...Sky...

I entered the classroom with my eyes looking down. Students were gossiping in groups, too busy to notice this small presence of mine. However, I still felt like whatever they were talking about, was directed towards me.

I embarrassed myself at last night's party. Us, 3rd years threw a farewell party for the 4th year students as they'll be leaving soon. A few of the students were probably playing truth or dare and ended up giving a dare to one of the popular guys to kiss the ugliest girl at the party.

It's probably known where this was going. The older student, with a knowing look casually ended up approaching....me. I admit all my parent's beauty genes had gone to my older brother but this was absurd.

As much as timid I might be, I knew where to draw the line. I threw my drink at the older student when he tried to kiss me and proceeded to leave the party.

The student grabbed my arm and shouted,

"You're lucky I even want to kiss you, fatso!"

I wasn't even that overweight but he had no right to say these impertinent things to me. Moreover, he continued to throw nasty comments towards me.

"Just kiss him, Sky and get this over with." My best friend, Aliyah kept saying during the commotion. She probably wanted no trouble at our table.

I also had a fight with her about it and stormed out from there. I didn't understand the reason for her comment. Maybe she was drunk, was what I told myself to justify her.

At present, I had a hangover. I made my way to Aliyah who sat at the end of the lecture hall. She was busy with her phone, making her not notice my presence. Don't think that I'm not mad at her. I am.

"Sky!" The woman jerked up on her seat when seeing me. She instantly held my arms.

"I'm sorry for last night. I wasn't in my right mind and said bullshit."

She gave me her wide smile as her eyes formed a crescent shape.

That's all I needed. An apology.

"It's okay." I smiled back and sat down beside her.

"Can I have your machine learning notes? I wasn't at the last lecture."

"Sure."

I gave her my last class's notes which earned a grin from her.

"You're the best!"

Aliyah was a very popular girl who somehow became my best friend during 1st year when I helped her with class notes. I liked her very much cause she seemed to be the only person in our year who didn't bitch about me behind my back.

I didn't care what people said about me as long as I had my best friend with me.

After classes, Aliyah parted ways with me cause she had to meet with her cheer squad friends. I also had my part time job that day, so I went back to my studio apartment not so far from the University.

The complex I lived in offered an affordable accomodation for students like me who avoided dorms. Of course my parents were reluctant at first but, I just told them my roommate at the dorm disturbed me which hampered my studies. They instantly agreed after that. What can I say? Perks of having parents who understood nothing but 'shove books down your throat'.

When inside, I took my guitar. I was studying Computer Science but I had no interest it. I liked music very much, so I wanted to work in that industry. But that's like every Asian parent's nightmare. Of course, I was forced to study Computer Science. So, just to comfort my poor heart, I took a side job at a bar where I sang three days a week.

My parent's gave me a lot of shit when they found out a few months ago about it. They cut off my pocket money. I didn't get why they were overreacting so much. It wasn't like it hampered my studies. I always balanced both, so why?

That time, mom screamed at my face that I was turning just like my brother who used to play music during his highschool days and didn't concentrate in his studies. He ended up failing. Her words didn't stop me though since I was used to hearing them.

I got a scholarship to the university I was currently studying in. The accomodation fees from my scholarship payed most of my studio apartment's cost, leaving a little amount to be paid at the end of the month. My side job covered it. So, cutting off my pocket money didn't affect me much other than when I wanted to shop for extra items. I kept my needs to myself. I was happy with how much I could support myself.

Before exiting my studio, my eyes caught a white blazer on my lime bean bag, sitting at a corner of my room.

"Right, I almost forgot."

After last night's event, I was so depressed that my best friend didn't follow me out of the party that I bought a few beers and sat on the curb outside my apartment as I drunk my sorrows away. I was intoxicated to the point I couldn't go up to my room.

Just then a shiny metallic blue Jaguar car stopped in front of me which made my drunk ass very jealous. The window scrolled down to reveal the most beautiful and handsome woman I've ever seen-my nextdoor neighbour, a popular masters student in my department and a part-time lecturer at the renowned private university beside ours-Raeha Mandal....who probably also didn't like me just like my whole department.

