Chapter 1

Emerald

Expectation births disappointments— I should've read that book that laid like a rotten vegetable for years in mom's shelf. Perhaps, I'd have learned more and it wouldn't have mattered much, but it was such a lame title. 'A Cinderella story, One night stand, to name a few that painted the picture of you finding your one true love, the designed pattern, you know—playing hard to get, the game, and then fallin always caught my fancy. It wasn't a crime to dream.

Strolling in the enormous campus that seemed not to have an end, I caught about five dudes eyeing me as they progressed. I glanced back, scanning them from head to toe. 

Okay, N to the O. Big, fat NO! 

About two of them were on khaki shorts, a T-shirt, and actual bag packs. There was the other two on jean trousers and plain shorts which was okay. And the last one with curly brown hair was dressed way too professionally in a suit that one could confuse him to be a lecturer, but his boyish face and varsity band gave him all away. 

Well, actually, they weren't all dressed in rags. Was their cloth worn out? Yes. Maybe it was just me thinking everyone should have a sense of style. Especially when they weren’t the most handsome. 

"Hello. " The voice brought me back to earth. I gulped, digesting what I thought must have been a six feet three figure. Not that it got me, because I was equally tall, I wasn’t used to seeing tall guys in school, 

and of course, he had to be handsome too. Well-groomed, curly, tawny hair that gave me Spanish vibes and shiny brown eyes that looked at mine as if searching my soul.

Right. How had I not seen him amongst his clique? 

He had a chiseled jaw and an almost perfect smile.

The guy wasn't bad in a white plain shirt with—I looked down at his faded blue jeans that were rolled way up to his ankles with white socks to cover the exposed area. 

What century was this? The 90s?

"I'm Devin." he stretched forth his hand for a handshake. "You seem new here. Are you a freshman?"

Now I was clueless. Was I going to let my taste for guys let down my manners? I mean, it was just a friendly gesture. 

"Hey. I guess I am, " I remained cool with a small smile. His brown eyes lit up when I spoke. He seemed nervous and composed all at once which I found weird. He had long and thick lashes batting it down. 

What was he looking down at?

"Oh!" I had left his hand hanging. "I'm sorry." I laughed.

"It's no problem." he chuckled. "you're doing enough already."

I didn't know what prompted me, but I ended up shaking him. His hand was a rock-- firm, just how I liked my men. Wait, what?

"Your hands are really cold. Huh, what's the name again?"

"Hurry up man!" one of the boys from his band who were steps away from us yelled.

"Oh, fuck off!" he gesticulated with both arms. "You can go without me."

"We're using your car," the professionally dressed one said.

"Um." he searched for the keys in his jean pocket.

Was he about ditching his friends for me? Because the small talk was soon going to be over.

"Uh...you could just go with your friends. I have somewhere to be too." 

"No, they're just being a pain in the ass cause I'm talking to you." he bit his pink lips, staring into my eyes. It was like him discovering a treasure he could stash all for himself. But he didn't look like it, more like Robin Hood giving back to the people.

Okay, cliques waiting and being a pain in his ass... I hoped it wasn't some bet shit that I had read about and watched in movies. But why would they want to place a bet on me? I'm not even that innocent. I'll play them in their own fucking game.

"And why's that?" I asked, squinting.

"Cause you're beautiful."

If it was three years ago, I probably would have been all blushy and all, but it wasn't. I had experienced a whole lot to know who guys were and their boyish little games.

Everyone one of them had told me how hot and beautiful I was yet, where are they now? With those hotter and more beautiful or, with someone else. I was sick of their bullshit. 

"Okay."

He squinted. "Did I say anything wrong?" 

"Do you feel you did?"

"No."

"Well then..."

"Woah... You are kinda uptight." 

"Hurry up dickface!" an annoying voice of another of his friends. I didn't care to look.

"Think your friends really need you."

"But they have eyes to see I'm with you."

I let out a small laugh and tucked back a strand of my hair behind my ear.

"Did I say something funny?" he smiled revealing his cute dimples. 

Boy, I didn't know why I was still there myself.

"Please give me your name."

"Why?" I felt a smile already tugging at my lips, but tried to fight it to keep a stern look—I failed, woefully.

