"Two years? More than two years, it's 27 months, isn't it?" Maya started counting the months since she had been home, her voice tinged with both disbelief and a hint of sadness. She couldn't help but reflect on how long it had been since she left everything familiar behind, the comfort of home, and embarked on a journey she thought would bring her closer to her dreams.
"Sis, you're counting again? Yes, 27 months! Now stop," Sara, her 18-year-old younger sister, called from the kitchen, her tone playful yet concerned. Sara was always the more grounded one, often acting more like the older sister despite the age difference.
"I feel like I've spent 10 years in the UK," Maya sighed, flipping through TV channels, her eyes reflecting a mix of exhaustion and longing for familiarity. The UK had been a whirlwind of experiences: new people, new places, and new challenges. But none of it felt like home. She missed the simple things—her family, her friends, even the mundane routines that used to annoy her.
"Want some pasta?" Sara asked, sensing her sister's need for comfort. Maya nodded, grateful for the small gesture of normalcy. Sara had always known how to make her feel better, even if it was just through a simple meal.
Scrolling through Instagram, Maya saw her best friend Kira had posted a college reunion notice. She double-tapped to like the picture, her heart aching with a mix of nostalgia and apprehension. Kira had been Maya's best friend since middle school, and they had graduated from the same university, sharing the same dream and major. Seeing the post made her heart ache for the days when life seemed simpler and full of promise.
The phone rang. It was Kira. Maya lazily answered, her mouth full of hot pasta, her mind already anticipating the conversation.
"Hey, Maya?"
"Yes, I saw it already, Kira," she mumbled through her food. It was like Kira to call and make sure Maya knew about the reunion, always the one to keep the group connected.
"You're back in town, so why not come?"
"I have a job interview coming up. So I'm not sure. I have to prepare." Maya's voice was hesitant, her mind filled with the anxiety of facing her past. She hadn't seen many of her old friends in a long time, and the thought of confronting old memories and unresolved feelings made her uneasy.
"You never change. I'll wait for you. January 17, the restaurant beside the front gate of our university."
"Wait! Is he gonna be there?" Maya shivered a little while asking the question, her heart tightening at the thought. Her ex, Emmett Owen. They had started dating in their third semester of college and stayed together for almost 4.5 years until she caught him with another girl at their apartment. They had moved in together after graduation. Maya was supposed to be at her parents' that night, but a work call had forced her back to the apartment, where she discovered Emmett with someone else.
Silence hung on the other end of the phone.
"Why? You still care about him?" Kira's voice was loud and incredulous.
"It's not that..." Maya's voice trailed off, her mind flooded with painful memories. The betrayal had cut deep, and even though she had tried to move on, the scars still lingered.
Kira cut her off. "Then come! Don't let that bastard stop you. Please don't escape ever again."
"Okay, I'll stop by your apartment," Maya agreed, a mix of determination and fear in her voice. She knew she needed to confront her past to move forward, but the thought of seeing Emmett again filled her with dread.
"Sure. Bye then. See you soon."
Maya blanked out after hanging up until Sara snapped her out of it, her eyes filled with concern.
"Sis, I want to see you strong."
"I know. I don't want to escape again," Maya said, her voice firm yet trembling with the weight of her resolve. She had spent too long running from her past, and it was time to face it head-on.
"That's my sis. So, you're going to the reunion?"
"How did you know?" Maya furrowed her brows, surprised by her sister's intuition.
"Sis, I study at the same university you did. Everyone knows, thanks to Professor Kira. Your class was pretty famous for good-looking students too."
"I cannot believe you call her professor now. Haha," Maya chuckled, the sound lightening the atmosphere.
"Well, it's awkward, especially in class. You know what, she told us first that you guys are having a reunion."
"Haha. I guess she's pretty popular with students."
"Totally, sis. Alright. No more talk! You have to sleep now. Papa and Mama will be back in a week. I don't want them to see the dark circles under your eyes."
"Yes, yes, Mommy," Maya teased, feeling a bit more at ease. The banter with Sara was exactly what she needed to lighten her mood.
Three days passed in a blur of preparations and anxiety. Maya threw herself into her job interview preparations, using it as a distraction from the looming reunion. The day finally arrived, and Sara took charge, choosing Maya's outfit and doing her makeup with meticulous care. She wanted her sister to look her best, to face her past with confidence.
"Glow up after a breakup, I guess that's what it is. Make that scoundrel jealous, sis. Way to go," Sara hyped her up, her enthusiasm infectious. Even though Maya wasn't feeling it, she managed a smile for her sister. She appreciated Sara's support more than words could express.
