Ethereal Paradigm 12 A Secret Known

-Oscar Wilde

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Celes went on to introduce herself with composure the same to that of professionals. It's no wonder how walls keep on building around her.

" As you have known me... I am the Prima Donna of Germany High...but in here, I am in no place to maintain that title, a title which I consider, as plainly nothing... So please, stop the formality. I am a normal student regarded abnormally just because of my last name and of my academic records, but really, I hope to get along with you all. And one more thing... I hope you can come up to me like how Jaiden approached me earlier. You can let your guard down. I don't bite." Celes said, with everyone's attention pointed at her, except not one dared to even look her on the eye, same upon my introduction, but I never really cared though and I presume she wouldn't also. But, why the hell would she make me a primal example? Am I perhaps the first to ever talk to her informally?

As Celes is slowly sitting down, the class gave her applause relatively forced the same as mine, but louder.

"Thank you Ms. Reignsworth. I hope we will have one heck of an academic year together!

"You are welcome ma'am" Celes answered.

"Ok class. I hope that you have had given a neuron for each name that was introduced inside your head, and for now please open the student's handbook which I passed into you. I'll explain some of the rules."

"First, as you are enrolled in this institution, you are requested to act per the international norms, in other words, belittling, bullying, vandalism, inappropriate behavior and negligence of responsibility are a no-no."

"Second. Instead of the former education system that is still implemented around the globe, In this university, we decided to elevate that curriculum that would spell the end of the existing mishaps. This paradigm is called the "Merit Educational System or the MES". You can inform yourselves as to what is new in this curricula, by just reading the student handbook on page 2-9, but, I'll explain to you the most important things to remember."

"MES offers quality education for free, regardless of financial background and it is needless to say that efforts will always be rewarded and the beneficiary will receive more financial aid from the top brass of the ICC. In other words, the moment you enrolled yourself here at AU, you are gonna start from zero. In here, all of you will start this school year equal....but, the mantra doesn't end there, fortunately..."

Yeah, and I think I know as to where this might lead to...

"Gaps will appear by lack of perseverance or effort thereof. So don't come to me crying when the institution will treat you unfairly months from now ok?"

And here it is.

"But, I know, you already came here prepared, so I hope you'll be receiving the best regards. Now that sums about it. The first assignment is for you to read that handbook. That will be for the best. "

Homework already.

"Oh, I almost forgot to mention. You will live in dorms for free, just across the street. Building number 3, the top floor will be for this class and I'll be staying there too, but in a specialized room."

The moment I heard that everyone including me was like "Is this true?" I don't think that features like this will be skipped during the entrance ceremony.

"Ahh yeah, it was a last-minute decision. Some rich businessmen sponsored this and the institution agreed as it is also suggested that it makes students build a network of relationships around them. But don't get me wrong! Not the lewd type of relationship of course, and teachers were also recommended to join in, you know why? Unfortunately, we are to be the neutralizers in case something peculiar happens. But, as they say, there's nothing better but free stuff and to stay at a luxurious condominium unit as that is the best."

"Now this is a school! In your face grandma, for your attempt to make me work" I thought reminiscing my grandma from afar.

Others were like "Thank God I can buy a video game", "Awesome, now I can buy the Gucci jacket I saw in a mall earlier, wanna go shopping later?", "We'll get to stay on the same floor as the Prima Donna? LUCKY!"

Hmmmmm. As for me, I was grateful as to who the hell suggested this hospitality, whoever he or she may be, they reserve the right to win the Noble Peace price. Now, I can buy one of those cheap laptops through the pocket money my thrifty grandma gave. Yeah, having a grandma who owns five corporations but has no interest to hook me into the grasp of money can be tough, but I know it is for the best.

"Sensei, what about food, is that gonna be accommodated as well?" A Filipino descent seated in front of me asked.

"Ha? What are you an aspiring freeloader?" A girl with a perfect skin tone and of beauty which seemed like a long acquaintance of his said.

"Oh shut up already. Making you come here was a mistake. Hmph!"

"Well, it's not like I wanted to be here anyway."

Sweet. It was as if ants were crawling down to my body. A lover's quarrel perhaps?

"Yes, Mr. Cruz and Miss. Villanueva as much as it might be a little too sugar-laid, your forbidden to act all lovey-dovey inside of the campus you know that right?" Ms. Ludenburgh teased them. Still, she was not to become a young teacher at this institution for nothing. I mean, how the hell could someone memorize the names just by hearing it once?

"What seems to be all "lovey-dovey ma'am. I would rather die than be like that with this cold woman"

"Yeah, says he who is a hundred percent authentic for females" Ms. Villanueva directly countered the attack with a bit of sarcasm mixed into the formula.

"Well, well... HAHAHA HAHAHA such display of youth! "Ms. Ludenburgh intervened.

"As for your question Mr. Cruz, the answer is No. Unfortunately, the food will not be provided. You're gonna need to buy it. " the teacher added.

"Whaaaaa? What a rip off!"

"Can provide a condo unit for free, but not food?"

Complaints like that soon aired. Well, sorry Mr. Hospitality whoever you may be, but humans are always like this. If you give them nothing, they will start complaining, and if you do give them something, they will still find ways to even more complain. Its a byproduct for their insatiable selfishness for free and effortless gain.

"There's nothing I can do about that. For now, let us be thankful for the free dormitories. Well, guys, that is about it for the first day. The formal discussion will start tomorrow at 8 AM sharp, don't be late till then. Oh, I almost forgot... meet me at the dorm's lobby for the room assignment later. For now, you can enjoy the rest of the day in your way. I recommend you start exploring the school. That's it. Class Dismissed. "

Yes. Finally. The moment the preceptor left the classroom, everyone was suddenly in a group of their own, even the two who were fighting like couples had their own circle, lucky them. Poor me. Why the hell are they distancing themselves from me? it's incomprehensible.

