The last couple of nights in Gastonburry, Kelsey stayed at his place. He indulged her with his best meals, his best wine, put on his go-to music for a quiet romantic night with his girlfriend.
"Are you going to be okay while I'm gone?" he finally asked her.
Her eyes flickered as she sipped her wine, "Of course not ... I will miss you terribly."
He smiled, "Me too," and then he was quiet.
Kelsey went over to him and sat on his lap. She brushed his hair with her fingers, looped her arms around his neck. Something was on his mind, but he couldn't say it. She kissed him. "Are you okay?" she sensed it.
"Kelsey ..." it was right on the edge of his tongue, she waited for it. "Should I be worried?" he said it.
"About what?"
"About us ... I mean, I can't help but feel like ..." he couldn't bring himself to say it. "Neither of us has ever been in a
It started out as a friendly night out, just a couple of beers at a quiet pub in the gallery. The gallery was a row of cafes, pubs, and restaurants about fifteen minutes away from campus where students from all the Universities in Gastonburry blend in like a melting pot. It was the only area for nightlife other than the two clubs they had for more lively entertainment.It often started like that with Kelsey, until she meets her friends who also came to the same place and then the night would grow longer as it progresses. The drinks would come more than they initially planned, then they ended up hopping in the car to go to the club because everyone was drunk enough to invite each other for more drinks with louder music and a dance floor.They were still at the pub when Julie's phone rang. It was close to 10 PM, it was Nathan."Hey." His voice at the other end."Hi! You've landed!" she was half shouting."(Chuckl
She propped up her chin with one hand, spun her pen on the other. She was done with her exam and was waiting for the announcement that time was up. All the other students were still deep in thoughts, you can hear a pin dropped in the classroom. Out from the corner of her eye, she saw a figure outside the window. When she took a glance, Preston was waving at her with both arms up high.His hair was long enough to be tied back in a tiny ponytail. He was wearing a worn-out T-shirt, the collar was loose, his necklace hung out, the top of his chest was visible. He was mouthing something that she couldn't make out. It didn't take long for the other students to notice him, and the girls were starting to murmur, "It's Preston Hicks." There was giggling sound. Preston pointed to the cafeteria, his mouth was moving, "I'll wait for you at the cafeteria."Julie nodded, but then he was mouthing something else that was harder to understand. The classroom
She swept it under the rug. She knew what Kelsey was like, but she thought it was different with Nathan. She was willing to ignore what Preston had told her for the sake of salvaging the only decent relationship Kelsey ever had with a guy, also the fact that Nathan had become someone that might stay in her life as a friend and professionally.She had booked her ticket to Bhorma, Kelsey was tagging along to surprise Nathan. She was definitely keeping the relationship, it was easier for Julie to forget what Preston had told her.She came back early to the dorm that day to start packing. She was in a good mood after receiving her final exam result. As she was entering her dorm room, Zach was getting out from it.Helooked like he just got out of bed, Kelsey was in the background tidying up her dress like she was just getting into them. "Hey," Zach greeted her casually. Julie gave him a half nod. Her gaze immediately mo
He walked back to the dorm feeling like a total loser. How could he have been such a jerk that even when he poured his heart out, told the naked truth to the person he most cares about, she didn't believe him? He suddenly felt so aware of himself, eyes gazing at him along the way to the dorm."Hey, Preston." Pretty girls greeted him here and there. Somehow they all knew who he was around campus. "Where are you going, Preston?" another voice came.It was getting late. Girls who came to him only had one thing in their minds. He realized it was who he was, that was why Julie would never agree to be his girlfriend. He leaned lazily on the doorway of his dorm. "Hey ... Preston ... need some company?" A girl in a miniskirt greeted him by the door.He smiled at the irony, "Hey..." He didn't even know her name."Samantha, from Corporate Psychology ... I sat right behind you," she said."
Three days later, she was leaving for Bhorma. She hadn't heard from Preston since that night, nor she had tried to contact him. There was a knock on the door, it was Preston. Standing with both hands on either side of the door frame. Looking at his beautiful face, she was relieved."Hi ... can I talk to you for a second?" She nodded and let him in. "Is Kelsey here?""No, she went out to get some last minute stuff," she said casually.They stood facing each other awkwardly. He saw the suitcases, a sense of loss crept inside him. "Wow ... you're all packed and ready to go," he commented.She sat on her bed and nodded, waiting to hear what he came to tell her. He sat next to her, and faced her. "I just want to tell you something ..." he began. "I understand your decision ... I'm okay with that... I guess I was just selfish that I wanted you for myself, but I know one thing is for sure ... I want y
They drove about twenty minutes to get to Nathan's villa. There were a lot of motorbikes in Bhorma traffic. Nathan said that people usually go on foot for a shorter distance. He lived alone in his three-bedroom villa. The lower ground was for the garage and household tools. The living space was on the upper ground. A wide living room with cushions around the floor sofa facing the TV.The pantry was on the other side of the room, along with a six seated dining table which looked like it's rarely used. In between the two parts of the upper floor was a corridor with two doors on each side, three bedrooms, and a bathroom was the last door on the left. Nathan occupies the master bedroom with an internal bath of his own.The guest room was across the external bathroom, and the bedroom across from Nathan was reserved for his parents whenever they come to visit. A local lady was hired to keep the place clean and organized. A huge balcony can b
Nathan was a good friend, and a good employer, not just to her, but to everyone. He made everyone feel like they're in one big team, each person was equally important. Anybody can contribute their ideas to improve the restaurant, the food, the working environment, and he took everyone's opinion into consideration.He didn't get angry whenever there was a screw-up, he knew everyone was learning as they go just like he was. And that it would take years to build something substantial, Nathan wanted to bring the team to grow with him and the company. He learned to tackle everything that the team was lacking, he has this calmness about him in overcoming problems that made everyone felt secure.Julie was observing strong leadership from Nathan. Whenever they were short on staff, Nathan never hesitated to go down and dirty in the kitchen or serve food to the customers, always with a smile on his face. He chatted with everyone, his extroverted vibe
She worked together with other staff to decorate Ardor for Christmas. Even though it wasn't a popular festivity in Bhorma. Most people go back to their home town to celebrate, those who stayed are people like Julie who doesn't celebrate the holiday with her family."You don't go back for Christmas?" Andy asked."No ... just a phone call would do," she didn't want to explain."When do you go home, then?"She shrugged, "Maybe after graduation ... before I officially start working, what about you?"Andy poured some milk into the fresh cup he just made, "My family lives here, we see each other every day, I actually need an excuse to get away from them."They laughed. He handed her the cup, it smelled better on Christmas."Thank you so much ... oooh I love it," she inhaled the aroma before taking a sip."I noticed you alwa