Hi, my name is Allison Mackenzie and for the first time in my life, the world is not against me. Currently, I'm a junior at Princeton University. On my first day here, I prayed for my college life would be better than my high school life. And God answered my prayer quickly. In my first year, I met this guy who I think is the handsomest guy I've ever seen in my university. My first time seeing him was when I was sitting by myself in our university's library which is my favorite place to kill the time during free period. At that time, as I looked up and saw him sitting on a chair across me, it was love at first sight. Fast forward to today, now we've been together for nearly two years.

I'm Jessica Anderson and I'm totally confused right now. Two weeks ago, I accidentally met my ex-boyfriend again. Frankly, I really still can't move on from him despite the fact that we broke up two years ago and three months after the breakup, I moved to different state for starting college at Columbia University. It broke my heart when he recently told me that he has a new girlfriend now. But somehow, when we were talking again for the first time after what-felt-like forever, I still could see how he looked at me with the same soft, loving way like he used to do.

Hi, I'm Ashley Morris and my best friend always says that most girls in our school are jealous of me because all guys here want to be with me. I have no idea why they could say such thing because I think it's an exaggeration. Everything only started two years ago when I was once chosen to be one of the new students for our self-portrait to be up on our university's social media in my freshman year. Seriously, it was, like, a long time ago. Aside from that, I don't even care about those guys because there's this one guy who's been haunting my mind since a couple months ago. He's my new neighbor in my apartment.

My name is Scarlett Krüger and I admit I'm a very shy girl. I just started my first year at Columbia University about two months ago. I hated it when my little group of friends in high school got accepted into all different universities because it meant I had to be part with them. I didn't want to lose my three friends, for all I knew I'd hardly get a new one since making friends is not in my nature. I'm just too shy to ask people if I can join their table at cafeteria. Moreover, people don't even bother to talk to me because they say I smile once in a blue moon. But then this junior guy came into my life two weeks ago and turned my black-and-white days around simply with his existence.

Hi, I'm Kirsten Davis and I've been in a relationship with my boyfriend for two years and still counting. I'm so lucky to have him in my life because he's always been there for me whenever I need him, even at my worst. For me, he's the best listener and adviser I've ever met. When I was devastated about my parents' divorce three years ago, he was there to hug me and whisper all the words that calmed me down. And when my Dad decided to marry my stepmom last year, my boyfriend convinced me that she would love me like her own daughter because I deserved it. My life would've been so messed up if I never met him.

Friday

Staring at her lunch in a campus café, Allison just poked her mashed potato lazily. She glanced at her boyfriend, Sean, who was sitting opposite her while reading a book from behind his glasses. Her appetite dissipated just like that to see him not engaged in their conversation. She let out a blustering sigh.

"Is that book more interesting than me?" she asked.

But he didn't give any response and just kept reading as if no one was talking to him. It made her upset. When she slammed his book shut angrily, a pucker surfaced between his thick eyebrows.

"What?" He looked annoyed.

"Did you hear what I said? I've been trying to talk to you in the last twenty minutes, but I've got no response."

"Can't you see I was reading my book?"

She clenched her fists, peeved. It was not the first time he was disregarding her like that which, in fact, had been happening since a few days ago. Every time she tried to talk to him, he always gave her a mumble. She had no idea what put his head in a fog like that. Indeed, he was not a talker, except for he had never been so wordless when he was with her. Somehow, prejudice about him was gradually coming to her.

Pissed off, she boosted herself up and beetled off toward the café entrance, leaving him alone with his book. But before she could reach the door, someone grabbed her arm and turned her around. She could see her boyfriend's brown eyes behind his geek glasses clearly because he pulled her so close to him. His mouth opened and closed, working on a word to say, as she silently waited to hear what he was going to say.

"Look, Alli," Sean finally talked after his Adam's apple bobbed in his throat, "I'm sorry."

Allison kept silent.

"I was... I was just reading my book," he lifted it in one hand, "I didn't really pay attention to you."

