequences here are pretty intense."

And I stood there as she continued searching for her things, unable to move and leave her. I sighed and looked at my watch.

I still have an hour and a half before my next class starts anyway. Why not help her?

"Are you an art student too?" I asked her, looking between the thick bushes.

"No. I am a journalism student. My building is over there." She answered and pointed at the building across mine without looking at it.

I blinked and shook my head. "And what made you think your things were here?" I sighed, and she stopped. "You are searching and not looking. Let's go back to your building."

I asked where her room was, and she pointed at the end of the second floor. I almost pulled her away on our way up there because she walks slowly. I surveyed her room and a janitor's closet not far away from it.

"I already looked there,” she said when I walked towards it.

I opened the door with my tongue against my cheek, my eyes roaming around the clean closet until they found space behind where the brooms were. I just saw it today, but I could tell that it had moved.

And surely enough, I looked behind it and saw a pink shoulder bag. "Is your bag pink?"

The girl blinked before she inclined her head and saw the one I'm referring to. She gasped and nodded her head repeatedly. I moved the shelf and took her bag before handing it to her, and she accepted it with glee.

"Oh, my bag!" She exclaimed and hugged her bag like it was the most precious thing to her before rummaging inside. "Nothing is missing. Thank you so much! You are an angel!"

"Don't mention it."

I left the closet and was about to leave when she called me, "My name is Olivia."

"Majiko," I answered with a small smile, seeing the bright smile on her face.

"You're amazing! I want to be your friend, please. How did you even guess that it's there?" She closed the distance between us, and I took a step back, watching her wide eyes.

"Like I said, you were searching, not looking. They won't bother going far just to hide your things. They just want you to waste your time thinking where it could be."

Olivia nodded while her lips puckered. "Great thinking. I wish I could be as smart as you."

"I'm not smart." I disagreed and turned my back to her to leave the building with her footsteps in tow. "You just need to use common sense."

"Ouch!” She exclaimed and let out a laugh.

When we were outside, I stopped when I saw pawns like us who had given up and were just sitting on the ground. I checked the time to see that they still had fifteen minutes. Plenty of time if they will use their eyes and not their mouth.

"We're lucky, and thanks to you, I won't be doing whatever consequence the guys are talking about. I heard they will make you clean the bathroom,” Olivia said in horror, and I raised an eyebrow at that.

"And what is so wrong with that?"

And her eyes dramatically watered. "It’s the Men's bathroom in the soccer field,” she added, and that's when my face fell and my face scrunched up in disgust.

"Oh."

And we witnessed how the pawns cried when the time was up. Some of them begged to get their bags back, as they had important things there. Some even have their most prized possessions in their bags. Some asked for their phones and money, at least. And I could only shake my head before both Olivia and I turned to the speaker when it made a sound.

"Time's up, players. Congratulations to those who were able to retrieve their bags, but don't celebrate yet. Because the fun just started." At what he said, students around us cheered.

"For the losers, we regret to inform you that your things will be thrown out immediately and our janitors will have a day off tomorrow because you'll be taking their job! So wipe your tears and get ready to hold the broom and mop instead. Have a good day, Kings U!"

I really want to see that guy's face, and maybe I can whack his head to get some sense into his brain.

"How mean. I feel so sorry for them,” Olivia said beside me, and I saw her crying.

And I can only blink at her unique personality, "Olivia, I have to get back to my class now."

"Can I get your number, Majiko? We can eat lunch together from now on!" She enthusiastically said and handed me her phone, so I had no choice but to key in my number, and we separated.

I tilted my head in wonder while I was walking to my next class. There is really something off about her, or maybe she's just too cheerful and talkative for my liking.