Stepping outside I took deep breath in and took in my surroundings, as I calmed my racing nerves. I had been in this city for the past five years and I had been separated from my family at the same time. I fell in love with a gorgeous man, who I adored with every fibre of my being that led me ultimately give up everything to be with him. That costed me my family, my security and my independence. He fell out of love with me and I vanished from his life, his city and his country.
Five years I searched for her, travelled every city in the country when I realised she had left the country entirely. I knew she wasn't from here and I never found out where she originally came from but I had been so hot headed that I ignored her in favor of upskilling my business contacts only to realised that it was meaningless without her to share it with. When I realised my mistake it was too late she had left voluntarily.
Now five years later I see her standing amongst the crowd, smiling, laughing, engaging with them. She looked healthy and glowing that made my body start to burn and the moment our eyes locked I could feel her disappointment in our stare before she broke eye contact and walked away.
Ten years of friendship disappeared, five years of marriage destroyed, five years of hurt and absences that had not been mended. A misunderstanding had separated them, trust and loyalty was tested and now he has to watch her with others not knowing that they were her family and they were here to collect the debt he dealt her.
_______ Chapter One ________
Arriving at my new school that I will attend for the next four years. Having been suffocated at home with all my siblings I decided I wanted a university away from home and that is what drove me to be on a three an half hour flight to a place I will call home for the next couple of years.
Stepping out of my comfort zone had something I never anticipated and slowly blooming is what made my university experience one to remember for ever. Entering into the reception doors I was captivated by the high celling that had a beautiful mural painted on it, the architecture in the designs of the university is what captivated me.
Receiving a map of the campus, my dorm room key and map of the dormitory, a run down of meal times, class room timetable for the semester and who will be my tutors for each class before I was allowed to leave and get myself to my dorm. Arriving I was the first one there so I picked opened the windows, curtains and let some in it.
The place was clean and tidy so I made my way to check out the rooms. I liked the first room I opened and noticed a big bed in the middle of the room. The three other rooms all had the same size bed and space wise too so I claimed the first room I entered. Every room had a double bed and enough storage place for all your things. They were all clean and tidy and we'll maintain so I was happy with this selection.
Heading back to the room I chose I started to put my wardrobe together, placing it next to the window. Lucky my family had sent my stuff ahead of me and got me simple furniture that I could assemble myself. Or right now I'd be on there complaining having my father run through the instruction with me calmly while cuss and complain. Being the youngest and a girl I had brothers and a father for assembling items but since mother and I are not on talking terms I have to figure it out myself.
Once my room is set up enough to call it a day, having a shower and getting dressed before going out for food. Grabbing my phone, keys, both maps Incase I need to know where my classes are and where the cafeteria is. Placing a lock on my room door as my housemates have not yet arrived so I locked the main door behind me as I went out in search for food.
Following the map I found the cafeteria, where it was bustling with people. Entering I made my way to get a tray and made my way down the line, staring at all the different food they had to offer and since I was starving. I grabbed a slice of cottage pie, two slices of toast a muffin and hot cup of coffee before heading to a spot that was empty but in the sun.
Placing my tray down and sitting down I switched my family chat on before I started eating waiting for someone to pick up when my mother's face filled the screen and since I had my air pods in I smiled at my mother
"Hi mama," I spoke as she checked me over in the video chat, "I see you made it safely, you unpacked okay?," she askedni nodded "The car I brought is a simple economic car that will be placed into a parking garage two streets away from you," she spoke as she sent the information to my email, " what are you eating?," she asked as I showed her "Cottage pie, toast, a muffin and a coffee. I came for something to eat and check out what they got to offer, it's not bad so I won't starve," I teased as my mother's face screwed up, "Well cook for yourself, last thing I want is for you to be poisoned by there cook," I laughed as I stared at my mother's disgusted face "I was just going to get some groceries now, since your on the phone with me," I spoke as I stood taking my tray to the trash before walking out.
Before I could touch the door a hand had already reached out and opened it revealing in a tall, lean man enter nearly knocking me down before I side stepped him, startling him before he tripped and fell as I didn't stop going around him and his friends before heading through the same door they just entered.
Without breaking my conversation my mother spoke "Did you see if that person was okay?," she asked as I stared at her and frowned "No, I didn't touch them, I went around them all," I said as I walked to where she parked my car. "Okay could of introduced yourself, make some friends," she muttered as I smiled. "Ile make friends mama, just let me focus on getting my degree first, it's what is important.," I spoke when ten minutes of walking I arrived at the parking garage.
Entering into the building I went to the deposit box and unlocked it to find my car keys and an envelope with cards and money. "Mama, I can get a job here Ile be okay." I said as I pulled it all out and counted it. "Worry only of studying, learning your classes this month. Next month you will be interning in our international branch, you will learn under the receptionist as she is in the heart of the building and I need you to learn there." My mother spoke as I placed the cards back into the envelope and then placed it back in the lock box before locking it back up and heading down to where the car is parked.
Unlocking the car and sliding in, I found a
plain black hand bag that had a bow on it, sitting on my passengers seat. Closing the doors I stared at my mother's beaming face, "We all adore you, but that's from your sister. She's worried about you and everything in that bag is to protect you while you commute around the city. There's a smaller one to wear on your person for your wallet, ID, keys and phone, when your walking around, the other one stays in the car. Clipping my phone onto the stand I started my car up and moved it from out of the parking space and into the busy streets. Following the map to the closest supermarket I spoke with my mother for another twenty minutes before arriving at there safely.
