CHAPTER 1

PRESENT

Astraea's POV

Those black eyes laced with golden strings were the only things visible in front of me. So alluring, and so ...mysterious.

I felt it was waiting for me to approach but at the same time going far , far way from me.

But, I couldn't stop myself. I kept on going forwards, desperate to reach to them. Suddenly as if everything stopped. 

 I waited, again.

It was coming near me. Those eyes seemed a bit glassy but didn't deviate from mine.

And before I could take a proper look at the mystery before me, a bright light flashed making me blind for an instant.

The next moment I opened my eyes, it was a cream coloured ceiling with little light hanging from them.

Looking towards the left, my dear mother stood before the open window.

Ah....A dream. Shouldn't have watched those stupid movies.

"First day of college and you are still on the bed. Wakey wakey."

Her soft voice literally cooed at me.

My mom and dad were literally the best parents to me as well as the best partners to each other. Even after so many years of marriage they were still like high school sweethearts by heart.

It was endearing and it also gave a broad spec on how I would like my future partner to be.

My Greek mother, Zoe Adamos, was just a little free-spirited college girl when she met my dad, Nathaniel Kingston, the brooding, hot american specimen accompanying his father on a business meet. 

All it took was a little bump in a beautiful aesthetic cafe and my dad was head over heels for my mother. I have heard their stories like hundred times yet my dad never ceased to proudly boat about it nor it was enough to make me stop feel all mushy-mushy about them.

Nodding to my mother, I ran off towards the bathroom. A quick shower I went to my closet.

Since the weather was a little chilly today, I went for a high neck white top with a mini pink checkered skirt and paired it with a thigh-length pink jacket. The black pantyhose under the skirt gave a cute yet sexy look .

Opting for a white sneaker, I came down to see my dad already seated on the breakfast table with a newspaper in his hands.

Giving him a quick kiss on the cheeks and doing the same with my mom ,I took a toast from the plate and ran outside just in time to see a Blue sedan rolling over. Soon a black haired girl was waving to me. 

"Hey bestie !!!!." Emily's as always over-energetic voice greeted me.

Chuckling, I quickly sat on the passenger seat as we were off to the university.

"So.....?" I looked over her, she was already giving me her evil smirk.

"So, from what I, of course heard and didn't gossip, is that Jacob's father is rumoured to have an explicit affair with their maid. Oh!!..Do you remember Kelly, the kind soul from our second year of high school, I HEARD she got a boyfriend who apparently plays for NFL, yes hard to believe. My neighbour....."

My stupidly loud laugh cut her off. I have known this girl for my entire life, but it still surprises me how she has the news of each and everyone she come across.

"Seriously, how do you even manage to HEAR all these gossips huh ?, Just come clean will you ."

She laughed.

"Well not my fault that Jacobs' elder brother was a night stand of mine, and he just blabbered you know. And it is definitely not my fault that my last to last night stand happened to be Kyle who ,also the next morning got slapped by his girlfriend for cheating on her. The sweet little me , coincidentally happened to be there."

She innocently shrugged, but I could still see the smile ready to rip off her facade.

"You really manage to end up in all sorts of situation." I said, hardly managing to keep the smile off my face.

She laughed and started sharing some more of her gossips. Soon we reached the university.

We parted ways as she was a dance major while my criteria has always been art and mythology.

Walking through the corridor I finally reached my given lecture room. It was huge built with an auditorium-style. The whole background was painted with soft ivory giving it the perfect soft and soothing vibe. 

 Moving through the aisle , I took a seat at the middle of the room.Since, we arrived early, the room was almost empty with few people busyin their own work.

Well explains, since it's just the first day for all of us.

Within a few minutes, the class was almost full. I felt someone sitting near the seat beside me. I looked over, it was a girl.

Her brown hair was beautifully caught in pigtail buns giving her a cute, soft look. I could see her legs bouncing in a fast rhythm, her hands constantly pulling the end of her full sleeve cream top.

She was too nervous.

"Hey, you ok ?" My voice must have startled her. She looked at me with wide eyes under her round spectacles.

"Oh!..Hi!!..Hello!!!.. My name is Miranda. I am a student of the arts major. I mean I like to paint. Always have. My mother was an artist during her younger days. Yeah , so have been learning by seeing her. I once did a coffee paintaing and--"

She took a deep breath and gave a very very embarassed smile.

"Sorry, it's just I'm too nervous. You know first impression and all that."

I gave her a small smile.

"I understand. I am Astrea Kingston."

She gave a smile. Soon the professor entered. She was a small woman with her hairs tied in a tight bun. The spectacles almost falling over her nose as she tried to balance the huge pile of papers and nearly falling over the table. Though she managed.

"Err...I hope she does a good job."I found my voice in a small whisper.

"She better." Miranda spoke while looking so intently at the small woman that I almost felt she was going to burn that petite creature.

Feeling my gaze she looked over me and gave a dazzling big-toothed smile,"I mean, if not we have to suffer don't you think?"

I gave a small shrug. A high pitched voice gained our attention.

"So students, I am Ms. Krystal Brendon. This is your mythology class as you know. So forgetting the introductions we will start with the first topic of the session. It's The historical myths and stories."

It was just me or my imagination, but it looked like she looked straight at me, speaking to me.

"I hope you find this very interesting."

                                ---------------------------------------------------

 The class was over, but surprisingly, I did enjoy it.

"So, what's next for you." Miranda spoke from beside me.

"It's Aesthetic art, looks like we are not together, huh ?"

"Hey, I heard the senior's are going to have a game tomorrow. The football team is like the talk of the university. So would you join me ?" 

I nodded and walked out with her.

"Sure, I'll tell Emily to join us, uh..she's is my best friend. Hope you won't mind.

"Of course not, the more the merrier."

"Well, I am not a sports enthusiast, so hopefully it won't be boring."

Miranda chuckled.

She hold my hand and gave a tight squeeze, looking in my eyes, she spoke with a smile I couldn't decipher.

"Trust me it's going to be very interesting."