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Sapphire's POV

"Saph. Hey, wake up! Wake up, sleepyhead!" I felt someone poking my cheek non-stop. Damn it. My eyes are still heavy and I still want to sleep but someone's preventing me from it. It makes me feel annoyed. Waking me up from a good sleep is what I really hate the most. "Saph. I know you're awake already. Get up!"

Can't she just leave me alone and let me get back to sleep?! It's still early and my body is too lazy to get up. My eyes are still heavy and I badly want to go back to sleep. I've been sleeping late these past few days because of all the works that's need to done.

"Sapphire. Wake uuup!" That's it! I have reached my boiling point! I aggressively got up from bed and threw dagger looks at Gianna. She gave me a forced smile and gave me a sign of peace before saying, "Good morning?" It was more of like a question than a greeting.

"Don't you know I've been lack of sleep lately and still freakin' tired? I'm tired as hell and yet you kept on waking me up when you're already aware that I don't like to be woken up!" I yelled annoyed. She looked down and scratched her nape. "Now, since you've made an effort on waking me up this early, I guess you have some important announcement to make." I crossed my arms, still throwing dagger looks at her, waiting for her to answer me.

"Okay fine, I'm sorry for waking you up, your highness," she raised both of her hands as if she has surrendered. "But your grandfather is waiting for you downstairs." She continued. My forehead creased when I heard what she said. My grandfather? The old man? What does he need this time? Well, it better be good or else I might strangle him to death for waking me up this early.

I lazily got up from bed and looked for my slippers. I had to bend over to look for it underneath my bed. My footsteps were heavy as I went out my room, straight to the living room. Gianna followed behind me. I can imagine her feeling nervous since she always does whenever me and that old man encounters. Who wouldn't feel nervous? We radiate the same hatred towards each other.

I saw him from the staircase, sipping a cup of coffee while reading a peace of newspaper. I walked towards him with my chin up, hoping to show him that I am confident and brave without any of his help. I want to prove to him that I can stand on my own and I am better off without him and his minions.

"What took you so long?" He asked, not throwing a glance at me. How I wish he'd pour his cup of hot coffee on his face.

"Sapphire was hard to wake." Gianna answered. I threw daggers at her before turning back to the old man. This time, he finally put down the newspaper and glanced at us.

He smirked. "Don't I get a good morning from my wonderful granddaughter?" His brows raised, waiting for me to welcome him. Well, he's never gonna get that from me.

As I stare at him more, I can say that he really has grown old. His wrinkles worsened and he looks much stronger before that now.

"Why would I? You ruined my morning, old man. Plus you're far from being a perfect grandfather, so you don't deserve my welcome. Tss. Just tell me your reason why you had to come here this early." I crossed my arms while tapping my foot.

"Hays. Still disrespectful. When will you ever learn to respect me, Sapphire." I can sense authority in his tone of voice. I'm very much aware that I disrespect him so much. I never liked him ever since. He keeps on persuading me to follow his steps in ruling Hart's Mafia but I refuse. It's not the path I want to take. It would be a pain in the ass; too much responsibilities --- I hate those kind of things. Being their so-called heir sucks.

"You'd earn my respect once the ocean dries and salt becomes sweet." I rolled my eyes at him.

"Uhm, if you don't mind me cutting in, why have you come here, Grandpa Felix?" I turned my gaze at Gianna when she asked the question. It would be better if only the both of them would have a conversation. I should just leave.

But right before I even take a step, the old man's answer caught my attention; making me turn to him with my forehead creased. "Glad you asked, Gianna. So I came here to personally inform the both of you that starting next week, you won't be going to Grayson University anymore." The fck? Is he serious? "You heard me right. I've decided to transfer the both of you to a much better school that would suit the both of you, and most importantly it would enhance your skills." Gianna and I looked at each other. Unlike me, there's excitement visible in her eyes. "Your parents have been informed already and they're fine with it." How can Mom agree to this old freakin' man's decision?!

"What school are we transferring to?" Gianna asked with her hands clasped as if she's praying that she'd hear the answer she wants to hear. Hope was evident in her eyes. It took seconds before the old man answered Gianna's question.

"Scarlet Academy, dear." And in an instant, Gianna celebrated; she jumped up and down while clapping her hands and shrieking. Obviously, she's excited upon hearing the news. As I look at her, she's becoming stupid because of her reaction.

I turned my gaze to the old man who looked amused by Gianna's reaction. He was clearly glad to see Gianna's stupid response. The old man glanced at me and I gave him a glare in return. "What? Aren't you excited? Look at Gianna. She's elated and ecstatic upon hearing the news. How's it for you?" I raised my brows at him. What does he expect? That I'd be glad with his news? That I'll jump up and down foolishly like Gianna? N e v e r.

