CHAPTER 4

"The best thing about falling in love to the right person is that you don't know when it will come."

-ScarsOfPast

Paying her fare, going out of the bus and welcoming a new environment can be tricky, scary and exciting at the same time. Samantha never been so away with her parents, never been so away with the city she grew up with and never traveled alone to meet a new place to stay.

"Taxi!" She hails a yellow cab in which she's amazed with it. She's used to white taxi because of her town.

"Where to ma'am?" The driver ask, looking at her on the rear view.

"BurnBright University, LA sir." She said with a smile. The driver smiles back, giving her a nod.

"Sit back and relax because you're about to explore the city with me... Well, we just hope there's no traffic all the way."

"Yes I hope so." She said as the vehicle starts moving. All she would do is stare behind the closed window.

"Wow."

Tall buildings filled with glass, Starbucks, McDonalds, restaurants with magnificent structures, cosplayers walking around, a lot of cars passing by, busy streets with busy people around it.

"So this is California." She says as she didn't let any detail be left unseen.

"I guess this is your first time coming here, ma'am?"

"Yes... this city is so busy yet so beautiful."

"I'm happy you're enjoying California."

"Yes I am."

"Wait till we arrive at the University. It has well designed buildings, a wide space for sports, libraries—"

"Have you been there?"

"Where ma'am?"

"To the University?"

"Oh yes I've been there."

"Gosh I'm so excited."

"You should be because the university is really good. But you should be careful because—"

"What? Did someone died there? The the school haunted? Because I'm a bit scared in places..." she starts to imagine things that made the driver chuckle. "Why are you laughing?"

"Oh hahah, I'm sorry. But that is not what I actually mean."

"Then what is?"

"What I'm trying to say is that you should be very careful because you might get lost there to how spacious the university is that is why you need to ask for any assistance or a map."

"Oh.. ha ha. Yeah, right. That's just what I thought." She said, feeling her cheeks burn up out of embarrassment.

Fuck me! She cursed herself for thinking too much.

The driver decided to play the radio to replace the silence coming between the two. It wasn't supposed to be an awkward silence if it weren't for Samantha exaggerating.

[On radio]

up next is the new song of Katy Perry from her new album Smile.... Smile!

The music started as she slowly enjoys the music into her ears. She haven't heard the song yet but she knew Katy since she was six.

🎶Smile🎶

Yeah, I'm thankful

.

I've never got the smile back... she said to herself,  as memories starts flooding back.

.

.

"Yes ma'am?"

"Can you... I'm sorry but can you turn the radio off?" She ask, taking the consecutive lines, a bit serious that it should have been the other way.

"Why? The sound is kind of fun and positive—" the driver was cut off after Samatha decided to speak up.

"I don't like the song so please... shut the radio off or find another signal like radio stations or something." She said, didn't even got to look at the driver.

Calm down, Sam.. Calm down...

"I'm sorry sir I'm just—"

"I know you're tired. I'll just turn it off so you could take a rest?"

"Uhm if I may ask, how near are we?"

"Just maybe 30 minutes ahead. I'll just wake you up when were there..."

Samantha eyed on him as the driver chuckles.

"Dont worry! I'm not gonna steal anything. I do jobs decently. Trust me."

"Okay."

"Okay! Now take some time to rest."

Samantha nodded as she lean on the seat, connecting her earbuds once again, playing the song she wanted to hear.

🎵Blame on Me🎵

I cannot explain what this life is

So basic clubs serve the drinks on me

After for a couple of minutes, the driver stops.

"Here we are, ma'am."

Whoa!

White tall building with a touch of blue lines greeted her sight. Her eyes glimmers with the thought of attenting to a school with such beautiful and fine structures.

"This is..."

"Grandiose." The driver said, making her look at him. She smiles at him and thought of the word for a second before looking back at the building.

"Yeah... I think that's the word to describe it."

"That's what I thought of when I first came by here..." he paused as he watch her look at the place with smile on her face. He looks at his clock, chuckling to see what time it is already. "Ma'am, I think you should go now."