Exiting the car I grabbed the closest trolley and headed inside, even the supermarket was gigantic compared to our single filed line. Going through the produce I kept my items to a weekly shop, that is one shopping bag. Going through the fresh produce I grabbed some carrots, cucumber and capsicum and kilo bag of potatoes. Now meats to go with the vegetable, and some seasonings. Strolling through the other aisles I found toilet paper, cleaning products, female products, hygiene products and bathing items. Tooth paste, brush, perfumes that would last me until my next shop, as I paid for my items, that I left with two bags but I had everything I needed.
Driving back l headed straight back to my dorm with my items as the walk was refreshing, entering my dorm I was still the only one here, so after I packed away all my groceries and cleaning products in my room. I cooked myself dinner, washed my dishes before heading off for a shower before bed.
First time on my own, with no help.and being able to fend for myself and learn life has made me high five myself for my first day done. I shopped for groceries, I cooked myself dinner and I enjoyed knowing I can do this but again first day.
Tomorrow is orientation day, learning the campus, leaning the houses around and learning the classroom routes, bathrooms, nurse station, dining hall, lecture halls, auditorium, stadium and fields. So I am exhausted and ready for bed now.
Waking up and craving a hot meal, I changed and headed to the kitchen as I made myself an easy breakfast. Bacon and eggs on toast with a hot coffee that I ate happily and was just washing my dishes when there was a knock on the door, upon opening it I am met with the greenist eyes I have ever seen glow while looking at me, I put on a polite smile "Can I help you?," I asked as he stared silently at me without uttering a word he then thrust a flyer at me about the orientation that start at 12pm and it was only 8am. Thanking him I shut the door and went back to unpacking the rest of my clothes and hanging them up. By the time I was finished it was 11am so I cleaned the house again before hopping in the shower and getting ready for my day.
Black skinny jeans, white low cut chuck Taylors, a long sleeve shirt with a white hoodie over it and the plain black bag. Tying my hair into a high ponytail, earrings on display, lip stick, only then I was satisfied with my look before leaving my room and seeing two other girls standing around in the kitchen who both turned to satre at me as I entered the room.
"Hello, I am Serena Jade," I spoke as I held out my hand to them "Julie Rain," the blonde spoke, "Ashley Grey," the red hair spoke as the placed there stuff down on the ground. "Here are the room keys, and orientation is just about to start, if you would like to unpack after the tour?," I spoke when Ashley nodded "Yeah, I'm new to the city so that would be good," Julie answered as we all headed out together in search of our first year students which was easy to find since we all met by the school fountain that sits in the centre of the school.
Conversating with the two girls, we found we all live an hour from each other cities back home and we came here for the same exact subjects but just different majors. I came for a financial business degree majoring in computer software engineering, Julie came for a architectural degree majoring in business enhancement programs and Ashly in architectural designs majoring in plan development engineering that fits within our dynamics.
We toured the campus first, the outside area, the cafeteria, the dining hall, studying halls, library, science block, engineering block, business block, literature, history and geography block. Car mechanical workshop where I was met with the same green eyes as they locked on my grey orbs as I stared around the workshop. I noticed a lot of the state of the art tools that looked more then a year old that I snapped out of my trance when I noticed someone step inside my comfort zone as I had reached out to touch the tool and noticed someon near me . Steeping back I dropped my hand and mumbled a sorry before moving back by my group as I saw both girls staring wide eyed at me that I blushed "What!," I said as I put my hands up to my face "Do you know him?," Ashley squeaked as I frowned and followed her gaze back to the green eyes man who I had encountered again "No, I don't," I said as I walked around her and out the door to the next place on the tour "Seriously Serena you do not know who that was ??," Julie asked as I stared blankly at her "No, is he a celebrity or something or a hit man ?," I questioned as curiosity was ngawing at me.
"That is the bad boy of this campus and one of the founding families of this institute in the country." Ashley explained as I nodded not really interested or caring enough to want to get too deeply involved. "Okay don't go near him, noted." I said as we tour every hallway, every main building,. Every service centre placed around the campus and runs all day every day as someone is always manning the booth.
As I took in every part of the property I spotted a few spots that I would occupy over time and met more new people as we navigated the first day together. By the end of the first half of the tour we had been on this tour for three hours before we all headed back into the dinning hall for a meal while the others had time to get all the fraternity and sorority houses ready to shows us who is the best. The meal was hot, the first half of the entertainment started with a few houses and their chants, that livened up the meal. Every house did their chants before leaving the hall and we all followed suit before we separated by houses into teams.
We were all given a map and instructions to follow and then all the houses of the first years were split into teams of two houses each team and we're sent on hunt around the university to name, label and pinpoint it's correct location on the map. First house with all correct answers wins. Since each house has four tenants each team had eight players but us as our last house mate had yet to arrive.
Each game was exhilarating and each team had to switch houses throughout and I got to know most of the students in my year and some that will be in my classes this semester. By the time the games all ended it was the end of day one. We dragged ourselves back to our dorm, showered and we all crashed out In the living room.