CHAPTER 1

I ran faster as I could, letting the rain pounded into my body, ignoring his calls. I almost could not feel my tears dripping on my cheeks because I'm all soaked from the rain.

"Cali!" His voice echoed in my ears and it hurts me.

"Leave me alone!" I shout back, still running but suddenly I fell to the ground. I tried to stand up but I couldn't because my body was weakening. Shit.

"Cali!" He wraps his arms around me and hugs me tightly. "Sorry. I'm sorry," he says in apology. His voice also sounds broken because of crying.

"Let me go," I pull him but he tightened his hugs to me, keeps on saying sorry. Bullshit. Hearing his apology makes me hurt even more. How dare he! Does he think his sorry will get the pain I feel? How dare he! How could he do this to me? We were so in love, we were so happy, and then... And then this is what will happen. I was almost good enough. He was almost in love with me. We almost survived. We almost made it.

"You are a jerk. You're... A jerk. I hate you so much." I uttered between crying.

"You're right. I'm a jerk. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

"Go away. Please. I'm begging you." I beg.

"Cali..."

I push him causing his body to move away from hugging me. "Please. Just... Go away." I repeated, not looking at him.

"I'm sorry..."

"Go away!" I shriek. "Please!" I beg again.

"Okay." He stands up and before he walks away, he spoke. "Sorry, Cali. I'm sorry. I hope you will forgive me." He then turns his back and was about to take a step away...

"Wait," I call him as I stand up. He faces me. I took off the necklace he gave me.

Taking his hand, I put the necklace on his palm. "Goodbye, Khai." After I said that, I turn my back and walks away from him.

At this moment, our love story, our forever has ended.

~*~

"Hey, Cass! Double time! We're late!" I hear Steph's voice call from downstairs. I groan to myself and roll out of my bed before getting up. I check the time and it's already 7:30 AM. Oh, damn! I haven't showered yet. Steph wakes me up early at 6 AM and told me to get ready because today will be our first day being a college student at Southville International School, but I am not doing anything. For sure she will get mad.

"Cass!" She calls again.

Oh god. I can't make it in just ten minutes. Ah!

"Hey!"

I was startled when the door of my room sprung open. She showed up. Her eyes narrowed when she saw me still wearing my sleeping attire.

"I was..." I was about to explain but she cuts my sentence.

"Fuck, Cass! What are you doing? I mean, why are you still wearing sleeping garments?" She asked with her eyebrows snapped together.

I chuckled, "I'm sorry, I fell asleep." I say and give her a peace sign.

"Seriously! You're unbelievable!" She sighs out, rolling her eyes heavenwards.

"You can go to school first. I'll follow."

"I'm really going!" 

"Yeah, yeah. You can go now. See you at school." I smile. I know she's excited for the first day of school.

"Alright. I'm going. See you there! Hurry!" She walks out of my room.

"Yep! Drive safe!" I voice out before she could close the door of my room.

I threw myself on my bed again. Why do I feel lazy today? I am not even excited on the first day of school. Should I skip the class? Oh. That is not a good idea. Steph might be caught me and I'm sure she will report me to mum. I don't want to get grounded.

Okay, Cass! Let's get started.

I lazily got up from my bed and went straight to the bathroom. I hurry and wash my hair and body, lazily running a razor over my legs to remove the small stubble that has appeared over the weekend, also I brushed my teeth. After taking a shower, I dressed up, comb my hair, put a lip balm on my lips because I have dry lips. It is quite uncomfortable. After fixing myself, I get my bag and ready to go. I'm coming SIS. As I walk downstairs, I suddenly remember that I don't have a car. Shit. I should have not let Steph go to school first. Ah, what an unlucky day for me. Now, I have to take a bus which is I hate because I don't know to take public transportation. Well, what can I do? I have no better choice. Good luck to me. Also, good luck with my college life. I have no idea what college will be like, but I hope Steph and I will get more friends and make good memories with them. Unlike, high school days.

The butterflies in my stomach dance around as I walk to the bus. Yeah, I'm nervous. Very. Breathing heavily, I decided to take a step upstairs to enter inside. Uh... Some of the seats are occupied. Anyway, I found an empty seat in the middle. There I sit. These are the consequences I get for not obeying Steph. I will wake up and prepare myself early tomorrow. After a while, the bus starts to drive away.

Suddenly, my phone vibrates. I took it inside of my bag, looking at my phone screen, I saw Steph's name. I open her message.

FROM: STEPH

~Where are you? The orientation is about to start. Hurry!~

I could hear her voice, nagging me.

Another message from her pops up.

~What are you taking? A bus? Be careful. Use google map. You might be lost.~

She knows that I cant ride public transportation, yet she leaves me. Crazy. She should have not left even if I say so. It is my fault anyway.

TO: STEPHANIE

~I'm on my way. Don't worry, I'll be careful. Reserve a seat for me. See you!~

I replied. After an hour, with the help of the google map that Steph advised, I arrived at school safely. Google map was a big help for me.

"Here I go!" I squeal as I walk through the stone gate and into the campus.

The campus looks just as great as it did in the brochures and images online, I'm amazed. I can tell it's a very expensive school. The buildings are still new and elegant. A lot of students from the first year to senior year, hugging and laughing as if they missed each other, and some stragglers are lost and confused. Yeah, very common for the freshmen. But why are they still here? I mean, shouldn't they be in the conference room? Never mind.

The size of the whole campus is intimidating as if you just wander a little, you will get lost. Luckily, Steph is with me. And hopefully, after a few weeks, we will feel at home. Deciding not to wait longer, I walk inside the building. I feel a bit comfortable walking alone because the old students stop putting their things inside their lockers to look at me. It's impossible that I have a speck of dirt on my face. Well, maybe it's because I am new in their eyes. I tried to give them a friendly smile even though I am dying inside from awkwardness. Let's do this, Cass!

I texted Steph about the way to the conference room, she replies to me right away.

"Ground floor, besides the auditorium. Okay, got it," I read her message, then I went straight there. When I arrived in the conference room, so far the area is occupied, and the orientation is not started yet. I thought I was late. Anyway, where the hell Steph is? I cannot find her. I texted her again, saying that I am already here, standing at the entrance door. After sending the message to her, I wander my gaze around so I can see her in case she waves her hand. And gotcha! I found her! Luckily, her seats are not that far away from the entrance door.

"How's riding a bus?" She asks while laughing a little as I sat on the chair beside her.

"Not bad at all. But I won't take a bus again so don't you dare leave me." I warned but smiling.

"You said I should go first."

"Even if I told you so."

"Come on, bitch. It was your fault anyway." She laughs.

"Fine," I say, give her a smirk.

After a while, the orientation has started.

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