Chapter 3: Belinda
Barnes was handed the admission forms that he read through while scrutinizing them. The dean of academics knew he had lost a gem and decided to swallow his loss and grievances.
"I am okay with everything! All the rules and regulations seem to be fair enough, they haven't changed a little bit!" Bronson spoke after reading through the forms and placed his signature on the form to signify his consent to be enrolled in Lumos academy again, but this time for A-level.
He handed the forms with his signature back to the dean of academics and retained the forms that required his parent's signature. "I will take back these home for my 'grandpa' to sign." The term he used to show his fondness with his grandfather was grandpa.
He was his grandfather's beloved first grandson and grandchild. His father was also the first born of the Bronson family. That further increased his favor before his grandfather.
"It's fine! Make sure you send my greetings to the old man! And wish him a long, prosperous and healthy life." The dean took advantage of the opportunity to indirectly speak to the patriarchal head of the Bronson family.
"Of course! I will convey your greetings and wishes to him; probably he might pay the school a visit soon! I will relay the message to you as soon as he informs me of his plans."
"Well that's great! I will be honored to have a visit from the family head himself." The dean of academics replied in a cheerful and delightful tone.
Barnes decided to take his leave after the exchanges with the dean of academics; "Mr Marven thanks for the reminder and all the greetings to the family head. I would like to depart and head back home. Perhaps, I also have some other issues I want to settle before getting off the academy! I beg to take my leave." Bronson curtsied, as it was custom for the Bronson family with both their hands crossed on their chests as a sign of respect and showing the superiority of the other party that was curtsied to.
The dean of academics felt moved and hurriedly spoke "Ahh! I can see you have learnt well! You can take your leave then." He also stood up from his chair and tapped Barnes' shoulder to mean that he should straighten and stand upright as his respect was acknowledged and accepted. "I'll escort you to the reception." The dean of academics decided to go out with Barnes Bronson.
They strolled in the hallway towards the reception with the dean of academics walking ahead of Barnes with his hands folded behind his back. He walked with a slow gait like a dignitary. Barnes eyed him with a look of respect and reverence. As they came to the end of the hallway, the reception desk came into sight.
The beautiful receptionist looked at the dean of academics approaching with the young man trailing him and wondered "Who is this young man? He is personally escorted by the dean like a royal, yet he seems very humble from his appearance. I am very grateful that I didn't piss him off." Only if she knew that her deduction was correct, she would have been even more shocked than she was.
"Belinda, come and escort this honorable young man and make sure you don't mess up." The dean instructed the awestruck receptionist. He stopped at the reception and then he turned around to face Bronson "I have provided you a guide to help you reach any place you desire within here! I am going back to my office, I have some issues I was handling and therefore I need to go finish up, otherwise I would have personally guided you. I hope she is of help to you" the dean said while motioning to the receptionist to approach them and escort Barnes.
The dean started walking back to his office but he halted when Barnes started speaking.
"Thanks a lot Mr Marven. I will be sure to remember your care and effort." Barnes said and walked towards the door to exit the building.
The dean had a smile on his lips because he knew that Barnes really meant his words and would remember his kindness. He continued walking towards the hallway and he heard the glass door at the entrance of the building being opened and then closed.
"Belinda, I am fine on my own. You can go back to your work! I know this place like the back of my hand."
"Honorable sir, i would love to listen and obey your command but I'm afraid i can't because the dean will be very angry with me if i don't fulfill his assignment." The receptionist replied Barnes with a sullen and sorry look while she was overflowing with joy inside for getting the rare opportunity of walking with this elegant young man.
In her perspective he was stunning. It wasn't the hazelnut brown eye color that he had, neither was it the oily black wavy hair on his head. Neither was it his skin that had a glossy caramel color, nor his well built athletic body and height.
There was something about this youth. He had an air of confidence and seductiveness. It was like an aura in the Wuxia novels she read on-line in her time of boredom. It suppressed all her fears, alleviated her stress and gave her peace of mind. The only thing she desired and thought about was to own him and to forever dwell in his presence.
"You don't need to worry about the dean. I can personally speak to him and make sure you don't land in trouble! That is if you listen to me."
"Please just let me do my work sir! I don't want to lose my job." Belinda feigned innocence and helplessness.
"No! seriously Belinda, it's fine! Perhaps I am heading towards the A-level block and it's right in front of us. I'll just walk towards it from here. You can get going; you should have people waiting at the reception for you by now."
"Ok...Okay sir. Excuse me; I will go back to the reception." Belinda raised her eyes and looked at the A-level block that towered over the buildings nearby ahead of them and sorrowfully answered with a lot of disappointment. "I thought this moment would last longer, how foolish was I to think such a treasure would be mine." Belinda thought to herself as she walked back to the reception in the administration block.
...
Belinda was a 20 year old year-one university student studying from the local private university called the Team University. It wasn't a chartered university and therefore didn't have the authority to issue academic transcripts. The university had to pay fees to a chartered university in the central to offer examination services to their students and thus graduate them as off-campus students.
The difference between an on-campus student and an off-campus student in terms of accessibility to educational material, tutors and other nutrition and accommodation services was
Like the distance between the web and the dark web. It was astronomical, most of the times, the chartered universities in the central would scout for talents in other regions and take them to the major campuses and educate them.
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