Chapter 27 26
Soraya's POV
And just like that, three days passed, and it was the day of my exam.
I woke up to Irene gently tapping my arm. I had sworn I was going to wake up early on my own without anybody’s help, but here I was.
“You’re going to be late, miss, please get up already,”
I groaned softly, pushing myself up. My legs carried me to the bathroom. I brushed my teeth and took a quick bath.
When I stepped out, Irene had already laid some clothes out for me; a casual t-shirt and a black skirt. My hands shook a little as I pulled them on. I was so nervous. The past nights had been restless, I barely slept because I was too focused on studying every page of the textbooks I had been given. I wanted to ace this exam.
I wasn’t a dummy when it came to academics. I knew that. Back at the orphanage, I had done really well in school. But this felt bigger.
Once I was ready, I made my way downstairs and sat at the table. Emily was already there, eating her breakfast.
Her eyes darted over me, full of disgust. But I didn't care. I ignored her right back.
After breakfast, I found myself standing outside in the cool morning air, waiting for the driver. He was still busy wiping down the car, and Mrs. Opaline had said he would be the one to drop me off.
I hugged my huge textbook to my chest, shifting my weight from one foot to the other, when a familiar black cab came to a halt right in front of me.
The window slid down, and Darius leaned slightly toward me.
“Get in. Let’s go.”
I blinked at him. “Go where?”
He arched a brow. “To college. I’ll drop you off.”
My lips parted. “But… aren’t you going to work? Mrs. Opaline said it’s a different direction.”
Darius’ gaze traveled over me. “I’m not complaining,” he said flatly.
I fidgeted with the strap of my bag. “She already said the driver could take me—”
“You’d rather go with the driver than with me?” he cut in, his tone laced with displeasure which made my eyes widened, and heat rush to my cheeks“No...That’s not what I mean, I just—”
“Get in the car, Soraya.”
The way he said my name, made me unable to argue with him. Without another word, I pulled the handle and got into the seat beside him.
The drive wasn’t as awkward as I thought it would be. The car moved at a slow pace with the soft sound of music from the radio playing. I kept my gaze fixed on the window, watching the blur of streets.
Darius glanced at me, then back at the road. “Your eyes look like you haven’t had any sleep at all.”
I turned to him, surprised he noticed. “Well, I’ve been studying. There’s a lot to cover in just three nights.”
“Hm.” He mumbled. “Are you nervous?”
I let out a small laugh, shaking my head quickly. “Me? Nervous? Of course not.”
He smirked, his gaze landing on me. “I can hear your heartbeat, Soraya. It sounds like all those festival drums.”
My face burned. “No, it doesn't. I’m just… a little tense. That’s normal.”
“You seem really tense,” he said, softer this time, then chuckled softly. “Don’t push yourself.”
Why was he acting nice all of a sudden? Since when did he care if I pushed myself or not? My head spinned with confusion, and I quickly looked away, pretending to be absorbed in the view outside.
The rest of the ride got pretty awkward. He would glance at me, and sometimes I caught myself glancing back at him. And then on those rare moments when our eyes met, I’d instantly look away, blushing like an idiot.
By the time the tall gates of All-Bright star college came into view, I silently thanked God.
“We're here.” He announced softly.
The car slowed, then came to a stop.
I unbuckled my seatbelt with clumsy fingers, desperate to escape the heat in my face. “Um… thanks for the ride.”
Before he could reply, I pushed the door open and stepped out.
The moment my shoes touched the pavement, a man in a grey suit stepped forward. His dark brown hair was neatly combed back.
“Ah, good morning, Mr. Dovenia,” he greeted Darius warmly.
I froze, my hand still clutching my bag. “Good morning,” Darius murmured.
Darius’s gaze moved to me. “Soraya, this is Elvis. He’ll show you around and take you to your hall. If you have any problems, let him know.”
I turned my eyes toward the man—Elvis. He flashed a polite smile. I just nodded in response, not really trusting my voice at the moment.
And just like that, Darius drove off without another word.
“Okay, Miss Soraya,” Elvis said brightly, his voice snapping me back. “Come, I’ll show you to the hall. The exam starts in about forty-five minutes, so you still have some time to relax.”
“Alright,” I said quietly, following as he began to walk.
The school grounds stretched out vastly in front of me, bigger than anything I had ever imagined. Wide pathways, perfectly trimmed lawns, glass buildings that glittered in the morning sun. It was massive. People were moving everywhere; students with books, others laughing in groups.
I swallowed hard. I’ve never seen a school like this before
We kept walking, Elvis glanced at me from over his shoulder with a reassuring smile.
“Impressive, isn’t it? All-Bright star College is one of the top institutions in the country. It’s easy to get lost at first, but you’ll get used to it.”
I nodded, though my eyes kept darting everywhere, trying to take it all in. My steps felt small compared to the wide halls and the towering buildings.
Elvis chuckled lightly. “Don’t worry, I’ll be your guide for today. And afterward, I’ll introduce you to a few people who can help you settle in.”
I clutched my bag a little tighter, feeling tense. Forty-five minutes until the exam. Forty-five minutes until I’d have to prove myself in this huge, intimidating place.
As we kept walking, I wasn’t paying full attention as my eyes kept darting around the huge halls. I ended up bumping into someone, causing his books to fall to the ground with a loud thud.