Chapter 2

~Marcie~

I walked out of the exam room with Sarah beside me. Her vibrant aura radiated from every inch of her figure; she exuded warmth and confidence. Her bright smile and bright eyes seemed to light up the entire hallway, and even though the exam we had wasn't all that, Sarah just had a way to make things feel good and hopeful.

Standing beside her, I felt almost doll-like with my petite frame structure and delicate features that made me fragile. I was what I would call average-height, but because I was beside Sarah, people would describe me as short, and that's because Sarah was gifted with height, and I wasn't. I took my mother's height; almost all my physical appearance was from mom and dad—only won with my stubbornness and eyes. I had his eyes—those unique multicolored blue-gray eyes which I'm grateful that I inherited.

Sarah, being enthusiastic, pulled me into an embrace with her ginger hair stuff into my mouth as she crushed me. I could barely breathe as she carried my petite body and turned around.

“I can't believe we are done with this semester; I can't wait to leave the campus,” She beamed happily, dropping me to the ground.

While I rolled my eyes sarcastically, of course I know why she was beaming so happily, “Or you are excited to meet your sweet little church boy,” I teased, and she faked a frown.

Her lips pulled up in a pout that seemed to make her look like she's some super hot chic, “No, Marcie. Tom's not a little church boy; yes, he is holy and a devoted Christian. It doesn't make him little; it only makes me more fond of him; you know how much I really like someone who's devoted,” She prattled. Here she goes again. Losing herself and talking about Tom as if he were some prince charming.

I could almost block my eardrums if that's the only way I would stop hearing her talk about Tom. Sarah is such a romantic girl. I'm so happy that she found the one. Tom is cool, respectful, nice, sweet, and he is very cute. Fits Sarah's sexy appearance, and he's overall serious with her, and I'm so happy for her.

But you know, sometimes when you are single and you have to hear your best friend/roommate talk about her boyfriend in this manner, you just have to zone out.

“Okay, Sarah, I get it. Enough about Tom,” I cut her off when I realized she was about to tell me how much she missed him and the things they do during the holidays since Tom lived in town 8 hours away from college.

Sarah tucks her hair to the back childishly as her face turns red due to embarrassment, “I'm sorry,” she murmured.

“C’mon, it's not your fault that relationship isn't for me; besides, I'm the one always breaking up with them, not the other way around, and please let not spend the rest of the remaining minute we have here sulking about the issues of boys. We have a few minutes before you go meet your boo,” I said, and then her face lit up as if she wasn't feeling guilty a moment ago.

That's my girl.

“True, so now are you going to go back to your dad’s house or perhaps you'll continue working in the cafe,” She queried, her arms locked as we walked back to our dorm.

“Nope, I decided to intern for a company this holiday. I feel it's better I do before Dad locks me up again,” I responded, and she stopped in her tracks. She cupped my cheek and sent me a pity look.

“Sighs; sometimes I envy you, and sometimes I don't. You are such a cute little thing, and yes, you have so much to explore, and I'm glad you decided to do something,” She cooed. I removed her hands from my cheeks and glared at her.

“You need to stop talking to me like I'm your child; just because you are graced with height doesn't mean I'm your younger sister,” I warned jokingly, still a fake glare on.

“I still see you as my child, poor, poor Marcie. I'm sure you love me calling you my younger sister,” She teased, and I pointed a finger at her, but she held it, measuring my hands with hers.

“See how tiny those fingers are,” she teased again, and I stormed away.

“Hey, short legs wait for me, alright, alright—fine, I won't tease you again. Wait for me,” she yelled and then walked over to my side. I opened the door of our dorm, and we walked in.

“So where do you want to Intern,” She asked, and a sly smirk curled up on my lips.

She gave me a knowing look, “Okayyyy, tell me what it is you are hiding from me. I know that smirk, and it screams you are planning to work with a company your daddy won't agree with,” She said, and then sat down beside me on the bed to hear whatever it is I had to say.

“Well, bestie…” I trailed off and held her hands, squeezing it tight. I smacked my lips and let out a short laughter.

“You are right, Sarah, but you have to trust me in this; once I get the approval, then I might tell you,” I insisted, and she groaned.

“Hey, don't do that to me. We don't hide anything from each other,” she pleaded, and I decided to act like I wasn't hearing her. She stood up abruptly, and then before I knew it, she started tickling my stomach, a very weak point of mine that got me cracking on the floor.

“Okay, O-okay, fine,” I gave in.

“Promise?” She muttered, still tickling me.

“Promise,” I replied, and then she stopped.

I adjusted my clothes and shifted far away from her, “I applied to work at Kingston Enterprise as a software developer,” I confessed, and her eyes widened.

“The heck! Marcie, are you insane? You know your dad won't let you do that,” She half-yelled. Sarah was shocked, flabbergasted, and, more importantly, not impressed with my decision.

Of course, people might think I'm crazy, but I just want to know why that company makes Dad out of his mind. Well, I know one of the reasons, but that can't be why he is so worked up about them.

“Dad won't find out; I changed my identity, and besides, nobody knows who my parents are, and don't forget I'm a hacker. One of the best in history,” I reminded her, but then Sarah wasn't having it.

And that's why I didn't want her to know in the first place; she would be so worried.

“It’s going to be fine, Sarah. Trust me, okay,” I reassured.

“Promise you would call me every day to tell me every detail about your life there,” she brought her pinky fingers. I smiled at her and locked mine with hers.

“I promise, now cheer up and let go and celebrate before I go to work.”