Don't Pick
1812 Words
Two weeks later...
The daring incident had become a distant memory. I had managed to push it to the back of my mind and forget about it. Occasionally, thoughts of that guy would pop up, but I always brushed them aside, refusing to dwell on them for long.
"A quick f**k," that’s all it was. We both got what we wanted, so there was no need to linger on the past.
But this morning, I woke up with a strange feeling, like something big was about to happen. The weird part was, I couldn’t pinpoint exactly what it was. Maybe I was being paranoid, or maybe I was just feeling lonely since Suzy had started high school. It had been a while since then, and I was the only one left at home. I guess it's my fault for not going to college right after graduation.
Then, my parents came home early, both grinning with excitement. I wondered what had happened. During dinner, my father broke the news, addressing the whole family with enthusiasm.
“Congratulations, Jade. You’ve been offered admission to one of the most prestigious colleges in Tokyo!” he announced, practically beaming with pride.
I didn’t even know how to respond. I hadn’t applied for the admission myself. It was my mom who had chosen the school, insisting that I wasn’t ready to make such a decision on my own. I didn’t think I would actually get accepted, but now that my dad was announcing it, I wasn’t sure how to feel. Nonetheless, my family’s joy was infectious. They were so excited that I couldn’t help but smile. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad after all.
That was before my dad revealed another crucial detail.
“It’s a boarding school.”
“A what?”
No, no, no. I didn’t want to go to a boarding school. I couldn’t be away from Suzy. I had never even imagined living on my own. I had always planned to stay with my parents until I got a job or something. I was absolutely against it.
“I don’t want to go to a boarding school. Can’t I just apply to another school?”
“It’s not that simple, honey. Tokyo doesn’t easily give out admissions to foreigners, especially not to such prestigious institutions. This is the number one college in the country! You’re incredibly lucky they accepted you. You can’t pass up an opportunity like this,” my mom explained, her smile unwavering.
“But I don’t want to leave home. I don’t want to go,” I said, my voice edging on desperation.
“Oh, sweetheart. You’re not leaving home forever, you’re just going to school. You can visit us, and we’ll visit you. It’ll be like going on a little holiday, you’ll see,” my mom reassured me gently.
How could I argue with that? My family was so darn happy, and I didn’t want to be the spoiled brat who ruined it for them. So, I reluctantly accepted with a smile. How bad could it really be?
---
I stared out of the car window, tracing the clouds as they drifted across the sky. I was bored out of my mind. We had been driving for what felt like an eternity, and I hadn’t realized that the school was this far away from home.
“Relax, sweetie. We’re not too far now,” my dad comforted me from the driver’s seat. He was the only one available today, so he had volunteered to drive me to the school with all my belongings. It felt like I was being dropped off at an orphanage.
“Are you kidding? We’ve been driving for five hours!” I exclaimed.
“It’s only been an hour, Jade. It’s really not that far,” my dad said, trying to sound patient.
“Easy for you to say,” I muttered, letting out a sigh as I rested my head against the window.
In the distance, I could see the massive building of Westbridge Academy, its size dominating the landscape. A few minutes later, the car pulled up in front of what looked like a castle. My eyes widened in surprise.
“It’s huge,” I murmured, my mouth hanging open.
“And beautiful. See? You were worried for nothing,” my dad chimed in as we stepped out of the car.
A middle-aged man, dressed sharply in a suit, approached us as soon as we exited. It seemed like he had been waiting for our arrival.
“You must be Jade Winterfest,” he said with a welcoming smile.
“Yes, she is. Say hello, Jade,” my dad responded, nudging me gently. I had been so lost in thought that I forgot to speak.
“Good morning,” I greeted, forcing a bright smile in return.
“We’re very pleased to have you here, Jade. You might be the only foreign student at the school, and that’s quite an honor,” he said.
The only foreign student? Was this man serious? Why did that thought suddenly feel so intimidating? It was as if I had been transported to an alien planet.
---
“And you must be her father. It’s nice to meet you,” the man added, shaking my dad’s hand.
“Nice to meet you too,” my father replied. I watched as they exchanged pleasantries, my dad’s smile never fading. He looked so proud, which made me feel even guiltier. The truth was, I didn’t want to be here.