Regret reflected in his eyes, but she just stayed quiet.

"Please, say something." His eyes dug deeply into hers. "It seems like you don't want to forgive me."

"I said a million words to you but you didn't hear me, and now you want me to say something? I doubt you'll hear it."

He took her hand with his free hand and held it tight. "I'm sorry, babe, I really am."

Her heartbeat got louder she was afraid he could hear it. "Okay, apology accepted," she rasped as she looked away. She hated it how she could easily forgive him whenever he held her hands and looked at her that way.

He chuckled then lowered his head, whispering very softly, "Hey, how about we go to the movie after class today? I'll pick you up at 5:00."

"Okay, I'll be waiting for you," she replied and smiled back at him.

Strolling out of the café, she saw there were only two or three students around, so she held up a hand to stop him. When he turned to her, she tiptoed as she slightly pulled the front of his navy shirt to lower his six-feet body, trying to kiss him. But not like what she had expected, she sensed he backed away. She rucked her brows as she searched for his eyes, but they cast away instead as he pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose like he did when he was nervous.

Standing awkwardly a few inches away from her, he gulped then checked his watch. "Um... sorry, babe, I got class in a minute. See you later."

And without looking at her, Sean left Allison in front of the café by herself.

***

Scarlett's teeth chattered as the weather turned cooler and windier today. It was November already and she had forgotten to wear her coat. Sitting on her own in the backyard of her campus, she mulled over a favor from this junior—Harley—a week ago. He had asked her to be his photo model for a photography contest that still didn't make sense to her. Like, why her? There must be many girls out there willing to be his model who were much more beautiful than her.

This whole situation got her thrown off. She actually would love to be his photo model, but she couldn't smile every time she got nervous. And the thing was she got nervous easily. After the favor had been declared, she had been trying to smile in front of the mirror more times than she could shake a stick at, but also each time was she aware why those girls in her high school had said she had a terrible smile.

Actually, she considered to just turn down the favor, but on the other side, she wanted to change and maybe it could help her.

***

A smile appeared on Harley's face when he finally found this auburn-haired girl dressed in light blue, belted shirt midi dress sitting alone in the backyard. He noticed she was not wearing any outerwear with her arms enveloping herself as chilly blows raided her from behind that made her shiver. Walking toward her, he took his hooded jacket off and her sight still didn't catch his presence until he put his jacket on her.

"You should've brought your coat, Scar," he said, looming over her. "You know how fast the temperature changes during this month, don't you?"

"Harley!" Scarlett startled as her amber eyes looked up at him. "But what about you? Aren't you cold, too?"

The way she talked with thick German accent was truly appealing for him. Smiling, he took a seat next to her with a grin. "It doesn't matter as long as you feel warm. I still can deal with this cold, anyway."

Before she turned away from him, he captured her smiling as she tucked some wild hair behind her ear. Her fingers kept fidgeting on her lap and somehow he just found it cute.

"So, have you made up your mind about my favor yet?" he asked.

Hesitation was clearly visible in her eyes and she ducked her head. "Sorry, I can't."

He frowned. "What? Why?"

"I... I just can't."

"No, that's not an excuse." He touched her shoulder and now he could see her eyes again. "Tell me."

She shook her head. "I'm a very awkward person and always get nervous easily. And when I'm nervous, I can't... I hate my smile."

It was unbelievable how this girl could say that she hated her smile while her smile was the most beautiful creation he had ever seen. The reason why he had asked her to be his model was because the first time he had seen her smiling, right at that time he had known she would be perfect to be his model.

"Believe it or not, you got the most beautiful smile around here," he blurted out as he looked right into her eyes. "Your eyes are so bright when you smile and... I like it." He noticed her flushed face and smiled.

"How come you said that? I mean, you haven't even—"

"I've seen it," he cut her off quickly.

She scoffed then back to staring straight while his eyes were steady on her. Looking at her had become his new favorite thing to do. It felt like he couldn't get enough of it. He wished he could freeze this moment, ran to grab his camera and took a picture of her like this.

