THE PAST BEFORE A TRAGIC THINGS HAPPENEDI stare outside the window as the cab speeds off to Los Angeles City. The sun casts its ray toward the glass, making me wince. The song from my favorite Band, SB19, pounds in my ears as I listen to it on my iPad mini. I can't help the smile on my face, excitement building up inside me. In a week, I'll be starting college -- and what could be better than living college life with my big brother?I know that some people might think it's weird. How can I have freedom if we enroll at the same university? He's in his third year now, and I'm a freshman. Now is the right time to experience new things and explore another world, so we don't need another bodyguard. But trust me, I can't complain about my brother. Truth is, I can have fun with him, and that's even better.A smile forms on my lips as I remember his promise to me that he would show me everything about my new university, what things it can offer, his friends and the town. Everything I've misse
I gulp. My throat feels dry. Can we just talk about how beautiful those amber eyes are? I feel like I’m drowning in them. I’m petrified even though no one has cast me a’Petrificus Totalus spell. Yep, I still remember how Hermione Granger did that to Neville Long bottom. The guy who is gripping my wrist looks irritated because I just disturbed his sleep, but then his expression softens as he stares at me. “Cheska?” he whispers, his voice low, sending shivers down my spine. Or maybe it’s the fact that the handsome guy I’ve just met apparently knows my name and whispers it so softly. “I see that you two met each other.” My brother’s voice makes me jump, and the grip on my wrist is instantly gone. Drake stands in the foyer, a smirk on his face, his hands in his pockets. I straighten up, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. The guy turns around, facing Drake. “Prince, Cheska.” He introduces me. “Cheska, Prince.” My eyes widen. So, this is Prince. The best friend I’ve never met be
"So, what do you think?" Prince asks, a smile tugging at his lips. "About what?" "This place." I sigh, looking around. "Crowded." I don't have any other words to describe, admitting that the place might be the most happening spot in town right now. Again, a group of girls peer at me from the corner of the room, catching my attention. "Am I doing a sin or what? It feels so hot in here, with all those glares shot in my direction." I fan myself with my hand. Prince turns his head towards the girls, making them abruptly look away. He faces me again with a smirk on his face. "Don't worry. I'm not dating any of them." "I can't believe a guy like you can stay single," I blurt out, recalling Drake's conversation with a girl named Alexa a while ago, only to regret it later. It might sound like a cheap pick-up line from any girls, but really, I genuinely think that way. Every girl would line up to become Prince girlfriend. Not me, of course. I'm not interested in developing my feelings fo
Today is my first day at New York University. I walk along the corridor of my new campus, feeling slightly nervous about the new atmosphere, but mostly excited about this new chapter of life. Drake left earlier in the morning because he had football practice. I can't wait to watch his team plays. Already liking the air here, I inhale a deep breath, a smile touching my lips. Being a college student brings a new sense of freedom I haven't experienced before. It's like I'm not entirely under my parents' radar anymore. Stepping into my first calculus class, I notice that some students are already taking their seats in the lecture hall. I decide to take one of the front rows. Right. I don't want to miss my first lecture. My other classmates may be way more brilliant than I am. Chill, Cheska. Damn. You're becoming a freak again. I can't help it. It's normal to become nervous on my first day in college, right? While I'm putting out my notebook from my backpack, a girl flops herself on th
It has only been two days after my first day at New York University, and here I am, stuck in the house, doing assignments in the living room. I do have much more free time -- compared to when I was in high school -- but there are a lot more modules I have to catch up to. Geez. I wish I could be more laid back and didn't have to be a perfectionist when it comes to studying. I should be strolling around the town with Kyla, perhaps, grabbing some pizzas or going shopping at the mall. I glance at the clock. 11 pm. Where is Drake? He's not back yet, and I don't remember him telling me that he had a football practice today. Maybe he's having a date. I blow a sigh, placing my chin on the table. The doorbell rings, and my mood brightens up. Here he comes. 'Coming." I hum, tottering toward the door. When I open it, I'm surprised to find Prince standing by the door. "Hey." He smirks, and I feel butterflies in my stomach. The fact that he's wearing a white shirt with a black leather jacket
I'm on my way to make breakfast when I decide to check on Drake again. After what happened last night, I'm pretty sure that he'll have a hangover once he wakes up. The morning sun has risen, casting its ray upon his face. He's still sleeping. I climb on the bed and sit beside him, staring at him, crossing my arms on my chest. Then his eyelids flicker, and a few moments later, he opens his eyes. He abruptly sits up and backs off, his back smacking the headboard. "You're scaring me," he barks. I must have looked like a ghost. "Spill it." I glower at him. "What?" he rasps, squinting his eyes before squeezing them shut. He curses. His head must be spinning. "Last night," I say. "What was that all about?" He groans, touching his head. "Shit. I was knocked out, wasn't I?" "Uh-huh." "I got carried away." "For what?" I ask. "What celebration?" I go straight to the point. He laughs, closing his eyes, looking like he doesn't even believe that it's happening. "My internship." My eyes
"Did you get in?" Drake's voice echoes through the speaker as I talk with him on the phone while doing my energy balance assignment on my bed. It has been six days since he left, and I'm still surviving in my early weeks of college. "Nope," I say. "I changed my mind. I didn't audition for it." "Why?" He sounds surprised. "I thought you liked it." "I do." I sigh. "I'd love to play the piano with a full orchestra. But there's this guy from South Korea who is so good. And I'm nothing compared to him”. I laugh. “You’re joking right?” He pauses. ‘’ You didn’t really want it’’. “ The team seems so driven. They participate in a lot of competitions. I don’t think I can do it. I don’t want to play with such pressure. Let me just enjoy playing it as a hobby”. I grin “As you wish, Ches.” Drake laughs. “How’s study so far?” "So far so good," I say, biting my pen as I scan the rest of my homework. "But there's this research the lecturer asked us to do, and it's quite challenging." I hate it
I get up from the couch, and my gaze darts on the thing lying on the armchair. It's Prince's notebook. Wondering if it's something important that he forgot to bring, I walk closer to it. I feel guilty for looking into other people's stuff, but there's something urgent kicking inside me. I take the book and flip through the pages. Then my eyes widen. It's all about the presentation to get into the internship. He's written the notes here and there. The important points, the conclusions and what he has to say to convince the company. No. No. No. I gulp, and even my hand starts to shake. This can't be happening. He forgot to bring it with him. How could he? He must have been in a hurry. I snap my head towards the clock. I have less than an hour until the presentation. Without thinking further, I decide to bring the book to him. My hand grips the steering wheel so hard that my knuckles turn white. The traffic lights change to red, and I curse, beating the steering wheel again for God