Everyone tells different love stories. Some had a tragic beginning but a magical ending, while some had a magical beginning but a tragic ending. Although it was possible to have both magical beginning and ending, life would certainly find a way to test the lovers' love. 

One could hope so much for love, only to be disappointed many times. One could care less about it but was given more in turn. Is it fair? Or is it just a way to challenge the limited knowledge a human has in their life?

Regardless of the answer, one could never turn their backs to love, when they had experienced the magical feeling in the first hand. My experience in love had its fair share of heartbreaks and tears.

But this is my story.

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When I had my first step in the prestigious academy, I thought it would be a dream come true. But as I spent a couple hours on the academy's ground, doubt began to creep into my heart. 

Most of the students came from a noble and honorable background and all the grace and elegance began to suffocate me. No offense, I truly admired the way they carried themselves. But there's only a little an ordinary village girl could handle.

After several classes where I spent introducing myself, the lunch break finally came. A girl with a red beret and a bright grin, who introduced herself as Kate, accompanied me to the cafeteria. We were in the same classes and Kate had been kind enough to show me the direction of the cafeteria.

The menu was a little extravagant meal from the meal I was used to eat but the bored look on the other students' faces didn't match with my enthusiasm. Kate led the way to a table at the far corner of the cafeteria, near the glass wall where they could see the well-kept garden. Everything, from leaves to flowers and grass, was beautiful and flawless. Not even a fallen twig could be seen in contrast with the healthy green grass. 

"So, how do you like the academy so far?" 

I averted my attention away from the surreal scenery towards Kate's anticipating hazel eyes. "Great, I like it here."

"I'm glad to hear that. But there's something you need to know, Rose." 

I hummed, enjoying the savory taste of the soup as it reached my tongue. What could possibly go wrong?

"You must listen to me carefully. In this academy, there's some sort of hierarchy that makes you superior or inferior. There are three groups; the commons, the popular, and lastly the Elites. While we can rise to the popular group or fall into the commons, no one can reach the Elites' status."

My jaw dropped. "The commons? The popular? Elites? What's going on?"

Kate sighed softly, almost sympathetic. "I know this is a shock. But it's the truth. If you want to survive in the academy, you must know the rules."

"I've never heard something like this before," I exhaled, trying to wrap up the fact.

"Yeah, it's quite bizarre, if you ask me," whispered Kate. She then looked left and right, like she's hoping no one heard her. But no one probably did, apart from me, because of the loud chatter in the cafeteria. "Also, don't ever say that loudly. I don't know why, but people are just too scared to say their real thoughts about it."

I put down her spoon, realizing the topic was more important than I thought. "What exactly is the hierarchy? What are we then?"

"We are the commons. Like the name, the commons is the majority of students here. It includes new students, ordinary grades students, and the like. On the other hand, the popular ones, as you can see at the first two rows," she pointed at the tables of the first and second row in the cafeteria which consisted of four tables each. 

"They are the presidents and vice presidents of clubs and associations in the Academy and straight-A students. Although they are an upper group from us, they still socialize and mingle with the commons. Most of them are nice too. So, there's no problem being friends with them," she smiled. 

I nodded. I was about to ask about the third group, the Elites, when the cafeteria's door slammed open and the air still. Five guys entered the cafeteria, carrying an aura of authority. They held their heads high, not caring who stood in their way. None dared to anyway and made ways for the guys to reach their destination. I felt like I was taken back in time where balls were a common thing, and the guys were the royalty. It wasn't until they had sat on a table that everyone started walking again.

"What had just happened?"

Kate sighed, "You will get used to it."

I frowned at Kate's lack of response and turned my gaze to the guys who sat in the center of the room. "Who are they?"

"They are the Elites. Rich, athletic, smart, and good looking. Blah, blah, blah. There is only a group of Elites at a time. For example, after the last Elites graduated, the current most influential students in the academy will take their place."

"Right. So, they are Elites because they're influential?"

Kate raised an eyebrow. "Of course. That's how the world works."

I pursed her lips, unliking where the direction of the conversation was going. I fed a spoonful of the soup into my mouth and repeated the action until the spoon touched the end of the bowl. Kate was devouring her meal too, when all of a sudden, a shadow loomed over our table.

Hearing a familiar voice called my name, I looked up and saw a blond-haired guy standing beside the table. He had a lopsided smile on his face as he looked at my state.

"Hello, Ryan," I greeted, a little relieved to see a familiar face among strangers.

"How's your first day?"

As we talked, Kate choked on her meal. I patted Kate's back and handed the water to her. After Kate assured me that she's fine, I turned to Ryan. "So far, everything is good. And Kate has been helping me."