"Why me?" she tore the silence without turning to him.

"Excuse me?"

"Harley, why did you choose me? Bet there must be a ton of girls in the queue who are dying to be your model." Even though she still didn't turn to him, but he could see her perturbed expression.

"Actually, I was going to say no, but I don't want to lie to you, so yes," he grinned, but he quickly pulled his serious face again. "But I only want you, Scar."

He discerned she was getting more nervous and became uncomfortable with the situation. He was a bit surprised when she unexpectedly raised from the bench.

"I- I got to go," she said then took some big steps away from him.

"Wha— Scar, wait!" He hurriedly chased after her.

As he reached for her arm to stop her, she turned to him. "I can't, Harley," she groaned weakly. "I just can't."

The shock from her sudden runaway still consumed him. He didn't want her to feel annoyed with him, so he joked with a mischievous smirk, "Actually, it's my jacket. You're still wearing it."

She blinked hard, her face pinkening. "O- oh, sorry. Here."

"I'm kidding," he chuckled when she was about to take his jacket off her shoulders. "You can give it back to me tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?"

He nodded, tossing her a cheeky smile. "Yes. Do you want to go out with me tomorrow?"

Her brows wrinkled. "W- what?"

"Are you free?"

"Harley, I can't—"

"Do you have a boyfriend?"

"No, I don't, but—"

"So, tomorrow's okay?"

She shook her head from all of the unforeseen questions, overwhelmed. "Harley, you're asking the wrong girl—"

"Nope, I'm a-hundred-percent sure I'm asking the right one." When she narrowed her eyes, he just shot her a smile. "Let me help you with your issue. So, tomorrow night at 7:00?"

Scarlett didn't immediately answer, just staring at him for a moment until she eventually let out a sigh. "Okay, tomorrow night at 7:00."

Harley couldn't help but give her a bigger smile.

***

(to be continued)

Saturday

With one hand on the steering wheel, Sean heaved a heavy sigh. He didn't understand why he was acting weird around Allison lately and why he was afraid to look into his girlfriend's eyes. Maybe because he was afraid that she would find out about the fact that he was thinking about another girl for the last couple of weeks. He was afraid she would be hurt, although he knew this thing he was stealthily doing had already hurt her without her knowing.

After driving from New Jersey to New York on Saturday morning, he parked his car in front of a café in Manhattan. As he proceeded toward the door, he determined not to meet this girl again who was on his mind for two weeks and forgot her along with all those precious memories they had shared together for three years in high school. He made a vow to himself that he wouldn't hurt Allison let alone make her cry. He convinced himself that he had moved on and now the only girl he loved was Allison. His one and only Allison.

But when Sean pushed the door open and saw this blue-eyed brunette girl waving at him as she smiled, all of his thoughts vanished into thin air. As he waved back to her, he walked straight up to her with a wide smile on his face.

***

Jessica couldn't hide her smile and her eyes glittered. Having a great chat with this guy dressed in black clothes—t-shirt, leather jacket and ripped jeans—sitting in front of her for nearly four hours, they never lost a topic to talk about. It had been a very long time since their last conversation a few years ago. It was beyond belief to sit there with him again while talking about anything. She had missed a moment like this so much and now she was totally enjoying it. But suddenly the phone on the table rang.

"Um, Sean, sorry to interrupt," she said as she glanced at the phone, "but someone's calling you."

"Oh," Sean responded then took his phone. But as soon as he looked at the screen, his expression changed. She watched him hang up the call instead of answering it. He then laid his phone face-down on the table, coughed as he adjusted his glasses and smiled at her. "So, where were we? I forgot." He forced to laugh a little.

The atmosphere became awkward. She had taken a glimpse of the caller just now. Allison. Without the need to ask him, she could guess that Allison might be his new girlfriend. In a split second, she felt guilty. She knew what she was doing right now was wrong because this could ruin somebody's relationship.

So, she just smiled back at him weakly and lied, "I forgot, too."

