Chapter 01

Synopsis

Yes, I’m Nefertary Ibagon. The same girl every guy dreams of having and no other girl can match. The perfect one, the untouchable, the one who seems to never make mistakes. The envy of them all. But… would they still want to be me if they knew the truth?

If they knew that behind this flawless smile lives a broken girl, trapped in a cage of appearances, sick of this trash disguised as perfection. My life isn’t easy, it’s not pretty, and it’s far from safe. Death follows me like a loyal shadow, and even though I’m not her embodiment… I could be, no problem. Because I meet all the requirements.

Revenge, torture, and death — it’s all I’ve ever known. It’s my world, my refuge, and my curse. How am I supposed to live without it?

Sometimes I wonder…

'Who will be brave enough to try and end my double life?

Will there be someone capable of uncovering my darkest secrets?

Will someone dare to break my damn rules and make me rebel against this world of miserable rats?'

I doubt it.

But it would be fun to find out.

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Chapter 01

NEFERTARY

¿Y qué es lo que ves? 

First day, back to school, 'how I love high school, how much I missed my classmates, I can't wait to tell them all about what I did over the break,' but how pathetic does that all sound? In reality… I hate this shit. Why?: It's simple, I'm the most popular girl in school, great grades, an enviable body, sole heir to my father Gregorio Ibagon and supposedly "kind and sweet." You might ask, who even hates high school that much? Well, me. In short, I have to pretend to be the perfect girl again.

My driver drops me off right at the entrance of Alpin Beau Soleil, one of the best and obviously most expensive schools in Switzerland. Unless your father's a billionaire, good luck getting in. As I step out of the limo—'yes, you heard that right'—I can already feel the eyes of both the guys and girls at school on me. 'With this kind of epic entrance, who wouldn't.'

—Ugh, I hate her, she's so perfect. —a redhead girl says to her friends.

—I'm in love with her! I want her to be the mother of my kids. —says a somewhat attractive guy to his group, which makes them look at him like he's beyond saving. He doesn't even know me.

Amidst rumors and stares that follow my every step, some people greet me without even knowing who I am, and since I'm "kind," of course I return the greeting to those rats, with my charming, gentle smile. God, I hate my life.

—Serene, I missed you so much, I have to tell you everything about my trip to New York. —says my best friend Lucia, 'who appears out of nowhere.' She doesn't really know me. You could say she's the only one I kind of trust out of all the hypocritical rats in this school.

—I missed you too, Lucia, you have no idea. —I fake excitement, really only about 5% of it is real, since I actually like being alone and away from people. At least a break from being the school's center of attention during summer wasn't so bad.

—I see everything's still the same.

—What do you mean?

—Serene, you're still the most popular girl in school.

—Ah, okay, uhh yeah.

—I don't know how you deal with it. —trust me, I don't, I hate this crap. —I can't even handle being in the spotlight, and that's only when I'm with you, like right now.

—Well, what can I say, I'm used to it. —I give her a smile.

—I'm just glad my best friend isn't one of those stuck-up girls who think the world revolves around them just because they're popular. That's why the whole school loves you. You're perfect and you know it, Serene. —I give her a closed-mouth smile. 'I hate that word.'

—Please, Lucia, don't exaggerate. I'm not perfect, okay? How many times do I have to tell you?

—Sere, please, we've been best friends for four years and I've never seen a single flaw in you. —that's because I don't want you to see any. —So you're perfect.

The school bell rings, letting us know we have to head to our classrooms.

—Okay, you win. Now let's get to class or we'll be late. —I give her a "gentle" smile.

—Whatever you say, Queen Nefertary. —she bows playfully and starts laughing. I give her one of those please stop already looks.

In a way, I'm grateful I ended up with and met Lucy in this world of hypocrites—including myself.

Once in the classroom, sitting in our seats—'one of the first ones, of course'—waiting for the teacher to arrive, Lucy starts telling me every detail about her trip to New York, the boys she met and how cute they were.

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During recess, I head to the cafeteria with Lucia. If it were up to me, I wouldn't even step foot in this place. It's not horrible—on the contrary, it's luxurious, modern, and the food? Don't even get me started. There's a reason why each student's parents pay $59,000 a year. Still, I'd much rather be in the library than in this crap hole. It's already bad enough having to sit in class with those dumbasses drooling over me—now this.

As if that weren't enough, there's a scene going on where some girl is bullying a nerd—yes, a nerd, in the 21st century—and of course, I have to go over. I walk up and stand right in front of the girl who's doing the humiliating.

—What are you doing? —says the girl, pissed off, 'definitely an exchange student'. —Get out of my way.

—No, I'm not going to let you keep humiliating her.

