A HOPE
It was a month of June. A dead end for every students vacation, including mine. I had to join this new college in Texas which starts tomorrow. I have no idea how this is going to change my life but this is what I hope for. A change. Because for the past few years I have been a loner and the most important thing is I hated to be alone. It doesn’t even worth remembering. I was stuck in my room during holidays and it has been rough. So I worked in my dad’s restaurant as a part timer. Whenever I have to kill my time I end up there doing some work. But that was way more fun.
There were five part timers who are about the same age as mine. I can tell that they loved to work at our restaurant because they enjoyed each others company, just like I did. They are Vincent, Sandra, Garret, Linda and Eric. Vincent and Sandra are going to attend the same college with me since they are dating. Garret is a year younger. Linda and Eric were siblings who lost their parents in a car accident. So they had to do this part time for a living. But these kids never showed their sad face to anyone. It is not like they don’t want to open up their emotions to anyone but they wanted to move on. Even sometimes I feel like Linda and Eric are supporting each other by being brave for each other. They learnt to live under any circumstances and seeing that makes me strong.
My dad doesn’t want me to work at his restaurant at first but he was also worried that he leaves me alone too much. So he agreed halfheartedly. And that lead a way to them. But they are like a family now. Linda was very close to me and she often says that her perfect hangout was me because no one can tolerate such a chatter box. But I enjoy her company too. And at sometimes I felt sorry about her parents and I really wished that she could have a bright future.
My mind was interrupted by my ringing cellphone. It was Linda.
“Thousand years.“I said instead of hello.
“Ahh.....Caroline Nichol,“she laughed through the phone”missing me already? What’s up?“she asked.
“Nothing much, ready for bed.”
“Ready for what? Come on Caroline! I thought you would call me and beat the hell out of me with your previous day’s excitement for your college, but you.........“that last word screeched through the phone making my ears go numb”Aren’t you even excited? Everything is going to be new tomorrow . Don’t you think?”
“Of course it is. But I wish I should not meet any vampire like Bella did.“I smirked through the phone.
“All you think about is your novel stuff! Seriously?“she laughed.
“Okay! But I really hope for a change this year.”
“Change? What change?“she asked.
“Uh....I don’t know. I don’t really have an answer for that. A change that is never going to happen.“I told my mind wandering somewhere.
“Caroline......If you really want something, wish for it” she said in a soft voice.
I huffed a deep breadth.
“Thank you, Linda.”
“Never mind, Good night.”
I knew she hung up but I said good night and smiled.
I laid down on my bed thinking about what Linda said. If I wholeheartedly wish for something to happen, will it come true? I gave a thought about it and when I dozed off to sleep I felt a moisture in my eyes.
Next morning, I got ready and came downstairs. My dad was making breakfast. His lips curled up when he saw me. His smile is the only thing which will make all my worries to go down the drain. My mom died giving birth to me. From that day he is the only hope I have in my life.
“Morning Caroline.” he wished me.
“Good morning, dad. Breakfast ready?”
“Yes Mam.” he smiled.
I sat in the dinning table next to him. He served me the breakfast and took the newspaper to read. But he kept it aside and tried to make conversation.
“Excited for your.....first day?“he asked me.
“Yeah. I am.” I grinned.
“But you don’t look like one.“he said.
“Why not?” I exclaimed”Guess what? I really hope that this year is gonna be great.” I tried to look like one.
“Really? Then I have some good news to feed.” he said smiling.
I waited curiously chewing the food.
“Your brother is returning home.” he announced.
The food got stuck in my throat. My eyes widened.
“What? Dad.” I asked him again just in case I heard him wrong.
“Your brother John. He is returning home. And the another good news is he finished his college.”
THEN PROBABLY I SHOULD DIG A GRAVE FOR MYSELF. AHH.....I DON’T HAVE TO DO THAT, IT WILL HAPPEN EVENTUALLY.
“Wow! Dad.....that’s.....that’s great,” I stutter with words and I couldn’t meet his eyes”when he is coming?” I asked.
“Within two weeks. I think.” he said flatly.
When my father read my expression, he patted my shoulder and I grinned at him.
“I know what you are thinking about, Caroline. Don’t judge him. He likes you more than anything.” he said.
“I am not judging him, dad. I am just wondering what he thinks about me. Do you really think that he will like me?“I asked him, worried.
“Of course, my dear. Don’t worry. You will know once he arrives until then don’t worry about it. Okay?” He said patting my shoulder and I nodded.
While patting he looked at his watch.
“Oh my god!” He looked at his watch shockingly.
“What happened?” I asked.
“Actually I have to go to the restaurant a little bit early today. Do you want me to drop you? You don’t look too good to drive now.” he asked.
