(Alys's POV)
"What the heck is wrong with you?!"
Oh my gosh — I KNEW I had a bad feeling about this Kei girl!
It's Kei Chui!
Why is she here at NYU?!
Wasn't she supposed to be going to Russia?
Like, hello? Russia and New York aren't even close!
I took a few steps away from her.
It's early morning and she's already yelling at me.
I didn't even do anything yet…
I literally just woke up, ate something…
And now she's screaming at me. :(
She started walking toward me while I clutched the edge of my comforter tightly.
I'M SCARED OF KEI!
She's seriously terrifying!
What did Sheen even see in her?!
Does he like scary girls??
"Alys Zyril Perez," she said in a voice straight out of a horror movie.
Dear God. Breathe in. Breathe out. You got this, Alys.
My voice came out small because… well… I was still totally scared of her.
"W-what?"
Her eyebrow shot up and she looked at the plate I used.
T^T
Oh no. It's because… I don't know how to wash dishes!!
I never had to do it at home — we had Manang!
And when I lived in the condo, we had a dishwasher!
But here? No dishwasher!
WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO?? HUHUHU.
"Uhm… should I, like, throw the plate away?"
She rolled her eyes at me and flopped onto her bed.
"You're hopeless. Why are you even here?"
She ran her hand through her hair and took off her boots.
And wow.
KEI IS SO FREAKING PRETTY.
I swear — she could totally be my girl crush.
Her hair's gone blonde now, her skin's paler, and she's gotten slimmer too.
She just looks so… effortlessly cool.
Does she have a boyfriend already?
Because last I heard, Loves was still waiting for her.
I hope she's still single.
I know Loves still loves her — even if she's kind of a monster.
I slowly sat down on my bed.
"I'm here to study?" I answered weakly.
She raised an eyebrow again. "Are you effin' kidding me? You? Alys Perez? The lowest in our batch?"
RUDE!
I take back what I said — even if she's pretty, her attitude SUCKS.
I hope Loves has moved on from her already.
GRRR.
"That's mean, Kei! I actually had good grades last semester…" I mumbled.
It's true!
I had decent grades!
I only transferred here because Mom insisted.
I don't know what's up with her and Dad — it's like they don't want their kids in the Philippines.
Look at Dane — he's in California.
I'm in New York.
It's like they want long-distance parenting or something.
WEIRD.
Kei had taken off her boots and her leather jacket too.
Ugh, she looked SO cool.
Seriously — she's like a full-blown rockstar now.
Meanwhile, all I brought were sweaters.
HUHUHU. I WANNA SHOP TOO.
I want to look like a rockstar!
"Whatever," she muttered.
I went over to the plate and just tossed it in the trash.
Tsk.
I'm buying disposable ones from now on.
I absolutely refuse to wash dishes. Nope.
When I got back, all of Kei's books were out, her laptop was open, and her study lamp was on.
Everything was already organized.
She's ready to study.
I sat next to her.
She's not gonna bite me, right?
"Kei…" I said softly.
She looks so cute.
She even wears glasses!
I want glasses too.
Ugh — what is this?! I'm starting to idolize her!!
"Oh?" she said, glancing up.
"What is your course"
She looked at me.
"First, Alys, the term course refers to the 'subjects.' The proper question is, 'What is your degree program.'"
I nodded.
WOW. I JUST FOUND THAT OUT.
Hehehe. I wonder if Drake knows that too? I'll make it a trivia question for him!
"So,what is your degree program, Kei?"
I asked.
Omo! Turns out we're taking the same degree program, she said.
OF COURSE! THAT EXPLAINS IT!
But it seems like Kei already took some advanced subjects since she's been here since last semester...
I'll just have to catch up.
Kei went back to studying.
SHE'S ALREADY STUDYING THIS EARLY IN THE MORNING.
I went out for a jog — it felt amazing running through Central Park.
SO COLD. SO REFRESHING.
I grabbed my earphones and changed into shorts, a sweater, and running shoes.
I texted Drake, but he hadn't replied yet.
Probably still sleeping.
He's really into his beauty sleep lately.
Says it's good for the skin.
MY BOYFRIEND KNOWS TOO MUCH SOMETIMES.
♪ Singing Radiohead at the top of our lungs, with the boombox blaring as we're falling in love. Got a bottle of whatever but it's making us drunk, singing here's to never growing up. ♪
I MISS AYA, KENT, SHEEN — ALL MY FRIENDS!
Haaaay.
But they did promise they'd try to vacation here sometime.
I LOVE THEM SO MUCH.
Drake also told me I'd make friends here eventually.
He said I just had to be patient and actually talk sometimes — or people might think I'm mute.
UGH.
While I was jogging, a girl started jogging beside me.
Hmmm?
♪ Call up all our friends, go out this weekend. For no d-amn reason, I don't think we'll ever change. Meet you at the spot, half past ten o'clock. We don't ever stop and we're never gonna change. Say, won't you stay forever, stay if you stay forever. Hey, we can stay forever young. ♪
She smiled at me, so I smiled back.
I stopped for a bit.
It was my first time jogging anyway.
I don't even know why I jogged here.
