CHAPTER 1: WHEN THEIR WORLDS COLLIDED (1)

“Please, please, Sophia! I promise you that this is the last time! I promise I will submit everything by tomorrow!”

How many times has it been? How many scenarios, exactly like this one right now, have happened? How many chances has she already given on top of hearing that this would not happen again?

Sophia did not know what to say, so instead of using words, she simply smiled and agreed even though this whole situation was already putting their group in danger. They have to submit everything by tomorrow, first thing in the morning. Was she the only one seeing how this could go so bad if none of them takes this seriously?

This whole ordeal was supposed to be their group thesis proposal. "Group" means that they were supposed to work on this together, or so she thought. She now has no choice but to shoulder everything on her own because she already knows that her classmate's "I will submit everything by tomorrow" is just too impossible to happen. Did she mention that this was supposed to be submitted first thing in the morning tomorrow?

Her classmate squealed after seeing her agree. “You’re really an angel! Thank you, Sophia!”

All she could do was wave her hand goodbye and proceeded to go to the university library with a sigh. Well, she immediately smiled again because, on the brighter side of things, her class schedule was already done for the day and she was planning to go to the library even without this whole situation. A small part of herself rolled her eyes because of her undeniable talent for gaslighting herself.

At the very least, she would be spending her remaining hours productively before she needs to go to her part-time job.

Their university does not allow students to have part-time jobs, and she admits that being allowed to have one was not due to a clean method. She was allowed to have one because of what others could consider a connection with the higher-ups. Even the whole reason why she got into this prestigious university was through the same connection. It was not fair, she knew that, but she was not in the position to keep her integrity about things like this.

It all started with the fact that Mrs. Diwa, who was her foster mom, happened to be a good friend of her very own college department dean, Mr. Vlad. From everything she knows, their friendship comes a very long way.

This university is known for its quality education but is better recognized for its near exclusivity for students of wealthy families. Not only that everything costs a fortune, but the chance of having a full scholarship is nearly impossible. One has to get at least ninety percent on the scholarship exam to be a part of the program. If that was not hard enough, upcoming students who are also scholarship candidates are chosen based on recommendations.

That proved that getting in through connections was actually a requirement. Her integrity remained intact because it was nothing unfair, she was just lucky.

Mr. Vlad also made sure she will be given the chance to take that scholarship exam despite not being able to take it on the designated schedule of the test and vouched that she was a "distant relative" so no further questions were needed for her situation.

The rest was history and now she is here.

As for her part-time job, she needed it to support herself outside the university. When Mrs. Diwa died, it was the only clear solution she can have if she wanted to continue studying and finish everything on time. Working full-time is needless to say impossible. She was granted to work part-time under Mr. Vlad's permission and conditions. One condition was that she needed to apply to become a student academic assistant under him. The second one, about her real part-time, was that she was only allowed to take the hostess job in a five-star club as a hostess, which was also under his name and ownership. Her job was to be of assistance to the VIP guests, no other monkey business anyone can think of when they hear someone is "working at a club".

In all honesty, her job description was confusing because she was neither a server nor a waitress. It all just made sense during her first night when all she had to do was greet and, well, be of assistance to their assigned guests. They were the ones to handle everything a guest could need by relaying them to the other club staff members.

It was also during her first night at work that she realized why Mr. Vlad was so keen on helping her—he was the man often mentioned in Mrs. Diwa's story, her "right person, wrong time". The man who held her secrets. 

It all clicked because the club was literally named after her and her secrets. Soul's Secret. Soul was the English term for "Diwa". 

The last condition for her to continue everything was that she makes sure that none of it will affect her academic performance and grades; which is something she is taking seriously, even if it means doing the impossible for her groupmates whose families are too loaded to even give a damn.

“Oh, Sophia! Why are you here? I thought you always come home early every Wednesday?”

She immediately returned the smile of their librarian, Miss Minchin, who confusedly greeted her. She submitted her library card. “I have to finish something, Miss Minchin. Can I stay until five-thirty?”

“Oh sure thing, darling, but let me guess—” Miss Minchin handed her library card back after signing it. “—you’re here because that something you’re going to finish is the part your groupmates didn't pass again.”

When she answered with an uneasy smile, the librarian rolls her eyes and sighed in frustration. “You know what, darling, I love that you’re spending your time in my library for something productive, but this isn’t it." She even gestured to her with her hand. "I’m banning you next time if this is still the reason why you’re here.”

She just giggled, thanked the kind librarian, and went on to her usual spot—it is the nth time Miss Minchin warned that.

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Sophia has been an orphan since she was born, or at least that is what she is told, and she grew up and stayed in the orphanage until she was seventeen. She thought that she would not be adopted, but miracles do happen because Mrs. Diwa came and took her in as her own.

Staying in the orphanage for almost eighteen years made her dreams and goals revolve around doing everything for herself to be successful. Being successful will assure her that she can do her best to help and serve the orphanage. Everyone in there has been her family and she will do everything for her loved ones. All of these were supported by her late foster mom and it motivated her even more.

Being an orphan also made her the way she is now. She is often scolded for how “kind” she is, but she genuinely does not know why people are thinking that she is “too kind”. She grew up having the lesson in her heart that whatever happens, she will help those in need because she knows how it feels to be in that situation. The kindness the people are talking about her is the greatest lesson her “mothers”—from her home orphanage’s nuns to her own Mrs. Diwa—gave her.

This is exactly why their group thesis proposal is very important and close to her heart. A study of the importance of having a family to influence a child’s growth and development stages, especially in preschool. It would be so much easier if her groupmates participate well and do their part, but she does not mind pouring all her effort into it if that is the only way she could pursue this line of study. She genuinely loves and cares for this study.

It is a good reminder of the whole essence of her pursuing a degree in teacher education.

With just a little working hard and lots of patience, in just a few more months, she is so close to graduating and building up her career. She can finally reach her dreams and goals.

She can do this.

She was so engrossed in doing everything that she almost forgot about the time if it was not for Miss Minchin tapping her back, and reminding her that she only mentioned staying in here until five-thirty!

“Thank you, Miss Minchin, for reminding me! I seriously forgot how fast time goes by here!”

“Sweety, you’re the only one who thinks that time passes by quickly in here.” Miss Minchin chuckled and even helped her with her things. “If you have free time, no academics and other school stuff to do, see me, okay? I have a new romance novel just for you!”

That made her laugh happily and she sure did promise, Miss Minchin, that she is looking forward to that.

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Sophia can still clearly remember how she got into reading books and by books, she means romance novels. It is not really the best genre to give and let a thirteen-year-old gal read, but she knows that it was her starting point for getting to love reading.

She did not lose interest in reading them until today and even their university librarian already knows her well for it. Every time that the kind librarian will discover new books or had new book donations, she was guaranteed to be the first one to know and borrow them.

Reading helps her relax and, even for a while, escape everything. Once in a while, she also enjoys thinking that her day is just another chapter of her very own life novel, and another chapter is ending again just like how her shift is supposed to be ending now.

She was already on her way back to their staff room when she got tangled in the most unexpected thing to happen just right before her shift ends—a crazy man is about to jump off the balcony! What the holy fudge?!

What in the literal cliffhanger is this?!