—Oh yeah? And what are you gonna do, punch me, daddy's girl? —she bursts out laughing.

Everyone's watching like it's some amazing TV drama, while I'm doing my best not to smash this bitch's face in.

Time to apply the silent treatment. I give her the coldest look I've got—the one that says provoke me and you'll see what I'm capable of, bitch. 'With a look like that, you meet the monster.' I only pull this one out for people who are truly amazing—like her.

Her smug little smile vanishes. God, I love when they try to provoke me but then chicken out. 'I was dying for an excuse to rearrange her face.'

—Back off or you'll see what I'm capable of. —my voice came out ice-cold. It never fails, and honestly, I'm not even surprised anymore.

—Alright, alright, I'm… —her face, a mix of panic and confusion, is everything to me.

—Going? —I finish for her.

The girl walks away, and I turn around to help the nerd—gotta keep up the image of the "perfect, kind, heroic, good-hearted girl," among other bullshit.

—Are you okay? —I ask her, giving her a closed-mouth smile.

—Uhh yeah, thanks, I... I gotta go.

And just like that, she runs out of the cafeteria.

I walk back over to Lucia, who had been enjoying the show. And now, thanks to this little performance, I'm even more of a spotlight than before. Some people whisper things like "she's not just perfect," "this girl could bring world peace if she wanted to." Yeah, I had the same reaction in my head: 'how stupid can you be.' If you only knew me, idiot.

Sometimes I surprise myself with how much self-control I have, not exploding like a bomb. I'd laugh so hard if these rats ever saw me act for real—God, I want to see their faces.

I finally reach Lucia, and the moment I sit beside her, she asks:

—What are you laughing at, Serene? —Serene is my middle name.

—Just a crazy video I remembered from TikTok, I'll show you later.

—I thought you were laughing about the girl who ran away before you punched her. I so wanted to see that show. Imagine Nefertary Ibagon in a fight—that would be historic for this school. —yeah, it really would. —Like with a chair WWE-style. That'd be incredible.

—Don't exaggerate, Luci.

—Alright, Sere. —she gives me a cheeky smile, tray in hand. She got her favorite: a ham sandwich with orange juice. —And you, are you sure you're not eating anything?

—No, I'm not hungry today, thanks.

—Alright, I won't ask again.

We sit at an empty table—no rats around—and I keep her company while she eats her snack. As she munches, I can't help but think about how hypocritical I am with her. She's the most genuine and kind person I know—better than me. I'm lucky to have her as a friend.

The bell rings, signaling the end of recess. I have no idea how 30 minutes went by so fast, but whatever—back to class.

And since our advisor or homeroom teacher hasn't shown up yet...

Miss Sarah is a very… let's say, kind lady. 'I just don't vibe with the people around me—I feel this bad energy coming off them.' A few minutes after everyone's in the classroom, Miss Sarah starts speaking.

—Good morning, everyone. Now that we're all here and I think no one's missing, we can begin— —she says, but right at that moment, someone knocks on the door.

I look at Lucia, and she looks at me, because classes were supposed to start at 8:00 a.m., and four periods have already passed. Miss Sarah walks to the door and opens it.

A tall guy, maybe 1.80 or 1.85 meters, brown hair, green eyes, and a body that just makes you think: 'I want him, no matter the cost.'

—Sorry, miss, I'm a little late. May I come in? —Lucia looks at me with a face that screams: 'Sere, this guy just killed me.'

Of course, he looks like a Hollywood star—just like me.

—Yes, young man… —Miss Sarah waits for his name.

—Michael Lorenz.

—Well then, Michael Lorenz, come on in and take a seat. —and with that, he walks in. Somehow, I don't even know how, our eyes meet. His gaze gives me this strange sense of mental peace. 'Did I seriously just say that? God, I'm such an idiot.'

He sits in one of the back rows, I think—I didn't follow him with my eyes like a fool. 'I have dignity, okay.'

Miss Sarah closes the door.

—Well, now we can continue with the— —Miss Sarah's cut off by another knock at the door. This time I look at Lucia with a what the hell is going on? face. She goes to open the door again, and there's another guy standing there—similar physical traits, 'except this one's black-haired and with ocean-blue eyes'—waiting for Miss Sarah to let him in.

—May I come in? —he asks her, and God, what is that voice doing to my nervous system.

—Of course, young man…

—Mathias Ludwig.

And with that, Miss Sarah lets him in, and the same thing happens again—eye contact, straight and intense. I don't know why, but I have a feeling these two are going to change my life.

Author:

First day and things are already happening… how strange for this school, right?

I’ll just say one thing: looks say more than they should, and some people don’t know what game they’re getting into.

Quick question:

Michael or Mathias? Who’s falling first?

See you in the next one.