Chapter 3

Chapter 3: Arkinstein University

"Hey, Kira. Are you thinking clearly? Look at the time, it's 3 am now!" I can see her trying to open her eyes. Good thing she answered the video call. 

I chuckled. "I know! I know! I'm just going to ask you about what clothes I should wear later. Top and pants or dress?" I showed her the clothes I picked. Though, she's not really looking as she started to snore again. Sorry Sera for disturbing your sleep. I ended the call and laid down on my bed.

It's kinda lonely living alone here, maybe I'm still not used to it. My parents have always been out of the country since I began my highschool years. They are calling me two to three times a week or maybe none. It also depends on their free time though I don't want to disturb them. That's why I keep myself busy with schoolworks and binge watching. Taking my free time, I engage myself in online games just like Lit Fire. I open my laptop and play the game. It's too early that the players may want to play this game because of high connection. They say that noobies or children sleep at this hour so the pros are taking advantage.

A notification popped up on my screen.

WaveringSoul: Hey, let's go to battle. Just for fun.

I was about to type my reply when he already sent an invite, LOL.  He's so manipulative.

The game started and I'm really lucky to have a lot of loot when we landed at our destination. The goal is to kill other players until me and WaveringSoul will be the only who lasts. It's a survival game anyway. When another player knocked down my teammate, I had to heal and shoot the player that knocked him down. I admit that WaveringSoul is a nice teammate as his skills in using sniper and rifles are amazing. The numbers of enemies started from 98, now down to 2. I have killed 19 and he killed 23. I was wandering the map until a notification popped up. Wait, it's done already?!

CONGRATS ON WINNING THE BATTLE! You've accumulated +30 points on individual ranking and +50 to your squad ranking!

WaveringSoul: Nice g. Good that I recruited you. 

ChasingStar: You forced me, I haven't agreed to join.

WaveringSoul: HAHAHA! At least you're enjoying it huh?

I exited the game and closed my laptop. He's kind but I don't know why I have a bad feeling about it. Maybe it's the urge of being addicted to the game. I closed my eyes and didn't notice that I fell asleep.

My skin stings. I opened my eyes as I felt the heat coming from the sunlight. My phone rang and I lazily got it. 

"Hello?" 

"WHERE ARE YOU?!" My eyes immediately opened when I heard Sera's voice. I looked at the wall clock. It's already 1 pm! What the? 

"Sorry! I'm on the way!" I ended the call and rushed to the bathroom.

After several hours, I arrived at the gate of Arkinstein University. Sera ran towards my place and I know she'll be scolding me.

"You called me at 3 am in the morning and now you're late? Are you serious, Kira?" See? Told ya.

My glance passed to Patry as I saw him grumpily crossing his arms. His black hair is down, wearing gray skinny jeans and an open one button polo shirt. This guy should be illegal! He's too hot to handle!

I almost got a heart attack when he caught me staring at him. He arched his brows again, "Why are you making us wait like you're so important?" 

I bowed and shyly smiled, "Sorry."

He tsked and started to walk inside the campus. 

Sera clung into my arms, "He's so rude thinking that you're older than him and he's not respecting you as a girl at least." I just shrugged and we started to walk on our way to the registrar's office. 

We filled up some forms and finished enrolling ourselves. The orientation instructor also taught us some things we should follow as the university's rules and regulations stated. The uniforms are wonderful and beautiful as well and the books are well supplied from great authors and publishers. That ended up all and classes will start on June 17. We finished it all with no sign of Patry at all. He already left after signing up for the needed forms. Sera said that he will be playing games with his friends. Like usual. 

"I'm craving for something. Let's go to our favorite tea shop?" I suggested as we made our way to the exit of the campus. 

"Good thing that our favorite tea shop is just nearby our school. I'm in." she replied.

We rode a tricycle and it's just a few minutes till we got to our destination. BondTea Hub is our favorite tea shop wherein we always do our bonding together. The only difference is there's only two of us out of 9. I suddenly missed the complete squad again. Sera looked for a vacant table and I'm the one in charge of ordering our drinks. I started to scan the menu as I reached the ordering lane. 

"Ma'am, what's your order?" A familiar voice caught my attention and I scanned his face. It's the cutie guy in the pizza parlor.

I immediately smiled and he just kept on smiling. So precious! "You're the cashier boy too in the pizza parlor right? You also work here?" I asked.

He nodded without removing the smile plastered on his face. "Yes ma'am, always at your service!" 

I enumerated the teas we wanted which are our favorite and paid for it. It's my treat since I suggested. The cutie boy said that our drinks will be served after a few minutes, so I roam my eyes to find where Sera found our spot. I immediately found it and made my way towards her when suddenly my peripheral vision caught a familiar sight. I glanced at it and my eyes widened when I saw Patry drinking tea along with his friends. Obviously, he's quiet and looking so grumpy but. . . he's hot!

"Okay, you have found my brother and now you're happy again. Look at him," Sera stated as I sat at our table. "He looks so out of place and boring to be with. His friends are a bunch of playboys and jerks at their age too." 

My eyes have favorites now. I could stare at him the whole day. If only I could be with him everyday, I'll be the luckiest girl in the world. I will be content now by only stealing glances. 

"Hey, our drinks have arrived already." Sera snapped at me to make my senses come back. My smile widens and I drink the tea I've ordered.

We started chit chatting and drinking our teas while I continued to steal glances to Patry. His friends are so loud and laughing together which is opposite to him, he's only nodding and drinking his tea. I wonder what he's thinking right now. I hope he's thinking of me, even when I know that he hates me.

