CHAPTER ONE

<p>"Mom!" <br/>A cry that broke the long silence  in Aloisa's room. She was sweating all over her face, gasping as if she was  out of breath. After calming down and right after her muscles relaxed from being like a hunted prey, she cursed within her lips. <br/>"Damn Nightmare!"<br/><br/>She lifted her comforter and moved to the side table then grabbed a small piece of cloth. She dabbed it to the dripping sweat on her face. She slowly walked to the kitchen on her tip toe, not to make a little noise— afraid to wake her dad in the middle of the night.<br/><br/>She grabbed a glass  in a wooden rack and filled it with naturally cold water.<br/>"That's refreshing!" She murmured.<br/>After quenching her thirsty soul and having it bathed in a pool of cold water, she went back to her room.<br/><br/>Sitting on her bed while leaning on the headboard, she realized that she couldn't get herself back to sleep.  The incident  ten years ago kept on flashing back in her mind. It was her third birthday when her mom suddenly vanished in a thin air, leaving no traces.<br/><br/>She was still three-years old at that time, when they merrily went to the local store in Whitspelhart to buy the things needed for her birthday celebration.She could still vividly remember that joyous moment when she held her mom's  hand,  singing twinkle twinkle little star. After that incident, she's not just wondering what the star is, but also wondering where her mom could be.<br/><br/>She was left in front of the counter because her mom forgot something and needed to get it, but little did Aloisa know that joyous moment when she held her mom's hand would be the last time she could hold her hand. The last time she could feel her warmth. The last time she could see her mom smile. The last time they could sing together. The last time she could see her mom's beautiful face.<br/><br/>Her eyes were filled with tears. The thought of missing her mom while wondering where she's at now, made her sad and frustrated. <br/><br/>"Mom, where are you?"<br/>"How have you been?" <br/>"You know what?"<br/>" It still  breaks my heart everytime I sing the song we sang together."<br/>" It still breaks my heart everytime I see that local store where we part ways."<br/>"It breaks my heart more to be so powerless at that time and to be so naive, thinking you'd be back even after  hours of waiting."<br/>"Not until dad came, I wouldn't have known you were long gone." <br/>"Dad asked a lot of people at that time but they didn't see you, as if you were invisible in their eyes. Even that old woman who gave me chocolate and praised me how cute I am, was not able to recognize you. Even after you smiled back at her and said thanks on my behalf."<br/>"Mom! Oh Mom! What had happened. As if their memories of your encounter were erased, as if it was non-existent. What really happened?"<br/>Unbeknownst to herself, after the hours of crying, she already have fallen back to slumber.<br/><br/>Roosters' cries were all over the small town of Whitspelhart and most of the townsmen were on their feet doing their daily routine. Aloisa on the other hand, just got herself out of bed after the sunlight peeked behind her windows curtain. She cleaned  her bed then went directly to the bathroom. Took a bath then brushed her teeth.<br/><br/>She made two large-sized sunny side up egg. She also fried four small-sized boneless dried fish. Then made a coffee for her dad. Since coffee ain't to her liking,  she just made herself an orange juice.<br/>"Dad, breakfast is ready." She called then served their breakfast.<br/><br/>"Dad, be careful at work and don't forget your lunch box. I put your favorite chicken adobo last night and have that heated in the oven. Don't forget to reheat it before eating, okay? "<br/><br/>She kissed her dad before leaving to school. "Gotta go dad! Take care! I'm gonna miss you so much!<br/><br/>A school bus stopped in front of their house and Aloisa directly entered soon as the doors open. She was excited to finally see the inside of  the famous yet mysterious Whitspelhart Academy. Though its famous for its high quality graduates, the rest were mysteries. It  secluded itself from the outside world. That only meant one thing, no communication or whatsoever to the outside world and that required a lot of courage. Despite this, Aloisa had came to her decision and that's to grab the opportunity that will only come once in a blue moon. It was final and there was<br/>no turning back.<br/><br/>The thirty-minute ride was finally over. The students were welcomed with the exquisite carvings of metal doors painted green that separated Whitspelhart Academy from the outside. The gates were gigantic that Aloisa and the others seemed to be ants in a distance.