C1 Encounter

This morning, the sky looks bright, as if to witness a special day for me, which will take place soon. I looked at the beautiful view of the day from the window. Butterflies danced around the flowers that were blooming beautifully. I touched the window glass that separated me from the beautiful scenery outside. I can't deny how much I want to join the butterfly to inhale the flowers' fragrance or touch the flower petals blooming beautifully.

An object attached to the ring finger finally diverted my gaze from the beautiful flowers. A golden-colored object coiled around my ring finger at this time. This thing is small but very charming in my eyes. Three gems adorn this object, but what made me so fascinated with this object was not because of its elegant and luxurious shape. But because this thing was given by someone significant in my life. Someone I love who will soon be my life companion.

I looked at my body, which was now wrapped in a beautiful, pure white dress with various decorations that made this dress look elegant. I left the window by stepping my feet into a place. This is where I am right now, in front of a mirror large enough to show me ultimately.

I stared at my body in awe. I didn't expect to look so different from my usual appearance. The beauty of this dress makes me look beautiful. This crown-shaped ornament on my head made me even more unrecognizable from my current figure. Is it me? I could only hide a smile on my lips to respond to my stupid question.

If I remember all the bitterness I have felt so far, I never thought the moment I had been waiting for for a long time would finally come. Being beside the man I love has been my biggest dream since long ago. My gaze shifted to a large clock hanging on the wall. Why do I feel like time is running so slowly today? That was just an excuse. Of course, time went on as usual. I can't wait to see him soon. That's why I feel time goes by so slowly.

My patience seemed to have reached its limit when I stared back at the object coiled around my ring finger. I have a reason why I don't want to wait any longer. I'm just afraid, afraid that he will leave me again. He was leaving this fragile me alone. I would only feel at ease once I saw his figure standing there. Standing waiting for me greeted my arrival with a helping hand.

"Serena, get ready. The time has come."

Nervousness hit me when I heard that voice, which announced that the moment I had been waiting for had finally arrived. Take a deep breath and exhale slowly. I stepped out of the room I'd been in since earlier. Soon, I will reach my happiness that was delayed for a while.

My name is Serena Constanza. I'm 24 years old. And here is my story.

***

Seven years before.

"Serena!"

I got up from my chair when I heard my name being called. I approached Mrs. Carla, who had called me and sat in her chair. She handed me a piece of paper covered in scribbles and a number circled at the top. My gaze fell on the number, and it instantly made me feel relieved.

"Congratulations, Serena, you got a perfect score again," Mrs. Carla said, showing me an amiable smile.

"Thank you, Mrs," I replied, smiling back at her kindly.

"I'm sure you'll be the class champion again. Keep it up, Serena."

"OK, Mrs," I replied, nodding my head. After that, I walked back to my chair with a gaze that always stayed on the paper containing the scores for the math test I took about two days ago.

After sitting in the chair, I still stared at the number 100, written at the top of the paper I was holding now. I'm happy and satisfied to see it; my hard work studying all night has sweet results. I do have to work hard to maintain my grades. I have to do this to keep my scholarship at this school.

I study at this school. Sondrio International High School is the name of my school. Sondrio is my hometown, an Italian town in the Province of Sondrio, Lombardia region of Italy. This is an elite school in Sondrio where only rich people can afford to study here. Studying at this school is very expensive compared to other schools. However, it is very commensurate with this school's luxurious facilities. In addition, the teachers who teach are also selected teachers who have been strictly chosen beforehand. The quality of students who graduate at this school is undoubtedly very high. Many companies are competing to recruit students who graduate from this school. In short, students who graduate from this school will undoubtedly get a bright and glorious future.

However, this, of course, cannot be obtained. Students who study at this school twice as much have to study harder. So, we students can keep up with this school's learning system, which is going very fast. Apart from that, this school also often has sudden exams that require students to study every night, anticipating that whenever a test is held, we are ready to face it.

The rules are stringent. Three times a violation, he will be immediately expelled from school. Usually, students who are expelled from this school will find it difficult to be accepted at a new school. That's because other schools consider students expelled from this school very bad. Neither in abilities nor in personality, although not all are like that. That was the opinion of the other schools. Therefore, only a few students in this school wanted to suffer such bad luck. It has a good impact on students because it makes them study hard daily. However, this became a difficult situation for me. All the students at this school are brilliant, so I, who could study here because of a scholarship, had difficulty maintaining my ranking in the class.

I don't come from a wealthy family like the other students. I come from an ordinary family. My father passed away when I was in junior high school. Now, mothers work to meet our needs. Mother works as a secretary in a company. The salary is manageable, so I cannot finance my expensive school. Luckily, since elementary school, I have excelled and got a scholarship. But because of this, none of my classmates were willing to be my friend. They often even look down on me. That's a natural thing because it's clear that my status is not comparable to theirs. I've never had a problem with it, for me to be able to study at this school is a fortune. I will never waste it. I will continue to work hard until I graduate from this school and, in the future, will be able to replace my mother to earn money to meet our needs.

