"Europe!" Irene and Michael were both shock with the news that their daughter brought. "How could you keep this thing a secret to us?" Irene asked but she didn't sound angry – more on disappointed instead.
"Mom, I wasn't sure if I'd be accepted and you know that I wanted to go to Europe ever since I was a child. How could I let this opportunity go?"
"So, when are you leaving?" Michael wasn't disappointed that his daughter kept a secret from him. Everyone has a secret or two that they didn't want other to know. Besides, it would be a good opportunity for her to learn new things.
"I won't be leaving so soon." Serina answered softly. "I'll have to finish the compulsory years her which will be until grade 10 and I will continue my secondary II which will be my senior years in Europe."
"This is really unexpected." Michael commented but there was a smile on his face. "Then, congratulations. Do your best!"
"Sure!"
Seeing the father-daughter having a light conversation over this matter, Irene didn't say anything more. No matter what she says, she knew that her daughter will just make reasons for her to agree. "Forget it." She muttered and continued cooking.
Over three months ago, Serina applied for the scholarship which will cover her senior years in Europe, particularly in France. She has been regarded as one of the excellent students in Royale Academy and when her application was submitted, the school didn't doubt her capability. They immediately sent her information and application to the selected school in France which was Notre Dame International High School.
Because she loves to read and because her mother was once a multi-lingual teacher before marrying her father, Serina didn't have to stress herself in studying languages. She can learn fast and she loves to learn them as well. She always had this notion in mind that there's beauty in language. Of course, she knows how to curse in different languages, too.
She prayed to pass the evaluation and the interview, knowing full well that her capability wasn't up to standard with other students. She always claimed that she still needed to improve and beat her own records. It's not that she's conceited, she just didn't like to opt for the average. As long as she can improve, she will take every opportunity to do so.
But she really passed.
"There's still one more week before this academic year ends and you will have to wait one more year before leaving the country. Continue to do your best." Her mother stated while putting down the dishes on the dining table. "Don't get careless just because you are smart."
"I know. I'll study hard."
"Who will be coming with you by the way?" Michael asked while helping his wife with the plates and glasses.
"I'll be going there with another student from my class. His name is Lambert. Remember the top 2 in our class who looked nerdy?"
"Oh! That guy! Good. Good for him. And who else?"
"There are three other students who will be going for a study-abroad program but they will only stay there for one academic year."
The family of three continued to talk about the scholarship program that Serina got accepted for. They chatted for a long time even when they finished their meal.
Around 9:00 in the evening, she excused herself and went to her room, saying that she needed to study for a little while. She didn't say what she could be studying so her parents assumed that she'd be studying her class subjects. Unbeknownst to them, Serina was actually learning how to make curses and lift them. She studied different herbals, markings and other things under her dragon's tutelage.
Nicholas had no idea that Serina applied to study abroad. Every single time that he spent with her and her friends, none of them mentioned such thing. And so, when the school posted the congratulatory message on their school forum, he almost changed to his wolf form because of his anger.
'This woman! She's doing this on purpose.' Nicholas thought angrily while reading the names being posted along with the congratulatory message. He was hoping that he was mistaken but the more he read it, the more the anger swelled within him. 'Why?'
He closed his eyes and covered it with his forearm. He couldn't understand why. He was feeling so angry towards something that he has no control of. Aside from that, Kiro still refused to acknowledge her as their mate. He was afraid that someone would snatch Serina away from him if he continued to dawdle.
'Stop with your train of thoughts.' Kiro growled and snapped at him. 'The pull of desire will get stronger as she slowly come of age. When she turns 18, we will know if she's ours or not. Whether she's taken or not, let's do our best to get her.'
'If she's taken, I will never let you get out to the woods for two years.' Nicholas threatened his wolf which didn't work at all because Kiro only turned his head away to avoid seeing him eye to eye.
The next day, Nicholas didn't look for Serina in the campus. He was still feeling a bit angry after knowing the news. He didn't show up in front of her or even visited her dorm.
Serina felt a bit sad that the annoying guy ceased to annoy her but unlike Nicholas, she didn't feel the strong desire for him as much as he felt for her. Though deep inside her, she wanted to see him as well.
Facing her food for lunch, she released a deep sigh which made her two friends look at her in worry. "What's wrong with you? You look worried and stop sighing in front of your food." Hillary stated.
"It's not because you are missing your Mr. God-damn-sexy-and-drop-dead-hunk Nicholas, right?" Brigette teased which made Serina shove some food inside her friend's mouth.
"Where the hell did you get that lengthy name?" Serina questioned with her raised eyebrow. "He's not my whatever-you-call Nicholas, okay? And I am not missing him. Tsk! Stop mentioning him."
"O-okay." Brigette muttered softly while covering her mouth full of food.
She denied it but as the days went by, her eyes would unknowingly seek for his figure in the crowd. She even volunteered to collect the class assignments and send it to the faculty office which she didn't normally do just for her to pass the college building and get a glimpse of him from the business management class.
'This is wrong. So wrong!' Serina told herself as she walked to the faculty. Instead of taking a look at his class, because she felt so wrong and annoyed to herself, she didn't notice that someone was sitting by the window to the corridor.