Maybe because I didn't want to be in the room — Kei was ignoring me.
And I didn't know anyone else.
Jogging felt better.
No need to talk to anyone.
I reached into my side pocket for my phone.
Ouuu.
A text from my boyfriend!
From: The Drake Palma Way
Call me.
OMG OMG! WAIT!!
Calling…
The Drake Palma Way
"Drakey!!"
("Tss. Missed me?")
"Of course I did! Hehehe. Did you miss me?"
Gosh.
I'M SO IN LOVE WITH DRAKE.
I swear, if we ever break up, I'll CRY MY SOUL OUT.
I don't even know why it's like this.
Drake doesn't even do anything special.
But seriously — even just a LOOK from him makes my heart VIBRATE.
("I don't know. I'm liking this setup, actually.")
"Huh?! What do you mean?! Don't you want to see me?!"
OMG. :(
("Yes. Because I'm tempted whenever I'm near you.")
O__O
"DRAKE SEBASTIAN PALMA!!
ARE YOU ONLY AFTER MY BODY?!"
I heard him laugh from the other line.
Look at that! Ever since I left, he keeps laughing.
I'M BECOMING A COMEDIAN!
("I was kidding. I'm busy here. I was with Dad the whole day. What's up with you?")
"Just jogging. This is actually exhausting."
("Stupid. Of course. Did you meet your roommate already?")
Oh right. Kei.
Should I tell Drake?
Yes. YES!
That way, I can also complain about all the oppression I'm experiencing from her!
"Kei Chui…"
Drake didn't say anything.
What happened?!
DID HE GET SHOCKED TOO?!
I mean, I WAS shocked too!
I suddenly heard someone talking in the background, but I couldn't really make it out.
Who was that?
"Drake? Still there?"
("Ah, yes. What were you saying?")
I repeated what I said about Kei.
Dear Lord,
PLEASE LET ME AND KEI GET ALONG.
I honestly wanted to be friends with her back when we were still in SCA,
but I just couldn't get close to her.
She was popular… I wasn't really that popular.
But I was cute though!
I hope now that we're roommates,
we'll finally grow close.
("Kei seems good. You should befriend her.")
"Of course. Hehehe. Drake?"
("Hmm?")
"Can you come here for a vacation? Just a vacation, right? Even just for one week?"
He went silent for a few seconds.
("Why? I said I'll visit you on Thanksgiving. Can't wait?")
Maybe he doesn't miss me.
Well, Shaira's there after all.
Haaaay.
But Shaira did say she'd try not to flirt with Drake anymore.
BUT STILL!
I know how much that Pugits girl is obsessed with my boyfriend.
IT'S DANGEROUS!
"Because—ugh! What the heck! Why did it cut off?! Tsk."
I hung up the phone since I couldn't reconnect anymore.
Haaaay.
Will Drake and I even work out?
I mean, LDRs are hard, right?
---
(Tripp's POV)
"Tripp, come on! Let's walk around NYU!"
Ugh.
I threw a pillow at him.
So early in the morning and this freeloader is already being annoying.
He already barged into this apartment — now he won't stop bugging me.
His mom has a place here, doesn't she?
Why is he squeezing himself into my dad's apartment?
THE PALMA FAMILY MAKES NO SENSE.
Sometimes I just can't with them.
I pulled the blanket over my head and turned away.
The apartment is centralized, I don't even know why.
It's already freezing outside — and inside, it's just as cold.
The temperature adjuster is broken so I think we're about to die of frostbite here.
"I don't care, Tofer. Go out by yourself," I said.
No way I'm going out today.
All I want to do is sleep and sleep.
Classes start in a day and I'm nervous.
I don't know anyone here.
I'm just here on vacation, so I don't really have any friends.
Plus, people at NYU are smart.
I need to study hard so that when I go back to the Philippines, I'll be better than Drake.
That's really all I want in life —
Because he already has Zyril.
Tofer grabbed his keys and put on his running shoes.
His problem now. Tsk.
A few hours later, I finally got up.
I cooked for myself — thank goodness the pest wasn't around so I could eat in peace.
I went out for a bit to grab Starbucks.
Seriously though, why don't they deliver?
Would've made life so much easier.
While I was passing through the park,
I think I saw Zyril?
Was that right?
Tsk.
Maybe I was just seeing things.
Zy's in the Philippines.
What would she be doing here anyway?
She's so into my cousin.
LIFE IS SO STUPID.
Sometimes I just wanna strangle myself.
After I ate, I went to the library.
I already had a list of required books —
but one of them wasn't there.
Even online I couldn't find it.
WHAT IS THIS, SOME ANCIENT TEXT?
"Miss, I got this first," I said to a blonde girl.
She turned to face me.
SH-T. SHE'S HOT.
"Are you finished ogling at me?"
What the heck.
So rude.
I'M OUT.
"I need this book. I'll borrow it from the lib," she said.
"I need that too! This sucks," I told her.
She probably didn't understand — she looked American.
She raised an eyebrow at me.
"Excuse me?"
"Nothing. Fine, you take it. You're lucky you're pretty."
She smiled and took the book out of my hand.
