_Let the race begin

{A/N}

Hi friends!

Let's get this book to reach the target of 200 power stones and 10 golden tickets by the end of the week and author will release two chapters a day throughout the following week. We can do this guys!

~~

"It is so satisfying to watch those brats get shamed by Miss Giada. I think she is so cool" Gia kept on ranting as she led Afina to the starting line.

Afina herself could not help but agree that the tree-line girl was something else.

However, she wondered just what exactly her deal was. Why she stood up for her like that?

Perhaps, she had a beef with the Cher girl before and had been looking for ways to diss her?

Or maybe she was just a person unable to stand the ridiculousness of those bratty girls.

True, she was impressed by Giada's actions but she told herself not to pick favorites just yet.

If one thing being on the street her whole life had taught her, it was that careful observation is the key to understanding the level of humanity in every person.

She could not judge anyone just yet by their early actions. Rather, she would wait until she had gotten acquainted with almost all the girls and had known each one of them deeply- when they had their guards down. Also, when they have all dropped the facade of pretense they draped on.

"Is Gia not the shortened form of Giada?" she asked Gia in a bid to end the girl's idolizing praises of Giada.

Gia hugged herself as though she was the most happiest girl in the line. "Nope. I am only Gia. Not Giada" she simply said.

Afina could see the girls who had gotten to the starting line right in front of them. They were just a few meters away.

There was a man dressed in a fitness suit just like them. He had a green flag hanging on his hand.

"Are we racing?" She asked in wonder Gia.

Gia nodded vigorously. "Yes, and I am glad I will be watching this first hand this time around. I watched last year own from the TV in the duplex while I had gone to give a colleague her earrings." Hugging herself the more, "I am so lucky to be a high scholar maid this year. I got promoted" she shrieked.

" We will be filmed?" Afina was in utmost wonder.

Gia turned a surprised face at Afina. "Of course. Do you not watch the high house scholars reality show? Almost all of your outdoor activities will be filmed"

Arghh– Mama Xylia had pulled a fast one on her.

All she was told was that the post was that of a maid but not a regular maid's. It was a training method to polish them into being elites.

Now, she was the only one to be blamed for not taking internet life seriously.

"Wow" she breathed now that they were closer to the starting line.

There was a helicopter whirring right above them, a mini helicopter circling the area, capturing the scene, and some cameramen standing on the field just away from the tracks.

Good- just good!

Never in her life had she been filmed. No one told her the job would be made into a reality show. Ignorance sure comes with a price.

No wonder the other girls had put in so much effort in appearing too alluring for the eyes.

Thankfully, her fitness suit was nice. Not as revealing as the other girl but nice.

The only factor that might degrade her appearance was the pair of sneakers sir Benard had gifted her. It was one of the gifts she received from people on SantrySlum street.

It was a kind gesture which she appreciated but it was cheap.

No one would notice, would they?

Some of the eyes turned to her as she settled in an empty spot with Gia.

Her eyes met with the fitness coach's and she gave him a slight curtsied bow. The way his face tightened as she returned her courtesy with a smile showed he was not expecting any of the girls to be polite.

Soon, Cher and her friend arrived and stood away from Afina but not without making it obvious as though they were avoiding some slime.

It was three girls that were left for the numbers to be completed.

One after the other, two of the three girls arrived.

One was cheerful and had enthusiastically said– " Sorry for keeping late"

Hmm– maybe not all the girls were bitchy. Some of them were brats but not entirely spoilt.

Some like Giada— and this optimistic girl.

The second girl merely went to stand beside her friends who appeared to be Cher and her friend.

Just how overly social this Cher was!

"I wonder who the last person is" Gia whispered to Afina as she strained her neck around, searching for the missing person.

Afina wanted to know who was keeping eighteen girls, eighteen maids, and one fitness coach who should be in his early thirties waiting.

As Afina darted her eyes around, they collided with that of Giada who tore the gaze apart as though she could care less who Afina was.

Speaking of a person who changes moods like clothes, Giada would be a nice case study.

"It's her!" Afina heard Gia's squeak and she turned to the area of the girl's gaze.

Walking forward with the aura of power and might while her maid trailed behind was the green qi girl.

Of course, only she could keep them all waiting like that and still majestically walk ahead.

"Oh, I Love Hera's suit. It's gorgeous!" one of the girls shrieked as she saw the green qi girl.

The green qi girl's name is Hera.

Afina is learning and getting to know the girls the more.

She heard an envious grunt come from one of the girls and she couldn't help but to glance at who made such a remark.

"There is nothing super gorgeous about her suit. It is just a regular one" the voice scoffed.

It was a girl Afina did not know but was one of the high-house scholars.

Cher attacked the owner of that statement. "Yours seem more regular to me!" she jeered and some of the girls burst into mocking laughter.

"Mine is brand new. Everything was shipped to me by my parents. I've seen Hera in this workout suit before. She posted with it" the first girl raised higher her neck that Afina saw no difference between her and a he-goat— with the way she had her jaw hunched to the front.

Was all the competition of who we more classy, beautiful, or wealthy really necessary?

Funny how Afina did not feel left out during discussions like this one.

It only meant except for taunts here and there about having a poor background, she would be free of the unhealthy competition between all the girls.

.

When Hera got to the spot, she made no pardon for her lateness and only stood with hands over her chest as she waited for the fitness coach's instructions along with the other girls.

All whispers and gossip about her ceased as soon as she arrived.

Bunch of hypocrites! Afina scoffed.

"Good morning to you girls. I am Jedrek. Your fitness coach. We will be having our fitness exercises twice a week throughout your one-month training period until you proceed to work under the high house mothers" Coach Jedrek began.

Afina thought after a pause in a speech, one was supposed to applaud the speaker to cheer them on so, that was what she did.

She applauded the man but ended up being the only one to do so and it was weird.

Very weird.

"Don't do that Miss. Afina!" Gia used her own hands to bring Afina's clapping one down.

All the eyes present in the starting line turned to her in irritation and she just had to clear her throat.

"Ahem—!" she also shot the girls who had given her a devious glare the most meandering gaze she could summon.

"Sorry, please proceed" she spoke directly to the coach.

Knowing the incident had been captured and the whole line was probably watching made her stomach knot.

Arrgh— damn!

She bent her head down in shame and tapped her forehead lightly. She made sure to not make it seem obvious to not show the other girls she was in the least bit weak.

However, coach Jedrek proceeds nonetheless. "Let's begin," he announced.