I ignored her emotionless green eyes and minded my own business which was sleeping on the curb. It was pretty chilly tonight, so I hugged my knees. The straight faced woman got out of her car and towered over me.

Out of the little gap between my eye lashes, I saw her contemplating for a few seconds before finally saying something.

"You should go sleep in your room."

"No, I'm too lazy." My words slurred.

The woman wearing a sky blue shirt tucked on her white pants, took off her white blazer before covering me with it.

"Get up."

Much to my resistance, the woman pulled me to my feet. I stumbled and fell right into her arms.

"Don't touch me." I spat, half unconscious before looking up at her to glare. I had enough shit for the night already. At that point, I was ready to throw hands.

But that's when our eyes met. My brown ones to her lime green ones....my words got stuck halfway through my throat. Very few Asians had green eyes and I always wondered why nature didn't let us have such a trait. I totally understood now.

Perhaps it's because people would totally go crazy on them for how attractive they would be just like the emotionless woman in front of me. Her eyes held a whole green forest inside which was visible through her glasses. My eyes trailed down to her soft chocolate lips, it was busted a little on the sides....

I don't remember much but the next thing I knew, I was at my studio's bathroom puking my guts out with the emotionless woman patting my back. I was given a hangover pill afterwards before completely passing out.

At present, I bit my tongue in embarrassment. That senior must fully hate me now since I've troubled her much. Nonetheless, I decided to act like a normal human being and take her blazer to dry cleaning before going to my job.

TO BE CONTINUED....

...Sky...

I had classes at noon today, so my schedule for the morning was totally free. I decided to go for a run at my university's race track. Though I rarely worked out because I was very lazy, I felt a bit of a need to do it today. I tried to ignore people's comments but as much as I made it seem I didn't care, it actually did hurt a tiny bit on the inside.

So, here I was in a three quarter black leggings and a baggy tee, present at the stadium. It was 6:30 in the morning but there were quite a few people already doing their usual workout routines. I was glad I knew no one here.

I plugged my ear buds in and started jogging down the race track, hoping the music would relieve my stress about life in general. After just running a few minutes, I already started to feel tired.

Are you kidding me?! I haven't even completed a lap yet!

Just then, my eyes landed on a group of people not so far away from the track. It seemed they had just got done with their routine. The cheer leaders and a few seniors from other faculty. I frowned seeing Aliyah there too.

Last night, I texted my best friend, inviting her to exercise together, perhaps to guide my fat ass through twerk exercise but she refused, saying she wanted to sleep the morning cause she was tired. But it seemed she was actually here with her other friends.

Who knows? Maybe she was forced off her sleep to join them since the jerk seniors from the other night's party were there too. Considering their attitude, Aliyah was probably forced here.

I tried not to delve much into it but undoubtedly, I felt a bit hurt. I unconsciously fastened my pace as my throat started feeling like a desert. I was more motivated now to shape up a bit. I can tone my own ass.

Or maybe Aliyah felt embarrassed to even join me for a workout session.

I ran fast, ignoring my racing heart and overthinking mind. Once I was done running four laps nonstop with adrenaline pumping in my brain, I came to an abrupt stop and panted. My heart burned as blood rushed to my face. My head was pounding, indicating I might've overdone myself on the first day.

Feeling a warm liquid falling off my nose, I couldn't stand anymore. I knelled down, holding my nose with a panicked expression.

Am I this weak to get a damn nosebleed just from running a few laps?! Bullshit.

Just when I tried to get up, I stumbled and started falling face first on the ground.

Way to go, Sky! Embarrass yourself until you're buried into the ground!

But I didn't feel any pain but instead felt a softness on my face. As I looked up, a feeling of déjà vu washed over me. I got lost in the green forest again.

The emotionless beauty who had helped my drunken ass the other night and who most probably also hated me stood there holding me in place as my face pressed on her chest. I didn't notice her walking to me. My eyes trailed down to her mouth. It seemed the bust at the corner of her lips had fully healed...

