Chapter 2- Yshmael Marco

Lanie's POV:

“Are you sure, you’ll be okay here?” Mom asked for the ninth time.

We’re here in Saint Augustine, it's my first day of school, they come with me to make sure that my papers are all ready and there will be no problems with it.

“Hon, don’t worry, our daughter is now a big girl, Lanie can take care of her own.” Dad told mom and tapped her shoulder as assurance.

“You’ll be late for your flight, Mom, you can go now.” I told my mom because I might end up being emotional too if they don’t leave now. 

They gave me some reminders before they took their leave.

I waited for them to go before entering the dormitory that I will stay in from now on. The dorm room is actually big, maybe because there are four of us who will be sharing the room. I already met two of my roommates earlier and found out that they’re all originally from Hespheria. 

I had arranged my things first before putting on my school uniform, even the style of the uniform is based on their foreign policy. 

White long sleeve polo with a cream colored blazer, even the skirt and the bow tie are also cream colored. 

After checking if my things are all set I finally decided to go outside and take a tour since I need to be familiar with my school now. 

Saint Augustine is a huge school. On the right side, there are three big buildings with seven floors each and the two of the three buildings are where the classrooms are located, and for the school’s clubs. The other one is for the principal’s office and the faculty's office, which has four floors and the cafeteria occupying the whole first floor and the auditorium is at the back of that building.

On the right side, there’s the dormitories and I’m amazed by its structure since it's not like the other ordinary dormitories. 

There are places where we can all hang out regardless of the gender, since the dorms are separated, the boys' dormitory are on the left wing and the girls' dormitory are on the right wing. 

There’s a huge soccer field in front of the dorms, different esplanades for every club plus the big gymnasium in the back.

Alright, I keep repeating but Saint Augustine is really huge and wide. It looks like a university and they’re also complete with amenities, there are gardens and parks inside the school plus the wide parking lot.

I researched about this school, but it still feels like the information that I know about it is not enough. 

I put the pamphlet that I am holding inside my bag, I got confused when I touched something wet under the things in my bag.

“Shoot!” I slapped my forehead because I forgot about my tablet that fell in the fountain. 

Though it’s not that wet but if you shake it, there’s still water coming out from it.

I tried opening it, but just like last night I failed to open it again. 

“The article!” I literally panicked after I remember about it.

I totally forgot about it last night. After my encounter with that arrogant jerk in Aronzaga’s mansion, Dad decided to call it a day and go home. So I don’t know what the connection is between the Mayor and that mysterious man and worst, I didn’t dry my tablet immediately.

I sighed, “I’ll just look for a repair shop this weekend.”

As I continued touring myself, I reached the cafeteria and just like the other properties of the school, you can see that they put a lot of thought into its design. 

I got a tray and food on the counter, we have a western breakfast on our menu today. I sat at the nearest table after I got my food. I can feel the observing eyes that are following everything that I do, maybe they’re curious why there’s a transferee when the semester is almost over. 

I just ignored them all and started eating quietly. 

Students slowly arrive to take their breakfast, the noise and the laughter takes over the quiet cafeteria.

“Hey! You’re here.”

“We’re actually looking for you.” The other girl added. 

I just give Lovely and Jasleene a shy smile, they are my roommates. 

“Lanie!”

My ears hurt because of that high pitched voice.

A pale looking and brown haired girl is approaching us, she’s catching her breath as her eyes are locked on me.

“You’re finally here!” She said loudly.

“You know each other?” Jasleene asked.

“Huh?” I was confused and looked at the girl who is approaching us. I don’t remember meeting her.

“She’s also our roommate,” Lovely added. I nod and wait for the girl to reach our table.

She stretched her hand for a handshake while she’s smiling. “You didn’t inform me that it's your first day here, good thing Page called me.” 

My eyes widen after hearing Page’s name, “Ro...na?” 

She clapped her hands and suddenly put her hands around my arms. “Wow, I thought I needed to talk about our history first before you remember me.” She said jokingly.

“Hey Rona girl, you know each other?” Lovely asked with her eyebrows raised.

We looked at each other, one of DWD’s policies is to keep the group as a secret.

“Yes Lovely girl. I met her when I was on vacation in Vienna.” If I don’t know Rona well I will definitely believe her excuse.

“Ah, so you came from Vienna?” Jasleene asked.

I nodded and secretly winked at Rona.

“Wait, how about you two? Why are you with Lanie?” She asked.

“She’s our roommate, girl,” Jasleene answered.

“Wow destiny.” Rona giggled and asked for the copy of my schedule.

Her smile faded away when she saw that we’re only classmates in one subject, even Lovely and Jasleene, they’re my classmates in just some of my subjects.

“Too bad.” Rona commented depressingly as she put her hands under her chin. 

I laughed as I tapped her on the shoulder. “It’s okay, we’re roommates, we can still see each other.” 

“Yshmael!”

“My love so sweet!”

The other girls started to shout, it's deafening and hurting  my ears, they are even slamming the tables. 

“Here they go again.” Jasleene said as she shakes her head and continued eating her meal. 

I looked at the person who caused the uproar here in the cafeteria and my forehead immediately creased as I saw his familiar face. 

The reason why my tablet fell in the fountain last night and based on the uniform he’s wearing, he's also a student here. 

“Yshmael Marco Aronzaga,” Rona uttered. 

I look at her with a confused look on my face.

He pointed the fork at the man’s direction who is now getting his food. “The youngest son of our town’s mayor and the owner of our school.” 

“That’s not all. He’s also like a prince here, the heir of their family and if you put all the assets that their family have, he will own half of the hespheria.

My jaw dropped because of the things they’re saying, I know Aronzaga’s are rich, but I didn’t know that they are actually filthy rich.

Hespheria is a large, prosperous, modernized and rich town, and knowing that Yshmael will own half of it is just mind blowing.

I immediately shifted my gaze away from Yshmael when he turned in our direction, he passed by our table and sat at the table that is two tables away from ours. He’s just silently eating and ignoring his surroundings even though most of the girl students here in the cafeteria are looking at him.

“Smart, rich and handsome, but he’s also known to be as cold as ice, he doesn’t interact or talk to other people except for his friends.” Lovely continued.

Jasleene stopped eating just to agree with what Lovely said. “He’s Mr. Number One, the top-notcher in our whole school, sports maniac and he’s also the editor-in-chief of the Journalism Club but it’s hard to go near him because he has his own world.”

I want to put a grimace on my face because of the things I’m hearing about Yshmael. 

I unconsciously looked at his back and maybe he felt my gaze and turned his head in my direction. I didn't revoke my gaze from him, his forehead creased and he just continued eating.

“Jerk!” I uttered in my mind. 

I also continued eating my meal, but because of curiosity, I still secretly glanced at him. 

Minutes passed and there’re two boys who joined him at his table.

Rona receded at me and simply pointed at the two boys who joined Yshmael at his table.

“That boy who has blonde hair is Greyson, the other boy that is with him is Kalvin, they’re the only friends of Yshmael, and they’re all the heirs of their families. Oh well, most of the students here are actually rich, have good connections and backgrounds.” She said while shrugging her shoulders.

I just nodded at her and finished my meal. 

❤