Chapter 42: Fortunate and Unfortunate [Part One]
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“No matter what you say, who you are bringing with or what kind of cheap vehicle it is,” Jason grumbled. “The parade square has already been reserved for one aeroplane, and that’s final!”

The laughter and chatter erupted the afternoon silence outside of one of the most prestigious institutions in the world, Kadic Academy. But it was only a few moments later that a gust of strong wind interrupted their conversations as the students now turned their attention to the skies. Blocking the view of the mighty Sun and descending slowly onto the wide open space in front of the main entrance of the school, was a silver-blue jet aeroplane, small enough to squeeze within the large parade square. The teenagers stared in awe. They knew that a minority of the student population came from rich families, but each of them wondered which family the plane belonged to.

Its owner, alongside his four friends, finally stepped out of the building. Unlike the rest, they weren't the least bit surprise. Outside of his four friends, was a guy who had been arguing with the jet-plane owner. At the sight of the jet he became furious, "Bringing a plane, is a violation against the school rules, Jason."

“What difference does a helicopter make?” Jason rebutted Ulrich’s accusation. “It’s much noisier anyway. I’m practically preventing noise pollution.”

Ulrich scoffed and then shouted orders in a walkie-talkie for the helicopter to retreat till further notice. The five friends left Ulrich while they ambled their way towards the plane. “He is right, you know?” Cornelia folded her arms and stared at her brother. “It is a violation.”

Jason chuckled, "It's Summer! Nobody is going to care once it's gone. Plus, I'm sure we can break a few rules with Cyrus as the headmaster. She's already punishing us with 'Xana Attacks' anyway."

The boy sped ahead of the group and walked up the steps that came down from the aeroplane. He outstretched his hand in a gesture, signalling the most beautiful girl that reflected in his sea-blue eyes.

Tiadora smiled. She was only a few steps away from the stairs when she felt a hand tugging her back. And when she turned, the rest of the group gave reassuring smiles. "Hey Tiadora," Kiara said with a sly smile to the side. "Don't lose your virginity during Summer, okay?"

"Huh?" as always, Tiadora didn't know what modern-word Kiara was talking about.
"Nah, it's okay," Cornelia winked. "Jason's not that type. He won't take advantage of you, because he respects you very much. I'm sure you'll have fun."

"Thank you," Tiadora smiled even wider and turned to the person who has not spoken a word from this morning. "And David, take good care of yourself."

She took the blink of his luminous green eyes as a 'yes'. “And remember the communication,” Tiadora winked. “Any trouble, telepathically inform Cornelia. Once Cornelia has obtained the information, tell Jason, because he can transport himself to help anyone of you.”

“Yeah yeah,” Cornelia scoffed and pushed Tiadora up the steps. “C’mon, Jason awaits thee.”

Tiadora took Jason’s outstretched hand and turned back to see the academy. “Goodbye, everyone!”

The staircase cascaded back in as the door slowly closed before them. Eventually, the plane took flight and disappeared into the scorching morning Sun. Kiara had to cover her eyes to see it off properly.

“Finally!” Ulrich’s voice shouted in delight as the plane flew away. His attention shifted as he continued to bark orders in the walkie-talkie.

Soon, the sound of screeching tires entered the academy’s main gate, and a pink limousine drove its way into the exact same spot where the plane was. The chauffeur stepped out from his seat, opened the back door and bowed towards Kiara and David. “Oh look, Corny,” Kiara nudged Cornelia and pointed to her limousine. “It looks like Ulrich can’t boast his ‘choppa’ to us either.”

All Cornelia did was just roll her eyes, “Personally, I still prefer my Lamborghini.”

“Right…” Kiara grabbed David’s arm and started walking over to the hot pink vehicle. “See you around, Cornelia!”

“Hey! Where will you be going this year?” Cornelia called out after her.

Kiara turned back and did a money gesture with her hands, “Las Vegas, babe!”

And with that, Kiara and David were off, driving away in that pink limousine. Cornelia was about to sit down on the steps when the noise of the beating helicopters descended downwards onto the parade square. She liked the strong wind blowing against her face, but she couldn’t help but agree that it was extremely noisy.

Up in the sky, Ulrich was already on board, standing to the side railings and stretching out his hand towards Cornelia. He shouted over the defending noise, “Take my hand!”

Instinctively, she took his hand with her left and imagined herself as light as a feather when she was hoisted up. The interior was surprisingly bright, unlike the normal black outlook. She fastened her seatbelt beside Ulrich as he winked. “Off to Sydney!”

★

Through the window, Tiadora, with the help of Jason, saw many things went by. There were monuments like the Statue of Liberty, etc. Though probably, most of the time, the plane was among the clouds, that she could rarely see more. Her favourite was strangely the Grand Canyon. “It’s beautiful,” she spoke about the canyon. “Somehow, it reminds me of something.”

They had been in the plane for about an hour now, and Tiadora wasn’t getting bored the least. Earlier, Jason had taught her how to play Monopoly, though it took him thirty minutes to make her understand the system of money-making. And eventually, Tiadora had beaten him flat in just the next half hour. Even without the years of playing, she was able to win him easily. “Oh! I just realized. We’re heading to your house, right?” Tiadora tore her gaze from the window to look at Jason seated in front of her. “Where is that?”

