This is all too familiar

"I'm going to miss you. A lot. Don't come back a different person alright?" she said as she struggled to hold back her tears. "Don't worry, you silly girl. Oh come on now, don't cry," he comforted her with his voice over the phone. She knew she was going to cry but she held back her tears and said goodbye to her best friend. He never has to know anything else. Not yet. Not now.


"He said you're hot, babe," said Frankie. "But I'm not interested in him," she replied.
"But he said 'You're hot' to your face and you replied, 'Cause I'm wearing heels' to him. He gave you a weird look."
"That was only because I heard him say I was tall. Oh come on, I'm not interested in him. Besides, I like someone else already."
"It's no harm. Come on, he is pretty good looking."
"Yeah, he is alright. But.."
"Lyssa! Keep quiet and just look out for this one alright?"
    Lyssa looked at her friend and gave her a soft smile and finally said after a few seconds of silence, making Frankie think that she was giving a thought about the guy, "Let's go to class. We're late".

"Hey babe, could I hitch a ride from you?" asked Cassandra after class ended. Lyssa nodded her head as she stuffed her books into her bag, throwing in her pencil case as well. She looked around her table to check if she left anything behind on her desk. She saw Cas waiting at the door and quickly rushed to her side to leave the classroom.
    "So I heard about this guy saying you were hot," she brought up as she raised her eyebrows with a grin on her face. Lyssa laughed at her friend's expression and smiled back and nodded. Cas and her have been friends ever since high school and every single little detail about their lives especially on relationships were split over hot chocolate or phone calls. "What's his name?" asked Cas in excitement. "Levi. Like Levi's jeans you know. It's cool having a name like that," she replied almost immediately as though she was also excited. However, deep down she was always thinking of another boy. A boy who had almost all the prospects of a perfect guy for her. "Babe, I've seen him. He is the best looking guy among his friends and you would say he's pretty cute for you," said Cas interrupting her thoughts.
  "Cas, you already know who I'm interested in."
  "And he will always be there in your heart. But is he here right now?"
  "No."
  "Does he know how you feel?"
  "No."
  "Lyss, live in the moment. You deserve this chance. Levi is interested in you. It's obvious. I've seen his friends act around him when you walk pass by them. I just never told you, that's all."
  "But I need to know how he feels. And I'm not talking about Levi. I mean, once I know, I can move on."
    Cas looked at her friend. She saw how much this girl liked that boy, she was willing to pass another chance with a good looking guy in college. She probably wouldn't understand how she would feels but Cas felt that what her friend was going through, battling with what if's and conflicting thoughts, was tough.
"You really like him don't you?"
"Yeah, I do. Very much."
    She saw her friend smiled like she was a little girl of five dreaming about prince charming in a classic Cinderella fairytale. They walked down the stairs and into the the carpark. Both of them walked towards the car but Cas stopped. Lyssa continued walking, not noticing her friend stopped in her tracks. It was only after she reached for her keys from the side pocket of her bag, she noticed her friend standing there looking at her as though she was going to cry.
    "What's wrong, Cas?" she probed. "Nothing. Just thought you might just want to give Levi a shot. Cause he seems like a pretty nice guy," said Cassandra. Lyssa looked around, avoiding her friend's eyes and unlocked the car. Cas quickly walked to the car and got in. The both of them sat in the car in silence for a few minutes before Lyssa started the car. The engine roared into life as Lyssa put her car onto Drive and released her hand brake and stepped on her accelerator.
    The drive was only about seven minutes long but it seemed as though it was forever. The both of them sat in silence throughout the journey. They weren't in a fight or an argument, but simply because Cas knew Lyssa was finally giving a thought about the matter. Lyssa stepped on her brakes and the vehicle stopped eventually outside a house. "You were thinking about it just now, weren't you? Well, give me a call because I know you want to hear more from me. See you tomorrow babe," said Cas as she got out of the car. As soon as the door was shut, Lyssa released the brake pedal and sped off home. Countless thoughts ran through her mind. Jake was what she needed. Jake was whom she needed to talk to. And soon before Levi loses interest her.

******************************************************

Jake: I think you're cute too. But hey, don't get the wrong idea alright? We're just friends.

Ly$$a: Yeah, I know. Just friends. It's all good.

Jake: Great then. Listen, I gtg now. Catch up with you soon?

Ly$$a: You know I will. See you. Bye.

Jake: Bye.


Lyssa couldn't seem to delete the message Jake sent her. So he wasn't interested in her. So he thought they were just friends. Oh well, she thought. Somehow, she didn't really feel the pain as she thought she would have experienced after getting that message from him. Jake and her were best friends. That's it. It just stops there. The next day, she walked towards her classroom but something at the corner of her eye caught her attention. A tall figure was walking towards her direction. She could feel his eyes on her. He was wearing a white polo shirt with jeans hanging loosely on his hips. Levi was actually good looking. He had high cheek bones and tanned skin. She raised her head up and looked to her left. They made eye contact. Lyssa gave a friendly smile as though welcoming Levi to make his first move on her. No one else was around but the both of them.

It's VDay. I had nothing to do so I wrote this.

The phone vibrated again. Her house phone was ringing. An IM popped up on her computer screen. The door bell rang. All these happened at the same time. She stared at everything. The door was only a few feet away from her. She held her phone tightly as it continued vibrating. Lost. That was what she was. It all happened too fast.