"Thanks."
Huh?
She understood me?!
I thought she was American?
WHAT THE ACTUAL—LIFE IS SO WEIRD!
------
(Aya's POV)
"Kent…"
He still wasn't talking to me.
UGH. THIS GUY REALLY KNOWS HOW TO SULK.
All because I didn't join him for dinner…
My reason was VALID — I was scared!
He just kept studying ahead since, apparently, he's taking summer classes?
I don't know, I'm not sure.
We already planned to visit Besh in New York,
but now this KL guy is thinking of enrolling for summer?
HE'S CRAZY.
I sat beside him and leaned against his shoulder.
"Bee… I'm sorry…"
Hehehe.
He couldn't resist.
He turned to me and closed his books.
"Aya, you know you're the only girl who's stayed with me this long, right?" he said.
I nodded.
We've been together for almost six months now!
CAN YOU BELIEVE I SURVIVED SIX WHOLE MONTHS OF HIS ULTRA SUPER DUPER MEGA CLINGINESS?!
"I just really wanted to introduce you to my parents… Why don't you want to?"
I turned to face him and held his hand.
We're kind of improving, you know.
Back then, I'd be grossed out whenever Kent held my hand.
GOOD THING IT'S NOT LIKE THAT ANYMORE.
Mehehe.
"Because… are you really sure you want to introduce me? I mean, me? Gabriella Pineda? Are you serious — you're really gonna introduce me to your parents?" I asked him.
Seriously.
Isn't he afraid his parents might get turned off?
I mean, I kinda have no manners.
Hehehe. I'm just not used to formal stuff.
He also held my hand and smiled at me.
Oh no, here it comes again — that SMILE of his!
"Why would they be scared of you?
Because you look like a gangster?
Because sometimes you act like you've lost your mind?
Or maybe because you randomly throw punches?
Aren't those all reasons not to be scared of you?"
=__=
"Do you want us not to make it to our seventh month?
I'll break up with you, right here, right now!!"
KL pouted.
YUCK. DISGUSTING. DOESN'T SUIT HIM AT ALL!!
"Bee, come on. That's always your threat to me."
"That's the only thing you're scared of."
"Because Kent LOVES Aya soooo much. Right? Hehehe."
"Whatever," I said. "I'm going to book my flight already. What's your deal?"
He suddenly stopped hugging me.
"Is it really final?"
I nodded.
"I can't come with you, Bee…
I need to take summer classes — the subject won't be offered next semester.
I'll fall behind in the curriculum."
Well, I couldn't bring myself to yell at Kent.
He's serious when it comes to studying.
Unlike me, he's totally dedicated, especially during exams.
That's basically his addiction — STUDYING.
WEIRD, RIGHT?
Well, he's weird anyway.
"But Bee, promise me you won't get a crush on Sheen when you all go to the US, okay?"
I smacked him on the head.
HE KNOWS TOO MUCH!!
(Drake's POV)
"How was the exam?" Dad asked as I came back home from school.
"It was easy," I said while heading straight to the kitchen to grab my banana milk.
Alys was always drinking her strawberry milk.
I had to find my own thing, so I made banana milk my go-to drink.
Dad followed me.
He's like a stalker.
ANNOYING.
"When will the results come out?" he asked.
I shook my head.
I didn't know, but I was sure I aced it.
The questions were simple — most of them I'd already encountered before.
That's why I love reading.
Dad sat on a chair in the dining room.
The maid had already prepared my dinner.
Tita Katrina wasn't around — GOOD.
I don't like it when she's here.
Whenever she's around, I feel like I'm being unfaithful to Alys.
I haven't even told her I've moved back here.
"Your Uncle Tristan told me that Tripp and Tofer are staying at his flat."
Tofer?
THAT ANNOYING GUY.
He's loud, irritating, and unbearable.
I bet Tripp is losing his mind already.
SERVES HIM RIGHT for going there while I'm stuck here.
"That's near Alys' dorm. Oh right—did you know Alys is staying in a dorm?"
I nodded.
"Good thing her grades last semester were high enough to get into NYU," he continued.
"Dana and Andy really helped polish her essay and papers too."
I looked at him.
"And so?"
He just smiled at me.
"Nothing, son. It's just… even though you're extremely smart, I still want you here in the Philippines.
I just don't want you far from me."
"Clingy. You're disgusting."
After dinner, I went upstairs.
I actually just came from Shaira's condo.
She's been avoiding me like I'm some kind of plague.
WEIRD.
She's my best friend.
I told her to stop acting like I'm dead.
I don't care if she likes me — she'll always be my friend.
I told her to stop liking me, because it won't do her any good.
She said she'd try, but it's hard because I'm "so handsome."
This is exactly why I HATE my face.
But I like my face when Alys is DROOLING over me.
I opened my laptop and checked my mail.
From: toferpalma@gmail.com
Subject: None
> Hi, Drake!
I saw Alys earlier — your girlfriend's really pretty, bro!
Apparently, Tripp has a crush on her? Hehehe.
I love Tripp more than you anyway. Bleh!!<
TSS.
I REALLY NEED TO GO TO NEW YORK.
---