I quickly pulled away when I noticed my blood getting smeared on her chest.

"Shit."

I quickly tried to wipe it but when realizing where I was groping her, I backed away a bit.

"Uh I'm so sorry." I looked down, embarrassed.

Why am I apologizing to her?! She was the one who walked into me!

The woman was wearing a sports bra, revealing her toned stomach and shorts which complimented her strong thighs perfectly. Where was I looking?! If not for my face being already red, I'd have embarrassed myself more here.

The handsome woman took my hand, guiding me to the grass field and made me sit down.

"Lean forward, breath from your mouth." She said with her neutral expression.

My cold senior, Raeha gave me a tissue to stop the bleeding and handed a water bottle which I instantly chugged down.

"Slow down."

Raeha Mandal sat down beside me with a cool expression. I couldn't crack the mystery behind that beautiful face. She was literally unreadable but one thing I was certain that, this woman probably thought of me as the clumsiest girl in the universe cause the next thing I knew, her lips parted a little to let out a sigh.

Just leave me alone if you're annoyed...

I grumbled in my mind.

"Thank you, Senior."

Raeha didn't say anything but instead, casually took the water bottle from my hand and drank from it. My mouth hung open.

"I've never seen you at the tracks before." She said, without moving any muscle of her face other than her mouth.

"I-I'm not a regular."

I stuttered, thinking that we just drank from the same bottle.

"You shouldn't stress your body on the first day." Her voice held a stern tone as if she were scolding me.

"Ah yes. I felt like I could do it at that moment."

She sighed again.

"Take a hot shower when you get back. Your muscles might not take the after effect well. Remember to stretch regularly before....running wild."

I blushed and looked away in embarrassment.

"Y-yeah."

I then tried to get up but my body seemed to be wanting to rip apart. Why did I bring this upon myself?!

Raeha looked at me with a bored expression.

"Come, I'll give you a ride."

"Pardon?"

She then just walked away as if wanting me to follow her....which I did like a puppy on a leash but slowly with my wobbly legs.

Today was hectic. I barely managed to stay awake during classes and my body—Oh god. It hurt so much that I had a mini fever in the afternoon and had to leave early. I didn't tell Aliyah I saw her at the stadium this morning cause I completely forgot about it cause girlie bought me my favourite lunch.

I went to my studio but going there on a certain someone's blue Jaguar car was much more comfortable. Two years of living as neighbours with that tall woman, we never really talked to each other. When we would meet by chance, we had the liberty to just exchange normal greetings and go our separate ways.

Anyways, I found a bag from the dry cleaning shop hung on my door knob.

Oh so they delivered her blazer already. Let's just give it back to the owner right now.

When I knocked on my next-door neighbour's studio however, no one answered. Maybe she wasn't here. So I just hung the bag on her door. When I turned to leave, I bumped into someone and stumbled right into their arms. When I looked up, I saw the green eyes staring at me.

What in the world is she?! I didn't even hear her footsteps!

It was 3rd time in a row that life had thrown me into the strong arms of the handsome woman. What a joke.

"Ah sorry." I slightly said when pulling away.

The green eyes were emotionless as usual. Raeha just nodded at me.

She was wearing a grey shirt tucked into her black pants and vans shoes. Her wrist had an expensive designer watch that took my breath away. A brown satchel bag slung over her shoulder, indicated maybe she had just come home from work.

We stared at each other for a few seconds before she, feeling defeated, cleared her throat.

"You're in the way."

My face flushed as I quickly moved away.

"Right. Sorry."

She went to her door to unlock it but stopped, seeing the bag from the dry cleaner.

"Thank you so much for taking care of me the other night. I'm sorry if I've been an inconvenience to you."

She looked at me and I clearly saw the side of her mouth curving a little.

"It's okay. I'm used to handling such situations."

Her comment made me a bit confused which she probably noticed.

"I have a wild little sister." She explained what she meant.

