1 Chapter 1

Most women fantasized of being rich, beautiful, and famous. Dreaming of living in a big mansion like a princess does; a life that no longer need to worry about what to eat every day.

And most of all, a prince who will sweep off their feet and save them in this chaotic poor life, like what Cinderella does? What a fairy tale indeed!

But, a life like that is quite impossible for Melissa. Melissa pondered that in reaching those goals she needs to burn more candles and learn that fairy tales don't exist!

When she was young she knew, that fairy tales is impossible to someone like her. She is not rich. She grew up in a serious family in which they were not raised to read fairy tale books. Her father once said that, if you want to achieve your dreams, work hard for it. Do not rely on others wealth because it will never do well for you.

Melissa has long curly hair; her skin is not as white as what she sees in most of her age, simply because she does not apply anything on her body. Her face is simple, but she has a sharp nose, and eyes that sparks every time she spoke. She also loves to dress high dresses, thick glasses and shoes that made her look like a nun.

She couldn't help but think if only she could have all the perfect attribute of being a fine woman, then maybe she'll have a prince who will sweep off her feet and save her in this poor life. But truth hurts. Because life isn't easy for her; she's poor, to go to college she needs to work and study at the same time. She has to rely on herself and sacrifice for her family.

To get a scholarship, she needs to enter theatre arts and be one of the crew there. She applied of becoming one of the actresses but she's been degraded. She has no looks to become one. She love’s acting but sad to say, she's out of their standard. She's plain, how can she be an actress? It's good that she's good at writing. Melissa has given a good role to become a manuscript writer in most plays they performed.

Melissa creates a life in every writings she wrote. She loves writing because she gets to explore every aspect of life simply by writing. For three years, she established already her name as good manuscript writer. She may be plain but her writing skill is superb that even her directors cannot manage to lose her.

She's currently schooling at one of the best and riches school in the country. Not all poor people have the privilege to enter in this school. You must be rich or rather a scholar if you want to be the student at Cambridge High. 80% of the students are coming from the rich family and the remaining 20% are scholars. She's lucky that she has brains to compete for the 20% eligible to enter Cambridge High. It's tough competition but she's able to pursue it because of determination, passion for her crafts, and most of all being prayerful to God.

She's thankful to God because finally, her dreams will soon come true. One more year and she'll finish her study at Cambridge High. But, there still one dream that it seems so impossible to reach. She has someone in her heart and not just someone. They call him a prince at Cambridge High!

He's not totally a prince literally, but he's prince because everyone loves him. Why not? His family owned the biggest company in the country. Valmonte Group of Companies owned different booming businesses. Their family has the connections in most of the business in town. Dresses, entertainments, food, restaurants, hotels you name it they have it! Valmonte Group of Companies is one of the established businesses in the country not just in the country also, internationally.

They’re widely known as the men of steel of this era. Sigh. If only God will allow her to have him. She really liked the man in all aspects. He is not the same as other rich brats. Eric Valmonte is one of the many reasons why Melissa stayed at Cambridge High. When you are a poor, the rich will despise you and try to get rid of you as soon as possible. In her first year of college, it was never easy for Melissa to adjust. It's hard for Melissa to blend in because she used to be a loner in high school and also, that way she dressed were mostly criticised. They tried to humiliate her in front of other students because her looks are outdated. All belongings were being kept somewhere. Her desk was purposely stained just for their pleasure. They didn’t even care if someone is hurt because of their doing. They are selfish who would do everything to destroy her future!

She wanted to quit schooling, she couldn't take it anymore. But thanks to Eric Valmonte, her night and shining armour. When he became president of the student council he established the rule that no one will disrespect poor students! If they did, Eric will use his power to expel that student.

Who dares to defy a prince? No one, Eric’s family owned majority of the shares of Cambridge High. They have full authority in every decision that the school are making.

At last her dream of a having a peaceful school life has finally come true! All because of Eric, her night and shining armour!