“We’re going to the Main Residence, so that will be in United Kingdom,” Jason answered, taking a champagne glass to his lips. “I am originally British.”

“I don’t understand,” Tiadora tilted her head, confused. “Main Residence? British?”

“Main Residence means the main household among the other fourteen houses my family owns,” Jason explained, offering her a glass. “British means that I’m born in the United Kingdom, though I don’t have an accent. Kadic is in America, but Cornelia and I are studying there because it is the second best academy in the world.”

“Why not aim for the best academy?” Tiadora tried to take a sip from the glass, to only realize that it was coke.

“The best is Phoenix Academy in Las Vegas,” Jason took a quick glance outside to check their position. “We didn’t get in because my mother had edgy ties with their director. Before that, we were home-schoolers.”

“You study by yourself at home?”

“My mother hired a personal tutor for each of us that taught us in many subjects and aspects,” he described recalling back his childhood. “Then three years ago, my parents decided that in order to improve ourselves socially for the benefit of the company, they sent us to Kadic.”

Tiadora giggled, pondering aloud, “Must have been difficult adapting to a new environment.”

“Well, not really,” Jason refilled his coke from the wine bottle. “Ian was already in Kadic at that time, and I knew him ever since I was ten because he used to be my neighbour. And you know, he became my friend at that time because he had a crush on Cornelia. I feel like a middle-man.”
She laughed. “That’s so sweet. But I think she and Ulrich make a very compatible couple instead.”

“To be honest, I don’t exactly trust Ulrich so much,” Jason admitted. “He just enters the school, and already, coach is having second thoughts about letting me stay as captain.”

“But Cornelia told me that you didn’t really like soccer.”

“Yeah, but…what?!” Jason stopped short, realizing Tiadora’s words. “Cornelia told you that?”

Tiadora was taken aback. “I’m sorry. Was that meant as a secret?”

“No…no, it’s okay,” he ran his fingers through his blond hair and sighed. “Cornelia and I had always been brought up talented, capable in doing many sports and playing instruments.”

“And you play the violin, right?”

Jason smiled, “Yes, I do. I’ll play for you when we reach.”

Just then, an announcement rang throughout the aeroplane. “Sir, this is your captain speaking. We are nearing the Kingston residence, and will be starting the descend in thirty seconds.”

“Tia,” Jason called out to her and pointed to the window. “Look.”

As Tiadora peered through the window, she stared upon a huge white building that made a ring-like shape on an extremely wide area. The house was bordered with gold, and statues of creatures rested on each corner of the household. In the incomplete ring border, was a magnificent garden that seems to glow with brilliance. It was practically littered with rainbow colours! She spotted a limousine entering the through the golden gates, and a couple emerged from the vehicle. “Your house is very…extravagant!” Tiadora complimented, pointing on the window. “Are those your parents?”

Jason looked out, squinting his eyes to see. “Oh. No, they’re not. Probably some designers. My parents may not be home. Usually, they would be on their business trips, and would only be back around mid-summer.”

Soon, the plane descended downwards among the garden. It gilded along the railway and skidded to a stop after some time. Jason ushered Tiadora out and held her hand as they walked towards the big door that automatically opened once they reached. The maids who did it, bowed in respect as Jason moved in. Chandeliers hung beautifully reflecting light as if they were diamonds. And Tiadora noticed that everything seem to radiate on mainly the colour gold.

She breathed in the eccentric breeze that seem to flow within the halls. It felt so alive. “Like it?” Jason nudged Tiadora from her admiring stance.

“It is so much brighter than my castle!” Tiadora clasped her hands and continued to stare. “And so many gold-coloured stuff.”

“Some of these ‘gold’ stuff aren’t gold,” Jason said, bringing her in deeper. “They are painted from melted gold instead.”

“Welcome to the Main Residence, Sir,” a deep male voice came from the side corridor.

“Ahh Herbert!” Jason acknowledged his butler’s bow. “Yes, it is good to be back. This is Tiadora. She will be staying with us during the Summer holidays.”

“An Honour, My Lady,” Hebert bowed again to Tiadora. “I shall have the guest room prepared.”

“Actually,” Jason wondered aloud, putting his fingers to his chin. “Put a bed at the other end of my room, where the bathroom is beneath the stairs.”

“But, Sir, your books?”

“One side of it won’t make a difference,” Jason insisted. “I would not be using any encyclopedias this summer.”

“Very well,” Hebert bowed again. “Sir, it is only appropriate that I inform you of your parents’ presence at home. They came back yesterday and said that they had an urgent issue to discuss with you. It would be wise for you to see them now.”

Jason scoffed in disbelief, “I can’t believe they came back early for once. Alright. I’ll go see them but…introduce Tiadora to Sephy.”

“Sephy?” Tiadora finally spoke. “Who is he? Or is it a she?”

Jason winked and let go of her hand. “You’ll see.”

And the guardian of Fire walked away, towards another corridor before slowly fading in the bright shadows.

★

“Can I PLEASE have one more?”