Chapter 1
“Dad! I can’t find my pink socks!” I called out as I rummaged through the drawers. I swear it was here just yesterday. Honestly, how do I keep losing everything overnight?
“Which pink socks, honey?” he replied while making his way upstairs to my room. “The hello kitty ones. I know I put it here just last night,” I pouted, still looking through every drawer. “Hmm, what do we have here?” I turned around to him taking the socks out of the suitcase I just packed.
Oops. When did I put them in there?
“Is this how you’ll take care of yourself there?” He folded them once again and put them in the suitcase.
“Come on, dad. I’m not gonna stay here, no matter what excuse you give. Besides, I’ll have Carmen. Don’t worry,” I made my way into the washroom to grab my skincare products. “What if you’re not roommates?” Another excuse.
“Then we’ll switch. Easy.” I put everything in the bag and looked around one last time in case I forgot something. Again.
“Suit yourself, honey. Don’t forget to eat before you go,” he replied one last time before going back into the kitchen.
I know it’s hard for dad too. I’ve never left him alone after mom died. But I don’t have any choice this time. A 30-minutes drive to the university and another 30-minutes back home. That too if I don’t get caught up in traffic. It’s too tiresome. Then again, I’m old enough to be independent now. I guess I need to taste the dorm life now.
I zipped up my suitcase, carried it downstairs and placed it near the door.
“Dad, I’m all set,” I called out to him, as I slid my hands into my back pocket and gave him a proud grin.
“Here, eat this before you go,” he placed two sandwiches onto the table.
“Damn, you were in there for hours. I thought you’d be preparing some feast.” I took a bite of the sandwich. Ooo, it’s delicious.
“Yes, I’ll prepare a feast too. But when you come back home.”
“Mmm mm mmm (I haven’t even left yet and you’re already talking about me coming home)“, I spoke with my mouth full and possibly dropping some crumbs too.
“You’re still such a child. Eat quietly,” he started wiping the table. His habits remind me of mom.
A few minutes later.
“Okay, dad. I’m leaving now,” I laced an arm around his neck and carried the suitcase out with me.
“You sure you don’t need a drive?” he gave me a worried look.
I glanced at my watch. “Dad, you need to be in the office in precisely 20 minutes.”
“Oh, shoot. Now who’s gonna remember my schedule for me,” he smiled and kissed my forehead.
“Then why do you have a secretary?” I placed the suitcase into the boot and made my way towards the drivers seat.
“Drive safe, honey.”
“Bye, dad. I love you.”
“Love you too.”
Brookestone University, here I come.
***
Whew! That was one hell of a long drive.
I got out of the car and stretched my arms. “Aahhh!” Okay, much better now.
I looked around to see everyone dressed up like for some sort of fashion event.
“What’s up with them?” I knew I was giving everyone a dirty look and I had no intention of stopping anytime soon either. But a particular girl caught my eye.
Her head was flooded with extensions. She wore pencil heels that made an annoying clacking sound as she kept on walking here and there over the pavement. We’re still wearing pencil heels in 2023? A mini skirt, that covered nothing whatsoever, paired with a bustier. Not gonna lie, she did pull off the look. But isn’t too extreme considering the environment?
I looked down at my outfit. Tank top, baggy jeans and sneakers. Isn’t this what you normally wear to your classes?
“Today’s the orientation, dummy.” I turned around at that sudden reply.
“Oh my god! Carmen! When did you get here girl?” I ran up to my best friend and caught her in tight hug.
“Let’s see. Just a few minutes ago,” she put her arms around my waist and gave me a twirl.
“Okay, I get it! You can still do that. Let me down now!” I laughed.
The moment she put me down, her outfit caught my eyes. She looked fancy. Skin tight blouse with a mini skirt and boots. Hair nicely curled and tied in a high ponytail. Oh yes, and that Dior bag of hers. How could I forget that?
“Wow, you too! I look homeless in front of everybody,” I glanced around once again.
“Yeah, you do actually. But I texted you and told you to dress up for once in your life,” she said holding up her phone and showing me the messages.
“Yeah and look at the time. 2:40 PM. It’s 3:25 PM right now. You literally texted when I was leaving,” I pointed out. There was no way I’d be going in like that. I repeat, no way.
“You could always change, you know,” Carmen said eyeing me up and down.
“Yeah, going to.”
I walked over to the boot and opened my suitcase to find myself a change of clothing.
“By the way, did you see Emma Turner?”
“Who?”
“You know, the one who’s overdressed.”
I looked up to see the person Carmen was pointing to. “Oh, yeah her. Everyone’s looking at her. Stop pointing, though. And how do you know her again?”
“I don’t. Not personally. She’s an influencer.”
“Who did she influence?” I held out a top and showed it to her, “how about this?”
