Sato

Rachel looked a bit embarrassed as she told him. 

"You know how my family went under and how my dad went to prison for all the corruption he got himself involved with? It wasn't easy to deal with things, so we relocated to the countryside, where my mother's family lived. Fortunately, my credits from NA were transferred to a local school over there so I could complete high school, and it also wasn't difficult to maintain the top position just like in NA. I was able to apply for a scholarship here after bumping into the ad, and here I am! Studying Economics for free. This is my second year. I'm taking two elective courses from your class." She concluded with a smile. 

"It must be hard on you," he said while looking at her with pity. He couldn't imagine the same happening to him. Surprisingly, she was looking okay. 

"It is. But I'm happy to be here. It's been so great! I know it's silly, but I'm still like acting like my family is a... you know... big deal, so people treat me really well here." her face flushed again.

He almost laughed at that. She was pretending to be a princess while he was pretending to be a pauper. What a weird novel plot. 

He also summarized his story to her since she opened up to him. Since they were in a foreign land, they had to have each other's backs. 

"But I think they would have also treated you well even if they knew your family wasn't. People here seem nice."

"And they would probably not treat you any differently if they knew you were a prince." She quipped.

"You never can tell."

"I didn't mean to lie though. I came here looking like myself. But they saw how expensive my clothes and stuff were and assumed I was a humble nouveau riche. Even when I tried to tell them I was not, but then, I couldn't tell them about my family, so yeah, they just assumed and I just left it that way."

He nodded. He wouldn't judge her for any of it. He wasn't better either. 

"How is this place like?" he asked her. 

"Aside from all the gorgeous faces?" she wiggled her brows. 

"I thought I was the only one who noticed it." He laughed. 

"There have been 2 Miss Worlds from this place. And it makes perfect sense. One of them has children who study here. The girl won the Miss Fresher last year, while her twin brother, who is simply drop-dead gorgeous, by the way, won Mr. Fresher. Just imagine it!"

Chris almost rolled his eyes. 

"You're into him?" he asked as he took a bite of his sandwich. 

"Everyone in this school is into him!" She all but gasped. 

"He is the cutest, nicest, most talented, smartest, and sexiest guy alive." She moaned. 

"Everyone here is cute and nice," he reminded her. 

"But not talented, smart, and sexy altogether. But this guy, he is all of it!"

"Does he have a partner?" Chris asked curiously. 

"I heard he doesn't. No one knows for sure though. His sister hardly says anything. And his friends are tight-lipped. It's so difficult to know much about him. I have tried to be friends with his sister for a long time, but it's not been so easy to get much from her." She sighed in frustration. 

"He must be doing all the 'mystery thing' on purpose. Maybe he doesn't want to lose his 'fans'? Seem like a narcissist who enjoys the attention." Chris shrugged again. 

"Sato is anything but that!" she scolded harshly. 

"You don't even know him personally," he pointed out. 

"And I've heard everything I need to know."

"Whatever you say. I just want to live quietly here. We're going to keep each other's secrets, right?" he asked, even though it was obvious what the answer was. 

She nodded. "I can't believe you are really pretending to be broke here."

"And I can't believe you aren't taking advantage of it to throw yourself at me."

She blushed and laughed. "Maybe I would have if I didn't have my eyes on Sato."

"Is his family loaded?" Chris asked, not sure why he was interested in knowing about these people. Maybe because he had been a god in high school and wanted to keep up with the god here? But he doubted the guy would be able to measure up to him. 

"I hear they are pretty average. I don't mind though." She shrugged again. "I can keep a rich guy like you as my friend and Sato as my boyfriend."

Chris laughed. "Big dreams." He said before asking seriously,

"Any particular thing I need to do to stay out of trouble and not be in the spotlight? Things to just watch out for?" 

She leaned over the table and raised a finger each time she listed one. 

"Do not just get yourself in trouble. No fighting. This is a friendly environment and do not forget, we aren't from here and we are on scholarship."

He nodded. He had the sense to know that already. 

"Do not speak badly about Sato in public. He has fans. I'm telling you. Like, real fans even though he is not on social media. So one bad word and they'll ruin you."

He could not stop the eye roll. 

"Okay. What next?"  

"And... do not be gay. Those people are put in the spotlight for no reason at all. Instead of your name, you'll become 'the tall gay boy'. Wait... you... like boys, right?" she said, remembering some rumours she had heard while in school. 

"Girls, boys, and everything in between," he said casually. "But thanks for telling me. I think I'll stick to liking girls here even though I'm not exactly looking to like any girl."

She laughed in amusement. "You are going to have a filled day staring at so many good-looking people. Anyway, like whoever you want, but not Sato."

"Why?"