“Thank you for bringing her. We’ll take care of things from here,” the man assured my dad.
“Okay, that’s good to know. Please take good care of my daughter,” my dad said, his voice filled with sincerity.
“You can trust us. Westbridge has a stellar reputation. Your daughter is in excellent hands,” the man replied confidently.
That seemed to put my dad at ease. He turned to me and gave me a warm smile before planting a soft kiss on my forehead. “Be good, honey. I’ll visit you soon.”
“Bye, Dad,” I whispered as I watched him get back into the car.
I stood there, watching the car drive away until it disappeared from view. Well then, I thought to myself, let’s get this over with.
“Come with me. I’ll take you to the principal’s office,” the man said, gesturing for me to follow. I grabbed my suitcase and trudged behind him into the building. It was eerily quiet.
“The students are in class right now,” the man explained, as if reading my thoughts. We walked for a few minutes down a long hallway until we reached a door. He knocked, and a small voice from inside responded, “Come in.”
He opened the door, and I took a deep breath as we stepped inside.
The office was surprisingly luxurious, more like a living room than an office. Shelves filled with books, a TV, and plush furniture made the space feel almost homely.
A young man with jet-black hair and piercing eyes sat behind the desk, smiling warmly.
“So, you’re Jade Winterfest?” he asked with a grin.
“Yes… sir?” I stammered, unsure of how to address him.
The man laughed, the sound light and pleasant. I couldn’t believe this guy was the principal. He looked way too young for the role.
“Sir? Am I really that old? Just call me Brian,” he said, still smiling.
“That’s... not appropriate,” I mumbled under my breath, but he heard me and chuckled.
“You’re right,” he replied, then turned to the man who had brought me. “Thank you, Yuri.”
Yuri nodded and left, leaving me alone with Principal Brian.
“Come, sit down. Let’s chat,” Brian said, motioning toward the plush chair in front of his desk.
I dropped my suitcase and sat down, waiting for him to speak.
“So, tell me about yourself, Jade Winterfest.”
“Don’t you already know all that? You have my file,” I replied, raising an eyebrow.
“You’re right again. Very smart,” he said, smiling again.
“You don’t look that old yourself,” I muttered, though I knew he heard me. He just laughed, clearly amused by my comment.
“Well, thank you for that. Now, let’s get down to business,” he said, his tone shifting slightly. “The school is divided into three main sectors. This building is called the Average Wing. As the name suggests, it’s for students of average backgrounds—not too rich, not too poor. Then there’s the Noble Wing, home to students from wealthy families. I like to call it the ‘spoiled kids’ wing’ because the students there are, well, spoiled and bratty.”
I listened to him ramble on, but I didn’t have much to say. This didn’t seem all that relevant to me.
“And lastly, there’s the Underground Wing. We don’t talk much about that place because, well, it’s not a place you’d want to end up. The students there are from very high-status families, even more so than those in the Noble Wing, but they’re troublemakers. I’d advise you to steer clear of them.”
He continued, “When a new student joins the school, the heads of each wing meet to decide which sector you’ll be placed in. If none of them choose you, you’ll end up in the Average Wing. It’s a win-win situation.”
“Can’t I just join the Average Wing directly? Why go through all this?” I asked, feeling frustrated.
“Good question, but that would break tradition. As principal, it’s my duty to uphold the school’s traditions. Don’t worry, though. If no one picks you, you’ll still end up here,” Brian explained.
“I see…”
"But one more thing," Brian said, his expression turning serious. "You must avoid the Underground Wing at all costs. It's unlikely they’ll choose you since the sector consists entirely of males, but still, be cautious."
"What's so bad about the Underground Wing? Why should I avoid them?"
"Bad things. Very bad things, I assure you. Just trust me on this—stay away from any guys from that sector. They’re good-looking, which is why most girls from the other wings chase after them."
"I understand," I replied, though I didn’t really grasp it at all. Why was the principal acting so strangely? What was so dangerous about this Underground section that I needed to avoid? But whatever it was, I wasn't in the mood to dwell on it. I just wanted to get this over with.
"Alright, let’s wrap this up," Brian said with a smile as he rose from his seat. I followed him out of the office.
- Writer
