QUEEN
The next day I was anxious as I stepped inside the campus. I couldn’t shake the fear that someone might approach me. I kept my guard up, scanning my surroundings constantly. Thankfully, I didn’t see them anywhere.
I clutched my bag tightly, my knuckles turning white, and kept my head down, hoping to avoid any attention. Every laugh or whisper I overheard felt like it was about me, even though I knew it probably wasn’t. I hated this feeling—this constant state of being on edge, waiting for something bad to happen.
My guard was up the entire time, like I was bracing for an attack. I couldn’t shake the fear that someone might approach me, confront me, or say something that would shatter the fragile sense of calm I was trying to hold onto.
But as the hours passed and classes came and went, I realized something. I didn’t see them anywhere. No taunting faces in the hallway, no snide comments lingering in the air. A cautious relief started to creep in, but I didn’t let my guard down entirely. Not yet.
For now, I could breathe.
That evening, my parents called us telling that we are to dine at Linus Hotel again. A sinking feeling settled in my stomach as I wondered what this was about. 
As we arrived, King and Ace seemed unusually quiet.
"Your uncle Jordan will arrive tomorrow," Mom announced, her voice calm but firm. "He was on his way here to pick you three." They glanced at King and Ace and suddenly Mom's gaze rested on me. "You'll be transferring next week."
Dad cleared his throat, his tone signaling that this was serious. "We’ve decided it’s time for a change. We just decide it a while ago and yeah you’ll all be transferring to Cornelle University."
The room went silent as the weight of his words sank in.
"Cornelle?" I echoed, my voice barely above a whisper.
Cornelle University. The name alone carried a weight of prestige. Located in the heart of the city, it was one of the country’s top institutions, known for producing leaders in business, law, and the arts. Its alumni list read like a who’s who of influential figures, including my parents. The thought of attending such a place was overwhelming, to say the least.
"Yes," Mom said, her gaze steady. "Your father and I graduated from Cornelle. We believe it’s the best place for all of you to start fresh."
"But... why?" Ace asked hesitantly, breaking the silence.
Dad leaned forward, his expression serious. "You’ve all been through a lot this past year. Staying here won’t allow you to move on or grow the way you need to. At Cornelle, you’ll have a clean slate, surrounded by opportunities and the best education possible."
"And Uncle Jordan?" King asked, his brows furrowing.
"Uncle Jordan will handle your enrollment and all the paperwork," Mom explained. "He’s already spoken with the administration. Your programs will align seamlessly with what you’ve been studying here, so there’s no need to worry about falling behind since the class just started."
King leaned back in his chair, his lips pressed into a thin line. Ace is looked conflicted, his fingers fidgeting and me I don't know what to feel. Honestly, I think this is a good idea.
"You okay?" King asked me and went to my side.
"Mm, yeah." He sat on my bed and patted my head.
"You look unwell though, did you already take you meds?" I nod at him and gently smile.
"I was just shock by the heppenings today."
"Tell me..." he gently said and I started to tell everything.
I press my fingers against my temples, trying to push the overwhelming guilt away. But it lingers, it keeps on following me like a shadow that refuses to leave me alone. King keeps holding me, his arms are hard and strong yet gentle as he hold me, like he's trying to shield me from my own thoughts.
"You’re not alone, Queen," he whispers softly. "You still have us. You still have me and Ace."
I close my eyes, his words sinking in. But the weight in my chest doesn't ease. It’s been two years, and the wound still feels fresh, as if it just happened yesterday.
"Queen," King’s voice pulls me out of my spiraling thoughts. "You don’t have to keep everything bottled up. It’s okay to feel. It’s okay to cry if you need to."
I shake my head, biting my lip hard to keep the tears at bay. "Crying won’t change anything. It is what it is."
"No, it won’t," King agrees, his voice was calming me. "But holding everything in won’t help you either. You’ve been punishing yourself for something that wasn’t your fault. You can’t keep carrying this on your own."
"You don’t understand, King. If I had just done something—anything—differently, maybe he’d still be here."