He really must be desperate for me to take over his throne. Why does it have to be me? I don't even show any interest, even just a bit. Well yeah, I admit that it's exciting to get into fights and use weapons and such but being a Mafia Leader is not one of my dreams. Who knows what kind of thing that might happen to me when I become like this old man? Yuck. The thought me ending up like the old man disgusts me. Besides, if Dad was here, he'd surely oppose to this old man's decision as well.

"Why would I be happy? You expect me to be glad to hear that news of yours? Tss. Dream on, old man." I said coldly. Gianna had got over with her excitement and looked at the both of us. I turned my back. I was about to leave when he replied to me.

"I'm doing these things for your own good, Sapphire. It is meant to happen. I just want you to be ready and I want you to accept your fate." His words were meaningful and set me into confusion. What does he mean by it is meant to happen? Is this some kind of a joke? "Everything is for your own sake, hija. I have to go now. I still have a meeting to attend. You girls have fun, alright?" He said before leaving with his bodyguards. Another reason why I hate him is because of his bodyguards. They're always around wherever we go. We can't leave without them and it hella annoys me. It's like we are being treated as kids.

After the old man and his minions left, I went to my room and lay down on my bed. Not long enough, Gianna barged in. "Saaaph!" she called. She rested beside me.

"What?" I answered in a monotone. It's obvious that she can't get rid of the excitement she's feeling.

"Aren't you really feeling any excitement? Even just a little?" Her question made me think.

Transferring to Scarlet Academy? It kinda made me feel excited. It would be something new, I guess. Especially when Scarlet Academy is not just any ordinary academy one would enter. There will be a lot of challenges that we might encounter and everybody knows how I love challenges. But I can't rejoice because of that, especially when something inside me is telling me that it would be a one hell of a ride. A part of me feels anxious. Who knows what might happen to us there? Plus, the fact that it's what the old man wants, no matter what it is I'll never hesitate to disagree.

According to what I've heard, Scarlet Academy is the home of the children of gangsters, mafias, reapers, assassins, and more whom are fated to follow their ancestors footsteps. Only wealthy and filthy rich or should I say elites can afford the school's fee, which I've heard reaches almost half a million. The school was founded by Tatsuo Takahashi, a Filipino-Japanese business tycoon and is currently the number one wealthiest man on the list all over Asia. Hart is on the third while Gianna's family got the fifth spot and fourth spot of Quinzel. I forgot who got the second spot, but who cares.

"Nah." I answered Gianna. She got up abruptly and looked at me with her lips pouted. Argh. Why does she always do that? "Stop pouting, will you?" Instead of stopping she pouted her lips even more. I rolled my eyes at her childlessness. Her lips looked like it got stung by millions of bees.

"Why aren't you?" I sighed.

"There's no reason to feel excited. Besides, why are you bouncing off the walls?" I asked in wonder. Her have been sparkling since the moment she heard the news. It was like a dream come true to her. I know Gianna, she doesn't get excited over things without any reason, and yeah, mostly foolish reasons. She's tough, yeah; she's great at weapons and such, it's one of her hobbies; in some parts, we're alike. But it's not enough reason why she couldn't control her excitement hearing that shitty news.

Her eyes twinkled and I can sense that she's be storytelling again. "Well, it's because of my long time crush who have been studying there, my dear best friend." Long time crush? I can't remember her telling me about that. Or is it just because I don't really listen to her nonsense stories? She might've noticed my confusion, so she rolled her eyes. "I've already told you about this! Don't you remember? Blake? My classmate in sixth grade?" Now I remember, she keeps on talking about that Blake ever since but I didn't give any interest on listening to her stories. All I know is that she thinks that Blake guy is dreamy. No wonder she acted so stupid upon hearing the school's name awhile ago.

"Gosh. I remember it like it was yesterday---" and there she goes. She never gets tired of sharing her stories about her long time crush Tss. Can't she tell that I'm not interested?

I stared at the ceiling as I reminisce how I met this girl beside me and how she became my best friend. It made me think why a happy-go-lucky Gianna Ylves became friends with me, a cold-hearted rebel, Sapphire Quinzel.

*Flashback*

"Mrs. Quinzel, she really needs to stop being a rebel. Her classmate got wounded because of your daughter's nasty behavior." I glared at the principal. Her attention was on my Mom, so she didn't notice. I looked at my mom and I can see weary in her eyes. I kinda felt guilty but I only did what's right and this stupid principal won't listen to my reason!

