I woke up to my daily alarm. That is my Mom and Dad shouting at each other. I checked my mobile as it is the first thing on my to-do list when I wake up. Its 6 am and I had set alarm for 6.30 am. A half-hour of sleep lost. Thanks, Mom and Dad. I turned to look at the couch opposite to my bed. Micheal my younger brother is sleeping soundly there. So the thing is my mom and dad like most of the couple's, fight and shouts at each other. They do it every morning before they go to their jobs. It's just like a routine now. My brother who is a high schooler sleeps in the room next to Mom and Dad.

When we were kids one day their fight got so loud that I went to look at what was going on. On my way to their room, I saw Micheal sitting in his bed crying. My poor brother was so scared that when I went and touched his hands he flinched. I told him that I was scared of being alone in my room and my superhero brother should protect his sister from the villains. I didn't know that would work at that point, but it did. He came with me and slept next to me. From then onwards whenever there is a huge drama going on in their room he comes to my room to sleep. Now we are adjusted to this daily soap.

He is fast asleep that means they have been fighting for some time. Well, that's good. I skipped most of their drama today. As it's my daily cycle I opened my WatssApp first. Na, nothing much in there. I am not so fond of groups so I have set them on mute. My friend Leya has sent me a good morning message with coffee and cookie emoji as usual.

Well, what else do you guys look up in WatssApp other than messages? Status?

No that is a red zone for me. I even cursed WatssApp for introducing the status feature. All those lovey-dovey images of girls in your contact list with their boyfriends. And the funny part is you can see the same girl who wrote: 'The only love of my life' in her photo with her boyfriend this week posts another photo of her with another boy next week with the same caption. Okay, I am not judging anything. It's life. They may have broken up. But to get over 'The only love of your life' and get someone to replace him in just a week?

After my short visit to WatssApp, my next stop is Facbook. There I spend some quality time reading memes. Oh! the life of a single woman. This single woman who is known by the name Melanie. I am 21 years old and I am on my final year of college. That's it for now. Since I have woken up to world war infinity, most probably I have to make breakfast for me and my brother.

I came to downstairs after bath to see that dad and mom have left for their jobs. On the kitchen counter, there were two plates of omelette with toasts and a glass of milk. I don't drink milk so yeah that's for my brother. Since the breakfast is already set which means today's fight was not that serious. I ate my breakfast quickly and shouted

" Mike... get up. Mom and dad have already left. You're gonna be late for school"

It takes a one-hour bus ride to my college so I leave early than my brother whose school is just 10-minute walk afar. He slowly got up and walked to his room with partly open eyes. I quickly got ready to catch up on the bus on time. I am punctual but my friend Leya takes a decade to get ready for college. I forget to mention that she is my neighbour and we go to college together. She is majoring in arts while I took science.

After checking that Mike has woken up, not sleeping in his room, I took my bag and walked to Leya's home. As usual, when I rang the doorbell her mom invited me in shouting her name out loud. She strolled towards me like a model from her room. Sometimes I wonder why she is my best friend, while we are not that similar. But she is the only person other than my brother whom I believe to share my thoughts with.

"How do I look?" she asked while searching her bag.

"You looks like Leya to me"

She was not even listening to my comment as if she already knew what I would say.

"We are gonna miss the bus, Mel. Hurry up"

She darted outside and I followed her defeated.

Luckily we reach the bus stop at the correct time. There were no vacant seats so we were standing. I was searching for a new comic to read on my phone when Leya nudged me.

"What?"

"Mel, on your right there is this hot guy and his biceps...OMG. Is he a college student? Does he goes to our college?"

"I don't care and how would I know his whereabouts?"

"Just look at him, Mel. I am not telling you to fall in love with him at first sight. Just enjoy the VIEW."

I turned my head slowly to right and then back to Leya.

"He is okay and to your question, I have not seen him before"

"Every boy we met are just okay for you. What's your problem?"

"Leya, I am not interested in all these at the time being"

" So when are you going to meet someone Mel if you don't go on dates now?"

