Chapter 19
Airman's true end. The family had started dinner, and none of them bothered to wait for Aurora. Another family member had passed away, and Maura understood that. Stacy had entered the picture after her mother died, maneuvering to protect her own position within the family. Aurora's biological father, however, deliberately ignored her. He doted on Stacy, tending to her every need, while mistreating his own daughter as if she didn't exist.
Aurora found a potted Aurelia standing by the doorway; it had clearly been there a while. “Aurelia? Why didn't you make it to dinner?” she asked.
She slipped an arm around Aurelia's, feigning affection. “I figured you were out with your friends, so we didn't wait.”
Aurora brushed her off and started upstairs, unwilling to witness more of this charade. Behind her, Stacy piped up in her usual mild tone. “You come home late and don’t even greet us! Don't you know any manners? I’ve told you to stop associating with those delinquents, but you never listen!”
That remark caught Jason's attention. He remembered Aurora's poor performance at Mercida High and her association with the troublemakers in Class F. Now she was coming home late as well.
“Aren’t you in Class A with Maura? What’s a girl like you doing in Class F, hanging around with those losers?” Jason rapped his fingers on the table, his tone brooking no argument. “You should tell Class A’s homeroom teacher and request a transfer tomorrow. You’re going back.”
Mercida High was one of the city's top schools; many of Jason’s business partners' children attended. If word got out that his daughter was associating with Class F, they would ridicule him mercilessly.
Jason sighed inwardly. "Maura, on the other hand, ranks in the top ten of the entire school. Every semester, she earns numerous awards, and people are envious. Why can't you be more like Maura? All you do is make me worry!" His disappointed expression, however, oddly resembled that of a caring father.
Aurora flatly refused. “The homeroom teacher of Class A looks down on me. I’m not going there.”
Jason slammed his fork down. “Is that how you talk to me? Where are your manners?”
The room fell silent, the tension palpable. The maids held their breath. Jason ruled the house with an iron fist; Aurora's defiance was a direct challenge.
Maura kept her head down, a smug look briefly flashing in her eyes. Yes, keep pushing, she thought. The bigger the fight, the better. Eventually, Dad will be fed up and kick you out.
But Aurora leaned against the banister, meeting Jason's gaze directly. Her voice was calm and deliberate. “My mother’s been dead for years. You dumped me in the countryside and never bothered to care for me. Manners? No one ever taught me any.”
She paused. “If you think I’m so lacking in manners, maybe you should just send me back.” She was deliberately provoking him.
Jason's expression shifted, but he restrained his temper. He hadn't achieved his goal yet; he couldn't afford to alienate her completely. But Aurora's defiance was embarrassing.
Stacy saw Jason's frustration and seized the opportunity. Knowing his plans, she gently placed a hand on his arm and smiled. “Honey, I think Aurora’s doing just fine in Class F. She even said she’d help them win first place next time. You can relax.”
Stacy subtly signaled Maura to chime in. She didn't want Aurora in Class A; someone like Aurora belonged in Class F.
Maura obliged. “Yeah, Dad, Aurora’s confident she can win first place. We should support her, not discourage her.”
First place, seriously? Maura barely suppressed a laugh. She might as well keep dreaming.
Aurora shrugged and started upstairs. “If we’re done here, I’m going to my room.”
Aurora paid no attention to what the others downstairs might be saying about her. She was beyond caring about their opinions; she had more pressing matters. Since she'd dragged her classmates into this bet with Class A, it was her responsibility to ensure they succeeded. Chash's scholarship foundation was at stake, and with only a few months until the SATA exams, there wasn't enough time to cover all the basics. She had to focus.
The moon hung high as the lights in the villa gradually went out. The maids had finished cleaning and retired. Only Aurora's room remained illuminated.
The next morning, Aurora yawned as she opened her door. Downstairs, Maura, impeccably dressed, sat at the table.
“Good morning, Aurora,” Maura greeted with a smile, noticing the pimple on Aurora's face and the dark circles under her eyes. Comparing herself to Aurora, she felt smug.
“You were up late last night. You must’ve stayed up all night. Why don’t you skip school today and sleep?” Maura offered, feigning concern.
“Mind your own business,” Aurora retorted, grabbing her backpack and heading for the car. She'd spent all night organizing materials for school; she had no time for Maura's games.
Five minutes later, Maura joined her. Attending the same school as Maura had its advantages; as long as she wasn't excessively late, Aurora could avoid the bus. The driver was obligated to wait.
This only increased Aurora's resentment; it was precisely this kind of privilege that made Jason's neglect sting even more.
They arrived at school. Most students were reading. Aurora carried a stack of booklets as she entered Class F, pleased to see everyone focused on vocabulary lists.
“Aurora, you’re finally here,” Erik exclaimed, his eyes wide. “What’s all that?”
“Practice booklets for you guys,” Aurora replied, distributing the materials. “We’ll go over this next class.”
The morning flew by as the students of Class F hung on her every word.
“Aurora, PE is after lunch. What if we skipped it?” Erik suggested, leaning close. He was willing to forgo PE for academics.
“Yeah, what’s the point? We want to hear Aurora teach,” the others agreed. Beating Class A was their goal, and PE was a waste of time.
News of their bet with Class A had spread. Even their families doubted their chances and scolded them for their ambition.