The four of them left their dorm room. Ada stiffen realizing many eyes on their group once they left the dormitory. Maple pretended to not notice anything but inside she felt nervous while Anastasia was loving it.
"This looks cool!" Anastasia exclaimed while carefully touching the red HX-8.
"Do you like the color red?" Maple asked also interested
"Yes, my favorite." Zohara answers with a smile as she enters the car. The three also enter and Zohara turns on the navigation to the nearest Grocery Store.
The nearest one was still H.Shopping Mall, it's a 15 minute drive. In the backseat Anastasia was taking a selfie with the car logo and beside her was Ada, looking at the window pane.
"Don't you feel nervous being observed by a lot of people?" Ada suddenly asked, Anastasia beside her rolled her eyes and answered it even when it was not directed to her.
"Why would I? Those people don't know me at all. They can bash, judge and laugh at me all they want but those people can't affect me at all. They don't know the life I thread and why I thread to this path, this is my life so I live unapologetical." Anastasia answer seriously
Zohara smiles softly.
"We have the same mindset."
"Dont copy me!" Anastasia said irritatedly, Zohara just laughed.
"Why, you get nervous so easily?" Maple asked Ada
"Yes, especially in presentation, I just couldn't help but to stutter." She shared with a sigh while biting her lips
"It takes a lot of practice," Maple answered with a sigh. "I was like that too in middle school, but I grew up at a young age. If you noticed early I like to lead, it was a force of habit. I live in a household where every cent is calculated, where they value boys over girls. I provide for myself, and live in the constraint of time. I realized that I need to speak up to be actually heard. I became an online tutor, barista and even a dish washer. There, I meet a lot of people, talk to them and realize how big the world is. I realized how little we occupy somebody else's life, so why should we care that deeply?" Maple shared then she laughed "I'm sorry for oversharing, I'm usually like this once I get comfortable."
"Thank you, I'll try!" Ada said with a hint of confidence as they arrived in the mall.
They bought their individual necessities, ate dinner together and went back to the dorm.
They arrived at the dormitory at 7:20 and Anastasia ran to the bathroom. While Maple, Ada and Zohara fix the things they bought in the kitchen. Zohara also named the things she bought in red, instructed by Maple.
After they finished their things, they went to their own room. Zohara enters her room and chooses pajamas. She was about to leave the room when her phone rang.
"Father!" She greeted excitedly
"Hows your first day of college?"
"It's amazing, I met a lot of amazing people. I also saw brothers and got acquainted with some fans."
"I've watched your speech, you look beautiful darling. You make me proud. Your brother also told me that everyone complimented you." He shares proudly
"Father"
"Hmm"
"I'm really happy that I stayed in the dorm. I met amazing people. My dormmates are all strong as humans."
"Im glad you learned something. It's good to empathize with people but you also need to control it. Unwarranted pity causes more damage than help."
"I know father, I'm not that soft hearted." She said with a light chuckle
"As long as you know." He answered back with a soft smile "Now that you're in the Imperial Capital you can attend charity events and some formal events hosted by the high society. Just tell me if you wanted to experience one."
"I'll pass" laugh "I'll probably be judged, I can fight but I don't like fighting nonstop." She further added while laughing.
"Alright, a new jewelry hair clips collection was launched in Vespera Jewels. I'll send a set in your dorm."
"Alright, thank you father!"
"Hmm"
Zohara ended the call and left the room. The bathroom was opened and just used by Anastasia. She waits for 5 minutes before entering the bathroom with her essential box and closes the door.
It was around 9:20 PM when she finally settled in her bed. She set her foldable study and laptop before editing.
She's editing the video of her condominium into a minute video, after that her first day in University A which was inspired by various vlogs in the internet but she still doesn't know if she can create a more than 10 minutes long video for L-tube. The last video she edited was a room dorm tour. She also created a script and voice over before combining everything.
It's 10:30 PM when she finished everything and posted it in L-videos.