<br/>Inside the gate loomed a huge space full of greenery. Gardens full of blooming flowers of any kind, decored with towering ceramic white sculptures that were intricately scultpted. At a first glance you wouldn't think of it as a school but a rather a temple. By just looking at it, you could definitely say that it was maintained carefully.<br/><br/>"I wonder how much it cost to maintain these beautiful gardens? <br/><br/>"Anyways I have to go  to my room otherwise, Am gonna be late."<br/>She hastily walked to  the room she was assigned to.  <br/><br/>"Class A should be in that corner according to the map. The hell with this huge Academy! Even going to my own room would take me twenty minute walk. She cursed within herself.<br/><br/>She was not able to appreciate how majestic the school building was since she was in a hurry. The facade made of huge pillars designed after the Greeks' Corinthian order would definitely made you think twice if you are in the right place.<br/><br/>She finally arrived soaked in sweat like she had just gotten out of bath. She felt tired after the twenty minute walk. <br/>"With this every day, I probably not gonna incur some fats in my body." She thought.<br/><br/>"What country bumpkin is this?<br/>"Such vulgar to have come in this school of elites?"<br/>"Who's her parents?"<br/>"She's probably a daughter of a dressmaker."<br/>"Who knows?"<br/>"Could be a daughter of a fisherman."<br/>"How come a poor family could afford this  expensive academy."<br/>"I dunno. If you wanna know then ask her"<br/>No thanks! She's not worth of my attention. She's just an ant."<br/>These words struck Aloisa's heart like a lightning together with thunderstorms, reverberating into her mind. It left her dumbfounded for a minute or two. Until the professor arrived and have all the students seated except for her. She looked like a sculpture— frozen and unable to move. <br/><br/>"Hey, little girl are you okay?" Her professor in attempt to wake her senses. <br/><br/>Aloisa was not able to immediately respond but that call helped her lost soul found its way back to reality. <br/><br/>"Uhmmm...mm.. ."<br/>"Yes Miss, I'm okay."<br/>"I have just recovered from my fright of facing people. I'm not used to facing a huge crowd."  She responded. Though it was a half-baked truth, there was a white lie on it to cover up her embarassment.<br/>It's true that she haven't had an encounter where she have to face a crowd. It could have been on her third birthday but sad to say,  she didn't get the chance to celebrate after her mom's disappearance. But that was not the reason she was left dumbfounded, to be called names without knowing her story was the biggest attack that caught her off guard.<br/><br/>"Alright! Have yourself seated." <br/><br/>"On behalf of Whitspelhart Academy, I welcome you all to your new home. You will be spending your four years in this Academy, so let's get acquainted."<br/><br/>"You can call me Miss Lay. From today onwards, I'm gonna be your Advisor as well as your Literature Professor."<br/><br/>"I have been in this institution for quite a while now—perhaps around ten years and counting."<br/><br/>"I think I've said enough."<br/>"Let's have yourselves introduced."<br/>"Let's start with you little lass. What's your name?" Pointing her hand to Aloisa's direction.<br/><br/>"That country bumpkin again" whispered by one her classmates.<br/><br/>"Quiet!"<br/>Alright little lass you have the stage now."<br/><br/>"I'm Aloisa Mcnamer."<br/>"Just call me Aloisa."<br/>"I have been living not-so-fancy lifestyle."<br/>"I could eat three times a day and that's more than enough."<br/>"What irks me the most is when you call me names as if you know my story. Just like what happened earlier. Many of you called me names like country bumpkin or whatnot. You despise me  for being  lost in this prestigious academy but sorry to disappoint you, I was able to meet the Academy's standards by my own effort without leaning on my family's wealth or status. I'm not a spoiled brat like you. If I don't speak up then who would?<br/>I think I've said enough. Thank you!<br/><br/>She couldn't stop herself from talking. It's like she's about to burst if she will not say a word or two and it finally quelled her boiling blood.<br/><br/>"That's unprecedented but sorry to have you experienced that. Rest assured the Academy does not tolerate bullying. And those of you guys that think you are still sheltered by your family, then you're wrong. It's within the agreement that no matter what happens to you in the Academy so long as its not a life-threatening scenario, your parents won't step in. I'm afraid to say that this is where your unruly roots meet its end."<br/><br/>"Anyways, Thank you for reminding us.<br/>"Let's give Aloisa a big round of applause." Miss Lay started clapping her hands then few of the students followed.<br/><br/>The introduction went on until everyone have themselves introduced. <br/><br/>The class was over and the new students were given the directions to their cabins.