8 VII | Primary School Ghost Hauntings (1)
Note: This is not really scary because I can't, for the life of me, write something scary, gory yes, scary? Absolutely n o.
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As summer vacation ended in Siphiro, students dragged themselves awake once more in order to prepare for school. Cities became buzzed with more gloomy life, seemingly affected by the students' mood.
The rush hours became even more excruciatingly slow due to the influx of youths who are in a hurry to go to their schools, afraid to be late at the first day of school, after the vacation.
In a relatively peaceful place in the Blue Summer Region of Siphiro, namely in the Clear Jade City, a medium-sized school stood in front of a small cliff, around it is a small thicket, with some residential buildings and lofts are built—it is the Clear Jade Primary school, where most of the children in the city go to study.
The streets were littered by children walking alone, in pairs or in groups, happily chatting away as they head to school. The innocence in their eyes are shining in par with the sun, seemingly unaware of the dangers that lurked in the shadows.
There's a certain pair of girls walking on the sidewalk, one completely stoic, and the other, brimming with smiles—shockingly, the topic of their one-sided conversation is rather eccentric.
"Hey, hey, Lory. Yesterday I dissected pompom!"
The brunette in twin pig tails chatted incessantly, highly disturbing the peace and personal space of the ravenette beside her. The ravenette seemed to not mind much but looking closely at her thin eyebrows, there's a tinge of exasperation in its light crease.
"Pompom? You mean, the poodle Big Brother Jason bought last week?" the ravenette, which is in fact, Lauriel, asked, her face sporting an expression of confusion and a bit of helplessness. Like this kind of event happened numerous times in the past, and she could do nothing but to go with the flow or else, someone would throw a tantrum.
Jacqueline nodded eagerly, her eyes sparkling with mirth. Lauriel sighed as she discreetly looked up the heavens, praying for the some deity to give her strength and patience.
"Why did you dissect Pompom?" she asked in a monotonous voice, feeling an incoming headache. She rubbed her temples lightly, unaware that her action seemed to be extremely peculiar for someone her age—at least, what her physical age suggests.
Jacqueline did not mind the tone of Lauriel's question and pouted instead, saying, "I was peeling apples that time when Pompom bit me in my ankle so I slit her neck... It's not that I wanna kill her or something...uhm, then Big Brother said I should just dissect her so I could review the anatomy lessons he gave me that weekend..."
After Jacqueline's voice fell, Lauriel's heavy sigh could be heard, creating a tick on the former's forehead, a sign that she's about to throw a tantrum.
'Oh boy.' Lauriel thought as she noticed the murder emanating from the brunette's small body, already smelling the slaughter that could happen if ever Jacqueline completely snapped.
Of course, if Lauriel doesn't want for their existence as children of prominent Shadows to be exposed, she has to appease the 'bratty princess's beside her, already cursing her Uncle Jacob and Auntie Naia for raising Jacqueline as an absolute brat.
'Unlike Big Brother Jason, sigh. I wish he just agreed to Jacque's wish to go to school.' she lamented, preparing herself to calm the silently seething monster beside her.
"Calm down, Jacque. I'll ask Mom to make waffles later, you want?"
Jacqueline, in her own world already, her eyes flickering from black to her original green orbs, perked up when she heard the word 'waffles', completely disregarding her irritation.
"Hmph! I also want pan cakes!" she demanded, their steps halting as they arrive at the school gate, presenting their IDs on the machine to check their attendance. A 'beep' sounded from the machine and then the bar keeping them from entering retracted on the box under the machine, letting them pass.
Lauriel and Jacqueline greeted the guard standing by, as per routine, and then continued to walk, not speaking a word until they are meters away from the guard. The brunette giggled then looked up the sky, sighing contentedly for whatever reason.
'She extorted another round of snacks from me again.' Lauriel thought, weeping without tears inside, though her face did not betray her emotions.
They chatted for some more, about normal and ordinary things, like how fun it was when Jacqueline and Big Brother Jason went to the arcade yesterday, or when Uncle Sebastian and Aunt Julian visited the day before yesterday and brought new art materials for Lauriel.
When they reached the building where the first grade pupils are, Jacqueline and Lauriel parted, Lauriel being accelerated in fourth grade just this school year (she can't help but be bored and pissed with how slow the first grade lessons progress, discovering that the things she learned on Earth is the same here in Chronos, besided history and geography of course).
With a wave, Lauriel walked away from the first grade building into the main building, where the first and second sections of the fourth to sixth grade pupils are located.
Many pupils are loitering the corridors as the classes have not yet started, chattering away without abandon. Lauriel tuned out the high-pitched voices echoing all over the place, skillfully dodging students that are occasionally running around, ignoring the condescending gazes that are thrown on her small stature.
Because of the fact that she, a seven-year old girl, publicly announced to be accelerated from first grade to fourth grade, no matter which way one look in Clear Jade Primary School, jealousy and hate would always be seen thrown at her. Especially due to the fact that the teachers favor her matured demeanour, despite her youbg age.
Those students watching her every motion like a hawk wished that their gazes could bore a hole through her, since she 'stole' their spotlight in the school and in the hearts of their advisers. They want nothing more for her to vanish from existence after indirectly shaming them numerous times with her school performance.
Especially for someone as proud and as spoiled as Cathy Yun. She is the daughter of Clear Jade Primary School's Vice President, and the fourth grade darling genius—formerly.
When Lauriel was promoted into fifth grade and displayed her other-worldly scope of knowledge, Cathy was naturally demoted to second-rank, taking a big hit into her pride.
Who wouldn't? Cathy is three years older than Lauriel, but the latter has more knowledge than her, she who was the daughter of the Vice President.
"Miss Cathy, just don't mind Lauriel. Sooner than later, she'd be out of your way for sure!" one of Cathy's lacky said beside her as they glared at Lauriel's small stature sitting on the middle row of the neatly arranged desks, directly on the center of the class.
"Heh, you're right."