I changed my view from her to look outside the window. Do we need a boyfriend to enjoy our life? Can such love bring me more happiness than I am at present? How can I trust someone whom I knew for a few months or years with my life? I woke up from my thoughts by a gentle pat from Leya on my shoulder when we reached our college.

We were crossing the roads to get to the campus when two large arms hugged Leya from the back. Yep, that's her boyfriend Jake. He is my classmate. So he met Leya through me and there were sparks and now they are dating. After their PDA Jake freed Leya from his hands and came towards me inviting me for a hug.

"Please don't strangle me to death"

He smirked and did the exact thing to me. Luckily his attempt to kill me by strangling was postponed by a familiar voice

"Bro, don't kill her. She is too precious"

It was Ron. Jake's cousin and our junior in college. Girls loved to be in his line of sight. He was not mean and arrogant about the whole attention. He rejects them politely. A total heartthrob. He is in a relationship with one of his classmates. They give everyone major couple goals.

"Dude you have a girlfriend. At least act like a loyal boyfriend in front of us"

"Jake, I think he is more trustworthy than you. You didn't even tell me that you were dating my friend until I caught you guys together"

"That was because I thought Leya had a talk with you about us. Right Babe?"

"Sorry, Jake. It's between you and Mel. Count me out"

"Leya told me everything. But you are my friend too. I hoped that you will tell me just like she did"

"Man... You did wrong. Such a selfish friend you got there Mel"

"Shut it, Ron. Okay, Mel, I am sorry. I should have told you. It was my mistake. But it was not intentional."

Three of us started laughing looking at the innocent yet guilty face with which Jake was pleading in front of me.

"You guys were playing me?'

"Too late bro"

I was afraid that Jake would take this joke seriously but he too started to laugh with us.

"Okay then, Leya meet you after class. I have to go to the library."

"Mel, I am also coming with you. Have some books due to the library." Ron followed me.

"Bye guys"

I left with Ron to the library leaving Leya and Jake to continue with their PDA.

"So how are you and Betty doing?"

"We are good. She understands me well so it's easy to spend time with her. You dating someone?"

"Nope. I am not currently in a position to even put a status as "it's complicated" I said with a smile.

"You know I always noticed that you look down when you smile like that. It's cute"

That's it. I was drawn back to a couple of years. That night. The warmth radiating from his body and his scent when he stood close to my back. His breath near my neck that made me quiver. It's all coming back to my head. His voice...

" It turns me on when you look down while smiling like that"

"Mel? Earth to Melanie"

I came back to reality, hearing Ron calling my name.

"Oh sorry, I just felt that I have forgotten something. So I was trying to find out what it was"

He smiled and we both went inside the library. He left after giving back his books. I kept roaming between the bookshelves aimlessly. That boy, why is he still in my mind? Why did I remember everything about him? I have known him for just one day and we never actually talked much that day. Still, his face, his voice, his scent its all seems very recent to me. Its been 5 years. I was snapped out from my thoughts when my phone beeped with a message from Jake to come to the class for the lecture. I hurried back to our class. I sat next to Jake.

" I thought that Ron ditched Betty and you two were having fun with each other" Jake shot at me with his crooked smile.

"You are jealous about their relationship Jake. Stop making fake stories"

"Even though you are excellent in studies you are so dumb in understanding someone's feelings, my dear friend"

Before I could give a reply to his comment our lecturer came to the class. I don't like to talk between classes so Jake as always fell asleep after the start of the class. After two hours our lecturer left after his lecture. Today we have no other hours to attend. I and Jake met Leya at our usual place that is the cafeteria. When we were ordering coffee we saw Betty and Ron. They joined us on our table.

Usually, in films, the heartthrob of college is always seen with the meanest girl in the college but in their case its different. Betty is a very nice girl. She helps everyone who needs her help. She has no issues when girls propose to Ron or come to flirt with him. I think she trusts him so much. They're a good match. I hope they stay so.

" Mel ...Mel... There she goes again. Does she always travel to dreamworld or today a special day? She was like this when we went to the library too"

" I am not in any dreamworld. I was just..."