King pulls back slightly, looking me straight in the eyes. His gaze is firm but filled with compassion.
"You can’t keep blaming yourself, Queen. Sometimes... life takes things from us, no matter how hard we fight to hold on."
I stare at him, my chest tightening as fresh tears threaten to spill. His words are true, but they don’t make the pain any less real.
"I’m scared," I finally admit, my voice barely audible. "I’m scared that I’ll never be okay again. That I’ll never stop feeling like this."
King cups my face gently, wiping away the tears that I didn’t even realize had started falling. "You will be okay, Queen. Not today, maybe not tomorrow, but one day. And until that day comes, I’ll be right here, by your side. We'll help you."
His words are a soft and gentke as he said that.
"Thank you," I whisper.
King smiles softly, brushing a strand of hair away from my face. "That’s what family is for."
I lean into his embrace, letting myself rest for the first time in what feels like forever. Maybe I’m not okay now. Maybe I won’t be for a long time. But with King here, maybe—just maybe—I can start to believe that someday, I will be.
But that night, I couldn’t sleep. My thoughts kept circling back to Cornelle. A fresh start but why do I feel scared?
Is it normal?
Will everything be normal?
Uncle Jordan picked us up early the next morning. Our family home was in Hartville City, the bustling capital of the country, where the skyline was dominated by towering glass buildings and the streets with constant activity. It was strange to think we were leaving all of that behind. 
The drive to Ravendale, the small city where Cornelle University was located, took hours. The contrast between the two cities was striking. The farther we got from the capital, the more the landscape transformed, I saw green hills very different from the steels and concrete of Hartville City. The streets were lined with brick buildings, cozy cafés, and boutique shops.
As we drove through Ravendale, King and Ace couldn’t help their curiosity. "Uncle Jordan, is there anywhere fun to hang out here?" King asked, leaning forward from the backseat. 
Ace, usually more reserved, chimed in with a rare grin, “Yeah, like where do people go to kill time around here?”
Uncle Jordan chuckled, “Well, Ravendale isn’t Hartville City. No high-end clubs or massive malls here. But there are charming small towns nearby. Maplewood, for example, is known for its scenic lakes and weekend markets, you can buy tons of things there at a cheap price. Then there’s Herington, where you’ll find cozy pubs. If you’re up for a drive, the coastal town of Eastford isn’t too far either. Trust me, you’ll find things to do if you look.” King nodded, and Ace smirked, clearly intrigued.
"What about girls?"
"Tsk." I glared at him but they just laughed it off.
When we reached Cornelle University, it was a sight to behold. The main building is pretty, really there is no ugly part in here. I continue to look around while Uncle Jordan guided us to the administration office, where we were to take our entrance exams. After that we are greeted by the secretary of President of the University.
“Welcome to Cornelle. I’m confident you’ll find your place here,” she said before the exams began. "Goodluck on your exams."
After what felt like hours, we were finally done. She told us that we will get the result as soon as possible. And after that Uncle Jordan led us to his house, which would be our home now. It was an old cream-colored mansion, tucked at the edge of town. The house had an air of quiet dignity, with tall windows, intricate woodwork, and a sprawling garden that seemed untouched by time.
"This is where we grow up. Ahh... Queen you'll be staying at your mom's room and you two will be next to hers. There is also a library here. Most of the time I am in my hotel so you three would be left here. There is also a caretaker here, she will clean the house usually 4 in the morning and will leave after that. So any of you knows how to cook?"
"Yeah, I'll do the cooking." King said and Uncle nodded. 
"I'll be here every sunday, be sure to lock the doors and windows. And call me if something happens."
"Yes, uncle."
"Good, now get some rest. I'll call you later for dinner." I nod at him and said my thank before heading inside my room. I look around and there is nothing speacial to it. There are books in the shelf and pictures of mom when she was still a teen. She looks so pretty in every picture.
When I got tried of looking around I went to my bed and just like that I immediately felt tired. I rested my eyes and fell asleep.
—IAmRoseee