Sumi's POV
"What?" my best friend Julianna exclaimed after hearing that I got a 1.00 final grade in our first semester. "Sumi, you're not human, right?"
I just smiled at her sarcastic joke. "If I'm not human I wouldn't hang out with you." I said.
She rolled her eyes and clung to me, holding my arms as she couldn't take her eyes off my grades. "Your schedules are always hectic, you barely sleep but still you get a flat 1.00 grade? If you're not an alien you must be a goddess with a divine brain."
"No comment. So, how's your date with your new prince charming?"
As we reached the locker area, a bunch of flowers and letters exploded from my own locker.
"That is too much," I whispered.
"Don't even ask. He told me he likes me, but when I told him that my Daddy is the chief of the Police, he ran like a mad dog." she stated. She pouted. "I just want to have a boyfriend before we graduate."
"I can't believe that having a boyfriend is your priority instead of graduating as a laude." I said, sarcastically.
"I'm still young, Sumi. I can get work anytime but boyfriend? No."
I reached out for my other bags in my locker, and picked up those gifts from my fans and put them in the bag.
"Besides, I'm not like you. I'm not busy like you." She clung into me again after closing my locker. "You're a writer, you're an excellent student, do interviews and some traveling. You're basically a robot and being tired isn't on your vocabulary."
"Hey, that's exaggerating." I laughed. "I just want to be the best at something that I know I can show my full potential."
"If that's what you say so." We reached the hallway of the campus heading to the entrance to part ways. "I'll see you later at the event. Make sure to wear the dress that I gave you or I'll rip your boring outfit on the stage. Got it?"
"Do I have a choice?"
She fakingly smiled and said. "No." And then go inside the car that has been waiting on her. It's her family driver. Everyone believes that she's a police daughter, but who in the world would believe such a lie? Police, but owns a luxury car?
Still, Julianna Amore is my best friend. Ever since I moved to La Pasilio exclusive village, her family has welcomed me when I'm living alone in a house that I rented. My family drove me away from our Mansion when they found out that I pushed my sister, Xaya.
My phone rang, it's my manager. "Hello, Cherry. Yes, I'll be there by 2. Let me just drop my things at my house real quick. Yeah, thank you."
Manager Cherry is the one who handled me from the very beginning, she's taught me how I can earn and be popular among all the novel writers in the industry. Although I'm just a rookie, my three novels became 3 best selling after being released. People know me now as 'Master of all fantasy' in my own country now.
Today is my first signing event after that success. I'm on my way to my motorcycle when I spotted a man staring at me from across the distance. He's wearing an all black and red cloak that I mostly just imagine as a noble attire.
A cosplayer?
His gaze is giving me unfamiliar chills but then maybe I'm just overthinking it. I ride on my motorcycle and go back to my house to prepare for my own event.
At the event…
"Miss Sumi, after this series of the Duke's Daughter. Will you release the side story of it?" a fan from the middle side of the place asked. The place is too crowded, a lot of people really came and I can't help but to cry.
"Why did you guys make our pretty author cry?" The host said teasing everyone, I laughed trying so hard to tell them I'm fine. "Maybe Ms. Sumi is touched by everyone's support. This is her first signing event and we wish for more, is that right? Do you guys want that?"
"Yeah!" the crowds shouted. The host gave me the mic.
"Of course, I will release a new book that is also connected to the story of the Duke's Daughter. Although this one will surprise some of you or maybe some of you already know about it." I said, explaining them with my teary eyes. Everyone is looking at me intently. I never received much attention like this before but I'm glad I made it.
"Don't cry! We love you!" fans shouted from the right corner of the venue. I smiled and bowed a little, wiping my eyes.
"I'm just happy, seeing everyone here supporting me from the beginning until now. Thank you everyone."
I looked at Manager Cherry from the backstage, and I can see that she's also emotional too. Everything feels like a dream, imagine selling more than thousands of copies and getting two awards for just one novel.
I'm so happy. I'm very happy.
Mother, Father, can you see me? Are you proud of me? I hope finally, you'll believe that I can be like my sister too. I hope that this can make you proud of me.
Too drowned in my own thoughts, I didn't notice that everyone was shouting, chanting and whistling while looking at me. Till I saw Kaelen walking towards the stage with a huge bouquet of flowers in his hand.
"Looks like our pretty author has her prince charming already, you envy them too?" the host commented. Instead of correcting the host for such words, Kaelen just enjoys the hype of the crowd and gives me the flowers.
"Congratulations." He said. Kaelen is my friend from my first year until now. We're not into something romantic so I hope my fans won't misunderstand.
"Thank you, you're late." I said, rolling my eyes and signaling him to go back to his spot earlier. Everyone keeps shouting and teasing us but I pay no attention to any of it. From his spot, I saw Julianna there waving her camera to me, which means she captured a shot of me and Kaelen. That's insane.
After the event, Kaelen and Julianna waited for me. I'm with Manager Cherry that time but she told me to wait for her to get her car in the parking lot. Julianna teased me again. "I love your reaction from earlier." she said teasing, luckily Kaelen is busy with his phone call.
"I love to wrap this bag strap to your neck." She laughed so loud.
"And I love you, my pretty best friend. Why don't you consider Kaelen to be your first boyfriend?"
"I'm tired, I want to go home. We have class tomorrow." I protested before she even continued whatever was playing on her mind.
I'm busy rolling my eyes and telling Julianna to shut up when my phone rings. I didn't bother to look who it was until a deep voice from the other line called my name.
"Hello? Who's this?"
"I'm Mr. Rowelle. Your family's attorney, you have to come home and arrange your family's funeral."
"What? What funeral? "
"Mr. and Mrs. Wellbourne along with your sister Xaya Willbourne has died, Ms. Sumi."
My throat got dry, and my hand began to shiver and went numb.
"Sumi? What's wrong?" Julianna asked, sensing something is not right by the way I look.
"I'm sorry for your loss Ms. Sumi but you still have to come home as their daughter."
My phone slid from my hand and I heard a cracking sound from it. I can't move, I feel like thousands of insects bit me to be this numb. I want to breathe but I forgot how. All I can feel is that my eyes are getting watery and Julianna and Kaelen are shouting at me.
No, this can't be. Why would they die? No, it's not.
When Manager Cherry appeared in front of me and shaken my shoulder to snap back to my senses. I cried loudly.
"Please Manager Cherry, take me home. I want to see my parents. Please, please let me."
Not so far away from us, I saw the man again. Like earlier, his gaze is locked with me and there's something that keeps glowing on his chest. It's not jewelry but it looks like part of his outfit. A symbol of a crescent moon. When the car passed by on his spot, he's no longer there.
"Let's go, I will take you there." Kaelen said. Julianna also came forward and wiped my tears.
I nodded and when Manager Cherry smiled at me. I know that she no longer forbids me to go home. She no longer forbids me to see my own family and even though she doesn't I will still find ways to come home.
I will come home no matter what. I must see them.