"Very well. If anyone troubles you or something, just tell me," said Ryan before he turned his speculative eyes towards Kate. "And you, don't lead her into trouble." When he saw Kate nodded nervously, he returned his gaze to me. "Wait for me at the entrance after school, I'll take you home."

I nodded. "Okay, see you later." 

After Ryan left, Kate let out the breath she was holding. "This may come out rude but who is he to you?"

"Oh, remember the cousin that I told you who studies here, too? Ryan is my cousin."

Kate's jaw dropped. "Oh my God. You're not lying, are you?"

"No, why would I?" I frowned.

"He is one of the Elites!"

"I see..."

"I can't believe this. Oh my God," said Kate, putting her head on the table.

"Kate, is everything all right?"

Kate put her hands on her cheeks, "I don't know. I don't think everything will be fine again."

I put a hand on her arm. "Are you okay?" 

She shook her head frantically. "How can I? Out of five hundred students in this Academy, your cousin is Ryan Andersen," she groaned, slamming her forehead to the table. "What have I gotten myself into?" She muttered under her breath.

"Is he that bad?" I frowned.

Ryan was like a brother to me and he had always protected me since we were kids. He was nice and protective, just like my older brother was.

Kate sighed, finally pulling up her head from the table. "I don't know how he is outside of the Academy but he isn't the nicest person here."

"Oh. I'm sorry if he's being offensive."

"No, no. It's just how the elites are," she rolled her eyes. "At least, no one will ever look at you in a bad way."

My frown got deeper. "What makes you say that?"

Kate sighed and ate her sandwich. When she didn't answer the question for a while, I took my own sandwich and finished it. While I was eating the fries that were left in the box, she finally spoke up.

"You're Ryan Andersen's cousin, no one wants to be in trouble with him. But on the other hand, no one would want to be friends with you."

"Why?"

"Guys will think you're off-limits and girls will think you're too...uh, snobbish to be friends with them."

"But I'm not!"

Kate's eyes softened. "I know you're not."

"My life will be so boring here."

She sent me an apologetic smile. "It's not that bad really," she said comfortingly. "Anyway, the lessons. The first one is AJ. He's the captain of our Academy's football team, straight-A student, and rich. The only problem is that he's not such a civil person. He'll only socialize with the people in his group or some of the popular and the professors, " She pointed her finger low, probably hoping the elites wouldn't see she was pointing at them. 

"Your cousin is the president of the Science and Technology Club. He and Hayden play for the football team too but I don't know what their positions are. Joe and Noah, both of them are on the basketball team. They're the nicest ones in the group and tend to socialize with other people in respectful manners."

"Who is who?" I asked with my eyebrows knitted, confused since her finger didn't point at any specific person.

"From your cousin's right is AJ, Joe, Hayden, and Noah."

I nodded and looked at the guy named AJ. In the group, only he and Ryan were blond. The other three had brown hair but they styled it in different ways. All of them wore black leather jackets over the academy's uniform and a pair of black slacks.

"It's a shame, though. I heard they are huge disbelievers of soulmates. Especially AJ."

I looked at her in shock. Huge disbelievers of soulmate?! That's the most absurd thing I had ever heard of. Having a soulmate was a miracle to human beings so we wouldn't have to be lonely. I thought the people who deny their soulmates were old wives' tales but it looked like it still existed in the modern world.

I turned away from Kate who shrugged and I looked down at my left hand. Tracing the brownish mark on my wrist which was the shape of a rose with a thorny vine swirling around it, I wondered who my soulmate was. Where was he now, what did he do, or how did he look?

Kate saw the way I traced my mark lovingly and she showed hers to me. It was the shape of a flower I didn't recognize. The petals were long and narrow.

"What flower is that?"

She shrugged. "I don't know. I tried to search it up but I think it's an exotic and rare one."

I pulled out my white watch from my bag and strapped it to my wrist, covering the mark. We had been in the cafeteria for half an hour and only a handful of people left in the cafeteria. Our class started at noon so we're not in a rush to leave the place.

"Does Ryan not believe in a soulmate? Because he never brings it up whenever I talk with him about soulmates. Most of the time he would laugh at me or go along with the topic."

"It's a rumor, Rose. No one really knows if it's true. But from what I heard, AJ had concealed his mark since he reached puberty. So, I guess since the other four are his best friends, people tend to think they also don't believe in a soulmate, " explained Kate. "Do you want to walk around the Academy? There's a beautiful garden here," she said, changing the topic since it became too personal to continue.

"Really? I would like to!" I said, gathering my things and the lunch leftover to throw it in the dustbin. Kate laughed and did the same before giving me a tour around the Academy.

And that's how I met my best friend.

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