CHAPTER 1

Holly's POV

Punch. Blood. Another punch. More blood. I fidgeted nervously, trying to subdue the imminent urge to throw up. The sight of blood was playing around with the food I had eaten earlier and yet I kept on looking just like the rest of the students and outsiders, my face scrunched up in disgust. This was definitely nothing close to fun. This was just another harsh way of inducing nightmares.

“Are you having fun?” Alex, my roommate and personal bodyguard, shouted above the ongoing roar, tagging at my arm, a look of pure glee on her porcelain face. Why did I let her talk me into this? I could have been cuddled up in my bed covers crying over some sad movie right now.

“If seeing people punching each other to each other to death is the definition of having fun, then I’m totally having fun,” I shouted back.

“See? I knew you’d like it,” It was either my touch of sarcasm was lost on her or she was trying not to let me ruin the night for her. Either way, she was just being Alex.

My brows scrunched up, when the one who was clearly winning jabbed his opponent on the stomach, making him spit out more blood as he fell on the boxing ring. A loud painful groan rippled from his throat. I was pulled away from the sickening sight by the vibration of my phone from my inner jacket pocket. Alex was clearly having fun judging from how loud her voice sounded. I struggled through the mass of cheering sweaty bodies and after what seemed like ages I managed to walk out of the underground house-or whatever it was. I let out a sigh of pure relief the moment the clean air flowed through my nostrils refreshing me. This was so much better than the smoky, druggy and sweat mixed air in that boxing zone. The phone had long stopped ringing when I fished it out of my pocket.

“Shoot!” Three missed calls from my mother.

I was dead, officially.

I walked a few paces away from the excited screaming of the crowds, before redialing her number. The moment it went through she picked up.

“Holly Barbara Washington! Why were you not answering my calls?” she was predictably pretty much mad.

“I was in the library,” that was the only lie I could come up with.

“You know, I almost flew to Roxen City because of you. You only transferred there a week ago. Don’t make my blood pressure shoot up like that, ever again,” She warned in a dangerously lowered tone.

“I’m sorry. It won’t happen again,” I promised.

“It better not,”

“Okay. So why did you call mum?” I asked.

“I just wanted to say goodnight to my daughter,”

“Goodnight too mum,”

“Take care of yourself baby,” baby. I was not ten anymore for pitts sake.

“I will,”

She cut off the call as I sighed. I was turning twenty next month and my mother still called me every single night to say goodnight and make sure I was alright. My gaze flirted to the underground dungeon. I definitely didn’t want to go back in there. Some more screaming and my eardrums will get busted. Making a final decision I turned around and was about to start walking when I rammed into a mass of muscles. Rubbing my forehead and groaning simultaneously, I raised my gaze and almost wished I hadn’t. Dark brown eyes stared back at me mirroring the shock in my own eyes. It was impossible. This had to be a fucking nightmare haunting me while I was awake.

“Holly?” he was the first one to recover. So it was not some nightmare I would be waking up from soon?

I was numbed with shock, my thoughts going on a wild ride as my heart picked up speed. He was taller now and his features looking like the art of a very talented artist. His eyes wore the same shocked expression and it was only when he stretched his hand to touch my cheek, did I snap out of my daze.

“Excuse me,” I rushed past him.

“Holly! Wait,” His voice had grown way deeper than I last remembered it.

“S-Stay the hell away from me,” I warned, angling my head one last time to drive my point home.

He didn’t follow me and for once I was grateful for that. As I paced in the room I shared with Alex, I could not bring myself to accept it. Maybe it had just been his hologram. But he called my name. He fucking called my name. After four years of struggling to get over him, he was suddenly here? Tan fucking Harvey was here in Roxen City University. Damn! He really was here and I just collided with him. That night I kept on turning and tossing on my bed, trying to come into terms with everything. Could it be possible I was just imagining things? I badly wanted to believe that. Unable to sleep, I picked my phone video calling Jenny. She was studying Business management in Seoul State University.

“Holly?” Judging from her voice, she was only half alert with her eyes probably half closed. Unlike me who could stay up for hours, she preferred sleeping early.

“I just saw Tan today,” her eyes shot wide open.

“Are you sleep- calling me ?” she questioned after a moment.

“No. I ran into him around forty five minutes ago,”

“Are sure its Tan or was it somebody else who looked like him?”

“It was Tan and he called my name,”

“Wow, that is messed up,” she muttered.

“Not helping. What if he is studying here in RCU?” I asked the inevitable.

“Or he could be as well visiting someone,” she suggested.

“Right. He was obviously visiting someone which means there is zero chance we will meet ever again,” It was more of a consolation to me. God! I badly wanted to believe that.