He faked a laugh as he glanced back at his phone that was blaring again. "Uh, Jess, I'm really sorry, but I got to go now."

She startled. It didn't feel right. She didn't want to destroy his relationship with his girlfriend, but on the other side, she wanted him back into her life. It was so selfish, she was aware of that, but it was because he didn't try to push her away, either. She felt like he also wanted her back.

"Uh, Sean?" Jessica called quickly before Sean got up.

"Yeah?"

"Can we... have a cup of coffee again sometime... next week?" She encouraged herself to ask him.

He was silent, considering something. "Sorry, Jess, I don't think I can come here again next week."

She couldn't believe her eyes when she saw a flicker of disappointment in his eyes. "How about tomorrow? I'll drive to New Jersey," she tried again.

"No, Jess!" he refused.

Panic on his face made her brows furrow.

"Uh, sorry, I- I can't tomorrow. I got a basketball game."

She pasted an understanding smile. "Oh, good luck with your game, then."

"Thanks." He cleared his throat. "I got a game against Columbia tomorrow, by the way."

"Really? Where does the game take place?" she asked, curious.

"Princeton."

Her mouth made an 'O' as she nodded.

"Hey, remember when we used to play basketball, just the two of us, at the field near your house?" he asked.

"Of course, I remember, how could I forget."

"The field has been taken care of last summer and it looks so much better now, do you know that?"

Her eyebrows lifted up. "For real?"

"Yes. You haven't been there lately?"

"No, the last time I walked past it, it was still so messed up," she said.

"You didn't come home last summer?" he asked.

"No, I got an internship here the whole summer." She sighed then drifted her stare out of the window. "I miss Boston. I love our suburban environment better than the city, to be honest. Plus, it's my home, after all. It's been a while since I went to see my family, too."

A silence followed before Sean finally broke it by murmuring, "I miss us there, too."

Jessica looked at him, trying to find the certainty in his eyes but he looked away instead.

"So, what time is your basketball game tomorrow?" she asked to change the subject.

"At 2:00," he answered as he glanced over again at his phone in his hand that was back on ringing. "I'm sorry, Jess, I'm afraid I really have to go now."

"Oh, it's okay." She smiled bitterly.

He got up and before walking away, he said, "Bye, Jess, I'm sorry I can't drop you off at your place."

"Nah, it's okay, Sean. Bye. Take care."

"Thanks for your time. Nice chat today," he stated as he smiled.

She smiled back at her ex-boyfriend. "You too," she replied.

***

Dressed in pretty, A-line white dress, Kirsten stood in front of the full-length mirror in her dormitory room as she stared at her reflection. The dress had come in the mail three days ago along with a letter saying:

Today was Kirsten and her boyfriend Liam's second anniversary. She was so excited for tonight because it had been a while they hadn't met each other since she started her first semester at Columbia University two months ago. During her last year in high school and his first year at Yale University last year, he had always tried to spare some time to visit her in Los Angeles when he was not too occupied with college assignments and stuff. After having survived a 2,800-mile distance for a year, she was now back to being close to him and she couldn't be any happier.

Three years ago, her father had decided to move from Boston to Los Angeles and said they better left their old home alongside their good and bad memories there and made a fresh start in different state across the country. But then, everything happened for a reason.

Her first year in Los Angeles had been a bumpy road until Liam came into her life and changed everything. In her second year there, her father had started dating Maya, a loving, beautiful lawyer—whose a son just started college at that time, and decided to marry her a year later. Since then, Kirsten's life there turned out to be a blessing in disguise and Liam was an enormous part of it.

She glanced at the clock on her wall. 6:45 PM. Around 4:00 PM today, he had texted her saying that he just checked in to his hotel and would pick her up at 7:00 PM at her dormitory. Sitting down on her bed, she was about to wear her kitten heel shoes when she heard a knock on her door.

Is that Liam? Well, he's early, she thought, a bit baffled.

When she opened the door, she was surprised to see a messy brown-haired, six-feet-one guy standing outside instead of her boyfriend.

***

(to be continued)