Sara's phone rang. She furrowed her brows at the number—it was from Shonn Turner, a classmate. They were teamed up for an assignment, but she never expected him to reach out since he was usually reserved.
"Hello?"
"Um, Sara?" Shonn's deep voice came through, sounding hesitant and unsure.
"Yes, Shonn?"
"Ah, about the assignment, would you mind meeting at a café or library? If it's convenient for you. I want to finish it quickly. No pressure."
"No, it's okay. I just thought we would end up doing it separately," Sara admitted, surprised by his initiative.
"So, how about we meet in an hour? You can choose the place, anywhere near you."
"Okay. I'll text you the location in a moment."
They hung up.
Shonn took a deep breath. "Uff. It's done then. Why is it so hard to interact?" He sighed, not noticing his brother behind him.
"What is so hard, Shonn?" Levi asked, his voice filled with curiosity.
Shonn rolled his eyes, avoiding him and heading straight to his room, as he always did. Levi Thompson, Shonn's stepbrother, ran one of the top companies in the country. Though he had an intimidating personality outside, he was always soft with his family—Shonn being his only family now, even though Shonn held a grudge against him for no reason since their parents married when Shonn was 10.
Shonn's dad had died a few months after his mom's marriage while abroad, of a heart attack. Shonn grew gloomier, blaming his new family for his father's death. Their parents passed away when Shonn was in high school in a car accident, making him even more reserved. Levi sighed as Shonn left. He wished he could bridge the gap between them, but Shonn's walls were hard to break.
The two sisters left together and stopped by Kira's house. Sara found Shonn listening to music with his headphones on, leaning against a tree near the stop. Shonn spotted her and an unknown woman standing next to her. He tried to smile, but it was awkward. He approached them.
"Is it him?" Maya asked, her curiosity piqued.
"Yes, sis," Sara confirmed.
"Wow, he got burnt on his left side," Maya observed, her voice low. She hadn't meant to be insensitive, but the scars were noticeable.
"Hush, he's coming!" Sara whispered urgently.
"Wow! He's handsome," Maya smiled as Shonn approached. Sara awkwardly introduced them.
"Uhh. She's my sister, Maya Larson."
"Oh, hello, I'm Shonn Turner. Nice to meet you," Shonn said, his voice polite but distant.
"Hello. Nice to meet you too... Sara, did you bring the flashlight?"
"Sis, why worry about stupid things! I have a phone, it has a flashlight. Now go."
"Still. The lights on the road are out these days." Maya sighed, her worry evident.
"I'll come home safe, don't worry."
"You're reckless. Be safe, okay? I'll go then."
Maya left, her heart pounding with a mix of anticipation and fear. Sara looked at Shonn, who was browsing his phone.
"Sorry. Let's go then," Sara said, her voice calm but her nerves frayed.
"No, it's okay. Let's go," Shonn replied, trying to ease her discomfort.
They entered the library, as Sara had suggested. They started looking for books in different corners, and Shonn finished first. He went to find Sara, who was struggling with the books.
"Oh, let me hold them." He grabbed the books from her, his touch gentle. He could see she was trying hard, and he wanted to help her feel at ease.
A familiar voice called out from behind.
"Shonn!" Mason called.
"Mason? You? What are you doing here?" Shonn asked, surprised but pleased.
"I started working here a week ago. Who's that? Your girlfriend?" Mason teased, a grin on his face.
"No." They both answered together, their voices overlapping. The synchronicity of their denial made them both blush slightly.
"We're just here for an assignment," Shonn clarified, his cheeks flushing slightly.
"Oh, she's from your department then. Hello, I'm Mason Jones from the Chemical Engineering department."
"Sara Larson from the Software Engineering," Sara greeted with a smile, feeling a bit more relaxed.
"Alright. We'll go then. By the way, how long is your shift?" Shonn asked.
"Until 11 pm," Mason replied, his tone friendly.
"Okay, we'll see you around," Shonn said, leading Sara to a quiet corner to work on their assignment.
As they settled into their work, Shonn noticed how focused and diligent Sara was. She had a quiet determination that he admired. They worked in comfortable silence for a while, the only sounds being the rustle of pages and the occasional click of a pen.
"So, do you always study this hard?" Shonn asked, trying to break the silence and get to know her better.
"Well, I try to. My sister always sets a high standard, and I guess it rubbed off on me," Sara replied with a shy smile.
"Your sister seems pretty cool. You two are close, huh?" Shonn observed, genuinely curious about their relationship.
"Yeah, we are. She's been through a lot, but she's strong. I look up to her," Sara said, her voice filled with admiration.
Shonn nodded, understanding the depth of sibling bonds. He thought about his own relationship with Levi, wishing it could be as harmonious as Sara and Maya's.