Apollo and Daphne

Chapter 1

Papers spreaded on the long table in the Student Council Office, glasses drooping down an oily nose, sniffs and coughs lingering in the air, and a bored secretary sits on her desk.

That's... me.

Hey, I'm Daphne.

I'm 19 years old, and I study at Hathaway College Institute.

A little background on that: HCI was founded by a beautiful man named Craig Darwin back in the '70s. He was married—to another beautiful human being named Julia Hathaway. Craig (sighs) was whipped. He loved her so much, that even when she had already passed away, he even built this school as a commemoration to his late wife. He never remarried... and died as a widower.

Craig had two children with Julia, namely, Augustus and Finnick Darwin. These brothers were angelically blessed with good looks, and fell in love with these two sisters—Andrea and Felicia Garrett—who were, aesthetically beautiful as well.

When Finnick left their parents' home as he got married, Augustus had a child with Felicia named Jacob Darwin, who became the president and the current owner of this school. Oh, he was handsome too.

Jacob Darwin has two sons: Gabriel, the Student Council president—who was ridiculously handsome—and another one, who the entire school doesn't know the name of.

Long story short—this is a school for beautiful people only.

Yeah, seems like a joke, but it's true.

And yet—what the hell was I doing in a school like this?

I groaned mournfully as the stack of papers on my desk don't even show the slightest difference in number, still as high as a mountain that would make my neck crack if I keep looking up.

I looked down on my rose gold MacBook and sighed.

The documents have been piling up like ants on a drop of sugar.

I sniffed, quietly cursing the fact that I have a cold, but my parents don't want me to skip classes, because they pay my tuition and expenses properly.

As I typed on my keyboard once again, Iona, the vice president of the Student Council, entered the office. She was pretty as well—long, platinum blonde hair, petite face, plump red lips and long lashes.

She was tall, but not as tall as I was.

She wore a plaid A-skirt and a chiffon blouse and black pumps that clicked every time she takes a step. It was a bit annoying, but I endured it.

After all, the people in the Student Council were the only people who were nice to me in HCI.

Why?

Well, I was ugly.

"Good morning, Daph," Iona gently greeted as she put down her bag. I smiled slightly at her, and she returned the gesture.

She looked at the papers on my desk, and her mouth opened a little. I grimaced, and looked back at my MacBook and continued typing.

This stack of cut trees won't disappear if I stay here and do nothing.

I took a heavy breath, and cracked my fingers. The sound resonated in the air, making Iona flinch, and Baron—the public relations officer—chuckle silently.

I began to type once again, my 32nd page screaming at me to get it over with. As I got to the 34th page, I heard heels clicking against the tiled floors of the office.

Good thing the tiles weren't white. Professor Pride would kill us if he saw the marks.

I tried to ignore her heels making contact with the floor, but I just couldn't, because the sound got closer to where I was. Even though I didn't want to look at her face—and get insecure—I still did.

I didn't want to be rude.

Iona was standing by my side, her silver-and-black MacBook Air clutched in her arms as she smiled at me. I furrowed my brows in confusion.

"Yes?" I asked, not wanting to offend her in any way.

"May I help?" she asked, gracefully, if I may.

I was bewildered.

I didn't want to say yes, because this was obviously my job, but I didn't want to say no either, because she might get offended and hate me, and I didn't want another addition to my hater list.

So, I slowly nodded.

"Great," she replied, obviously happy about my answer.

But, my curiosity still lingered.

Why would she help me?

I glanced at her, just to realize that she was already looking at me. Her smile was still there—as graceful as she was.

I then wondered, what if I had friends?

Would I be pleased all the time, and not like my usual, grumpy self?

Or would I be graceful, just like how Iona is?

Iona typed diligently on her laptop, the 36th page in her hands as I gripped the 35th in mine.

'Would you like to be friends?'

The page wrinkled in my hands as I felt a lone tear escape my eye.

I wanted to say that to her, but I couldn't get myself to say it.

Besides, it wouldn't happen.

At all.

*****

Chapter 1 is now out!

Hope you enjoy!