"I'm a genius!" I shouted internally, already imagining my perfect score.
"Erina! Erina! Wake up!" Marie's frantic whisper pierced through my thoughts.
"Huh? What's up, Marie?" I blinked, realizing I had been staring at the wall in a daze.
"You've been daydreaming for thirty minutes!" she hissed, pointing at the clock. "You only have half an hour left. There are a hundred questions, and you've only answered ten! What is wrong with you?"
"What?! Oh my god!" My heart leaped into my throat.
Was that a dream? No time for this! I grabbed my pen, my hands shaking. Erina, if you can hear me, help! I have no idea what these formulas mean! I hate chemistry! I HATE IT!
After the Test
"Well," Professor Kiara said, collecting the papers. "The results will be posted tomorrow. You are dismissed. Goodbye."
"Hey, Erina," Marie caught up with me in the hall. "Did you actually finish?"
"Y-yes... but that was a nightmare," I exhaled, wiping sweat from my forehead.
"Maybe a little," Marie shrugged. "We'll see the results tomorrow."
A little?! I thought, horrified. I felt like my brain was literally melting.
"Eden's gone to talk to the professor," Marie said, her tone changing. "Now we can talk freely."
"About what?"
"About EVERYTHING! Tell me the truth, Erina. How did you become like this? I feel like you're a completely different person. You aren't the Erina I knew."
I looked at her, searching for the right words. "Like I told you... I just wanted to change. I wanted to be strong enough to protect us. After the hospital, I made a promise to myself: the old Erina is gone."
"But the fighting?" Marie pressed. "You can't learn to take down three people in a week just by 'training every day.'"
"Maybe I'm just a fast learner," I said with a shrug, trying to hide my unease. "Let's just go home, Marie. I'm exhausted."
At the University Gates
As we reached the gates, a sleek black car pulled up beside us. The window rolled down to reveal Eden.
"Hi, girls. Need a ride?" he asked, flashing a charismatic smile.
"No thanks," I said instantly. "We can manage on our own."
"But Erina—" Marie started, clearly wanting to get in.
"Let's go, Marie," I said, pulling her arm.
"Wait!" Eden hopped out of the car. "In that case, I'll walk with you. I could use the fresh air anyway."
"But you live on the complete opposite side of town," I noted, crossing my arms.
"Not a problem." He turned to his driver. "You can head back. I'll walk."
"Yes, sir," the driver replied and sped off.
I sighed. He was persistent, I'd give him that. Along the way, Marie peppered him with questions, and Eden answered them while keeping his eyes on me. I stayed silent, my mind drifting back to my old life.
What's happening at the base? I wondered. Did my parents find out I'm 'dead'? Did the intel I sent reach them? I remember starting the upload right before the shot...
"Hey, Erina!" Eden's voice snapped me back to reality. "What are you thinking about?"
"Nothing," I said shortly. "We're at my house. Thanks for the walk. Bye, Marie. Bye, Eden."
"Bye! See ya tomorrow!" Eden called out as I hurried inside.
The Next Day: The Results Board
"Marie, hurry up!" I dragged her toward the crowded bulletin board. "I need to see my score!"
"Coming, coming!"
I pushed through the students, heading straight for the middle of the list, where the top 50 started.
"Erina? What are you doing down there?" Marie asked, pulling me back.
"I'm looking for my name! What does it look like?"
"Are you crazy? Why are you looking at the top 50? You need to look at the top 5!"
"Ah... right. I forgot," I chuckled nervously. Old habits die hard. In my life as Silvia, making the top 50 was a miracle. I forgot Erina is a straight-A student.
"Look!" Marie pointed to the very top.
My eyes widened. Second Place: Erina Onil.
"What?! Second?" Marie frowned. "You're usually first. Who beat you?"
My eyes moved up. First Place: Eden Jordan.
"Oh, look," a familiar, poisonous voice sneered behind us. Kristel. "It seems our 'genius' professor's daughter spent too much time on her looks and her brains started to leak out."
"Grrr..." I clenched my fists.
"What are you talking about, Kristel?" Marie shot back. "You didn't even make the top fifty!"
"So what? It doesn't change the fact that she's getting dumber," Kristel laughed.
I felt Silvia's temper flare. I stepped toward her, my eyes turning murderous. "Marie, let me go. Even if I go to jail, I'm going to end her right here."
"No! Don't come near me!" Kristel shrieked, stumbling back. She was actually trembling.
Marie burst out laughing. "Look at her! Erina only said she'd kill you and you're already shaking. What would happen if she actually touched you with a fingertip? You'd have a heart attack!"
The surrounding students started laughing too. Humiliated, Kristel scrambled away.
"Let's go, Marie," I said, feeling my adrenaline cool down.
In the Classroom
"Eden isn't here yet," Marie noted as we sat down. "Maybe he's late? By the way, Erina... I think he really likes you."
"Don't talk nonsense," I muttered.
"I'm not— oh, there he is!"
"Hi, girls," Eden said, sliding into the seat behind us.
"Hi, Eden. Congrats on first place," I said, trying not to sound bitter.
"Thanks. Erina... can you meet me in the university garden after classes? I want to tell you something."
"Why?" I asked, suspicious.
"I just... need to talk to you. Please?"
"Fine. Whatever."
As the final bell rang, I headed toward the garden, Marie trailing behind me. But we were stopped by a massive crowd near the entrance.
"Who is that guy?"
"He doesn't look like a student..."
I looked past the crowd and froze. A high-end military vehicle was parked at the curb. Several men in crisp uniforms stood guard. In the center stood a man in civilian clothes, but his posture was unmistakable.
He's high-ranking military, I thought, my heart skipping a beat. I can tell by the way he stands. A pity he's not in uniform, or I'd know his exact rank. But what are military officers doing at a Science University?
A cold shiver ran down my spine. Forget the garden. I need to get out of here.
~to be continued