“No dad. I am fine. Just go, I can drive myself.“I smiled at him warmly.
“Then that’s good. I will leave now. Have a great day. Bye.”
He gave a small peck on my forehead and rushed outside.
“Bye dad.” I called after him.
I wasn’t hungry at all and choked at every bite. Actually what I couldn’t take was not the food but the news.
NEWS FLASH: MY ARROGANT BIG BROTHER IS RETURNING HOME.
I sighed at the thought. I didn’t want to be late for my first day. So I picked up my stuff and shoved it in my car. It is a Volkswagen. A graduation gift from my dad. I wondered what will be John’s homecoming present. I rolled my eyes and drive out of my house.
Despite trying hard not to think about him, the memories flashed through my eyes. To say exactly we were like north and south pole. Ofcourse every siblings would be like that. But none of them would push your brother through the stairs from the first floor. But I did. Even though it was not intentional a wave of guilt washed over me. I couldn’t even look at him in the eye after that incident. Not only because of guilt but also the scar that left in his eyebrow. I couldn’t remember which side of the eyebrow but I bet its still there.
After his recovery, John himself suggested to study abroad. He went Germany when he was thirteen and now he is........
TWENTY ONE!
REALLY? YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!
DOES THAT MEAN HE HASN’T TALKED TO ME FOR EIGHT YEARS?
I sighed but it came out like a laugh. You deserve it Caroline. It’s obvious that he still hates you. He would probably drive something into my heart when he would see me, like an anxious vampire hunter kills the vampire at his first sight.
OH! NOVEL ME. PLEASE SHUT UP.
But I really missed him.
A lot.
***
It took just fifteen minutes to drive to my college but it took twenty minutes to find a parking space. The weather was really good today and I could see many kids in the parking lot surrounding something that I couldn’t see. I ignored them and rushed outside of my car gathering my stuff.
“Hey Caroline. There you are.“a tall blonde girl waved at me.
It was Ana. We were classmates since our seventh grade. She walked toward my direction while I waved back. On seeing Ana I wondered about my new classmates.
“Hey!“she greeted me breathing heavily.
“Hi Ana.”
“Wow......nice car.“she said noticing my car Volkswagen.
“Yeah, a gift from my dad.“I replied to her and the crowd in the parking lot caught my eyes again.
“I wonder what’s going on there?“I asked Ana out of curiosity.
My question caught her attention.
“You mean that parking lot crowd?“her eyebrows arched with a small amusement on her face.
“Yeah?”
“Some Mr.Money’s race car Porsche. Trust me we would rather stare at his face than his car. I wonder which class he might be.”
I elbowed her to stop but she ignored and continued.
OH! ANA WILLIAMS. PLEASE STOP IT IF YOU DON’T WANT TO STAB YOURSELF.
“You should have seen his face Caroline. Trust me, he catches every girls attention. I don’t think he will have a girlfriend, will he? Better not. Others girls will go crazy if he does.”
“Uhhh.......“I opened my mouth not sure what to say” I don’t know about his girlfriend but you do have a boyfriend who is right behind you.”
She winced at my sudden information while Aaron was suppressing a laugh and silently greeted me. Ana hesitated before turning to face him. She was embarrassed of being caught up by her boyfriend.
“Ana, You were saying something?” Aaron asked cockily.
“Ahh.....I was?“Ana asked me.
“What?” I asked “Don’t involve me in you love fights. I just love to watch them.” I winked at Ana.
Aaron and Ana started dating recently. So their little fights fascinate me so much. Aaron George was also our classmate. He used to be Ana’s learning buddy.
“I wish I could stab myself.“Ana frowned.
“I know.” I replied.
I excused myself from the new dating couples to collect my schedule. I found that my first class is math.
I sighed.
WHY SHOULD THIS DAY START WITH A MATH CLASS?
I know I was a little late for my first hour. Aaron and Ana was there but unfortunately only one empty seat was there which was far away from them. That hour went really blur.
My second hour was English. The classroom was almost like a football stadium when I entered. Only few noticed my presence and others were too busy shoving and teasing one another. I hesitantly took the front seat. I gathered some courage to turn around. And when I did, I realized that there was none of them I had known earlier and to the top of it they seemed really arrogant. I wanted to run out of the class at that moment but all I did was a sigh.
I checked my phone hoping that I would get some distraction. Suddenly a noise behind me faded. I could see that someone arrived at the door. Must be the professor but my inner conscience said that it’s not. I looked up to see who it was. A small pat to my inner conscience. It was not a professor just a student. It was a little late that I realized It was him. The same familiar grey eyes. The same smile. The same him.
HIM!
