Chapter 3

A hard smack lands on my back, dragging my attention back to my friends. 

 

“Ow, what the heck is wrong with you?” I exclaim, glaring hard at Rose for such a prosperous act. 

 

“You are zoning out like a zombie; bring your mind back to the present.” She snaps, eyeing me before hissing loudly. 

 

Oh, the guts of this girl. 

 

“I am not zoning out; I just decided not to participate in the conversation. Can't I be quiet in peace?” I lie through my teeth. 

 

I wasn't going to listen to any words that came out of either hers or Rafael’s mouth. 

 

I was thinking about a certain man. One who I don't even know his name. 

 

“Huh, if you were listening so keenly, tell us what we were talking about.” Rafael had to be the spawn of the devil sent to me this sunny day. 

 

I open my mouth to speak, then slam it shut back, knowing fully well that I wasn't paying attention. 

 

“Yeah right, close that trash you call a mouth.” Rose sneers, rolling her eyes at me as if I am impossible to deal with. 

 

Rafael simply shakes his head at me, “In my defence, you both were not talking about anything that caught my attention.” I quip, trying to not make it seem totally like my fault. 

 

“Yeah, right, as if Rose having sex with Remi isn't enough gist.” Rafael rolls his eye.

 

“Exactly what I mean—wait, what!!!” I shout as soon as my brain finishes processing the words. 

 

“See, you weren't listening.” Raf confirms while Rose makes a failed attempt to hide her face. 

 

“Forget about me not listening. What the heck did you just say? Rose and Remington? How? When? Most importantly, where?” I ramble, practically bouncing on my seat. 

 

Rose has been crushing on Remington Asher since forever, but she just never made a move.

 

Remi is a popular guy here at New York University. He is the famous quarterback of the NYU hockey players. 

 

Girls flock around him like bees stick to honey, and yet all he does is sleep and dump girls. 

 

Though Rose knows this, she claims to only want to have sex with him and nothing else. I don't believe her, but I hope for her heart that it's true. 

 

She doesn't believe in love, but she does believe in sleeping with whoever she is crushing on. And Remi has been on her shagging list for almost a year now, which is something she never does. 

 

When I try to pin it on something else, like her emotions, she goes bonkers on me, so I don't even bother. 

 

“It actually happened at the party we attended last night that you refused to be a part of.” Rose states, emphasising that I am not tagging along. 

 

They had invited me for the party being held at the hockey house last night, but I declined. 

 

If there is one thing I am sure of, it is that Annie will be there, and she will not only embarrass me but also make my life a living hell.

 

I refuse to put myself in such a situation; besides, nothing fun happens at parties except getting drunk and having baseless sex. 

 

We talk about everything that happened in my absence, how it started with a kiss from a truth-or-dare game they played before it escalated to something more. 

 

Another reason why I hate college parties. They feel they're grown up, so they can do whatever they want, and scott free. 

 

I really can't wait to graduate from this school so I can get a job and start planning to move from my parents house. 

 

After promising to spend some more time with them, they finally let me go to class. 

 

I really can't stop thinking about the man I saved. It's been a week plus now, and he is still stuck in my head. 

 

It's like he rented an apartment in my brain because I don't have the slightest idea what he is doing lurking in my head. 

 

Those sharp jaws, pointed lips, and soft, silky brunette hair. 

 

At that moment I couldn't admire him, but now I can't help recalling his beautiful face as he lay lifeless. 

 

I do hope he is okay, and even though we never meet again, it's fine. I will just carry a piece of him with me. 

 

Our lecturer walks into class, so I shut down any memory of the unconscious man hunting my dreams. 

 

*

 

I skidded home a bit happy today; my drawing got some compliments from my lecturer today. 

 

As a third-year art major, it is high time people started appreciating my work. 

 

A silver car slows down besides me, and I turn to look at the car only to recognise it as Annie's car.

 

What does she want? Is she here to laugh at me because I am not loved? 

 

The window screen slowly winds down as she pokes her head through the window. 

 

“Get in the car, my mum, and Day wants you home immediately, so I have no choice left but to give your disgusting self a ride.” She snaps, smirking at me while relaying the message. 

 

 

Knowing fully well that arguing with her is a waste of my darn time, so I hop in. 

 

She snickers, and moans, and groans every time I claim them all. 

 

We arrive home with me not saying a single word to her as she chats and texts while, in turn, she is not to bother me. 

 

The living room is quiet, the only sign of life being my whole family in the room. 

 

It has never happened, so I am even more stunned that I am called for the meeting. 

 

I take my seat far away from the rest of the family, not wanting anything to be cursed at or beaten for. 

 

“Mum and Dad have some exciting news for you…” Annie's voice chills, like she has been waiting for this moment all her life. 

 

It was at this moment I knew that bad luck is the news they want to give me. 

 

“Prepare yourself; you are getting married,” Mum finally drops the bomb. 

 

What!!!!