3. April

Footsteps echoed through the corridors of the mansion, each echo increasing my fears. They had discovered my identity, and the vulnerability I felt was overwhelming. Not long ago, I had nearly died in the mansion of the mobster Esteban, and if it weren't for my companions, my life would have ended there.

As I reached the door, I took a deep breath before opening it. There they were, my mother and father, waiting for me.

My mother's face showed a mixture of cold beauty and determination. Her gaze was penetrating, as if she could see through people's souls. Her black hair cascaded over her shoulders, framing her perfectly sculpted face. An innate elegance emanated from her every gesture, but there was also an air of latent danger about her.

In contrast, my father had a serene and reflective expression. His deep blue eyes reflected wisdom and calm. His black hair was kept neatly combed back, and a light beard gave him an air of maturity. He was dressed in an impeccable gray suit that enhanced his bearing of authority and respect.

"What can I say to them?" I thought, but I couldn't find the right words to confront them. Silence took over the room as they examined me from head to toe.

"I'm sorry," I muttered.

"Speak up!" demanded my father, breaking the silence. "We don't want to hear your whispers."

"I'm sorry," I said, raising my voice. "I want to fix this, but... I don't know how."

"Of course," my mother interjected, her voice as cold as ice. "You've always been a disappointment, April. Now you'll have to prove to us that you can be worthy of our trust."

"I will do whatever it takes."

It was then that my mother approached me with a firm step. I could see in her eyes a mixture of anger and contempt that chilled my blood. Before I could react, I felt the sting of her hand on my cheek. The slap she gave me made tears well up in my eyes.

"You're useless!" exclaimed my mother, in a heartbreaking voice. "How could you be so careless?"

My sobs were mixed with the anger and frustration I felt at not knowing what to say. I looked at my father for support, but all I could find in his eyes was disappointment similar to my mother's.

"You are not worthy to be our daughter!" shouted my mother as she slapped me again, this time harder, causing me to lose my balance and fall to the ground.

"Enough!" interjected my father, with the seriousness that always characterized him. "April, go to your room, right now it's not necessary to see you."

"It's okay" I muttered, feeling my parents' contempt burn inside me. With difficulty, I got up from the floor and tried to wipe away my tears. Walking out of the room, my head was filled with dark thoughts and the weight of disappointment on my shoulders.

"How will I ever regain their trust?" I wondered as I walked through the halls of the mansion, feeling more alone than ever. "What can I do to prove to them that I'm not worthless?"

I walked through the halls of my room, feeling like a useless person. As I walked along, I silently thanked Sophie for saving me; she was the only one who seemed to care about me.

A maid, named Dulce, approached me and, without saying anything, extended a napkin to wipe away my tears. With a gesture of thanks, I took the handkerchief and dried my wet cheeks.

"Thank you, Sweet" I murmured, doing my best to keep my voice steady. The maid nodded and walked away, leaving me alone with my thoughts again.

Arriving in my room, I locked the door and plopped down on my bed. Determined to forget about the outside world, I turned on the music and immersed myself in the melodies that filled my room. It was my refuge, a place where I could be myself without having to face the scorn of my parents or the weight of their expectations.

I didn't leave my room much in those days, only when absolutely necessary. The maid who had given me the napkin came by every day to make sure I was okay, and she also brought me food. Although we didn't share many words, her kindness and concern comforted me.

"I'm studying" I would say when I was asked what I was doing locked in my room. Although it was just an excuse so they wouldn't bother me, the entrance exams for Zeus School were coming up soon, and although in my mind I knew that everything was arranged for me to get in, I wanted to work hard at the one thing I love to do. So I was trying my best to memorize the material, review the lessons and complete exercises.

"What else can I do?" I often asked myself, feeling despair nestle in my chest. Music became my only companion, the soundtrack to my dark days as I struggled to find a way to regain my parents' trust and prove to them that I was not worthless. But, deep in my heart, I was beginning to doubt if it would ever be possible.

...

The alarm went off early that day, its shrill tone piercing the silence of my room. I forced myself to get up, feeling every muscle in my body tired and aching from the accumulated tension. I knew it was all a facade, but I had no other way out. I took off my pajamas and put on my civilian clothes, a white shirt and tight black pants. I looked in the mirror and barely recognized the girl with black hair and sad eyes staring back at me.

"Come on, April," I said to myself, trying to infuse myself with some encouragement. "Just take the test, you'll get to see Ethan and Sophie."

I walked through the corridors of my mansion in low spirits, feeling like a good-for-nothing. With every step, I remembered my mother's hurtful words and my father's disappointing look. How had it come to this? At what point had I become so unworthy of his love and respect?

