Chapter 02

"It's good that you considered it, hija"

She just smiled at their dean reading the paper she had answered which proves that she agrees and she wanted to accelerate.

"It's rare to be given that kind of opportunity so who am I to refuse."

He just nodded and called his secretary, the one, who also came to her yesterday.

"Give her examination permit" he commanded and he handed her paper to the secretary.

It took her a moment before she was able to grasp the fact that she could take an acceleration test.

"I wish you good luck, Ms. Bella"

She bade goodbye then leave the dean's office afterward.

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"When is your exam?"

She pulled out a rectangular piece of paper with the time and day of her exam and handed it to Holly.

"Hmm ... You're sure about it? Do you want to accelerate?"

Earlier, Holly was forcing her not to take the exam because she was worried that she might not be able to cope with the difficulty and the weight of each lesson.

When the latter found out that their dean offered her an acceleration exam, she immediately called her and said they needed to meet.

"I'm sure, besides if I can't pass the exam at least I've tried and I'll just count that as a new experience" she explained before taking the paper from her and she put it back inside her bag.

"Yeah, you're right. But, I just want to know, how did your family react when you said you were going to shift course? Especially, your Mom?"

She can opt not to tell the story to Holly but because she is the person who pushed her to move to the course that she wants, she chose to share it.

Holly laughed as she reenacted her Mom's reaction the moment she told them that she'll be shifting her course.

"Auntie's a little too over" she whispered to which she replied with a smirk.

For her, her mom’s reaction was only natural since she chose to give up Fine Arts.

They are all sitting together and quietly eating when she had decided to tell them her decision while it was still early because she is sure that she would shift courses even if she preferred to stay on her current course.

She cleared her throat as she tightened her grip on her spoon and fork, "Mom, Dad, Bro."

Almost at the same time, the three looked up at him, lowering their cutlery as they looked at him intently.

She only continued to speak upon seeing her brother's persuasive smile as if he already knew what she wanted to say to them.

"I want to change my course," she said while closing her eyes, she didn't want to see her mother's reaction but she couldn't be deaf, she heard her gasp and muttered a soft 'no'.

Only then did she open her eyes as her father spoke.

"Why, hija? Did something happen?"

She smiled despite the nervousness and fear that surrounded her system, "Nothing, it's just that I prefer business management than fine arts"

And as she gazed at her Mom she saw the pain and disappointment in her eyes that she hated the most to see.

She adored and loved her Mom so much that she could catch all the pain to protect her Mom from hurting but she couldn’t just keep quiet and continue the course that she didn’t want to from the very start.

"We've talked about this, right?" Her mother whispered in a trembling voice.

She looked straight at her Mom even though she knows that she will be hurt especially when she saw the tears in her eyes that were about to fall.

"Yes," she swallowed the lump on her throat and fought the urge to just give in and silently weep on her room alone, "I thought that when I found out what fine arts could offer, I would prefer that, but still nothing can surpass business management, every time I was passing by every room where the business management class is, I always gets jealous because I think and I know that I should be one of them, that they should be with me, that different numbers should be laid out in front of me --- "

She stopped what she was saying when her Mom abruptly stood up which made her gasp, she felt a pang of pain in her chest.

"I understand you, sweetie. I'll talk to your Mommy first, excuse me" her father muttered before she was left alone with her brother.

She gasped for air the moment her father disappeared.

She covered her face and let the tears fall, maybe she should give up her desire to switch courses, maybe she just lacked the effort to like the fine arts, maybe she should give up her idea that she'll graduate with a royal blue tassel and under the business management.

"Hey, princess" she looked up and saw her brother holding a glass of water.

She took it and drank continuously.

"You're brave," confused, she turned to the person next to her, her brother.

"I'm impressed with you because you stood up for your dream and you shouldn't feel bad about fighting for it. Don't worry too much about Mom, I'm sure Daddy will be able to explain to her what you said and tomorrow she will let you shift your course" he whispered and messed up her hair.

Clarenz supports her going upstairs and leads her to her room. He carefully tucked her on her bed and hummed a lullaby.

She smiled at her brother as she recognized the lullaby, it’s her favorite. The lullaby her Mom used to hum on her when she cannot sleep.

She felt the touch of a kiss on her forehead and his brother's soothing voice saying ‘goodnight’ to her.

The next day, she almost jumped out of joy when her mother allowed her to change course, she immediately hugged and kissed her on her face.

"I'm happy that you're happy" she glanced at her father who put his thumbs up.

"Thank you, Mommy."

"Anything for my baby." Her Mom muttered in a loving voice.

She was munching her food when Holly speaks up again.

"You know sometimes I'm so jealous of you."

"Why?"

"Because your family supports you while I'm having a hard time impressing my mother" she whispered calmly but she knew its hurting her friend big time.

Holly was a child of her mother in her teenage years and she knew how thirsty her friend was for a parent’s attention and love. She knows her every hardship and effort done just to be noticed by her Mom.

She held her hand that was on the table.

"I know she's so proud of you"

She just nodded and wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes.

"Yeah, I know that, I'm too beautiful to be ashamed of," she said while giggling, a lifeless giggle.

"By the way, I'll go first. I already have a class" she said goodbye which she didn't stop.

She knew that her friend prefers to cry when no one could see her weak because that is where she was more comfortable.

After she ate, she stayed in the canteen for a few more minutes and while reading a book, she's jotting down on a piece of paper every piece of information she read that she thought was important and she could use for reviewing and preparing for the upcoming acceleration test.

She became oblivious to her surroundings as she read and write pieces of information.

"You do not have class?" She was startled to hear her brother's voice.

"How long have you been there?" She also asked.

"You bet," he said.

Based on the contents of its tray, it looks like he has been there for too long.

"You're too oblivious, princess, and you don't seem to notice that it's time for your next class"

Hearing that she quickly rummaged on her bag and checked the time on her phone.

She cursed under her breath as she hastily shoved her things inside her bag, "Bye" she said goodbye to her brother who also stood up as well and went to the counter.

She's almost running with her bag on her right shoulder when she bumped into someone so strong enough for her to fall and her things to scatter.

"Sorry," said a man with a baritone voice, and based on what he was wearing she could say that the man was part of the school's tennis team.

"I'm sorry too" she whispered as she hurriedly picked up her belongings and put them inside the bag.

She bowed her head before leaving the man she bumped into behind and she didn't notice the wide smile appeared on the man's lips.