" So who is that guy?" Betty asked with a knowing smile

"What guy? I was not thinking about any guy"

"Well, I believe her words. Mel thinking about a guy is a far dream for me" Leya put her head on my shoulder by making a fake sad face.

"Guys come one. Give her a break" Ron said while passing the coffee that has arrived.

While we were chatting I got a message from my brother.

Hey, sis guess who messaged me on Facbook today. Remember Ray? The one we met a few years back.

Ray... Remember him? I have been getting flashbacks about him all day and now he suddenly popped up in Facbook...

"Ah...I think I should get back home early today"

"Wait. What happened?" Leya asked with a concerned look

" Nah its nothing. I kind of want to get home and sleep for some time. I am leaving. Bye guys. See you tomorrow"

I left there quickly before Leya comes with further questions.

On the way back home on the bus, I kept asking myself why am I reacting like this. Why am I remembering every single moment of that day? It was an unlucky day for us. But why thinking about that day makes my heart happy? I have not even talked with him for more than 10 minutes that day.

I got off the bus to walk to my house.

How has he been? He messaged Mike that means he still remember us as we do. How did he find Mike? Did he message me? Maybe not if he did I would have got text message from Facbook. But why didn't he? Wait. Why am I feeling sad about that? I don't care.

I got home and went straight to my room. Tossed my backpack and laid on my bed.

I don't care...I don't care...

How does he look now? Is he still growing his hair or has he cut it short?

I suddenly got up from my bed. Maybe he did message me. Maybe Facbook didn't send me a text message. I ran to get my laptop from the table. Opened my Facbook. One new message. So he did message me. I clicked the message icon with a bright smile but soon that smile dies off. It was from Jake. Just a weird laughing sticker.

So he didn't message me. That's good. I don't care.

Then came curiosity.

I think I can just go through his profile. Just for knowing how he is doing. It's normal right. To check how your old friends are doing nowadays. It's completely normal.

I went to Mike's profile. Searched his friend list for Ray and finally, I found him.

Why am I feeling nervous? It's just normal to know about your friend. I clicked his profile. I was feeling excited. It was like doing something secretly that my mom said not to do in childhood. His profile picture was him in his hoodie on a mountain facing the sun. But the view of the picture was from the back. His face was not visible. I clicked on to the pictures menu. But none of them was visible to me. Maybe he kept his account privacy to friends only. I closed my laptop in disappointment. All those efforts for nothing.

Maybe I should ask Mike to look through his profile. They are Facbook friends. What am I thinking? My brother will call me a stalker. A social media stalker.

Okay no more searching. It was just curiosity. I don't care much.

I went to take a bath. After that, I did my assignment. I heard the door lock opening downstairs.

" I am home" came Mike's announcement.

I went downstairs to see him on the couch eating chips with one hand and other hand browsing through his phone. I took coke from the fridge and sat next to him.

"Hey what's up" I wanted to start a conversation

"Nothing much" he answered

"Hmm...So I saw your message when I reached home today. I can't remember Ray. When did we meet him?" I acted clueless hoping that he will show me his picture while explaining who he was.

"You don't remember him? We met him when we went to Y city 5 years back. I will show you his pic...." He was interrupted by a phone call.

I am going to see his picture without my brother teasing me as a stalker. I know I had a devilish smile if someone looked at me then.

After his call, he stood up from the couch

" Mel, I am going out with my friends. I will be back home a little late. Please help me. You know, with Mom."

He left before I could even say anything. There goes my evil plan in the dump. I went back to lie on my bed feeling defeated. I gave up and switch off the lights. God knows why I am not even hungry today. I can't handle any more drama from Mom and Dad today. It's better to sleep early. I was on the verge of falling to sleep when my phone beeped with a message. I took my phone cursing the one who disturbed my sleep. But my eyes were suddenly opened wide by seeing the message. It was a text message from Facbook.

You got a message from Rayon Vincent

You got a message from Rayon Vincent

He messaged me!!!

I started to login to my account but stopped.

If I log in now he will know that I came online right after he messaged me. It's almost midnight. Is it appropriate to reply to him now?