Video: New Home
: She's really rich.
: This must be H. Condominium!
: It screams luxury!
Video: First day
:Fairy Sister!
:As a University A student who attended the opening ceremony, THE CAMERA DONT GIVE JUSTICE TO HER BEAUTY!
: So, it's true that your dormmate is Anastasia? Be careful fairy sister!
: Saw a picture of them on the internet, is Anastasia the one who's not blurred together with the fairy sister?
: That's her! She's now talking about fairy sister in her liverstream! She's telling everyone that you're intimidating and a late comer.
Video: Dorm Room Tour
:In 3 years studying in University A, I've never known that rooms can be renovated!
: ACKSSSS I'VE MISS MY CHANCE
: WHY NO ONE TELL ME ABOUT THIS?! I WANT TO RENOVATE MY ROOM.
•
Zohara woke up at 5:00 AM. Yesterday, she looked for L-videos content inspiration and wanted to try the non-voice short video and just what her day was in fast pace.
Thankfully, she already has the previous equipment to take a video, like a tripod and such. So, the moment she woke up, she began taking a video.
Usually the first thing she does in the morning is bathing, and spends 30 minutes inside the bathroom. She wore a black sport wear, fitted leggings and black top before cooking the rice.
She blows dry her hair, pony tail it, wears a head phone before leaving the dorm. She used the Campus Cart and went to the South Section to run in the Oval.
When she arrived at the Oval, Zohara saw some people who were also running. Some stare at her openly, some secretly.
She came back to her dorm around 6:15 AM, took a half bath and cooked an egg and sausage. She also did her light make up and left the dorm again around 7:15 AM.
She used the Campus Cart to go to the East Section. Her class for Organic Chemistry is scheduled in EB:EW R22.
"Zohara!" Soren shouted once seeing her, they were sitting in the middle row, together with Coco and another girl with shoulder length black hair that was also looking at her with a hint of adoration and shyness.
The room is almost full, in block 1, there are 30 students. The design of the classroom was a regular looking classroom of a University. There's also a podium and white board in front. There's a total of 7 rows, with 10 seats each and divided into five in the middle, creating an aisle seat on both sides.
They were sitting in row 4. Zohara has a habit of not sitting in an aisle and in the middle of two students.
She walked to their location, Soren immediately moved to the second seat.
"Move"
Zohara placed her bag in the aisle seat, and sat in the second seat next to Soren.
"Good morning Zohara" Coco greeted sitting beside Soren and introduced the girl beside her "This is Mira Hart, the third member of the Hara's Club, were about to finalize the papers and passed it to the Student Affair." Coco shared, Zohara nodded at Mira with a light smile.
"You've already gathered the minimum members?" Zohara asked while preparing her laptop and notebook.
"Of course! Once we post our ideal in the school forum, many students apply across the year and department!" Soren shared proudly
"School forum?"
"You didn't know? There is a University A student forum that can be accessed through your school ID number. You're famous there!" Coco shares
"I'll look for it later"
"Your videos also became viral! Your recent L-videos already have at least 5 million likes each and 30 millions + views." Soren said excitedly
"Hmmm, the class is about to start."
The room became silent when a male old professor entered. He roamed his eyes around and stood on the podium.
"Im Horace Voss. As a teacher for 20 years, there are certain rules I need all of you to observe at all times if you don't want to have a failing grade. In my classroom, everyone is required to talk, if I ask you, answer. I hate late comers, noisy students and burdened students in group activities.
Every Tuesday, we will have a lecture discussion. Learn, understand it fully because there would be a graded assessment 20 minutes before the class.
Because this is the first day and you still didn't receive the semester topic scheduled ahead, I'll skip the advance assessment. I'll send it later and I want everyone to be ready for advance assessment every Tuesday.
Every wrong answer is 0.5 demerit."
