The Girl Who Refused to be a Genius

In an ordinary house in an ordinary room there lived a doll-like girl who wasn't known to have many expressions. Contrary to her calm and steady exterior, this little girl had many thoughts rolling about inside of her head.

Scarlet Liu Xiu Wen was ten years old. She was born to a mother who worked in finance and a father who worked in IT. The little girl had no siblings and wasn't allowed to keep pets because the family moved very frequently due to the nature of their jobs. The house was almost always empty and Scarlet used to have a babysitter over when she was younger but that changed after she turned five. The doll-like girl hated going home because it was always quiet and a little eery.

Today, she chose to head straight back home instead of hanging out in the library. Neither of her parents would be home this early so it would be the perfect opportunity for Scarlet to have some alone time away from the judging stares of others.

Little Scarlet refused to be picked up by chauffers and chose to take the bus instead. It was the compromise she made with her parents in return for refusing to move houses again. Ever since Scarlet entered the elementary school of her parents' selection, she always felt as if something was off. Given their strict and unyielding nature, Scarlet was surprised that this was one battle she managed to win.

The little girl had her hair pulled into two symmetrical twin tails using simple blue ribbons. Her straight long black hair bounced in the wind as she stared blankly out her room's window. Mrs Liu hated having the windows open but she wasn't around today to comment on it. Scarlet didn't care about the neighbour's son who was entranced by her beauty. Her obsidian eyes contrasted with her fair skin greatly and created a picturesque view of a living doll.

Beside her was the letter of invitation she received a few days ago. If it wasn't for the weird stares and special treatment she received after the names were revealed, Scarlet would have been more than content with hiding behind a computer writing for strangers after spending the week psychoanalysing her human subject. Humans are fascinating creatures and Scarlet didn't feel any particular attachment to them. It was like watching a movie but better.

Scarlet was many things but a genius was not one of them. She wasn't 'gifted' and certainly didn't want to be 'special'. Accepting the offer meant that she would once again be separated from the class and society. If there was something Scarlet hated, it was being categorised into something that the masses agreed on.

"It was definitely plotted by them..." she whispered. "Why else would they agree on letting me attend a school in a country that they hardly lived in?"

Even though she was angry, there was not a single crease in her serene expression. Her anger was redirected to the letter that was not just another crumpled piece of paper in her hand. Releasing that the paper was innocent, Scarlet smoothened it out again. It was time that she got back at her parents. Who said that you had to be an adult before you could take charge of your life?

No, Scarlet was going to start now. If accepting the offer meant a chance away from those manipulative folks, she would do it. However, she would never conform to what society expected her to be. The world was not only made of only black and white but also a whole range of grey in between.

"I'm not going to be a genius," she told the reflection in the mirror. "I'm not going to be ordinary."

She undid the ribbons of her twin tails and grabbed a pair of scissors. "I'm going to be half a genius," she told herself and closed her eyes as a huge lock of straight black hair fell to the floor.