<br/>In a distance, It looked like an Amazon forest, densely covered with trees and foliages. As she was approaching, it became clearer and clearer.  Mushroom-like cabins are lined up like an army of ant, except that it wasn't marching. Aloisa was at loss of words when she saw those little cabins under the shed of gigantic trees, surrounded by beatiful blooming flowers and well-maintained gardens. <br/><br/>"This feels like heaven....like literally!"<br/>"The vibe, the ambience, the architectural structure of the cabins, feels like Alice lost in the wonderland. If I were Alice and got lost to this place, I'd probably not go back. Lol!"<br/>She laughed her thoughts out.<br/><br/>"I'm so excited to see what's in my little cabin." <br/>"Come on, vámonos"<br/>"Everybody let's go"<br/>"Come on, let's get to it"<br/>"I know that we can do it"<br/>She couldn't help herself but sing her favorite adventure song when she was a kid. She made sure that only her can hear the song otherwise she couldn't think of a way out of embarrasment if she got caught.<br/><br/>It was kind of weird to sing that song knowing she's already a teenager but she didn't care instead she flicked her hair and continued singing, while manuevering its feet to her cabin's direction.<br/>Finally reached its destination. A "202" signage was intricately carved in a wooden plank. Lacquered to make its surface glossy. Right beneath was a 'Welcome' sign carved in a Roman font.<br/><br/>She stood on the threshold with wide eyes open. She couldn't help herself but became mesmerized by the way her little cabin was designed. Though it looked small from the outside but the inside was so spacious. The furniture were all made of woods, lacquered to make its surface gloosy. She was welcomed with the tiny yet spacious living area.  A wooden sofa that can fit in two people was place right in front of the compartment that separated the living area from the dining table, facing to the entrance door.  <br/><br/>It looked like a condo unit packed with everything you need. From bathroom to kitchenette to bedroom space. Appliances like fridge and oven  as well as induction cooker were readily available incase she wanted to cook something.<br/><br/>She placed her bag on the wooden sofa and heeded to the closet area. She opened it and its packed with her school uniform to her nightwear and undies. Everything that a girl needed were already provided.  <br/><br/>She went to the bathroom. She took her clothes off  and placed herself under the rain like shower from the  mounted  shower head.<br/><br/>She washed every nook and cranny of her body with a bath soap. She felt refreshed after all the risedues were washed away. <br/><br/>She grabbed the towel that was hung on the iron rod to dry herself. After drying, she used it to cover herself from being nude and  went out from the bathroom.<br/><br/>She got a nightwear and undies from the closet placed right beside the bathroom door.<br/><br/>She finally can sit all the exhaustion she had from walking earlier. <br/><br/>"I'm so tired."<br/>"Just have to do things early in the morning."<br/>"For now getting sleep is priority."<br/>"But before doing so, I have to dry my hair first.<br/>"I think I saw a hair dryer earlier in the closet. Let me grab it."<br/><br/>Due to exhaustion, Aloisa didn't know that she already had fallen asleep, not minding the fact that she hadn't eaten her dinner.<br/><br/>The long hours of silence was broken when the alarm clock rang. It was still 4:00 am in the morning. It was probably set by the one who cleaned and set up everything in the little cabin before a new student could occupy. Aloisa was awaken by the noise of the clock. She made her bed and went to the lavatory to wash her face and brush her teeth.<br/><br/>She checked her fridge if there's something she can cook because she's absolutely hungry. She just realized that she hadn't eaten her dinner because she fell asleep faster than her stomach rumbling. It did not disappoint her. There were frozen meat in the freezer. Inside the chiller compartments were fruits and vegetables as well as eggs, milk and fruit juices.<br/><br/>"Wow! I would never be hungry with all of these. But where can we possibly buy to restock these in case all are consumed?"<br/>"Hmmmmmnn... I'll just ask our professor later."<br/>"For now, I have to prepare my breakfast because tummy is becoming more and more rebelious."<br/><br/>She took a piece of tomato, some lettuce, a small sized carrot, cucumber, an apple then grapes. She also grabbed two pieces of egg and scrambled it.<br/><br/>She placed all the fruits and vegetables after slicing and washing it to a bowl and started mixing her salad dressing. She took a glass of milk from the bottled milk in the fridge. And in an instant she already have her healthy breakfast ready to be serve. <br/><br/>She cleaned her room and dusted those parts that needed to be dusted.<br/>After cleaning, she took a bath.</p>