The whole class grumbled
"Silence. Be thankful that I let you know what is the trigger of your demerit. Some professors don't open it to the students and you'll be just shocked, you will already fail or be expelled. Each professor's demerit system was set and signed by the headmaster in the Student Affairs. So, it's reasonable. Every Thursday, we'll be in the Chemistry Lab experimenting with the lesson every Monday. You need to write a lab report, IMRAD format and pass it next Tuesday in hard copy. Not passing it is 1 demerit point."
The room was filled with suffocating pressure.
FUCK! What's with their first day and class?!
Some students' thoughts.
"For this week's topic, we'll be discussing the introduction of Organic Chemistry in Biology. The topic will be divided into three parts, the relevance of organic chemistry to the biological system, we'll be identifying key functional groups, then what is the role of organic molecules in metabolism and cellular structure. We'll only tackle surface level but a lot of new concepts will be introduced to be focused."
Professor Horace started the discussion. Some felt they were in clouds, the topic is not that really hard, but the pressure is. Not knowing when he will suddenly call a student to give an answer, even though class discussion recitation doesn't have a demerit, it is still embarrassing.
The first person who was called by Professor Horace amidst the discussion was Zohara. She answered the question calmly which was complimented by the word 'good'.
Zohara thinks this will happen for every subject, as if testing her. Well, a word topnotcher was attached to her name.
"We'll stop at this, we still have 20 minutes. Remove all your laptops and notes from the table and prepare a single paper."
"I'll give you an easy question, and just write the answer in your paper. Pass it to me on the podium and leave the class. Your score can only be, 10, 5 or 0. Start!"
Explain why carbon is uniquely suited to serve as the backbone of organic molecules. In your answer, include at least three chemical properties of carbon that contribute to its versatility in biological systems.
Zohara read it and wrote her answer in the paper. As professor Horace said, it was quite easy and simple. Zohara cleaned her things before walking towards the podium. Soren looks at her with twinkling eyes and looks at his empty paper.
Fuck!
He thought.
She passed her clean paper with neat writing.
"I learned a lot, Professor." Zohara said as she passed the paper.
"Go."
He answered back with a nod.
Zohara didn't mind the eyes on her and left the classroom. Her next class was Understanding the Self in EB:WW R102.
She walks to the West Wing while listening to some classical music and reviewing the lesson in her mind. Seeing no one in the classroom, she entered it and fixed her notes. She likes writing and transcribing what the Professor said. Her notes were mostly keywords but what she transcribed in the laptop are word for word of the professor. That's why she polished it after class and removed redundant and not too important information in digital notes.
10 minutes before the class started, the students arrived. They all felt drained.
Soren looks dejected. Coco and Mira look alright.
"I didn't know it would be this hard." Soren sigh
"What's draining is that I'm always on the edge of being called." Mira added
"As long as you know the answer, it's alright." Coco comfort
"Even though I know, I'm having a hard time constructing the answer." Mira grimaced
"Me, I don't know the answer so I can't construct anything. Thankfully, I was not called earlier."
"You should get a tutor Soren"
"Your notes…" Soren try
"I can lend you my notes, but it's behind schedule. You need a tutor for advanced reading, and you should learn and remember the fundamentals. That's why you're having a hard time."
Soren was about to answer when the door opened. A middle-aged, sunny looking woman came.
"What do we have here? Dejected looking student?" She said while laughing, she slapped the podium "Wake up everyone!"
Everybody immediately fixes their sitting posture.
"Good! I'm Tessa Raynor, your professor in Understanding the Self, some might ask why it's in Biology? Why not? Just because you're a Science Major you don't need to understand yourself." She said with a hint of laughter
"Let's start with introducing everyone, when I call your name, go in front, say your name, age, dream, and show some talent."
The whole class was filled with laughter and energy. Some were not good in expressing themselves and hated the situation, while some were like Soren that thrived in this kind of environment.
Students are all different, some become more efficient under pressure while some break under it. Some are good in expressing themselves while some lean on writing and analytics.
Coco, Soren, Mira and Zohara all arrived at the cafeteria at 12:40 PM.
