CHAPTER 1

Maxine’s POV

I WALK down the muddy road to the other village. That’s where I attend, Wilford University, a school for the rich, and I don’t belong there.

I am Maxine Filmore, nineteen years old. My Mother is a maid, and she has been serving the Alfonzo’s for ten years. The couple is nice. In fact, they are the ones who send me to school, and in return, I help Mom every time I don’t have class.

I looked at the watch I was wearing. It’s eight o’clock, so I’m walking even faster. I have class at nine, and I can’t be late.

Annoyingly, not even a single vehicle passed by when I was in a hurry. Add to that, the darkening of the sky signaled impending rain.

I frowned as a black car pulled up behind me. My uniform was almost covered in mud. It was Miss Beatriz’s car, the only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alfonzo. As good as the couple is, Miss Beatriz is the opposite. She is filled with curses and a core of pride.

I IMMEDIATELY went to the restroom when I got to university. I carefully observed my own reflection in the mirror. I am just about to go in, but I look like I’m going home. I shook my head. I am nothing compared to the students who attend here. But if it’s just based on looks, at least I also have something to brag about. They said it was like I had foreign blood.

After getting ready, I was about to leave the restroom when I was bumped by two women just entering. I dropped the books I was carrying. I immediately bent down to pick them up.

“Sorry,” a woman said cleverly, obviously not being sincere when she said that. “Because I didn’t see you.”

“Served right,” said another woman, who laughed.

I chose not to mind them and just continued doing what I was doing. I am used to it. This is how my life has been since I entered this university. I want to transfer to another school. I don’t want it here. The students who come here are proud and arrogant, but I have no choice. Fortunately, I am now graduating this year on a BSHRM course. With God’s mercy, I will be able to lift Mom out of poverty.

I CHOSE to sit in the back. Just a few moments after that, Miss Gillany, our Class adviser, also arrived. And she started to discuss.

I finished the first class and I didn’t understand anything. I’m not in the mood and I feel like not doing anything today.

Since the next subject was at two o’clock in the afternoon, I decided to go home first. I don’t have money to buy snacks. Also, I’d rather save the pocket money that my Mom gives me than waste it.

As I always do, I walked to the bus stop. It’s only walking distance from the school, so I patiently walk it every day. I ran when it started to rain. Fortunately, I got to the waiting area right away before the downpour got stronger. I grabbed a handkerchief from the bag to wipe the few drops of rain from my face when the wind accidentally blew it away. I quickly took a step to catch up with it, but at the same time as that step, a motorcycle sped by. I was able to avoid it immediately, but I lost my balance due to the shock.

I stayed with my fall. I also saw the motorcyclist fall and spin around.

I forced myself to stand up to help, knowing that the motorcyclist was hurt more.

“Mister, are you okay?!” I asked in a loud voice while trying to get closer. He was wearing a helmet, so I couldn’t see his face.

I helped the guy get up until he sat down.

“Are you okay?” I asked again. But I didn’t expect my reaction when the guy took his helmet off. I was stunned for a moment and just stared at his face; medium-thick eyebrows, pointed nose, ruddy lips, and, add to that, his rather narrow gray eyes. How did such a handsome creature exist here in Sta. Monica? There are many handsome men in Wilford, but the guy in front of me seems to have something unusual. And I feel like I want to be insecure about the smoothness of his face.

“Are you stupid?!” shouted the guy, who returned to his senses. His eyebrows met as he stared at me. “You just cross without looking to see if there’s a vehicle or not?!”

My admiration for the guy disappeared. My ears tingled like I was blown away by the wind. He called me a fool.

“W-what are you?” I asked in disbelief. “Hey Mister, I was hurt too. And then look at my uniform, it’s dirty! Who could have driven so fast that he thought he owned the way!"

The guy’s eyebrows arched, an irritated smile flashed across his lips.

“And now it’s my fault. Do you have any idea how much my Harley-Davidson is? Even if you work all your life, you won’t be able to pay for that!”

I looked at the motorcycle. I secretly swallowed when I saw that the left side mirror was broken. I don’t know what the brand of motor is, but it looks expensive.

I seemed to have followed my gaze when the guy stood up and headed for the motorcycle. He is tall. He might be a basketball player. Cool.

After a while, the guy started the motorcycle and sped away. I would have protested, but he quickly disappeared from my sight. I was annoyed as I stomped on the road and cried as I followed a glimpse of the way he took.

Very, very antipathetic. Bad attitude. He didn’t even apologize. I almost crashed. Maybe he’s studying at Wilford too. The arrogance.

I seemed to be suffocating with annoyance when I got home to the mansion. I immediately went straight to the maid’s quarter and took a bath.

Since my class was in the afternoon, my mother ordered me to buy groceries first.

I went to the vegetable section first when I arrived at the store. I looked over the list of my mother before starting to choose. I was about to take a whole cabbage with the hand of whoever I touched. I automatically turned to it only to have my eyes widen.

“You?!”