Sarina didn't have any words to describe the emotions she was feeling at that moment. Her eyes blank, as she stared at the distinctly familiar old school building in front of her.
That faded paint on the walls along with the loud chatter of the children neatly dressed in their school uniform as they excitedly ran to meet their friends after a long vacation.
Sarina simply couldn't believe she actually had the chance to experience it all again.
She could finally make up for one of her biggest regrets from her past life; to make friends and live her school life to the fullest.
'Since I have gotten a chance to do it again, I will definitely enjoy and cherish this school life, fulfilling all my wild fantasies I had once dreamed of, making memories that would make me laugh for a lifetime.'
Taking a deep breath, Sarina solemnly vowed as she took her first step on the path, she was paving for herself with a huge smile on her face.
"Let's go to your classroom first Leo and Mila." Clara suggested; snapping Sarina out of her daze as the family of five made their way to the kindergarten section.
The twins were in their last year of kindergarten and will be starting with elementary school next year.
"Kids, behave well and study hard, ok. Always remember, your mom, dad and elder sister loves you the most. Be each other's strength. We protect as family, not fight among each other."
Standing outside the classroom, Adrian gently kneeled down in front of the twins. Taking their hands in his own, he solemnly reminded them before lovingly pecking their forehead.
"All the best my kids." Clara genuinely wished as she also knelt down by Adrian's side and endearingly kissed their cheeks.
"Don't get too much mischievous that your teacher has to call me, ok. But that also doesn't mean you don't enjoy your school life. Best of luck my munchkins. Go now, it's getting late."
Caressing their hair, Sarina playfully warned and reminded before rushing them to go inside.
"Bye mom, dad and sister. Love you." The twins excitedly said; waving their hands as they elatedly ran inside the classroom.
"With them gone, we should also go to the principal's office." Adrian said once he was sure the twins were seated properly on their desks.
Clara and Sarina also nodded in agreement as they made their way to the administrative building in the center of the entire school.
"Are you really sure you want to skip so many grades Sarina? You know you can still rethink about your decision." Clara once again asked, feeling worried for eldest daughter.
She didn't want Sarina to feel pressured or forced to adjust to an environment not suitable for her age. She had seen her daughter work hard, continuously giving more than what she should at her age.
She felt really scared at the thought that if Sarina failed today, she may lose her confidence and self-esteem she had worked so hard to build.
How could Sarina not recognize all the worries and fear in Clara's voice but she also knew that her mother was asking this again not to demotivate her but to make sure if she was really prepared to face the consequences of her actions.
"Relax mom. I am sure I want to do this. Besides, even if I fail to achieve my goal today, I still won't give up, neither on my dreams nor on myself."
Sarina seriously said as the three reached the office.
"Clara, have some confidence in our daughter. She will never do something she isn't sure of." Adrian calmly told his wife before knocking on the door in front of them.
"Come in." A middle-aged woman's voice came from inside.
Sarina calmly pushed open the door and confidently stepped inside.
The office only had two people inside. The principal herself, sitting composedly at her seat with a file in her hand along with a young woman, maybe in her late 20s sitting on the opposite chair.
"Good morning, ma'am." Sarina courteously greeted the principal before giving a polite nod to the other lady as well.
"Can you just give me five minutes? We will continue our discussion after that…..Yes, how may I help you?"
Glancing at the lady sitting in front of her, the principal asked or better to say informed before gesturing Adrian and Clara to take a seat.
The lady, getting the cue patiently stood up, giving the seats to them but didn't leave the office.
"Hello ma'am. I am Adrian Rowan and this is my wife, Clara. Our daughter Sarina has finished her fourth grade and wants to skip a grade."
Adrian, though feeling quite nervous, still maintained his momentum and seriously stated his purpose.
The principal and the lady were both a little taken aback when they heard Adrian's words; taking a glance at the quiet yet composed girl on the side.
"Sarina, right? So, tell me dear, why do you want to skip a grade? If someone is bullying you or if there is something like that, we can change sections as well."
Facing the poised and radiant girl, the principal asked, only continuing after getting a nod from Sarina, trying to figure out the reason behind the sudden decision.
Just like Adrian and Clara, the first thought that came to her mind was that she had faced some kind of bullying which led to such a surprising decision.
Even the woman standing on the side, feeling confused and curious to know the reason behind her impulsive decision.
Skipping a grade was a very rare occurrence to them and even that happened only in kindergarten. For an elementary school child to skip a grade, they had never seen it.
Sarina was also obviously prepared for such questions. She knew that in a third-tier city like hers, no one could even think about something like this even in their wildest dreams.
"You got it wrong ma'am. No one bullied me. Everyone is very nice to me. It is just that I don't find my current grade challenging enough.
I want to challenge myself, to find out where my limits lie. I know and believe that I can easily handle all pressure of a higher grade and ace it as well."
Looking straight into the principal's eyes, Sarina truthfully said. Her words brimming with passion and firmness to prove herself.
Looking at the little girl's determination, even the principal was pleasantly surprised. She suddenly had this vision that the girl in front of her will shake the entire world in the near future.
What she didn't know was that how right she was at that moment. Years later when Sarina came to visit her, she will remember this day and laugh in delight for having her as a student.
But that is for far later in the future, coming back to the present, the principal glanced at the lady standing by the side and sighed.
"So, you want to skip the last year of elementary school and jump directly into middle school?" The principal asked once again, trying to make sure if Sarina was really up for it.
"No, I want to skip the last year of elementary school along with first three years of middle school and jump directly into the last year of middle school."
Sarina boldly announced; her words sending the entire room into a deep silence of shock which was disturbed by the scoff of the lady standing by the side.
"You must have a really big appetite, no? Skipping four grades at once!? Why don't you just give the national high school entrance exam directly then?"
The lady cockily said as she looked at Sarina in disdain.
"Thank God I still haven't accepted the offer to teach at this school. The students here are too arrogant and conceited to believe that they can even skip grades like that."
She haughtily continued as the contempt in her voice became more and more evident.
Adrian, Clara and the principal's face turned completely black by now as they glared at the lady in anger for disrespecting their daughter and school.
Sarina also glanced at her; her expression calm and indifferent. She was very familiar with people like her.
She could tell at a glance that lady belonged to a first-tier city and clearly looked down on their school.
She was probably here to gain experience but what she didn't know was that if she was to really stay here, she had to adapt to the rules here otherwise sooner or later she will definitely learn it the hard way.
And sure enough, the principal's next words made her face turn red and black in anger and embarrassment for being called out like that in front of everyone.
"Miss Shelly let me remind you where you are standing. This is neither your city nor your home. You do not disrespect my students in front of me.
Whether Sarina can do it or not is a decision for me to take. I do not need your opinion in that at all. Am I clear enough?"
Giving Miss Shelly a piece of her mind, the principal once again brought her attention back to Sarina.
Sarina dear, are you sure you want to skip so many grades together? If you want more time to think it through again, you can." She asked once again.
"Yes ma'am I am sure I want to do this." Sarina repeated herself once again making Miss Shelly scoff once again.
Giving Miss Shelly a warning glare, the principal nodded in acceptance before picking up her phone.
"Call the teachers from grade 5 to grade 8 in my office.....immediately"
The real test.....was just about to begin.