The Other 8 Percent
Kotone Konya is often mistaken as a boy. Is it because of her hair? Maybe because of the way she walked? The way she talked? The way she is more disciplined with the way she acts? The way she is more dignified and sterner than other boys around her age? If no one knows she is a girl, she will definitely be mistaken as a boy. But she 'is' a girl. And being a girl means you will be treated differently.
Around that time, she doesn't know. She just knows that she has to act like that. As the first daughter and only child of the Konya family at the time, she had to. She was only five years old when she learned how society treats girls like her. It is because they always expect Alphas to be boys. Girls will be either Beta or worst, Omega. It will be a shock if she will be an Alpha. After all, Alpha females are only eight percent of their population.
She learned about those differences when she made her debut and start attending parties. Those annoyingly bright chandeliers paired with flashy decorations symbolize the host's wealth. There are also those people who are busy chattering, glasses of champaign hitting each other making a clinking sound as they laugh and talk about things they want to brag about. They all act like they are friends but somehow in the back of their heads, hoping that they wouldn't see each other at the next big party in town. It is boring but it is a requirement as a member of the 'rich' pact to go to countless parties in order to expand your connections for future 'investments'. It is also an elite's way of introducing their future heir but in some cases like her, it's only her father's way of picking her soon-to-be mate.
She remembered how she gripped the side of her black pants, ignoring the sickening stares of the people she passes through and leaving their table occupied by her parents and some of their family's friends. They are all looking down on her. And for a five-year-old child, she felt small. They are all judging her from head to toe before leaning closer, whispering to each other. They didn't even bother to hide that they are talking about her with the way they bore a hole through her head with their gaze. The time they arrived at the table, Kotone stopped when she heard the conversation from the table next to them. The mention of her father and mother catches her attention as they stare at the back of their head.
"That's her, right? Mr. Konya's daughter? Have you heard about her?"
One of the women audibly gasp, glancing in their direction. "A daughter? Aren't they expecting a son?"
"That's what the others said but sadly for them, no. Mrs. Konya gave birth to a daughter." The other one snickered behind her handkerchief, hiding her smirk before continuing. "It even took years for her to bear a child. How many more years for them to have an alpha heir?"
Alpha this, alpha that. Even her parents keep on talking about those Alphas. What's so good about alphas anyway? She let out a huge sigh of relief when she reached outside, realizing that she is unconsciously holding her breath the whole time. The whole atmosphere inside was so suffocating. She let herself slump on one of the benches in the garden of the mansion where the party is being held.
"I want to go home..." she muttered to herself, closing her eyes and tilting her head back as she tries to focus on how the cold breeze of air hit her short blue-black hair.
She also has her left fingers rubbing on her earlobe to calm herself which for some reason, she finds effective when she is anxious or nervous. For the first time in the whole day, she felt at peace but immediately cut short when she heard the rustling of leaves from her left. When she turned her head, she found a black-haired boy wearing a blue solid blazer jacket and shorts, and behind him was a girl wearing a pink dress with a cute pink ribbon on top of her wavy blonde hair. They are both running in her direction.
"Kyou Takahashi! Come talk to me!" the blonde girl exclaimed, calling out to the black-haired boy as she tried her hardest to run after him despite the differences in their height.
Kyou loudly groaned. "Leave me alone, Tsuruoka! Why the hell are you following me anyway?!"
"Because... You are..." The blonde girl suddenly stopped in front of her with both hands on her knees, trying to catch her breath before shouting. "My friend!"
Kotone slowly stood up, walking closer to Shiori and placing a hand on her shoulder. "Are you---"
"Idiot. I didn't agree to be your friend!" the black-haired boy who also stopped in his tracks to catch his breath, almost wheezing with his back facing them.
They both watch how Kyou took a deep breath before turning his head around, glaring in their direction. He placed his index finger under his right eye and stick his tongue out, mocking Shiori who stomped her foot in anger. Kotone stood there watching them both with a raised brow, amused. She didn't know by then that those two will be one of the few important people in her life. Those two?
"As if..." Kotone mumbled to herself, leaning her head back to her seat with her eyes closed and tapping on her steering wheel.
She flinched and fixed her posture when the other side of the car door slammed shut and Kyou was already sitting on the passenger seat with his brow frowning. "Let's go."
"Are you done talking to him?" Kotone raised a brow at his expression which she found weird.
"Yeah," Kyou scowled.
Kotone looked at the window and saw Rei standing in front of his apartment, smirking and his face looking all smug as he stares in their direction. She heard about the commotion in her cafe the minute she arrived from a 'small party' made by her parents. She literally begged them to keep it small when they are planning to give her a big one since it is not her first time going back to Japan. She often goes to handle some of her businesses. But this time, she plans to stay for good.
Concerned about her employee, she went to follow Rei and expected him alone. She was shocked when he saw Kyou 'bullying' him and as the kind owner that she is, she offered Rei a drive back home. Kyou was against it at first but when they arrived at Rei's apartment, he then goes running after him to 'talk' as he said. She found it weird but she let them talk. Kotone sighed at Kyou who was still scowling beside her before rolling down her window and waving at Rei, who reciprocated before she starts to drive away.