I started to scratch my head which I usually do when I feel confused. I think I should sleep for now. Let's look into it tomorrow. I kept my phone on the table and pulled the blanket over me. I have successfully stopped my attempt to reply to him for now. Does he remember everything about that day like me?

That's enough Mel go to sleep. Lots to do tomorrow. I convinced myself to sleep.

I woke up by someone calling my name. It sounded like Mike.

"What to do want Mike? You came late and waking me up in the middle of night. Go to sleep and let me sleep" I mumbled to Mike with closed eyes.

"Midnight??? Mel, it's almost 8 in the morning. You have to go to college, remember?"

His voice made me get up in lightning speed. I looked at the clock in my room.

"Oh no I overslept. Why didn't you call me before" I jumped from my bed and went to the bathroom.

"Hey Sis, there is no breakfast today. I will eat out. You do that too. I am leaving"

I washed up myself and dressed up, took my phone and backpack and opened the front door to see Leya standing on my doorstep.

"Well this doesn't occur often. I am glad I lived up to see this day. The day when Melanie Larson finally woke up late"

"You could have given me a call when you didn't receive reply to your message in the morning"

" I did. Check your phone, Mel. Its switched off"

I checked my phone. Damn. I forgot to charge the phone yesterday that's why the alarm never buzzed.

"God, we're going to miss our first lecture today" I closed the door with a long face.

"Don't worry Girl I have it all under control"

"How?" I asked her in surprise and my question was answered by a car horn in front of my house.

"Hey sleepyheads, hope in before we run late"

Leya ran towards the car and hugged Jake who got out from the car. I was greeted with a head nod from Ron who was on driver's seat.

"Finally Mel you woke up late even for once just like all of us. You are human. Confirmed." Jake laughed out loud.

"Hahaha. So funny" I punched Jake's shoulder

" Okay, guys enough just get in the car" Ron called out from the car through the window.

"Hey, I am driving. Move yourself to back seat" Jake opened the driver's seat door from outside.

"Whatever" Ron murmured and stepped down from the car.

Jake and Leya occupied the front seats. Ron smiled at me opened the door and moved back for me to enter. I thanked him and got into the car. Ron closed my side of the door and got in from the opposite door.

I dozed off within minutes after we started our ride.

I was woken up by a sudden break. I felt a hand supporting my head. When I opened my eyes it was Ron's. I was leaning on his shoulder and he was supporting my head. I quickly sat straight.

"Hey, are you okay? You look tired. Anything bothering you" I can see genuine concern in his eyes.

" Nah I am fine. It's just I couldn't sleep that well last night. We reached yet?" I took my phone to check the time forgetting that it is already dead.

" Damn I forgot to take power bank. My phone is dead. Hey, Leya do you have one with you?"

" No Mel I have enough things to carry in my bag" Leya replied

I know her bag will be filled with cosmetics but I really need a power bank right now.

" You can have mine" Ron gave me power bank from his bag.

"Thank you so much Ron" He smiled at me.

Cute smile.

The thing is he always been nice to me. Since Leya and Jake started to date I kind of felt like I was the third wheel in between them. But since Ron started to hang out with us I was relieved. It usually takes some time to get me comfortable to talk with guys. It took like two months for me to talk with Jake freely. But with Ron, it was easy from the start. He makes everyone around him comfortable with him. That's what I have admired about him since the first day we met. Even now when he is dating he keeps time to be with us. But I wonder why Betty doesn't hang out with us so often.

"We have reached our destination" Jake announced in GPS tone

It's not late yet. Thank God.

We got out of the car.

"Hey guys" Betty waved at us from the parking lot where she had parked her car and came towards us.

She hugged Ron and smiled at us.

What a couple. They are just perfect.

Just when I was starting to feel relaxed the bell rang.

"Guys hurry up. I don't want to miss the lecture" I walked forward by calling them looking back.

"Mel lookout" I heard Leya shouting at me

When I turned my head to the left I saw a car moving fastly towards me. I literally froze. I couldn't move my feet. I closed my eyes standing there. I heard a screeching noise. I was expecting being thrown away, pain, then the numbness but I was pulled back to a strong surface. I didn't open my eyes. But I could hear was the fast heartbeats of the person who was holding me against his chest. The strong familiar smell of cologne he was wearing was hitting my nostrils hard. I heard someone shouting at me for being careless. I was pulled back to senses when the person who was holding me took my face in his palms.

