Chapter One

            “Perhaps, the greatest risk any of us will ever take is to be seen as who we really are.” I stated dreamily while holding a medium wand that my father bought for me thirteen years ago. My left foot took a step forward as I smile heartily with both of my hands clasp altogether as I look up in the sky, remembering my favourite fairy tale, Cinderella.

My best friend, Everleigh, sighed as she peel off the mask of a tangerine. “You are twenty-one year old with boyfriend who still believes such fairy tales.” She made a tsk sound before taking two slices of tangerine inside her mouth. “Come on girl, we are living in 21^st century where people booze up in bars and clubs, butt-party all night, make love and travel from time to time! You do not expect someone to live inside a story book and wait for a Cinderella-like story that your boyfriend could not even give you!”

I certainly gasp, pushing my wand to her side with my brows crossed. “Elric is a Prince Charming, you should not say bad things to him.” I murmured then I put down the wand on my side. Why does she keeps on pushing me away from Elric? I mean, she is supposed to support me and my love for my boyfiend but Everleigh keeps on telling me not to love the man too much. Elric has been my first time boyfriend since I am a bit picky on whom to love and now that I am with him, my best friend is still not convinced with our love story. I mean, I know that she just loves me more than anyone in this world but I think it is time for her to trust us with this?

Despite the thoughts inside me, I just bit my lower lip with a little smile obviously plastered on my face as I look outside our balcony. It is almost sunset and the whole place is covered with an orange-yellow rays from the sunlight. The busy highway below shows it is already rush hour and the traffic jam is seriously mad right now. Leigh hissed from my side so I look at her, now putting her tangerine aside just to face me.  I sat back from my chair while blinking, watching her seriously staring at me with an obvious annoyance on her face.

“I did not became your best friend for no reason, Dionne Fay. And all I want for you is to be happy because you deserve all the happiness in this world but please, wake up, I may not in the place to say this but you should leave that bastard already. He is obviously playing with you.”

My eyes roam around her face and for how many years I have been with this girl, I can say that she is really serious right now. I can feel how my lips quiver but despite the tears forming under my eyelids, I smile a little before fixing some strands of her hair. “I know you are worried about me, Leigh, and I am very thankful about that but I believe Elric and I can still fix this relationship, Leigh, he was the man I was wishing for. He was there when I could no longer find myself, he accepted me even though I was a mess myself because like you, he doesn’t care who really I am when I was at my lowest…”

Everleigh flash a little smile on her face before looking away, “I hate you for being so in love with that man. I just do hope my instincts are not real but know that I am always here whatever happens.” She said, not looking at me.

A big smile finally formed on my face before I stand up to hug my best friend. Gosh, what did I even do to deserve this kind of love from a best friend? I thought before hugging her so tight. “You are really the best, I love you, Everleigh!” I exclaimed before moving away from her then eyed her with a cheeky grin. “For better or worse, we’ll be on each other’s side…”

She laugh then tug me on her side to join me with our best friend chant and now, we are both facing the huge and tall buildings in front. “I’ll keep your secrets, forever we are together, best friends forever and ever!” We now both exclaimed while raising both of our arms on the air, watching as the sun finally sets on the horizon and tall buildings began to light up. Finally, another day has passed.

***

The next day, I doze off from bed as early as I could, planning on going to drop by Elric’s dorm for us to go to the University together. I am humming a song while I am inside the shower when my phone rang, making me curious to check it automatically—wondering who is calling me at this early hour.

Prince Charming calling…

Upon reading the name on the screen, I could not hold the certain giggle from inside, and so without having any second thoughts, I wipe my wet hands using my towel before picking up the call.

“Hel-“

“Dionne, I won’t be seeing you today. We got football try out and I need to practice hard before the said dates.”

My sweet smile slowly faded away from my face and to be honest, I do not even know what to feel at this point. I cleared my throat before flashing a small smile and nodded a little. “I-I understand, Elric. But it’s 19^th of the month and I just thought we have to celebra-“

“Gotta go, Hun. Coach is calling us!”

