2 Chapter 2: Farewells
"Pleasure to meet you Ms. Naneel, hope you'll have a good time here in Zilther Academy." The blonde man smiles and extends his hand.
Naneel's violet eyes looked vacantly at it.
Noticing her sister not planning on responding, the little brother took it on her behalf, "My sister doesn't like being physically close with people. So I hope you'd forgive her lack of response, Sir." Though apologizing, he had an apathetic look.
"My bad, no worries." He chuckles awkwardly, "And you're?"
"Meo, Lark Meo Palacio." retracting his hand as he speaks and placing it in his pocket.
Mr. Haifa nods, then gestures to the family inside the school premises, "I think the Dean is waiting for us. Let's not keep him any longer."
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In a room painted in gray colors, mint-green curtains fluttering by the windows, shelves occupied by numerous books, gray furniture with mint-green cushions, tables and chairs, all are clean and furnished.
As inviting as it looks, empty is the word that comes to mind.
By a window sat a male youth, pale skin glowing under the afternoon sun, eyes barely seen through his long tousled inky black hair; one hand was holding a book while the other rested on top of his knee. Rather than reading, his dull, mint-green eyes were solely focused outside.
"You called?" A man appears behind the youth without a sound, supposedly out of thin air.
"Something peculiar has caught my interest, Aivo. I wonder why..." The teen places his book down and continues to stare outside.
<♤>♤<♤>
"Well then, I welcome Ms. Naneel in our Academy with open arms." With that, the Dean gave Naneel a folder and a paper bag, "The folder has your dorm number and key, your class schedule and all the information of this school while the bag has your uniforms. Our student body president will arrive at your dorm tomorrow to give you a tour of the premises. Until then, you can unpack everything in your dorm and relax. Hope you have a good day, Palacio."
"Yes, sir." The white-haired teen exits without looking back. After closing the door behind her, she looked around and quickly spotted her parents. She slowly walked up to them.
First to notice her approach, Yasmile smiled lovingly at her daugther, "Did you get everything you need, sweetie?"
Her mother's smile seemed to slightly soften the girl's cold demeanor. Unnoticeable to strangers but visible enough for her parents to detect.
"You have grown to be a stunning gem, my amethyst. Now, please take care of your elder brothers, alright?" Leo took a neckerchief and wipes his fake tears, "Take care of yourself and know that we will always love you. Don't ever forget that, sweetheart." He blew his nose. The other two rolled their eyes fondly at him.
"Stop being dramatic Dad, they'll be fine. Mostly my sister will be the one causing trouble here, I'm sure." The unconcerned tone of the youngest caused the mother to laugh. Naneel, turn around to see her brothers with a few people behind carrying her luggage.
"Rubbish, my sweetie would never do such thing! You speak badly of your sister, must it be you who'll cause me trouble now that your the only child with us left? If so then I—" Their father didn't get to finish due to Meo dragging him away.
"I'll take Dad to the car, don't take too long Mom and see you guys on summer break." Meo waved goodbye to his siblings and continued dragging their protesting father.
"Well, seems like your father loves your sister more than you boys." Their mother chuckles as she watches the retreating back of her husband.
"Seems so. He didn't act like that when we were enrolling on our first year." Xerelt says with light amusement.
"He acted like he was ready to leave us behind. How jealousing it is to be the only daugther of both Palacio and Alia hierarchy." Zylan whispered the last part.
Naneel scoffed at them. Yasmile chuckles again, "That's enough you three."—She turned to her daughter— "I have to get back before your father does anything, I'll see you soon." She hugs her daughter.
Naneel only buries her head in her mother's arms in response. Her mother slowly pulled away and smiles at her children. "Don't forget about tomorrow, sweeties." And that is when she turned and left.
