CALLIE I was sitting under the shade of the tree behind the campus garden, a quiet little nook that most people tended to overlook. In front of me lay my packed lunch: rice adorned with little sausage octopuses I had made simply because I wanted something cute. Earlier, I had debated whether I should pack something for Andy, too—a little bento, perhaps. But ultimately, I opted to bring only one for myself. After all, you can’t plow the whole field in one go, right? It’s all about sprinkling in the effort, bit by bit. I still knew how to play hard to get! “Callie?” I paused, chopsticks halfway to my mouth. “Sammantha?” She grinned, marching across the grass. “It’s Sammy! I’ve told you plenty of times.” “Right, right. Sammy. You’re studying here, too?” “I could say the same thing to you.” We exchanged playful ‘what-are-you-doing-here?’ expressions, but deep down, we both felt a sense of gratitude for each other’s presence. When I was in high school, I had plenty of friends, but
ANDY“Do you want to eat together?”The orientation had just concluded, and I was right; they were going to send the details to everyone’s school email. I had just wasted my time being there.“Andy!” Callie exclaimed, capturing my attention. I sighed and finally turned to her. Her voice was too bright. It was like sunlight in your eyes when you were simply trying to walk in peace.“I have somewhere to be,” I replied flatly, shifting my bag on my shoulder.That wasn’t entirely true.Where I was going was my own place.To fry another egg—probably overcook it—add some rice, pretend it was a real meal, and maybe read another chapter of my law book while sipping soup from a mug. I wasn’t exactly booked and busy at this time.But the thought of sitting across from her, with her wide grin and gentle eyes, made my chest tighten in a way I didn’t like. With that feeling weighing on me, I began to descend the steps of the auditorium, the noise behind me fading. However, it seemed that the uni
CALLIEGetting into this school wasn’t just hard—it was like trying to win a lottery while blindfolded, underwater, and upside-down. One of the best in the city, if not the best, and somehow, by a miracle, my name showed up on the scholarship list. And now, here I was. Orientation day. Wide-eyed, I was carrying a borrowed tote bag stuffed with snacks and a pencil case shaped like a fish. Don’t ask. It was a project made by the twins, and I just didn’t have the heart to throw it away. I walked through the large glass doors like I belonged there—even though my sneakers were from a secondhand store and my jeans were about five years old. I didn’t know anyone here yet, but I was excited. Okay, terrified and excited. I stepped into the auditorium and immediately regretted not brushing my hair one more time. People looked like they had just stepped out of fashion magazines. Everyone had dewy skin and unexplainable auras. I quickly climbed up the steps, aiming for the backmost row. M
ANDYI didn’t want to go. Freshman orientation sounded like an utter waste of time—an overcrowded event filled with too much noise, an endless stream of speeches, and a bunch of kids pretending not to care while, deep down, caring way too much. I had no intention of participating. I was perfectly fine just staying in. The screen in front of me glowed, displaying the face of my younger sister, Isla, who, despite claiming she wouldn’t miss me, had called me no fewer than eight times since I moved in last week. “I still can’t believe you’re living alone,” she said, widening her eyes dramatically. “A penthouse? Seriously?” I sighed and leaned back against the barstool. “Talk to Dad. It was his idea.” She rolled her eyes. “Of course it was. King of Dramatic Gestures.” I shot her a look. “Don’t say that too loud. He’ll cry.” She snorted. “True.” It had only been a week since I moved out. Technically, I hadn’t gone far; the city was still close enough for a weekend visit. But
CALLIE“Is this all?” my mom asked, her voice already tight. I glanced at the single, overstuffed suitcase by the door and the worn duffel bag that I’d patched not once but twice with floral fabric. “Yeah, Mom. That’s it.”She sighed, biting her lip as her anxious eyes darted over my bags once more. “I should’ve brought you more clothes. You only have two jackets—”“I’ll be fine,” I interrupted quickly, forcing a smile. “I don’t need a lot.”Despite my reassurance, she still looked like she might burst into tears, so I decided to change the subject by pretending to check my bag for what felt like the fifteenth time. Zipper's still working. My sketchpad was in the front pocket, right underneath my phone charger. I was ready. Well—almost.Just then, there was a loud thud, a scuffle, and suddenly, two tiny tornados launched themselves into the room.“Callie!”Millie and Emil—short for Emily and Emilio, but they hated those names—rushed forward with matching grins that lit up their face
ANDYThe house was filled with noisy chaos, something I had grown accustomed to after having a sister. However, this time, it felt distinctly different. Sniffling noises, occasional gasps, and—goodness, help me—my dad’s crying filled the space. “My baby,” he wailed, his voice breaking.That exact phrase. The same one he had been repeating all week. He was standing in the middle of the kitchen, his eyes red, arms loose at his sides, a picture of desolation.I pursed my lips. “Dad. Please.”“I just— You were— You were just crawling last week!” he exclaimed, tears glistening in his eyes.“I’m nineteen,” I muttered, trying to ground him in reality.“And now you’re leaving me!” “I’m not dying,” I responded, attempting to lighten the mood.To his credit, he still appeared put-together. Evander Astor had always taken pride in his appearance. His posture remained solid, his jawline still sharp, and his hair, while beginning to show the faintest hint of silver, was still thick. But lately, m