After that, the line ended, making me blink my eyes with pure discouragement left inside me. I would love hearing that he is finally joining the team after two years of hiatus from football and I would be very proud if he gets back in the team but am I selfish for asking his time even just for a while later tonight? I mean, it’s 19^th today, mark as our fifth month together. And one more thing, he doesn’t call me Hun.

I heave a deep sigh and shrug my shoulders up before putting my phone back on the holder. I hurriedly finish my thing inside the shower, not in the mood to stay longer inside the bathroom. After which, I prepared our breakfast while still wearing my robe until I found myself already staring at nowhere.

My eyes blink for a few times, trying to stop the tears from falling. I diverted my attention to the wall clock and it shows that it is almost six in the morning but Leigh is not yet awake. I chuckle to lighten up myself. We’ve been staying in the same unit for years now since our last years in high school, and now, we are already in our last days in college. We came from the same subdivision, grew up together as well and found ourselves as best of friends. We sometimes go back to our family during the weekends but we haven’t been in that place these past few weeks since we are both busy for our midterms.

“Holy f*ck, Dionne Fay!”

I jump out in surprise from my own chair when Everleigh shouted from the second floor. With so much confusion, I ran up towards our room and found her tossing some clothes on the air in front of our built-in closet. Some clothes are on the floor already and I know that it won’t be fix until next week. Well, honestly, we both suck at cleaning so yeah, life goes on.

“You used my favourite underwear?!”

My jaw seriously dropped upon seeing the used clothes from our hamper, now also on the floor. I shifted my gaze back to her then slowly form an awkward smile on my face before scratching the back of my head. “I haven’t seen mine yesterday and I was quite in a hurry so…”

The next few minutes is full of ranting Everleigh, screaming and almost pinching me on the face. I can’t help but to laugh while watching my frustrated friend with her messy morning hair, BT21 Pyjama and of course, her famous sharp eyes.

“And I don’t have anything to wear now since we haven’t done our laundry for weeks, so what do you want me to do? Not wear underwe-“

“That’s way too gross, Leigh, you can have mine though, I washed some pieces last night.” I giggle then scrunch my nose to my best friend.

She stares at me for a long time before she manage to roll her eyes heavenward but I know she is slowly getting calm after seeing me with all smiles. I could not really find a piece of undergarments yesterday so I had no choice but to use hers. It was the first thing I saw the moment I open our drawer, plus the fact that we haven’t done our laundry because like what I said, midterm is almost rolling up and we have to study to ace another batch of exams.

Everleigh grab the beige undergarment I offered and she immediately enter the bathroom, living me shaking my head in pure astonishment. I started to pick clothes for this day and decided to just wear my tweed smocked up top and a pair of white shorts. Of course, despite that news I heard from my boyfriend earlier, I still decided to look so extra today. Who wouldn’t? Today is supposedly our fifth month but it’s okay, I still need to slay. For the final touch, I grab my shoulder padded oversized blazer from our clothes rack before facing myself in front of the mirror. A little grin plastered on my face upon looking at my reflection in the mirror.

I squeal. “All from Love, Bonito!”

After almost an hour of preparation, Everleigh and I rode the elevator as we go down. She is still busy fixing her make up since she doesn’t have enough time left until we reach the lobby before she finally became satisfied with her looks.

She look at me with a little smirk before pouting a little for a flying kiss, “I am beautiful.” My best friend muttered, making me chuckle as I sling my bag on my shoulder.

“Yes, you are.”

We arrived in front of the school using a cab since we are not that spoiled to request a car from our parents. We both walk inside the university side by side and there are some acquaintance, greeting us as we get inside.

“Leigh, Dionne! Thank goodness you guys are here!”

We both look at the woman who is wearing a red dress, running towards our direction in such hurry. “Why?” Everleigh asked her but Mica, the woman on a red dress look at me instead. “Did you hear about Elric and Mhaureen?”