"Wakey, wake, Abi," Mrs. Wen called.
Abigail groaned from her bed. "Mum, it's not time yet."
"It is time! It's 4:30 a.m. already!"
Sighing, Abigail swung her legs off the bed, rubbed her eyes, and brushed the strands of blonde hair from her face. After a quick stop at the bathroom, she moved to her dressing mirror.
She studied her reflection, flipping her hair over her shoulder. Her blue-hazel eyes sparkled, her heart-shaped lips curved perfectly, and her blonde hair fell effortlessly around her face. Abigail smiled. "Is there anyone more adorable than me?"
Dressing in her sky-blue school uniform, white socks, and shiny black shoes, she struck a triumphant pose.
"Do you plan to spend the whole day preparing for school in your room?" Mrs. Wen shouted, but Abigail didn't respond.
Abigail, a daring and formidable Grade 12 student, was feared by many at school. Her friends were few — only Ann Bernard and Juliet Magsaysay — but the rest kept their distance.
At school, Mrs. Wen announced, "We're here!"
Abigail grunted and stepped out. "Drop the act," she muttered, brushing past her mother.
As she walked through the school gates, students shrank back. Her intimidating aura was well-known. "I hate coming to school," she muttered.
Her two friends greeted her. "Hello," Ann said. "Hey," Abigail replied, already annoyed.
In class, while lessons began, the notorious school bullies — Pierre, Kai, Ezekiel, and Xavier — passed notes about Abigail. Despite their attention, Abigail had eyes only for Ezekiel, the quiet, reasonable one among them.
She passed a note to Pierre: "Stop distracting the class."
Kai grinned. "If you want us to stop, meet us in the garden after school."
"Fine," she replied.
After class, Abigail ignored Ann and Juliet's invitation to the library. "No thanks. I have other things to take care of."
By the school garden, no one was there.
"What the… Did they take me for a joke?" Abigail muttered.
"You shouldn't curse at people behind their backs," Kai said from behind. They held sticks, warming up for a fight.
"I see you've finally lost your mind, Ezekiel," Abigail said.
"I never had one," he replied dryly.
"These sticks aren't for you," Kai added.
"Then who?" Abigail asked, turning to see two girls pinned to the ground.
"What the hell?" she exclaimed.
"We want to teach them a lesson for disobeying us," Kai said. "Maybe you'll learn too."
Abigail's blue eyes blazed. "Before you touch them, you'll have to get past me."
"Fine, come on," Ezekiel said, stepping forward.
"The moment you step forward, you'll slip," Abigail warned.
Xavier laughed. "Oh really? I'm so scared."
They stepped, slipped, and fell flat. Abigail couldn't help but laugh.
Pierre lunged at her, but Abigail caught his wrist, broke it effortlessly, and threw him aside.
"Anyone else want to try?" she asked.
The four bullies ran. Abigail turned to the girls. "Are you hurt?"
"No," they replied.
"Good," Abigail said, walking away as the bell rang.
After school, Abigail ran into Ezekiel. "I never thought you'd follow your family's mafia ways," she said.
Ezekiel's gaze was distant. His father had died when he was eight, leaving him the sole heir of a mafia lineage he despised. Growing up, he hated the life his mother forced upon him, the responsibility of being the only son. Yet, here he was, trapped in a world he never chose.