I got to the limousine that would take me to school and got in without saying a word. The chauffeur closed the door behind me, and I watched the road as we drove away from the mansion, as if I wanted to leave all that sadness and hopelessness behind.

When we arrived at Zeus School, I was struck by the magnificence of the huge red buildings, with their halls and several dormitories. It was an impressive place, but I couldn't help thinking about what it really meant to me: another test, another hurdle to overcome to prove my worth, at least a place where I could live somewhat normally.

"Building F" I remembered, and headed that way, walking steadily even though my heart was racing with anxiety. As I reached the door of the building, I took a deep breath and tried to chase away my fears and insecurities.

Inside the F building, I felt even more lost than before. My footsteps echoed in the long, dark corridors, filled with closed doors and numbers that didn't seem to follow any logical order. Fear and anxiety took hold of me, causing me to walk with my eyes downward, as if I wanted to hide from the world.

Suddenly, I bumped into someone and dropped all the papers I was holding. I quickly bent down to pick them up, and as I did so, I encountered a tall, freckled, red-haired boy, who was also hurrying to pick up the items. His appearance was charming and attractive, with bright red hair framing a face with well-defined features. His freckles gave him a playful, youthful touch, and his eyes glowed a deep green, reflecting the warmth of his personality.

Despite her modest clothing, her smile was infectious and conveyed a genuine kindness that comforted me in that moment of despair. It was as if her presence brightened the place, making everything feel a little lighter.

His nimble hands picked up the objects next to mine, and when our eyes met, I felt a strange connection with him. He seemed to understand the awkwardness of the moment and, without saying a word, his gentle expression gave me reassurance that everything would be okay.

Amidst the chaos of our scattered objects, we shared a brief accomplice smile, as if we were united in that small instant of time. Her eyes conveyed a reassuring warmth, and in them I could see compassion and solidarity.

As we gathered our items, I couldn't help but notice her reassuring presence. His presence calmed my anxiety and made me feel that I was not alone in that moment of trouble. It was as if we had met by chance, but that chance had brought me a ray of light in the midst of confusion...

"I'm so sorry, "I apologized, feeling my face redden with embarrassment. I wasn't paying attention where I was going.

"No problem," he replied in a soft, reassuring tone. The truth is, I'm lost too. My name is Daniel Rock and I'm looking for my classroom to take the exam.

I gave him some directions to his exam room, based on what I had seen as I entered the building, and wished him luck with a coy smile.

"Thank you," he said. Good luck to you too.

We parted ways, each going our separate ways in search of the corresponding classroom. Despite the tension and fear I felt about facing the exam, I could not help but think about that brief encounter with Daniel. His kindness and sympathy had left a warm feeling in my chest, as if I had found a small ray of sunshine in the middle of the storm.

Perhaps all is not lost, I thought as I finally found my classroom and prepared to face whatever was to come. If I can find kindness at times like this, maybe I'm not as useless as my parents think I am.

Once in the exam room, I sat down on one of the empty chairs and took out a pen and paper. Despite knowing that everything was arranged for me to stay in school, I decided to do my best and answer every question with sincerity and effort.

During the exam, my mind remained focused on the questions, but from time to time, I couldn't help but think of Daniel and his kindness. I wondered if he would be facing the exam with the same determination as I was.

"Focus, April," I said to myself, shaking off those thoughts and turning back to the exam.

When I finished, I put the pencil down on the table and handed my exam to the teacher. I felt a mixture of satisfaction and nervousness as I left the classroom, but I knew I had done my best.

On my way out, I leaned against the wall and waited for my companions Ethan and Sophie. As I watched them approach, I remembered how much they meant to me. Ethan Blackwood, with his black hair and blue eyes, had a stocky, strong body. His serious gaze hid a loyal and protective heart. Sophie Stone, brown-haired and small in stature, possessed an enviable intelligence and determination. We had grown up together in an unpleasant environment, together we started training, while I was the daughter of the leaders, they were the children of their colleagues.

We knew no play schedules or anything that could be considered happiness. Only blows and wounds that we were forced to inflict on each other.

"April!" exclaimed Ethan when he saw me, half-smiling. "How have you been?"

"I think okay" I lied with a tired smile.

"I understand how you feel," Sophie said, nodding sympathetically. "That thing about the last mission shouldn't have happened."

"Hey, how about we go get something to eat?" proposed Ethan, trying to cheer us up. "That way we can relax and chat for a while, I've missed you guys. I hate that stupid rule about not being able to communicate."

"Let's go eat" I nodded, grateful for the distraction.

"I agree" Sophie added with a smile.