"Hey, you're alone too right?"

Unexpectedly, Celes called into me, as she appears to be ready to leave the classroom herself.

"Uhm. Yeah, unfortunately, I don't know why, but the moment I talked with you, everyone was presuming that I am, something which I'm not."

"Well sorry for that."

"Huh? It's nothing to be sorry about, basically."

"Wanna go for a quick stroll?"

What? The Prima Donna inviting me? I pray it's not out of pity or anything, yeah I'll definitely go. But worse is that another senseless stigma is again gonna be formed. Well, its better than staying here sulking revealing my introvert side.

"It's not out of pity or anything right?"

"I'll leave that to your imagination"

"Ok then. It can't be helped. Guess I'll be the Prima Donna's tour guide for a bit."

"I already told you. Celes is the name"

"Ok, then Celes. Thanks for the offer"

The moment, I stood up from my seat while taking my bag, I know for the fact that there's nothing good that might come out of this, but I also know that it is rather unproductive if I were to sit here all day, regardless of the slight chance that someone might actually talk to me. I'll just make this stroll a sort of review of the map I memorized before the class started earlier. Besides, being accompanied by someone is very new to me.

And just like that, we took our leave while the class was destructed from their friend making session version 2.0.

As we walked around the long hallways and through several ground pavements, silence followed us. So, to break through the awkward atmosphere I know that I must be the one to pursue a topic. It could also bring several revelations to me and could serve as a practical training as to how to communicate with a beautiful and overachieving girl.

"So, did you spend your childhood like that?"

"Like what"

"I know, you already know what I'm talking to"

"You're a sharp one Jaiden maybe you'll make of a good rival for this year"

"Sorry. I am not that sharp as you expect me to be. I am more of a logical person, but not that highly intellectual. "

"Hmmmmmm. Sounds pretty questionable to me...but, the answer to that question would be no. I was not always like this. Not until, I won an international award for my contribution of a certain scientific study at the age of 14, won national contests such as feature journalism, Math olympiad, and several others. before that, I get to have friends and be with people normally. But soon after my dad's business came booming in our region, I was forced to transfer schools and from there everything changed. Upon knowing my achievements, my new classmates would not even dare to talk to me. It's also partly my fault for indulging myself reading books every free time we have, my classmates back then literally think of me as an academic nerd who built this kind of impregnable barrier around her ... but yeah, the cascade of fortunate events was every bit a disadvantage to my social life."

"A tough life you have there."

"Yeah, but I already adapted to it fundamentally. How about you? I cant also see or imagine you making friends"

"While having friends and someone to rely on is a better option, I always was bad at communicating with people you know. Same as to how our conversation earlier stirred up the false stigma of us already know each other. It seems like, every time I inspire myself to make ties with someone, my mouth retaliates."

"That's unfortunate."

"Yeah, but same as you, I already am acquainted with it. So it doesn't hurt me anymore. "

"I guess, we are pretty similar in some ways."

"You could say that again, although I'm nowhere close on winning any international award"

"How humble. Hey, do you think we can make a good couple?"

"Say what now?"
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The moment she uttered those lines, I stopped and cringed for a bit, but I know... I know deep inside that she is unscrupulously kidding. Imagine, a prodigy in academics talking all about love, it's clearly implausible.

"You'll probably make a good girlfriend, but me? Nah! I'm an anti-romantic philanthropist. Trust me, you wouldn't want me to be what other calls your "boyfriend"

"Oy vey! What a horrible self-pity "she responded with a chuckle.

To fiend off the pink vision I am seeing, I suggested something entirely.

"Want to go to the cafeteria? I'm hungry"

"Sure" she replied with a pure smile. Seeing her from this little distance makes her even more beautiful, but I know I must maintain the confident composure.

The moment we got to the luxurious cafeteria, I bought my all-time favorite, hamburger while Celes ordered something which should not be in a university cafeteria's menu. A healthy bowl of salad.

While we were to sit down, the place is filling up with an en masse of the crowd who just finished their first day of class. Not a good sign actually

, and as I was about to say it, Celes prompted first otherwise.

"I think it is better off eating at the top floor," she suggested which is a normal reaction for almost anyone who spent their teenage in a conserved environment.

"Yeah. Let's go" I responded.

We got out of the cafeteria without anyone noticing us, a strong strike of luck this time.

As we were on the way to the top floor, whilst holding the paper bags of food we ordered, the silence was there. But, unlike the first countenance, I don't think I am hell-bent to always be the leader of a meaningful conversation. It's time for her to take the lead this time...

But that, never came to be... as she suddenly took a little detour on the topic unprecedentedly, shifting it from meaningful to detrimental.

"Jaiden. How long are you going to hide it?" she asked, with a very serious look in her face.

"What? The only thing that I'm hiding in my di-... (No I take that back)"

"You can't make a fool out of me you know that. You are a Herrscher aren't you?"

"Huh, what are you talking about? "I responded.

Honestly, as much as I know that I really can't make a fool out of her, the more I knew nothing of which she spoke of. Herrschers? What the hell is that supposed to be?

"Lacrimosa. She's your deity isn't she?"

What? How does she know about Lacrimosa?. For all I am worth, I was the only one who knew of her existence!

From that point on... I extrapolated that the gray and mundane high school life I expected to have in this artificially-made city, turns out to be not that "gray" at all. It's probably something that exceeds the extraordinary and the more I think of it, the vaguer the subject becomes.

How the hell does she know of Lacrimosa?

Chapter end