Girls of Volin High

Busted

DAWN’S POV

After such a long day, I decided to apply to be a boxing club member since it’s less crowded than at the Taekwan-Do clubroom. And now it is the day of our first club meeting.

“Well, hello, Dawn. Congratulations on being one of the four club applicants this year. Come, let’s meet the members.” Senior Swan smiled.

I didn’t expect that senior Swan to be this unpredictable. As soon as I entered the clubroom when I first visited the clubroom, I saw how senIor swan delivered such a strong cross punch to her opponent. It looks so effortless that it made me wanted to try it.

How can this beautiful woman that looks frail and weak be the monster she was that day?

“Does any of the new members has experience in the ring before?” Senior swan asked while she ties up her blonde hair in a ponytail.

One of the new club applicants raises his hand.

“I am a member of a boxing team outside of school. I used to go to the tournaments until I am too busy with my family business. For now, boxing is just a hobby for me.” Senior Swan raised an eyebrow.

“What made you joined this club?” Senior Swan asked.

“I heard stories of how senior Swan a full-grown man with her skills. That made me curious as to how powerful and experience the Senior is in the ring.” Senior Swan seems surprised by his logic, but she chuckled in the end.

“I see. Alright. Since you have experience in the ring, we shall have a practice spar. What about the others? Do you have any experience in the ring?” The remaining club applicants, including me, shake our head no.

“Hmmm, that’s okay. You guys can learn from the members of this club. But before that, I made a promise to spar with our new member.” Senior Swan grabbed a headgear before throwing it to the male applicant.

“Even though it’s just a spar, we need to take extra precaution.” Senior Swan grabbed a pair of gloves and threw them towards the male student.

“I understand.” This male student is too confident. Sure, you had experience in the ring before, but he shouldn’t be this cocky. Both the senior and male applicants went into the ring without hesitation. I wonder if I get to see the same moves from before again.

“Alright, are you ready?” Senior Swan asked the male applicant.

“I’m always ready.” Senior Swan smiled before getting herself ready.

“Good. Ring the bell.”

*Ten minutes later*

“Your punches are weak, and you tried to use your legs to kick me. We’re practising boxing, not kickboxing. Your defence is weak, and I could easily look through your gameplay. You even close your eyes when receiving my punches. Boxer should never close her eyes. And my question for you is- have your coach ever properly teach you, or they’re too afraid to say that you’re a bad student because of your family status?” Senior- senior Swan just defeated the cocky male applicant, and I am happy to see it.

“Perhaps the coach did mess up.” Senior Swan patted his shoulder.

“Do not worry. You have the talent to be a boxer. I can see the effort you put into learning boxing. Even though your coach didn’t do a good job teaching you, we have the best coach in the country. Our coach is a former alumna of Volin Women’s Academy and also a member of the Volin Guard.” Whoa! A Volin Guard as our coach? Isn’t that too-

“Oh! It seems we have four new applicants. Did you two had a spar? Who won?” All of us pointed at Senior Swan. The coach sighed.

“Can’t you at least let the new members won the spar And give some pointers on how to improve themselves? Should I call Cataleya here?” Senior swan shakes her head no.

“There is no need to call for Leya. I can manage this club myself. Besides, if I decided to lie to myself and let them win, wouldn’t that be bad for their self-esteem as well? I am a senior who thinks far ahead. What if they went to an official match all confident but felt helpless in the end because they lose to a far better and experience boxer?” The coach is speechless by the senior logic.

“Besides, this is Volin High. All students of Volin High should know that they should be true to themselves. Although-,” the senior was interrupted when a black-suit man suddenly walked into the clubroom.

All of us watched as the man whispered something into the senior’s ear.

“There is no need to be alarmed. I had predicted that the clan members would try to use the clan’s influence to get back at me. Don’t worry. If anything bad happens to me, Charlotte and Leya will know what to do. After all, we have sworn to look after each other back. It’s only natural for them to look after me like how our mother’s’ did.” The man nodded before excusing himself.

“Did something happened?” The coach asked. Senior swan nodded with a smile.

“Just some rats are trying to show their worth. But since Irina is planning to do something to that clan. I should back down. It will be bad if I am in the way of Irina Volin.” The coach sighed.

“I see. The Volin Guard, too, has been busy assisting the patriarch. Even though we’re working under the direct order of the principal- we couldn’t just ignore the person who responsible for building Volin from the ground up.” I clear my throat to let senior Swan know that we’re still here.

“Oh! I almost forgot about them. Anyway, coach, it’s your turn to teach them. I have matters to discuss with the senior club members now. Good luck.” Senior Swan excuse herself while the coach gets herself ready to teach us.

“So, are you ready to be a boxer this school can be proud of!” The coach smiled.

***

I- I have never been this sore, even when I was a member of the track and field club. Just what kind of exercise was that? And what was with the amount of jumping rope I have to do? My hands are all numb from hitting the punching bag.

“Dawn? Are you okay? I know you’re tired, but I didn’t expect to see you this tired.” My supervisor expressed her concerns. I smiled at my supervisor.

“I joined my school’s boxing club.” My supervisor seems shocked to hear that.

