Chapter 2: First Day

Ben stared in awe as he slowly entered the school grounds.

He hasn't been in a school as big as this one. His previous schools mostly had only one floor, consisting of three to four classes. This school, however, has five floors. Each one consisting of around seven to eight classes.

He continued to glance at the jaw dropping features of the school. Near the entrance, there were two statues of people, one in each corner. When he entered, there was a big section where lockers were placed.

As he slowly went his way inside, he saw many other facilities. The music room was huge! Inside, there were all sorts of instruments such as drums, pianos, guitars, and violins.

The performing arts room had many boxes. Inside the boxes were the different costumes for school plays or acts.

The school even had a theater, similar to the ones in malls. Except, all the shows, including the latest ones, are exclusively free for the students. The screen had a whopping 10 x 30 feet size!

Due to amazement, Ben did not seem to look where he was going and accidentally bumped into a person. The person was a girl. Ben stumbled in effect of the bump and fell on top of her. He was embarrassed, and quickly, he stood up and lent the girl a hand while apologizing.

The girl was Kira Peach. She is known to be one of the three beauties in the school, popular among both male and female students. She was known for her very beautiful looks and elegant posture. She had long, black hair that rested on her shoulders. She had a small, straight bridge nose. Her jet black eyes conveyed a sense of pureness and gentleness. The smile she wears is her trademark. Nobody in the school could top her smile. She had the image of a goddess.

After apologizing, Ben asked Kira if they could be friends. Kira, without hesitation, agreed.

They walked together to the same classroom. They were classmates, after all.

As they walked, Ben could feel people staring at him, and could hear tongues clicking.

(Ugh. Seriously?)

(Lucky him)

(I wish I got to walk with her)

(God, why is the world so unfair?)

Ben gave an unemotional smile. A fake one.

When they reached the classroom, they were greeted with silence. Barely anyone was in the classroom. They sat by the windows, and settled their bags.

Minutes passed by, and students slowly flooded the classroom. Many of them crowded Kira's place like insects. It must be hard being a "goddess" in this school. It was just the first day, and she already got that kind of reputation.

Ben just sat there, staring at the pitiful Kira as she slowly suffocated.

He then went back to his senses with a pat on the head. The one who patted him was Drake. Drake Daniels. They were classmates since middle school, and they would often go together during lunch and breaks. Seeing Drake in the class made Ben sigh in relief. Now, he wouldn't be lonely. Drake was one of the only people who respected him as an equal. Even in middle school, people would mock or tease Ben for his "microscopic," "four" eyes. Ever since, he hasn't made any true friends.

"Sucks to be us, huh. Never getting a chance to be with girls like her," said Drake.

"Yup, I know," Ben replied.

After a while, the class settled down as the teacher came in. She was wearing a tight school attire and a short skirt that did not even touch her legs. Despite her age, she looked more of a teenager than Ben. She had short hair that covered her ears, and chubby cheeks, which was one of the main reasons of why she looked like a teenager.

As she entered, she ordered the class to listen to her for announcements.

"Everyone, please line up near the corridors outside. Before class begins, our student council president would like to give a speech for you, freshmen, in the indoor court. After all, this is your first year!"

"Yes, ma'am!" The class said in unison.

As they slowly made their way to the court, Drake's stomach rumbled as he saw the mouth-watering variety of food and delicacies in the cafeteria. He frowned as he moved further away from them.

After a while, they made it to the court. It was huge! There were three sections, each one containing one physical activity. The one closest to the stage was for warm-ups, exercising, or trainings. The middle one was a basketball court, with a hoop in both ends of it. The one opposite to the podium was the volleyball court. In the corner of the room, there was a cage full of the different balls used in this big court.

While the students settled, the president, who was sitting in a chair, slowly made his way up to the stage.

The students' attentions were caught by the president's first call.

"Ehem."

When the students faced to the direction of the president, the girls all suddenly screamed, that it startled most of the boys in the room.

The president was an example of perfection. He had a lean, muscular figure. He brushed his black, glossy hair with his fingers to avoid it from interfering him during his speech. He had a sharp jawline, and his eyes gleamed as the light above showered upon him. He had a very neat posture, and by the looks of it, was very rich.

Boys and girls alike stared at him. The girls stared at him with either bright or lustful looks in their eyes. Kira, however, was unfazed by him. Instead, she looked in the direction Ben was at. Most of the boys stared at him in envy, including Ben and Drake. Ben's eyes were filled with jealousy.

The president then started his speech.

"Thank you so much, my fellow schoolmates and friends. Before I begin, I would like to introduce myself. I am Pat Murphy, your student council president for this year. This is my last year of service, and I am glad to spend it with you."

The girls screamed, and the boys reacted to this by covering their ears.

The president then made a signal to keep quiet. He then carried on.

"As someone who experienced the first year of junior high school, I could say that yes, it is full of challenges. But as the days passed, I began to notice that in the midst of that pain, of that struggle, there will always be a smile that I can wear. As long as I can get to know each one of my classmates and schoolmates more, I can use that knowledge to build my relationships."

(A short pause)

"This school is not all academics. Every month, there will be a set of activities every week that can help us in our journeys. Use this oppurtunity to show to us your talents and skills."

(Another short pause)

"I would like to end with a short reminder. We must always use our knowledge not for ourselves, but for the benefit of others. Thank you so much, dear freshmen, and welcome to Cran Academy!"

The court resounded with cheers as students' warm round of applauses engulfed the entire room

Before the president went back down, he locked eyes with Ben, who did not seem to be fazed by the applauses.

The president's crimson eyes were filled with evil intent.