Soren was talking animatedly, which was answered mostly by Coco then Mira. Zohara just simply listens and answers inquiries every now and then.
Once they secure a seat, the three order their food and Zohara just stays at their table. She was deleting a certain video that she wouldn't use when she heard a knock on the table.
"Hello, is this seat available?" a man asked, he has a face, with a face value of 5, but because of aura, eyes, cheeky expression and overconfidence, it turns into 0. Zohara hates people like this, they'll ask if the seat is available but their food was already on the table as if they wouldn't accept a 'No' like how dare them?
She was with another guy with a 0 face value. That lustful eyes, fat face and stomach. It's alright to be ugly, but ugly and bad character? Choose a struggle.
"No" Zohara answer coldly
"Wha-what?" the arrogant man asked flabbergasted
"I said No." Zohara said with a hint of finality and looked at the two as if looking at trash.
"And can you leave, I'm losing my appetite."
"Hey! That's disrespectful" That arrogant man said with a twitching smile as he felt almost everyone's eyes around them "Are you not scared you'll be criticized because of your bad attitude." He further added with a low voice, as if striking a deal.
"We're also your seniors, how can you be this disrespectful?" the ugly guy said
The onlookers wanted to protect Zohara and were about to say something. They felt like they had eaten a fly. They also want to dine with Zohara! To talk to her! To befriend her! But they know how not to cross a certain line, if Zohara said No at first why would they push it? These seniors are insane.
Zohara coldly chuckled and stood up, intentionally tilting the table as the food tray got turned and stained the arrogant shirt, pants and shoes, while some food stain was in the ugly shoes.
"What the fuck!"
They shouted in unison
"Oh sorry Senior, I thought you really wanted this seat so I'll give it to you. I didn't know the table would tilt." Zohara said sarcastically
"You bit-"
"You lunati-"
"Shut your trap, do you want to die?" Soren said coldly and grabbed that arrogant man in his collar when he was about to walk to Zohara.
His usual smile cannot be seen and filled with coldness.
"Let go Soren" Zohara said and walked to that guy "You wanted to hurt me?" Zohara asked coldly.
She steps on the guy designer shoes and looks at him who has his arm raised.
"Do you still want your hand?" Zohara then kicks the guy's knee.
"Fuck!" He shouted and held his knee
"Learn to take a 'No', you fucking idiot." She cursed and stepped on the guy's clean pants as if wiping the stains below her shoes.
Fuck, amazing!
Zohara looks so beautiful!
How can that guy be so lucky? I want to be stepped on by Zohara.
Lucky ass!
Deserve
The onlookers collectively thought.
"Where's the food?" Zohara asked Soren who is blushing
"It's with Coco and Mira" Soren answer quite absentmindedly
"Let's choose another table." Zohara said and went to the corner. Then Mira and Coco arrived together with Soren who fetched them.
"Woah Zohara, you're really my idol, I love how you handle those guys!" Mira said with a hint of admiration
"True, what's with them, fucking trash." Soren mumble
"Im just glad you're not hurt" Coco said with a hint of worry
"Why the hell does the University accept them?" Soren asked irritatedly
"Ask your Uncle." Zohara retorted back, the two were beyond stunned.
"Huh?!"
"Right, I'll ask later!" Soren then looked at the two "My family owned the Uni, what's the surname of the Headmaster?"
"Erlx" they answer in unison, Soren just raises his eyebrow and laughs.
"Dont worry, just treat me the same, as long as we are Hara, we're all family!" Soren said happily, Coco easily adjusted while Mira was still shocked.
"I didn't know we had a chaebol here, you can fund lots of our projects! Lucky!" Coco uttered happily
•
In L-Line, various articles and talks were all about Zohara.
:Isn't it too much? Treating a person like this?
:Are you insane upstairs? That trash couldn't take a 'No' and was about to hurt Zohara! They deserved it.
