The first day since they agreed to be each other’s boyfriend and girlfriend had been uneventful, with nothing more exciting than Will and Una greeting and giving each other smiles before going on each of their days. In a way, the distance had been nice. It had given them time to think more about whether stepping their relationship up to a new level was a good thing or not. Una couldn't help but wonder what Will might be able to do for her other than the hot kiss they shared, and just the thought stirred her inside and made her almost weak in the knees.
It was finally the beginning of December, and the first signs of winter had become visible. While Boston was yet to see a single snowflake, the weather had already been cold. Much to Una’s dismay, she still had to suffer waking up to an icy morning for over a week to attend classes. She was thinking of not going back after the holidays—maybe do a gap year. Deciding on what she would want to major in had been nothing but frustrating to her. Perhaps a gap year could help her figure things out.
When the rain started to fall steadily from the sunless sky, tapping a metrical rhythm on Will’s car, Una wished she hadn’t said yes to him when he invited her to his office party. Another party, she frowned at the image of people laughing, talking and having a blast in front of her while she stood as the observer and as an outsider. But, having to take on the role of a girlfriend, it was one of her many responsibilities to show up to whatever her boyfriend had invited her to. Or at least that was what she understood when she read those articles she googled Responsibilities of a girlfriend in a relationship and How to be a good girlfriend? during her spare time.
Three hours into the party and Una felt worn-out and was ready to go home. She could no longer push aside all the discomfort brought on by the dress she wore and the feeling of how much she couldn’t relate with the people all around her. She had looked for Liezel twice, but when she saw her talking with someone by the bar, she retraced her steps and sat back to their table. She looked around, and suddenly she wanted to finally leave. She didn’t feel like being social, although she never really liked to in the first place. She was only there because of Will.Having felt like she had paid the girlfriend duty enough—met
Will’s garden housed a variety of indoor plants and colorful flowers. As Una walked further into the garden, she saw a row of red roses that were mostly in full bloom, giving off a sweet scent. She leaned and let the flowers brush against her face. “Do you like roses?” she heard Will from behind.She turned around to face him. “I think they’re pretty.” She was lightly shaking.
“So basically, I ended the year with a loud bang.” Glen threw his half-eaten donut back inside the box. “If that doesn’t call for a celebration, then I don’t know what will.” Two weeks after returning to work from the holidays and Glen still couldn’t shut up about how he scored two women on New Year’s Eve. Will made a face. “Hmmm…I don’t think so, buddy.”
Una sighed long and deep as she walked into her house that Friday afternoon. While all she did was sat in her class and hoped for it to be over soon, she felt worn out after a long day. Her quick visit to Professor Cullum’s office earlier that day also added to the stress she felt. Although she knew her professor was right, she needed to sort her major soon and start learning something that really mattered to her.And when her last class for the d
Every so often, Liezel’s eyes drifted across the office toward Sinclair’s office. Ever since her curiosity had led her to what might be her boss’ little secret, she’d grown more curious and anxious to know who was that man Sinclair met with. “So, what do you think is the real reason why Will took off early today?”Liezel looked up at Glen, who was standing just outside her cubicle with his arms crossed over his chest
“I still don’t know what to major in? What can I do?” Una mumbled to herself as she left Professor Cullum’s room, hurriedly leaving the university that Thursday afternoon.Una had tried to avoid dropping by at the professor’s office, but o
THREE MONTHS LATER
Una gasped, unable to make a move as her eyes watched in terror at the spray of blood gushing from Billi’s neck like a fountain.The gurgling sound filled the air for a moment before Billy finally collapsed on the floor, choking on his own blood which was already flooding the carpeted floor.
The night had gone chilly as Will’s old black Audi roared down the highway. In the passenger seat next to his was Una, curled up in her own little corner.As Will continued to drive silently, Una thought back in time and how her life had changed again. It had been more than a month since she left her old life. Wha
Will groaned as he stretched his legs in the driver’s seat at a red light. They had been on the road for some time, and he could feel his entire body throbbing from being in the same position for several hours.Una saw a sign on the side of the road and realized that they were already in Baltimore. Will had told h
Una was on her chair, tying the laces of the sneakers she requested from Will when the door suddenly opened.“You mentioned a lake near where we are,” she said to him before Will could even have the chance to ask her why she was wearing shoes.
Today, Una decided to take control. It had been three days since she had revealed her secrets to Will and for days, Will had kept on trying to win her trust over by telling her over and over again that he could still be someone better than who he was in the past.Slowly, Una had allowed herself to talk gently with him,
Jeffrey Sullivan was a crack dealer who was also a screwed-up addict. The guy was pretty much still gorked when Will shared with him his own kind of addiction. He thought Will was referring to the kind of drugs he had allowed to slowly ruin his relationship with his family and his life. Even when Will was leisurely pulling out his teeth, he still couldn’t figure out that Will’s addiction was way different than his.
Una had been awake and listening to her stomach growl for hours. With her enclosed windows, she had already lost a sense of time. The chirping birds she heard weren’t helping either. They could be chirping for something else and not the time.But do birds tell you the time by chirping?A light knock
Will had woken up earlier than usual. It was one of those cold mornings which he had slowly grown accustomed to, but beads of sweat covered his forehead. He sat up on the couch where he’d been sleeping for the past month. He sat there for a minute to allow himself to shake away the horrors of dreaming his own death.