Not for long eventually…

“What are you staring at Melissa?” Aria, her best friend gets her attention.

“Ha? Ahmmm.. Nothing…” Melissa responds while arranging her thick glasses. She’s shy about the thought that she’s been thinking non-stop at the most handsome guy in the school, her prince charming Eric…

“Oh common. I know that look on your face Melissa…Your in love.” Aria grins at her. “You can’t keep it from me you know that? Is it him, again?” She really knew her friend very much. She knew that Melissa has a huge crush of Eric, the hottest and richest guy in town!

“Ok, you got me.” Melissa confessed.

Aria is silent for a moment. She’s happy that her friend is in love, but she couldn’t give her false hope. “You know that it’s impossible right?” She explained. They are poor, how can they match with tycoon’s son?

“I know…but...” Melissa wanted to believe that someday, somehow Eric would look at her and dream for brighter future with him.

“No buts Melissa… I already told you the pros and cons of this story didn’t I?” Aria explained. Aria looks are too deadly. She needs to remind Melissa constantly that her love of Eric is impossible.

Melissa laughs slightly. She knew already that sad reality but she wanted to tease her friend a bit; she wanted to see Aria’s glaring face whenever she spoke nonsense again.

“Ohh my friend…You love making fun of me ha?” Aria pinches her. She’s giving her friend a lesson to never tease her that way. It wasn’t a nice joke after all.

“Anyways, my class is over why not join me for lunch… my treat.” Aria said.

“Okay…” Melissa answered.

“Instead of thinking meaningless things why not teach me how to put proper gestures in your story?” Aria spouted. She’s so concerned about her upcoming performance. She did memorize the lines but something is still yet missing. The role seems different this time. She wanted to know the feelings of the writer so she could put proper actions in the performance she’ll be doing. That’s why she wanted to talk Melissa about it. The play is approaching very fast and they’re still one month to prepare. “I'm having a hard time comprehending it Melissa. I got scared whenever I can't do what you really wanted in the play. You’re strict at that, don’t you know that?” They both laugh and continued walking straight to the canteen.

Melissa explained every concept she has in her mind. Everything should be in placed because she’s a perfectionist writer! If she can’t be the leading lady of the play, at least someone gave justice on her story. Someone she knows. Call it biased but Aria is perfect for the role.

Aria Monteza is her best friend; they’ve known each other and became best friends, because Aria is one of the leading artists in most of her plays. They have same status in this school. Although, they have different courses but it didn’t stop them to be this close. Aria and Melissa depended in this scholarship. They are both poor and only this scholarship serves as a way for them to continue their education. If you manage to graduate in this school, the school will provide you a good job. It’s not part time but full time, but more importantly with a good salary!

They are both drawn into studying. They don’t really care about what are the new trends. The only differs to them is that Aria looks much presentable when it comes to dressing, she’s beautiful, smart and out spoken, everything about her is opposite to Melissa. But Melissa didn’t have a glitch of jealousy within her. She love writing for her. Aria deserves it, because all the characteristics that her leading lady portrays are fit to Aria. The director himself agreed to it. Nothing can beat her for that.

On the other hand, many are jealous of Aria’s talent that includes Betty. Betty, is listening to their conversation silently. Betty Valdez is Aria's opponent when it comes to getting the leading lady role. She’s also poor and a scholar in this school but she uses her beauty to attract rich men. She also uses her body to elevate her life. She does not care what others would say for as long as she gets everything she wants from the men she is in a relationship with.

With her beauty, almost all rich men are obsessed with her, but not the director of the theatre play she worked for. She could not get any approval coming from him. The director preferred beauty with talents. And because of that, she's even more disgusted with them.

She loves making fun of Melissa. She believed that Melissa is the reasoned why she couldn’t get any lead role on the stage plays she’s making. Melissa might have instigated the director for the leading characters. She’s annoyed. She couldn't afford to lose this role! Betty smiled evilly. She’s determined to do anything to get the role she wanted even it means destroying both of them!