: As a woman, I experienced these things a lot. This guy wouldn't take a No for an answer and you needed to do some drastic to just push them away. Just imagine if it was a different situation, a different place. If they are that arrogant in the open, how arrogant are they in closed doors?
280k likes
:I'm with Zohara in this one, if I say No, No!
:Who's that blonde guy?! He looks so freaking handsome!
: I have the same block with Zohara, she's sitting with him and two girls. Maybe, friends.
: They also dined together.
:Honestly, Zohara is quite cordial. I asked for a picture once, after taking courage. She took one and smiled at me!
: You're brave! I felt intimidated, I couldn't talk!
:They also created a new club based on Zohara, spearheaded by those three. I was accepted!
:What?! Where can I apply?!
: Its only for University A's student
:Fuck…
:If it's just me, or that guy is lucky? I want Zohara to step on me.
500k likes 270k replies
: Im close to the table of incident, fuck the moment I heard Zohara's cold voice and saw her cold . I want to be under her!
200k likes
: Zohara is still 18
: Upstair sounds crazy
:Im the same, glad to enter University A.
100k likes
•
"Dont worry father, I have my pepper spray with me earlier. I can handle little guys like those" Zohara uttered while removing her shoes and entering the dorm
"Im just worried, you should always be careful and don't be in close proximity of those people. You should let that Erlx child punch them." He uttered helplessly
"It'll be more hassle, but I'll be more careful next time." She answered and looked around. No one is in the dorm. She sat on the sofa and placed her bag on the table.
"I've received the package"
She loudspeaker the call and place it on the table before opening a rectangular red box.
"How is it?"
It has 5 jewelry hair clips. The first one was a simple rectangle hair clip made of diamonds and bordered with ruby. The second and third are in ribbons shaped, with small rubies. The fourth and fifth are hearts with the same design as the previous.
"It looks good! I'll wear it tomorrow." She exclaimed
"As long as you're happy, there will be a new car showcasing this Friday. Your Uncle Qin is inviting you. He also offered a car as an apology."
"Send my regards father, I'll try."
"Hmmm be careful, Zan will also attend if ever so talk to him if something happened."
"Yes, father, remember to rest."
At that exact time, the door opened. It's Maple.
"Are you alright?" She asked
"Im more than alright" Zohara answer with a laugh
"That's the new clips collection of Vespera Jewels?" Maple asked with a hint of amazement.
"Yes, you can touch it." Zohara offered, which was immediately accepted. This is the first time she saw Maple this animated, maybe, because she was in fashion.
Zohara focuses on her accounts while Maple critiques it intently. In just a week, her followers reached 9 millions in L-Line. She received many private messages offering advertisement and endorsement. Some entertainment companies also message her. Zohara didn't care about it that much.
Earlier, her vacant time was spent teaching Soren, while Coco and Mira also listened on the side. The Math Analysis I. was named Elias Corwin and quite calm and kind. He created a good atmosphere where Soren was able to learn more.
"This looks simple and amazing, I'm having some kind of inspiration. Thank you." Maple said after observing each pieces
"Just tell me if you need it again." Zohara said and closed the box before they entered their respective rooms.
Zohara rested for a while before taking a half bath around 6:00 PM. Ada, who came to her class and Anastasia, who no one knows, also arrived after a while.
She uncharacteristically shows a thumbs up to Zohara when their eyes meet. Maple, who was cooking in the kitchen, saw their interaction and laughed.
"Who doesn't like cool girls?" Maple uttered seeing Zohara's raised eyebrow the moment Anastasia entered her room.
Zohara just laughs lightly.
"You wouldn't eat dinner?" Maple asked, seeing she's already in her pajamas.
"I ate after my last class earlier." She answered and went inside her room.
She finalized her notes and uploaded them to the library, under Biology Major Category. It's divided per year since she was middle school, then there's a separate category for Video Editing, then the Biology Major 1st year, 1st sem. She still couldn't polish her notes on instruments.
Zohara slept early that Tuesday.