“I’d wear that to bed, Kan.” Her eyes lit up suddenly, “Oh my God! Oh my God! Wear that. I swear wear that,” She pointed to my butterfly strappy crop top.
“Ooh, cute. Alright, wait here a second.”
As I made my way to the washroom, my surroundings reminded me once again, of how hideous I looked in front of everyone. To be honest, I thought students of prestigious universities don’t know how to dress up. But every day proves just how wrong I always am.
I was just a few steps away from the washroom when someone bumped into me. Not just bumped, but spilled their coffee all over me. Yep, hot coffee. Offensively hot coffee.
“What the hell, dude!?” I yelled at him.
“Oh, shit. Sorry. Did I burn you?” I looked up and saw a guy.
He was tall with an athletic build. Those perfect muscles were clearly visible even under the shirt. He could easily lift me up and I wouldn’t be mad. He had light brown hair with a few curls here and there. His hair had been styled in a pretty neat way that kept everything out of his face. His face, though. Freshly shaved and drenched in after shave. I could literally smell it from here. He locked his eyes with mine. Hazel eyes piercing right into my soul. There was a tiny little spark in his eyes that made my heart skip a beat. My eyes lowered and stopped at his lips. Pink and plump, curved a little from the edges. Okay, but his jawline. Chiseled jawline which could cut diamonds and maybe hearts too. His eyebrows were a little raised up, probably depicting the concern he felt from his actions. A little bit of red on the tip of his nose was really the cherry on top. Damn, he was pretty.
He finally shifted his gaze from my eyes and stopped at my hands.
“I see you were already going to change. So we’re cool, okay?” His words snapped me back into reality. That wasn’t very pretty of him.
“You burnt my fucking arm, you moron!” I yelled at him, as he was walking away from the crime scene. He turned to look back.
“Stop creating a scene and get over it.”
Just that. With that, he walked away.
I clenched my fists. My blood was boiling, ears hot. My face was flushed with anger. Breathing, heavy and labored. I pulled at my hair, obviously not able to think straight. I raised my hand up to my lips and started biting on my nails.
“Kan! Hey, Kan! Don’t do anything outrageous!” Carmen called out, grabbing everyone’s attention as she came running towards me.
At that very moment, the jerk turned around to face me once again. However, his expressions were totally polar opposite from before. He looked almost as if he was surprised or maybe, I don’t know, shocked. But that’s not the point. He was facing me again. The audacity. Perfect.
I raised my right leg while I bent to level my hand with my foot. I took off my sneaker and launched it right into the air, him being the target. The shoe flew up, cutting through the air as it made its way across. It all happened way too quickly. Maybe, his reflexes weren’t too great. But I hit it. I hit bullseye. The shoe got him right at the face. He held his face and dropped down. Did it hurt that much?
“Kan!” Carmen finally caught up with me and held my hand. “Leave him there. Let’s go!” But I didn’t budge. He was still down on his knees, groaning, as people started to gather round. “Come on now!” I followed her into the washroom.
“What the fuck, Kan?”
“I don’t know. He burnt me first!” I said showing her my arm, which now had a red bruise all the way from the elbow to my wrist.
“I hope it doesn’t scar. Let’s wash it,” she held my arm and started cleaning the scar with cold water. “Why’d you have to hit him, though?” I looked at her. She was right. I went overboard.
“You could’ve just burnt him too. I mean, not actually burn. Don’t put him on fire next time,” she held my gaze. I rolled my eyes. That’s when it hit me. I screamed.
“Did I hurt you!? What happened!?”
“Carmen, my shoe! It’s still there,” I worriedly said.
“I’ll go get it. You go change by then.”
I went into the washroom stall. I held my shirt from its edges. Just as I was about to lift it over my head, the fabric touched my skin and sent a wave of pain all the way to my shoulders. I cautiously changed shirts and came out. There she was, leaning against the door of another stall.
“Someone took it, Kan. It’s not there,” she said while passing me a dirty look.
“What’s someone got to do with one shoe? What the hell?”
“Guess you gotta change and say goodbye to your sneakers,” she shrugged.
“Those were my favorite, you know,” I pouted as she intertwined her arms with mine. “I’ll buy you another pair.”
“Oh, oh, by the way,” she started squealing with joy, “you just met Jesper Gade, Emma Turner’s boyfriend. They’re Instafamous.”
“Oh, so the jerk’s called Jesper.”
“Did you see how he looked? Boy looked just like you,” Carmen spoke as she stared into the distance.
“I don’t know. Cute?”
“No, dummy. Homeless. He was dressed homeless like you,” she broke into laughter as if she cracked the funniest joke of the century, “did you think he’s cute?”
“Shut the fuck up.”
I rummaged through the suitcase for another pair. “I guess these faux slippers will do it. Come on now.”
We both went where everyone else was going and entered the auditorium.
I hope I don’t run into him!