My heart instantly warmed up a bit. She thought of me as a little sister...but I also felt embarrassed that she might've indicated me as 'wild'?

"How's your muscle pain?" The woman asked nonchalantly.

I let out a chuckle of embarrassment before scratching my neck.

"It hurts a lot actually but nothing I can't handle." I confidently stated.

The woman's eyes scanned me up and down before pursing her lips.

"Wait here." she suddenly said before unlocking her door and going inside. 

I was so confused but the handsome woman soon came out with a pack of pills and a tea box. I've been dying to buy that specific brand but it was so expensive that despite having rich parents, my broke ass couldn't buy it. 

"Take these painkillers and this tea here can help you relax....it was a buy one get one deal." she stated casually. 

I was stunned. Was she really giving me that expensive box of tea? On the second thought, doesn't she dislike me? I mean, the whole department does, so...

"No...no I can't." I politely refused.

"I insist." 

This time, her tone came out as an order. Was I supposed to be scared here? Still seeing my reluctance, she forcefully handed me the things. 

"Treat me in return or something." she stated. 

"What?" I blinked in confusion. 

"You can cook, right?" 

"Um, yes?" 

"Then it's settled. Let's have dinner sometime. I'm going in now. You should go to your room too." With that said, she instantly went in her studio and shut the door on my face. 

I stood in the hallway with a complicated expression, trying to comprehend what just happened here.

"How....how does she know I can cook?" 

I went back to my room and instantly laid down on the bean bag, dazed. The cracking of my back and the pain on my thighs pulled me out of the trance as I hissed. But the pain was nothing really. 

Did the hot shot of my department just ask me out on a dinner date?! A date?! 

I slapped myself. Calm down Sky! What level are you even in for her to ask you out? Yes, I'm just paying her back for being nice to me. Maybe not everyone disliked me in my department after all. 

TO BE CONTINUED....

...Sky...

Today was weekend. I asked Aliyah to go out tonight but she said her dad had come to visit and he wanted to take her out for dinner. It was nice having a father who loved taking their child out. Unlike mine who refused to talk to me since I've taken the job of a singer.

Mom called last night, asking if I had quit or not. She wanted to resume sending pocket money but when she heard that I was still doing it, she started screaming on the phone as usual.

"Why are you still acting like your brother? He didn't listen to us and ended up dropping out."

Again comparing me to him.

"But you still love him more than me, don't you? You say, he's a disappointment but you're still giving him more pocket money than me. Oh right, I forgot you cut off my pocket money a few months ago. So, you're giving money to your UnEmPlOyEd son but you're not supporting the one who has always tried their best to please you?" I argued back.

Though I normally just handled it calmly, I felt the need to remind her of the reality sometimes. Mom never asked of my well-being like if I was okay or if I had eaten. She only ever called to ask about my studies or just scold me.

"You're just like your brother, Nilima. You're being rude to me just like him."

"But he still leads a much more luxurious life than me, doesn't he? I clearly see the favouritism here."

My mom stayed silent when I countered back.

If I had been really like him, I'd have slept around, smoked weed, wasted money, called my mum a slut when refused money, called my dad an asshole when criticized about my behaviour and most of all, I'd have stopped studying all together. But I never did any of those.

So, was following my passion really the same as trying to be like my brother, especially when it didn't interfere with my studies?

"We're just helping him survive you know...." My mom mumbled, her voice almost close to a whisper.

I laughed at my mom's statement. I felt bad for my parents sometimes. No matter how messed up their favourite child may be, they wouldn't just leave them to suffer, would they?

"Then can you please give me peace and scold me when I actually threaten your so-called well planned future of mine? Just so, I can survive too. Or else I might just take my own life if you kept going like this." I sarcastically said but what came from my mother after that surprised me.

"Please don't say that, dear." Her voice had this subtle tremble to it.

"I'm hanging up, mom. Take care of yourself and dad."

I hung up not being able to handle my mom's tone anymore. Once she acted like she didn't care but at the next moment, she acted like she did. I just can't figure out my parents.

