Chapter Una
Kailan Valentine despised humanity. No matter how many times she thought her mind would change, something always messed up and proved her point yet again. Being half Korean, but born in London, she did not go unaware of the lingering eyes and surprised glances. Especially once they saw the bruises around her neck. After a while and many teacher conferences, she learned to cover those up. But it’s not always easy to cover up the bruises on the heart.
Her life was void of any parental love; it became normal to her after surviving many years of her abusive father. Her mother had left many years ago, the night after swearing that she would never leave her daughter alone. But that was just how life worked, you start thinking your rule the world, but then you’re swept off your feet and knocked around in the wind mercilessly. If someone ever told you any different, they clearly didn’t care enough about you to speak the truth.
The last straw for her was the day she graduated high school. Every one of her classmate’s parents had came, except her own. When she got home and asked her father about it, trying to maintain the sliver of hope she had in him left, he broke her spirits and broke her heart in two. “Why would I go there?” He guffawed, “You think I loved you? How pathetic do you think I am?” She stood there, unmoving. Why had she let herself believe in him anyways? Then she ran, ran away from him, from life, from reality. She packed up and didn’t come back. There was nothing left for her anyways.
3 Years Later
Kailan
“Kai! I can’t beleive you’re leaving me!” Ayla whined in her cute little French accent. “It’s just for a year.” I laughed, “America isn’t that far from London.” She blinked at me, dumbfounded, “What are you talking about? It’s literally an entire continent away.” I snorted, “I knew that. Maybe. But America has a really good literary program, and I dunno. I’ve been putting off meeting my half brother, I just-” I shrugged. I hadn’t known that I actually had a brother until just recently. I guess my mom got around good.
“Okay, fine.” She pouted, “But you have to face time me every day, and come up with come backs for me to yell at Sabrina in the middle of math class, and give me cooking classes over call, and once you become a famous author thing you need to dedicate a book to me.” I raised an eyebrow at her, “Author thing? Is that what they’re known as these days? And Sabrina won’t be the worst roommate, she just won’t be better than me.”
“Whatever.” She rolled her eyes, “I’m gonna miss you though.” I laughed, “Yeah, I know. But it’s just a year, and you can visit whenever you feel like it.” She nodded, and then leaped on me, hugging me tight. “Call me when you get off the plane.” She said. And then I waved, said my goodbyes, and left the dorm that had been my home for years now.
Ayla Lilou, my best friend, actually my only friend, was what you would call...unique. She was from France and came to London to work on her law degree, it was an ideal job for her, because dayum she was good at arguing. She was my roommate and was so bubbly I figured I’d be peopled out before I even got out of the dorm in the morning. But it worked out. She had stood up for me the first week I had came to the University, and then we became inseparable since then. Even now it felt like I was leaving something important behind. But nevertheless, progress beckons. As does change.
When I made it to the airport, I realized I was still quite early, being my punctual self and all. After checking in, and ordering a coffee I plopped into a chair, and pulled out my phone, putting in my air pods and turning on my music. I narrowed my eyes as my gaze suddenly shifted to the entrance of the airport. There was a guy, and if he was anything like any other guys I had seen before, I wouldn’t be staring. He was wearing a dark, tight-fitting suit, and his black hair was flawlessly swooped over his forehead. I blinked, watching as two similarly dressed man followed closely behind him, their eyes scanning the area watchfully.
I shrugged, deciding that I wasn’t gonna be that one kid who always got caught awkwardly staring, and went back to scrolling on my phone. I sipped on my coffee, and pursed my lips, patience was never my thing. Finally, as if hearing my thoughts, the intercom buzzed on and called that my flight was boarding. I walked somewhat quickly, relieved to finally be in motion again. As I boarded, I scanned the rows for my seat, finally finding the number and drifting over. After storing my luggage, I sat down, happy that I had a window seat. I gazed out the window and stifled a yawn.
Suddenly I felt a light tap on my shoulder, I turned around and raised an eyebrow. That’s when I realized it was the dark suit guy I had seen earlier. He pointed to his ear, and I tilted my head, confused, until I realized what he was doing. I took out my air pods and looked at him, “Yeah?” He chuckled, “Darling, I think this is yours.” He nodded to the coffee I must’ve placed in his seat. “Oh,” I said, picking it up, “My bad.” I paused and narrowed my eyes at him, what the hell? “Did you just call me darling?” I accidentally asked aloud. He chuckled again, “Would you prefer princess?”
I blinked at him, dumbfounded, “Nope, not really.” He nodded and sat down, “It’s settled then.” I snorted, shrugging and taking a sip of my coffee. I licked my lips, and sat back in my seat, reveling at the different taste of my drink. The man next to me groaned, seemingly frustrated, and looked away. I turned to him, “The hell?” I asked. “Don’t do that.” He warned, not meeting my eyes. “Do what?” I questioned, a yawn slipping out. I was so tired. “God, you’ll be the death of me.” He whispered, “This will all be solved when you’re finally mine.” I raised an eyebrow at him questioningly, but my mouth didn’t seem able to form any words and my eyes were drooping. The last words I heard were, “Sogni d’oro bella.” Was that...Italian? And then my eyes drifted close, my world enveloping in darkness.
