Campus Royalties (Kingdom University, #1) | Published under Psicom Publishing

Chapter 1

The limelight was not an unfamiliar realm to me, but if I had a choice, I wouldn't even want to be there.

Bukod sa uncomfortable ay madalas din na-i-invade ang personal space ko. I thought it would change once I go to college dahil mas malaki na ang mundong gagalawan ko, but boy was I wrong.

"Oh my gosh! Ang ganda pala ni Tiffany?"

"'Di ba? They said she's the class valedictorian din ng high school batch nila."

I heaved a sigh as I heard the usual chatters from the students. Sana lang kung mag-uusap sila tungkol sa akin ay hindi ko naririnig.

Alice snickered. "Sikat ka na talaga."

"Well, she's one of the Campus Princesses," Yna added.

I rolled my eyes at them. "Aanhin ko naman ang title na 'yan?"

Nagpatuloy ako sa paglalakad habang nakasunod sila sa akin. At ganoon din ang tingin ng ilang estudyanteng nadaraanan namin.

"Huy, at least you're one of them," sabi ni Alice habang naglalakad sa tabi ko. "Ang dami kayang gustong maging Campus Princess."

"Eh 'di sa kanila na," I muttered. "I don't want it."

Honestly, I didn't want to study here, but these two pressured me. Kingdom University is well-known among the wealthy families and my parents wanted me to enroll here, too, since most of their colleagues were from this university. Academic-wise, it's a good institution but I don't like the concept of having "royalties" here.

Yeah. There are royalties in this place, but that does not mean they have a royal blood or something.

It's like a caste system where the topnotchers in the entrance exam who are deemed "beautiful" in their standards are given the titles Campus Princes and Princesses. At sa mga hindi pumasa sa standards nila, they are called Brains of the Campus naman. See how unfair and discriminatory is that?

And just my bad luck, I was the fifth placer. I thought I'd just get a good or passing grade since I did not prepare much for the exam, but I underestimated myself. Or maybe the test was just easier than what I had expected. Worse thing was they posted the ten new princes and princesses on the announcement board. Oh god.

"Steff!" called Alice. "Let's go. Gusto mo bang ma-late sa first day natin? Nasa room na si Yna."

I let out a deep breath and followed her. Thank goodness wala pa ang prof namin nang makarating kami sa room.

"Uy, look, isn't she one of the Campus Princess?"

"Really? Ang pretty nga. No wonder."

I had to restrain myself not to roll my eyes at them. I appreciate the compliments but hearing them every few minutes was too much! Hindi naman ako celebrity!

"Good morning, class."

Napatingin naman ako sa pintuan. Fortunately, nandito na ang prof namin kaya tumahimik na ang lahat. Nilibot niya ang tingin niya sa class. He met my gaze, and I was surprised when he beamed at me.

"Oh," he exclaimed. "There are two campus princesses here."

Oh, god, please no!

"Ms. Tiffany Damian and Ms. Alexa Natividad," he announced.

Our classmates murmured among each other, trying to find out who he was talking about. Napatingin ang ilan sa akin. Some looked at the girl at the front row. She had long black hair and porcelain skin that highlighted her soft and pretty features. That must be Alexa Natividad.