******************************

"So???? Who is he?" asked Jo. She looked at her friend, tucked her hair behind her ears and smiled while she hugged her books tightly towards her chest. "Don't just leave me in the dark, tell me already!!!" Once again, she took a look at Jo and glanced to her left. There he was. Wearing a red shirt, Levi's hanging loosely on his hips, one hand in his pocket, another holding onto the strap of his bag he was carrying on his shoulder. His hair looked like he had just woken up and he had his earphones on. He stopped walking and looked directly at her as if knowing she was analysing him. He shot her a smile so warm, she thought she was going to faint if she returned the smile to him. She chose to smile with her eyes instead and he just knew what she meant. He walked into the classroom, taking one quick look at her once more and he was gone as the door closed behind him. "I see now. Shaun? Not bad," Jo said as nudged her friend.
"We got talking yesterday and the conversation got kinda quiet. Then he asked me out. I didn't know what to say. Actually, I didn't even say anything after that. He just told me to join him for lunch today. He wouldn't take no for an answer," she explained to Jo. "That explains your cute top. What style are you going for? I'm-just-your-average-girl or is it I-look-good-in-this-top-and-you-know-it-so-you-better-say-I-look-good?" Jo asked as both of them started walking to their classroom. "I'm not going for any look. This was what I was going to wear today anyway," she said and paused. "Alright, maybe I am going for the I'm-just-your-average-girl-but-I-think-I-can-totally-kick-ass-this-outfit, happy?" she continued as she grinned at Jo. "Thank god, after six years of hanging out with me, you showed that at least you learnt something," Jo said with relief. They pushed the classroom door together and walked in with Jo going in first. "Hey, Lisa!" someone called out.
She looked up and saw Chase. His hair was styled up, all spiky and his black hair brought out his big, brown, eyes. His pierced ear had a diamond stud the size of a diameter of a pencil. In fact, he actually was kind of cute. Lisa walked over to him and put her books down on the desk next to him. "Someone's attracted to me. You know it, I know it, and we know it's Y-to-the-O-to-the-U. Which explains why you're sitting next to me, again," said Chase with confidence. Raising her eyebrow, she grinned and said, "You were the one waving your hands like a mad person and pointing at this seat. Besides that, you just need me to tutor you on Maths again right?". He smiled showing his straight pearly whites as he pushed the Math book towards her. "See? I knew it," said Lisa.

Leo says:
Hey you.

Lee-Sa!! says:
Hey!!! How r you over there?

Leo says:
If you consider having to constantly to call random ppl frm the phonebk, and then get yelled by them, fine, then I guess I'm good here.

Lee-Sa!! says:
That bad huh? At least you'll be quitting your job soon right? I mean, how long have you been working? Since the holidays started?

Leo says:
Yup! In 2 days, I'll b back in town. So, how's college?

Lee-Sa!! says:
FANtastic! Some really cute guy just asked me out n I'm totally psyched abt it!

Leo says:
Oh. Good 4 you Lisa. =)

Lee-Sa!! says:
I know!! Leo, you gotta come back soon. I really miss those outings we usually have during the weekends. Text me or IM me k?

Lee-Sa!! says:
Leo?

Leo says:
Yeah, I'm here.

Lee-Sa!! says:
Text me or IM me alright? I have to go now. Date!!! AHHH!!

Leo says:
Alright. See you.

Lee-Sa!! says:
TA!!!!

Lee-Sa!! may not respond because his or her status is Offline.

Leo:
Hope the date sucks.


Lisa logged off and clicked the Shut Down button. She packed up her stuff and walked out from the library. Where was he going to take her, she thought. She climbed up the stairs slowly as her kitten heels clacked on the marble floors. She saw him talking to his friends. He looked like he was having a casual conversation when he stopped and looked at her. Once again, she thought she was going to melt. She walked over and said hi to his friends. "Enough chatting. We have to go for lunch now. If we waste any more time talking, my minutes will keep on reducing cause they were supposed to be for this young lady here," said Shaun with a little smile as he put his hand on her shoulder. She was half a head shorter than him. Good to know that she can add more inches on her heels whenever they go out some other time. If there was going to be some other time. They excused themselves and walked out from the campus. They talked about their classes, who did what and complained about the lecturer they both have. Shaun lead her into a small restaurant. It was small and cosy and perfect for lunch.
"You're ordering mac and cheese? You do know that it's filled with cheese and loads of carbs right?" asked Shaun. "I know that. I like cheese. That's why I'm ordering it," she replied with surprise. She looked at him, he looked well, shocked.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
"Common, you can't fool me."
"Ok. You're probably the first girl I've seen ordering Mac and Cheese."
"Why?"
"Cause, the other girls I've seen either have Caesar Salad or just a cup of smoothie. Fruit smoothie. Usually strawberry."
"Ahh. I'm not one of them. I like to eat. Carbs or whatever."
"You know, I like a girl with an appetite."
"Oh really?"
"Then I should order more then!"
"No, you're going to burn a hole in my wallet. I brought only like 50 cause I thought you were going to have salad or something. Guess I was wrong about that."
Lisa thought he was sweet, smart, funny and cheeky. He was good-looking, friendly around people, it was almost hard to believe that he's sitting in front of her. She never had someone like him ask her out before. Both of them ate and talked and laughed. They would have continued the conversation if it wasn't for the "The Way I Are" ringtone coming from his pocket. "Lisa, I have to take this. I'll be right back," he said as he stood up from his place and walked out from the restaurant. Lisa looked out of the window and all sorts of thoughts came into mind. She couldn't wait to tell Jo how the date went and that he wanted to go out with her again some other time. She looked outside and noticed how blue the sky was and how green the plants looked today. Then something caught her eye. A black BMW. All her thoughts of Shaun faded away into the dark. A guy with a white polo with faded dark blue jeans stepped out from the car. His aviator sunglasses sat on his high cheekbones perfectly, his hair was short and styled, his lips were thin and supple. He shut the door and locked his car. He walked with such strength and yet with with grace. Lisa knew his features all too well. She felt a rage built inside of her. She recognised him. Hugo.