"I'm very sorry, Ma'am but my daughter wouldn't do such things if she doesn't have any valid reason." My mom said as she took a glance on me with her worrying eyes.

"Then Miss Sapphire. Why did you do that to Cedric?" Upon hearing that name irritated me. Tss. That dumb Cedric. He deserved what I did to him. So with this principal, I've been trying to tell her right even before my Mom arrived and she won't listen to me as if she's pretending to be deaf. Now she has the guts to ask? Annoying.

"I told you, MA'AM principal. He was trying to cheat during the exams." I explained in a nasal tone.

"And just by that you stabbed his hand with a pen?" She raised one of my brows. Hmp. She doesn't even have any. It's obvious that her brows are fake.

"He deserves it." Oops, I guess I've reached her boiling point. Her face was red out of anger, she even yelled at me in front of my mother. How unprofessional. She doesn't deserve her position. For as much as I know, Cedric is her nephew.

After the arguments, I was given a three-day-suspension. Psh. Mom didn't get mad, she educated me calmly and said that she understands me. Oh how I love my Mom. I was feeling hungry so I told my Mom that I'll stay at school for a bit. I then headed to the cafeteria. When I came in, everyone went silent. I'm used to it. They're afraid of me for an unknown reason. Like what the girl for the comfort room said, everyone thinks that I have some kind of a black aura surrounding me. I just shrugged off that idea and didn't mind everyone.

I ignored all their stares and just went to the cashier to grab some snacks. When I got it, I went to the corner, next to the window and ate my snack there. I was about to take a second bite of my tuna sandwich, when unexpectedly, a girl with a short hair sat in front of me. I've never seen her before so I'm guessing that she's a transfer student. I can tell that the people looking at our direction are in a state of shock.

The girl in front of me happily took a bite from her burger. It was clear that she's enjoying her snack. She flashed a smile at me. "Hi! I'm Gianna! Gianna Ylves." She extended her hand but I ignored it and continued eating my snack. I got startled when she suddenly pulled one of my hands just to have a handshake. How weird can she get? I glared at her but still, her smile was unremovable. "How about you? What's your name?" I continued ignoring her. She can talk to herself all she wants. I don't wanna waste my time with her.

I noticed that her brows slightly creased while looking all over me as if she's looking for something. "I don't see you wearing your ID. Do you even have one?" she asked.

"I don't wear ID." I simply answered.

"I'm a transfer student and I still don't have any friends around here." Ugh! Could this day get any worse? Doesn't she notice how uninterested I am with her? "My parents transferred me here since a lot of my former schoolmates bully me." she sighed. "I bet they're insecure of my beautifulness." She giggled. Now she's being proud. How stupid can she get?

She continued telling me about her life. She can even make a book about it. She never stopped, even until I finished my food. I was about to leave when she asked a question, which took my attention. "Do you know the Hart family? My parents are good friends with them because of business. I heard that Mr. Felix Hart has a granddaughter. I want to befriend her since Mr. Felix Hart said that she's kind." I want to laugh at what she said. That old man really said that? Pfft. Me? Kind? When did that ever happen. "Do you know them? Do you know Mr. Hart's granddaughter?" I rolled my eyes heavenwards and took a sigh.

"You're actually talking to her right now."

She stiffened out of shock. Is it how she really is? I can tell that she overreacts on things. Though I am hoping she'd stay stiff. I like her that way. She then suddenly hugged me. What the heck?! "Omg! You really are? Kyaaaaah! This is so exciting, I came to the right person!" She pulls herself out of her hug. "Hi Sapphire! Let's be best friends until our lungs give out!" Oh god.

*End of Flashback*

And that's how it all started. We became friends because she nags me nonstop. I don't remember how she was able to convince me, all I know is that I felt comfortable with her as time flew. We were in seventh grade that time. Reminiscing the past made me smile. She the only person I know whom I can trust. She was the only one who was not afraid of me. She's the only friend I have and I treasure her so much.

"And wait, the most epic part was Blake almost found out that I have a crush on him. It totally freaked me out! I was like, oh my goodness, this can't be. I really felt anxious that time because of those insecure bullies. Until now I still hold grudges against them. I'll make sure to hunt them one by one; I'll have y revenge. Hmp." I sigh. When will she ever get over. I love Gianna, really, but she just couldn't learn how to shut her mouth.

I stood up and decided to go to the bathroom to get ready. I'm tired of hearing her stories. I heard her calling my name repeatedly like she was begging me to listen more. I'll remind myself that when she sleeps, I'll make sure to sew her mouth or maybe I should just cut off her tongue.