"When are you going to buy some things for school? I'm going to buy a new bag tomorrow. Classes will start in two weeks, duh?"

"Ahh. . ." I just replied. Patry leaned on his chair, crossed his legs, and grumpily looked at me! HE NOTICED ME AGAIN!

"I think I should hide Patry somewhere for your senses to come back every time he triggers your brain stimulation." I immediately shifted my gaze to Sera who just rolled her eyes at me. 

"Huh? What?" I asked and shyly bowed. Someday, I will make those grumpy stares into smiles. Law of attraction, please!

**

June 17, start of classes. Mom and Dad gave time to call me and give me some reminders. I'm really excited today! Maybe it's because I have an inspiration to come to university. I hope there's a small distance from his room to mine. 

"K, make sure that the things you need are already in your bag." Mom said on the line. 

I smiled and nodded. I zipped my bag and I'm ready to go!

"Be safe on your way, K. No boyfriends huh?" Dad said and I laughed.

"I already have--" I stopped and their eyes widened. "I mean. . . my Korean, Chinese and Japanese boyfriends, remember?" I continued and they both sighed.

"Don't scare us like that, Kira. Focus on your studies now but don't get pressured. Just enjoy the process." Mom said and I immediately smiled.

"Give us a call later about what happened to your first day, alright?" Dad added.

I gave them a salute, "Roger! By the way, I gotta go now before it's too late. Love you, Mom and Dad!" They replied 'I love you too' then I ended the call.

I locked the door and made my way to call a tricycle. "Arkinstein University." He nodded and started the engine.

The idea kept bugging me till I fell asleep yesterday. I have so many wishes that I'm hoping will come true. This is it! There's no turning back!

Please take care of me, Arkinstein.

I got off the tricycle and paid the driver when we reached the gate entrance. Walking inside the campus is like an unfamiliar feeling that I just got to step into a castle. The campus is wide, clean, grass friendly and seems so nice to have chitchats everywhere. Students are being spread out right now talking with their friends, some are busy hooking up with their phones or books. The cliché thing of the first day. 

Sera texted me that she'll be late today. Maybe not that late that she'll be having an embarrassing excuse to their instructor. Just exactly, I don't know?

My eyes roamed the campus again and it stopped on the students who were gathering around the bulletin board. I started to walk and was about to be near the students gathered when suddenly a girl crossed my path.

I almost lost my balance and glanced at her. "Hey! Watch your step!" she shouted and it somehow caught the attention of some students near our area.

"Sorry." I simply replied and continued to walk towards the bulletin board. I have no energy to argue with her. I also don't want my first day to be ruined. 

The students are talking about the announcement posted on the bulletin board. It was the sectioning list. I excused myself a lil bit to search for my name and found out that my section is ABM 11-2 and my room is 1901. Sera's section is STEM 11-1 and room 1896. I think it will be just a walking distance. My eyes searched for Patry's grade sectioning and I knew that it was far from the list here. I shifted my target as I excused myself against the other students gathering surrounding my spot. It was so hard to walk, there's so many students here! To think that they still chose to have chit chats and not leave this area, LOL.

I successfully reached the spot and searched for Patry's name. 

"Grade 10-1, room 1891." I said and turned my back as my eyes grew wider when I saw Patry in front of me. The oxygen around me became so thin that I can barely breathe. He's looking at the list behind me then shifts his gaze to me. 

"What?" he asked and I immediately shook my head. He rolled his eyes and turned his back on me. His friends came and gathered around him. They started to walk away but I can still feel the butterflies in my stomach. I should somehow prepare for when we always crossed our paths. I should have said something like 'Hi' or 'Hello' but it never happened! I'm always fascinated with the thought that he's in front of me! Gosh Kira, get a grip on yourself!

I looked at my wristwatch and realized that there's only 15 minutes before classes start. I rushed to the building and started to find my room. When I found it, I stopped and read clearly the sign of ABM 11-2 in front of me. I took the courage to enter the room and my new classmates surely don't mind because they are busy with their businesses. I sat in the last row, the chair beside the windows. I spent the remaining minutes scrolling on my phone. I chatted Sera if she did make it before it's too late. She replied 'Yes, LOL. I bumped into someone a while ago, he's annoying'. I chuckled at the thought that she's very grumpy already.

The bell rang and I stopped scrolling on my phone. I chatted with Sera that I will be meeting her later on break time and she replied with a sticker saying alright. I noticed that I already have a seatmate who's sleeping right now. Should I wake him up?

"Okay class, good morning." I think it's our first teacher, her subject will be Entrepreneurship. We stood up and I gazed at my seatmate who's still asleep. I tapped his shoulder and began to shake him. He snapped and raised his head. I found out that he's the cutie guy at the pizza parlor and tea hub! WOW, he's really a working student.

He stood up and rubbed his eyes. It's a good thing that we are in the last row, that's why the teacher didn't notice us.

"Please be seated." We sat already and I shifted my gaze to my seatmate who's fighting with his own sleeping devil because he's closing his eyes again.

"I'm Miss Tan and I'll be your Entrep teacher." Miss Tan started to introduce herself. She tackled her rules in her time and discussed a lil bit of introduction in entrepreneurship. We listened to her until her class was over. She left the room and I glanced at Mr. Cutie Pie, okay he's sleeping again. Working as a student is a tough responsibility indeed. 

I chatted with Sera but didn't get a reply. I just rest my chin on my hand and look outside the window. Hmmm. . . what are you doing right now, Patry? Still doing fine?

I just sighed. Arkinstein University will bring me good memories that I want to remember again and again, I think?