"You know mine already."

"That's not a reason. You offered willingly."

"What's the deal? Are you like some undercover agent or, lemme guess, the daughter of a celeb? Hmm...could be that. Cause you have the same hair as Madonna."

"Dudee..." I laughed. 

"So, tell me."

"Emerald."

"Oh wow. Cool name for a nice girl."

"Thanks." It was the first time I told someone my name and they didn't make a fuss about it. It was so bad, sometimes, I wouldn't say my name just because of the silly questions that came with it. 'You sure it's not a nickname?' 'Is that your real name?', but Devin took it well. 

Besides, it wasn't that bad, was it? Better than some names that people actually pronounced wrongly.

"And FYI, Madonna doesn't have any girls. Well, she does actually, adopted so...none as the same color of hair. Besides, who's to judge by that when there's genetics, you know? She might have kids with some black-haired man or something." 

He fist-bumped the air. “I said it! You looked like her fan with your firmness and all."

"Oh, really?" 

"Yeah, " 

he said and I felt his eyes on my body, eyeing me from head to toe. And if only looks could act, he was going to be one of those Telemundo stars making me feel the passion.

"Ahem, " I cleared my throat. "This has been one long talk. Unfortunately, I have a class now." I meant to say, fortunately.

"Oh. Isn't that sad now? Just when we started to get along. What are you studying?"

"Journalism, you?"

"Real estate management."

"See you around?"

"Sure." 

"Bye Emerald."

"Bye." And just like that, he left with his friends. I didn't know what happened and why it ended that way. I expected him to press for my number but instead, he let me go.

I continued my journey to my destination before the disturbance. I was meeting up with Mimi, the only friend I had made so far in the whole of the university. Speak of university...remember when I spoke about disappointments?

Riverside College was meant to be worth the hype everyone gave it. It was like Havard. That's a lot of exaggeration. But, it was Ivy League. What did Ivy League even mean again? Riverside was pretty popular and prestigious.

To think I actually had sleepless nights for the entrance exam. 

Anyone who got into Riverside was usually celebrated as if they've already made it in life-- without the degree. I was celebrated, too. I was happy I was finally leaving home, and a step closer towards achieving my dreams. But, mostly about leaving home.

Not like I didn't care about them, they were the best, but sometimes, all you want is finding yourself.

My phone vibrated and I brought it out of my jean pocket immediately.

"Hello?"

"Em, so change of location. Could you come to chemistry?"

"Don't tell me I walked for thirty minutes for this." She had to be joking.

"I'm sorry." She tried to sweeten her voice which obviously had no effect. "How about you wait where you are and when I'm done I'll come get you?"

I let out a sigh. "K."

Striding into a mini restaurant, I ordered a burger and orange juice to get me relaxed from Miami sun. 

Mimi strikingly didn't keep to time too.

 I sat at the restaurant for what was like thirty minutes. At first scrolling my Instagram felt fun, until I became bored and took notice of the people in the restaurant. 

Beside me was a cute couple holding hands, staring intently at each other which I found adorable. I guess there were just at the early stage of love. That was how it was at the beginning stage. It was hard fighting the urge to tell her 'It'd in tears.'

Was it me being bitter or practical?

I was jealous. It had been something I always wanted but somehow didn't get. A small, beautiful connection that managed to break all the time.

Some people got lucky with love. Others simply didn't. I had grown comfortable alone.

My eyes drifted to the glass doors to find Mimi’s Honda CR-V. She climbed down, her five feet seven inches figure strutting into the restaurant. I found myself smiling, watching her whisper to herself. She had no idea how funny she looked when she did that, especially in public.

Although it had only been a month since we became friends, it felt like a lifetime. Ever since we met at our apartment, I knew I liked her.

Safe to say, it wasn't exactly friends at first sight because we both wanted that same apartment, but it was expensive. So, we reached an agreement to get it together which led to us being roommates and best friends.

“Mimi, ” I called out, bringing her to a halt until her eyes caught mine. 

“I’m sorry I took time.” she ran a hand into her charcoal black hair that plummeted at her back. Her hazel eyes looked so worn out that I couldn't even argue with her, so, I took one last sip of my juice before grabbing my bags and heading out.