Ivy stood among the girls, towering over them with an awkward grace. Her heart pounded with a mix of dread and determination. She smoothed her primary school uniform, feeling the sting of being out of place at eighteen years old. "Another day, another exam," she muttered to herself, trying to shake off the weight of judgmental stares.
The hall was bustling with activity, the chatter of students mingling with the rustle of exam papers. Ivy couldn't help but notice the amused glances from her ex-classmates, there to support their siblings. Lily, once a rival, caught Ivy's eye and smirked. "Looks like someone missed the memo on growing up," Lily teased, her voice dripping with condescension.
Ivy's hands trembled slightly as she flipped through the exam booklet, the questions blurring into one another. She glanced around, watching the younger students scribble confidently. The contrast was stark and discouraging. "I can do this," she whispered, trying to steady her nerves.
The principal stepped forward, reading aloud the list of accepted students. Ivy's heart pounded in her chest, each name a reminder of what was slipping away. When the list ended without her, she felt the sting of rejection once more. "Not again," she thought, her shoulders slumping under the weight of disappointment.
The final school was her last chance, and Ivy's heart was heavy with a mix of hope and resignation. As she entered the interview room, her eyes met Lily's. For a moment, neither spoke, the air thick with unspoken history. "Let's see what you've got," Lily said, her tone surprisingly neutral.
The interview was grueling, with Lily probing at Ivy's weaknesses and intentionally offer primary school grade 4 enrollment to other, while all other participant are offered for of middle school, “this just a pinafore school uniform to get used”, Ivy to accept it in defeated and humiliation in front of younger participants who are pity to Ivy