"Oh!... hahaha I'm so sorry. I was just... well, I am really amazed to how beautiful the place is already."

"Well, wait till you see the whole place."

"Thanks."

"Its a pleasure to drive you here ma'am. And I would like to be the first to welcome you here... Welcome to BurnBright University Los Angeles."

"Thank you so much! This is really exciting." She says as she opens the door with a smile on her face as she pulls out her bag and guitar. As soon as she closes the door, she pays her fare and gave the driver a smile.

"I'm Samantha, by the way."

"Nice meeting you Miss Samantha."

"Your name?"

"I'm Ezekiel."

"Nice meeting you and see you soon!"

The driver smiles as they wave at each other, making them go on their separate designations. She stood there as she inhales the cold refreshing air from her new atmosphere.

She carry her things as she walks, still admiring the buildings around, not caring where her feet takes her.

Ahhh... feels like new home—

*beep!

"Ah!" Her imaginations where cut off after hearing a loud beeing sound approaching her. To her surprise, she instantly jumps onto the grass, falling flat onto the ground. She furrow her brows as she turns to the car who just went pass by, and suddenly, the driver brakes.

•••

"How far are we again?" Garvie asks to George who is pretty much occupied with the road. "Hey George!"

"Yes sir?" He asks as he look at him on the rear view mirror.

"I ask you if how far are we till we get there?"

"Probably forty minutes by now, sir."

"Another hour? But in tired of sitting on this  car!!!" He complains, as he stop playing with his phone.

"There's will be a traffic on this road, sir. If we take another route to prevent the traffic, we might get there longer than expected because here, we will take this road, making us pass by on the school, then come back with this road connected." George explains as he points out the roads on the GPS.

"Oh fuck roads." He said as he went back on learning back. He was about to play on his phone again when the music radio stations music ended. It is time for a new song to play.

[On radio]

Up next is the new song of Katy Perry from her new Album Smile.... Smile!

The song starts playing, making Garvie listen intently. He has never heard of the music as well, but he is a fan of upbeat and motivating songs.

As the song starts playing with the chorus part, he close his eyes as he kept his back leaning, relaxing to the beat of the music.

Yeah I'm thankful

Just by hearing the first verse of the music, he cannot seem to erase the feeling that he's actually enjoying the beat. He starts to leave himself be lost into the sound as he didn't move a muscle, still relaxing from his seat. He close his eyes for a moment as he tries to enjoy the music without being interrupted with the view outside.

But every tear has been a lesson

"Wow this is a good song." He said to himself as he wanted to just drift off but he doesn't want to sleep for the travel.

"Yes it is, sir."

"Oh psh don't call me 'sir'. Just call me Garvie."

"But ma'am Immanuel said I should call you—"

"She's not here. You'll be fine." George nodded as they ride went on, leaving silence between them. All he did is enjoy the music, trying to have some ideas popping in her head.

He wanted to write it all but a feeling keeps on visiting him when he wanted to do something— laziness.

Lucky for them, there were still few cars stuck on the traffic, reducing their time allotted for waiting.

"Yes! We are almost there." He shouted for victory, making George chuckle at his actions.

"BurnBright, here I come!" He mumbles to himself as he fix his clothes, sitting erect as he waited patiently to see the beauty of BBU-LA.

As soon as they turn right 500 meters away, a golden blue with blue banners greeted them. A big smile forms in her lips, amazed to what he is seeing.

Well it is not so bad for BurnBright. He said to himself as the gate opens for them, making their way inside the premises of the University.

"You've got to admit, George. This school? It is huge than I expected it would be."

"Yes it is, si– I mean, Garvie."

He slides down his window as he starts to feed his eyes with the beauty the school has to offer

*beep

He suddenly turns to see a woman throwing herself on the ground. His eyes widen, not paying attention enough to know what is happening.

"Sh*t! Did you hit the woman?" He asks George, stepping into the brakes.

"I don't—"

"I'll head out."