After fighting with her that night, just an hour later, a good amount of money was transferred to my bank account. I guess mom really felt bad about it. Even though I wanted to return it and tell her, I've been doing fine this past few months living off of my own money but I didn't.

I just texted a little thank you and accepted the money. I already gave them enough headache and also considering their work pressure and responsibility of feeding a grown adult unemployed person (my brother), they were surely really stressed out. But I did mention not to further send any money.

At present, I couldn't concentrate on reviewing my lecture anymore. I had my job tomorrow so, I made a cup of tea, the one a certain green eyed senior gave me, took my guitar and went to sit by the window but I was met with a cute little fluff ball waiting for me.

"Hey there, Silvy. How long have you been waiting here for? Why didn't you meow?" I cheerfully asked while sliding opening the window.

The elegant looking cat meowed before jumping inside my room. She was Silvy, one of my other besties. I didn't know her real name so, I called her Silvy since she had silky silver fur with black stripes.

I took Silvy into my arms and hugged her. She smelled really good as usual. Whoever her owner was, they definitely took a good care of her.

"Why didn't you visit me last two days? Did your owner finally catch you sneaking out and lock you up?" I babied her before placing her on my green bean bag.

She meowed as a reply and I acted as if I understood what she said.

"Oh, is that so?" I smiled at her.

This cat has been my emotional support for almost 2 years. At first, she only approached my window at night and watched me. But when I'd approach her, she'd run away. I couldn't even lure her with cat food and ended up giving up.

Then one night, I was cooking dinner which contained a special fish recipe from my grandma back in our hometown. I literally saw Silvy droll while looking at me eating. That's when I understood, maybe she preferred home cooked fish more than cat foods or canned raw fish. She ended up joining me for dinner often and became my best friend.

I know, it sounds funny but that's what unsocial people like me does.

I gave Silvy my leftover fish for dinner before going back to take my guitar. She would also often be my audience when I practiced singing. I sang the songs I'll be performing tomorrow at the bar.

Silvy's lime eyes were always on me, intently watching. It was nice having someone listening to me even though it was a cat.

One other reason, I loved Silvy was because she was really well-behaved and well-trained. Once, I literally saw her soak her paws in the running water of my sink before coming to eat with me.

Sounds unhinged and unbelievable, right? But it's true.

She was a clean freak. I remember having a flying cockroach in my studio. I freaked out and told Silvy to chase the cockroach away but the elegant looking cat, itself looked visibly disgusted which I didn't know was even possible.

We then ran around my studio like a madwoman and mad-cat while the flying cockroach chased us both. I've never seen a cat scared of cockroach in my life. Very memorable moment of my life.

After I was done with my practice, Silvy was also done devouring her food. She instantly came to me and took over my warm lap, a thing she did when she was feeling sleepy.

"You should go back, babe. Your owner might worry."

The cat lifted her neck like a giraffe before letting out a meow. She nudged her head against my belly before settling back down, as though reassuring me not to worry. I let out a sigh.

"Only a small nap, okay?"

I took my phone to search up a few recipes while I sipped my almost cold tea. I had to admit, the aroma was perfect that it made me help relax. However, I still had another thing to worry about which was my dinner appointment with my hot next-door neighbour.

Gosh, I didn't even know what she prefered or if she was allergic to something. I had to be careful, no? It wasn't everyday that someone invited themselves to eat my cooking.

I had to say, I've been a little excited since that encounter with her. It was hard believing some like her would even talk to me in the first place, or even eat with me.

I let out a loud sigh, which made the elegant cat on my lap lift her head to look at me.

"What should I do, Silvy?"

The lime eyed cat tilted her head, as though looking confused. Aww she was so cute!

"My hot neighbour who has a great taste in tea just asked to have dinner with me...I don't even know what she'd like to have."

I continued to babble my concerns to the cat while sipping the tae. Silvy was again intently watching me and licked my hand at some point in comfort.

Then I decided something that my unsocial and overthinking ass wouldn't ever do....approach someone first to strike up a conversation.....

TO BE CONTINUED....