“Boxing? I thought you’re in track and field. Why did you decide to hound boxing instead?” My supervisor asked while getting her work clothes from the locker.

“I thought it would be fun if I change my club. Of course, I was wrong.” I sighed while getting myself ready.

“It’ll be the two of us again tonight. Will it be okay for your siblings to stay at home alone until midnight?” I nodded.

“Our neighbour is keeping an eye on them until my siblings fall asleep. It should be okay, and Arthur can take care of Lily while at it since he acts like an adult.” My supervisor closed her locker.

“Any news about your mother?” I shake my head, no.

“I’ve met my grandparents, though.” My supervisor was surprised.

“Your grandparents still alive? And your mother never once talk about them?” I nodded.

“It’s a given that my mother would abandon my siblings and me. My grandparents- they’re the worse human I’ve ever met. Even the bullies who hit me back in middle school can’t compare to what kind of monster they are.” My supervisor felt sorry for me, and I am embarrassed.

Perhaps this is what God had written in his book. I was born to look down upon.

“It’s almost time for our shift. We should get going.” My supervisor nodded before we both went out of the changing room.

*A few hours later*

I sighed upon looking at the wall clock. There’s an hour left for my shift, and I cursed every time I turned to look at the clock.

“You may stay behind the counter if you’re that tired. Since there is nothing much to do and customer seems to be less tonight, it should be okay. Even if there’s a customer, all you can do is wait for them to pay for the item.” My supervisor said which sounds like music to my ears.

As I was about to sit on the chair behind the counter, I heard the bell from the store entrance ringing. So much for me to have some rest.

I heard giggles and small conversations between the customers. When I saw one of them walked towards the counter, I greet them with a smile.

“Oh! Dawn? You’re working here?” I was surprised to see Senior Cataleya with a group of people that looks like they just walked out off a fashion show.

“Hello, senior Cataleya.” I smiled while checking out the item they placed on the counter. I wonder where they were from because it’s my first time seeing senior Cataleya wearing something different than the school uniform.

“Leya, who is she? One of your disciple?” Huh? Disciple?

“Oh, no. Dawn is my junior from Volin High. I remembered when Swan said that she would provide the scholarships program for the school? Dawn is the only student who manages to achieve the minimum requirement to bein Volin.” Really? Even I have no idea what kind of achievement I did back in middle school.

Does she mean all the sudden quizzes my former teachers gave us? I don’t think I ever asked for any scholarship.

“Oh! Out of all the schools in the country, this girl manage to reach the minimum requirement? Oh my. She must be a genius.” This man suddenly leaned in.

“You look like someone I know. What’s your name?” I turned to face Cateleya.

“Settle down! Who taught you to lean like that suddenly? You’re scaring my junior.” Cataleya grabbed hold of the man’s collar before pulling him back.

“What is the total?” Cateleya smiled. Cataleya paid for everything and left the store.

There it is again- this uneasy feeling whenever I met senior Cataleya. I wonder what the reason for me to feel this way towards her and her alone was. It doesn’t feel the same when I met senior Charlotte or Swan. And this includes when I met the other seniors from the boxing club.

I only fee this way with Cataleya alone.

“Whoa! Who are they? I didn’t know you’re friends with a group of rich people. Look at that! They even drive foreign cars.” I was surprised to see my supervisor suddenly appeared from the back aisle.

“Oh, my God! You scared me! That girl who recognised me is my senior from school. I’m not sure the identity of the others, but they seem close to my senior.” My supervisor cleared her throat before pointing at a poster on the walls.

“One of them looks like the man in this poster- don’t you think so?” Whoa! I didn’t even notice that! They do look similar.

“Umm, Dawn. Your friend is waving at you.” My supervisor points at a figure at the store entrance. I squinted my eyes just to see Cateleya waving at me. I asked permission from my supervisor to see what is going on.

“Senior?” Cataleya smiled.

“I’m not sure if you’ve read the student handbook, but every student of Volin is not allowed to work outside. You’re lucky that it was me who saw you working. I understand that you need to work to support your family, so I decided to offer you a job that doesn’t go against the rules.”

“My mother requires someone to take care of her greenhouse on campus. And of course, she would not let that person do all the job for free. My mother will pay for your service. What do you think?” If I say no, I would have to face the consequences of working outside of school.

But if I agreed to this offer, I have to work for the principal. Either way, I am in trouble. It doesn’t matter which choices are better for me because, in the end, I still have to face the principal.

What kind of rules forbids its students from working? And here I thought it’s normal for students to work after school. What should I do now?

If I choose to work in the store, I have to face the principal’s punishment for breaking the law. But if I decide to work for the principal, I have to face her every day.

“Oh! I forgot to mention that if my mother knows that any of her students are breaking the rules, the punishment given to the student by the administrator will be severe. Not only that, your school record will be ruin as well. It’s important to behave in school.” How can Cataleya say all of this with a smile on her face?

It seems I have no choice but to work for the principal because I need the recommendation letter if I ever want to succeed in this life.

“Alright. I will work for the principal.” Cataleya smiled. I hope I made the right decision.