As soon as the bell rang, the signal for recess had arrived, all my classmates left the class, and so did I. I intend to eat the lunch my mother deliberately makes every day. I walked alone to my favorite place. It's not a particular place, just an empty lot behind the school where there are shady trees with thick leaves. Because it was tranquil there, almost no one passed. I also chose to eat my food there every afternoon break.

Upon arrival, as usual, I sat under a tree, which felt shady because the thick leaves protected me from the hot sun. I stared at the sky, the sun dazzling my eyes so that my reflexes narrowed my eyes. Today the weather is very sunny, but the wind blows quite warm.

Not wanting to waste more time, I opened my lunch box. But suddenly three of my classmates came for some reason. Could they want to annoy me since it seems impossible for them to come to join me here?

I know they must have come with evil intentions. Not wanting to mess with them, I chose to go. I got up from my seat.

"Where are you going?" asked one of them, Alessia, curtly.

Alessia Belladonna is my classmate. She is beautiful, brilliant, and popular at school. In class, she is my main rival. If I get the first rank, then Alessia will get the second rank. Since studying at this school, I was in the same class as her, and she was always rude. Even though I always try to be nice to her, she seems to hate me so much for some reason. This isn't the first time she's bothered me like this. Together with her two friends, Elara and Carina, they always find trouble with me.

"Asked instead of answering instead of gawking?!" Alessia snapped, pressing my forehead with her index finger roughly.

"I want to eat lunch," I answered slowly with my head down.

Alessia's sound sounded loud in my ear. "Take her to the rooftop!!" she said. Elara and Carina immediately complied. They immediately grabbed my hand forcefully, forcing me to come with them. I also had no choice but to follow because if I resisted, they would treat me even more harshly than this. Past experiences have taught me many things.

Upon arrival at the rooftop, they started to treat me very rudely and inhumanely. They grabbed my hair. They didn't seem to care even though I was moaning in pain.

"Heeh, don't be arrogant, just because Mrs. Carla praised you earlier!" Alessia shouted while her hands grabbed my hair tighter.

"W-what do you mean? I-I've never been arrogant," I said as I endured the pain in my hair and head that was starting to throb. I want to cry now, but I'm trying to hold it in because I don't wish Alessia to think she's won.

"Did you think I didn't see you smile to yourself after receiving a compliment from Mrs. Carla? Don't be too confident and pretend to be smart. Remember, you can study here because of a scholarship. You don't belong here. You should go to schools that are for kids like you. I'm sick of seeing you. If you don't want to get hurt, you better get out of this school!!" Alessia snapped at the same time as her hands grabbed my hair even more tightly.

But of course, I couldn't possibly do what she wanted. Still, with the pain, I replied to her words, "I will never leave this school. I never bothered you or anyone. It would help if you didn't bother me either. What did I do wrong to you?"

Alessia hissed with a red face because her emotions rose to the surface after hearing my answer. "Damn you!!"

Alessia was very angry. She finally let go of her grab on my hair and turned to take the lunch box that I was still holding.

"Return!!" I begged while trying to regain my food, which was now in Alessia's hands. However, Alessia's two friends quickly grabbed me so I couldn't move.

Alessia opened my lunch box, and with disgust, she spilled the food that Mom made on purpose right on top of my head. Her two friends just laughed at me. My eyes watered until I finally couldn't hold back the tears anymore. Now, these tears are flowing so fast and running down my face. My uniform was dirty with the food Alessia spilled on it.

"Open the shirt!!" Alessia's order, which, of course, Elara and Carina immediately complied with.

I screamed for help. I do not want to remain silent about their outrageous treatment this time. I can already guess what they want to do to me. I kept screaming without holding back the tears that never stopped flowing. Seeing my condition, Alessia and her two friends looked even happier. They laughed loudly, even no less loudly, with my screams.

"No one will hear your screams in this place, you idiot!!" shouted Alessia, who was helping her two friends remove my clothes. The sound of my crying was getting louder when I felt my uniform being torn.

"What are you doing? Noisy you know."

Instantly, Alessia and her two friends stopped trying to take off my uniform and looked towards the source of the sound, and so did I. Right in front of me now, he was standing. He is a popular student at my school with a handsome face and a tall, athletic body. His long, red hair made him even more handsome. There's no way I don't know him. That man is idolized by almost all the girls at my school.

"L-Luigi..."

Alessia and her two friends stuttered to say his name with a nervous expression that was so obvious.