It was Ron.

" Mel are you okay? Are you hurt? You are not feeling pain anywhere right?" He was searching with his eyes all over me check for any possible injury.

I could see the fear in his eyes. He was as frightened as I was. His hands were cold like ice.

" You could have met with a serious injury just for a lecture Mel. If something had happened to you how could I ever..."

"Mel are you okay?" Ron was interrupted by Leya who hugged me so tight.

"You idiot. You could have died. How can you be so stupid" Leya yelled at me.

" You have got to be careful  Mel" Jake sounded serious than he usually does.

" I am sorry guys. I should have been careful" I looked back at Ron. He was staring at the spot where I could have met with an accident.

I turned to face him "Hey thanks for saving me. I know it was stupid of me. But I am okay now"

He looked into my eyes and suddenly hugged me. "You sure you are okay?"

"Yeah I am okay"

Poor guy must have freaked out. He always had this safe circle around him that he never allows anyone to enter except Betty. But he is hugging me now. He must have really freaked out.

"Guys I think we should head back to our classes now" Jake broke the silence.

"We should take her to the clinic to be sure that she is not hurt " Ron said holding my hand.

" No need for that. I am fine. Let's head to the classroom."

"Let me take you to your class"

"Ron, I am her classmate. I will be with her and she looks fine. See you guys at lunch break. Let's go, Mel." Jake gave Leya a peck in her cheek and we walked towards our classes.

What a start of a day. I woke up late, almost lost my life and missed the lecture for the first time in my life. Now I can't even concentrate on the class. Great going Melanie.

I turned to look at Jake to see him occupied with his phone. He does that usually. From the look of it, he was messaging someone but he had a serious vibe.

We got out of the class after the lecture for lunch.

"Jake, I will meet you guys at the cafeteria"

"Yeah okay, Mel. We will save you a seat"

I went to the washroom and heard some girls talking about Ron and Betty.

"It's so sad they broke up. They were such a perfect couple"

" Yeah, they were. But now Ron is back to single. We may get a chance with him. "

"Haven't you heard? They broke up because he likes someone else."

" What? Who? I have never seen him alone with any girl other than Betty"

" Yeah me too. He was so focused on her. I think it is just a rumour."

" Whatever the reason be. The legacy of BeRo couple has come to an end"

They left the washroom giggling.

Ron and Betty broke up??? Why? When I asked him yesterday he told they're doing well. When we met in the morning they were fine. I should talk about this to Jake and Leya.

When I was on the hallway to the cafeteria I saw Leya talking with Betty. I approached them. Betty's eyes were swollen.

" Hey Betty" She nodded back to me

"Listen I heard..." Before I could finish she said she has to go now and told me that she will talk to me later.

"Leya is it true? You heard the rumours right?"

"Yeah, they have broken up. I was just asking her about that."

"But why? They were so perfect"

"Let's talk about it when we head back home. This is not the right place. Jake is waiting for us"

We went to the cafeteria. Jake was sitting at our usual place and Ron was missing. I didn't ask his whereabouts because I can understand it would be weird to sit and have lunch when everyone around you is talking about your break up. We had our lunch without talking. It was the first time we had such a silent table. Lots of 'first times' happening today. 

What's up with today?

We went back to our classes. It was a dull day. I was already losing concentration before and now my mind was totally out of the lecture. I kept drawing something in my notebook. I came back to senses when the bell rang. Leya told me that she will tell me what happened between Ron and Betty I should talk to her before we get into the car since  Ron will be there.

" Jake, I will come with Leya"

" She just messaged me that she is waiting near the car."

 I sighed.

"What happened?"

"It's just that she told me that she will tell me what actually happened between Ron and Betty. But since we are riding with Ron it will not be the best to ask her about it in the car"

"Ron is not riding with us back home. He has already left during lunch break"

"What? Did you talk with him? You know why they..."

"We will talk about it in the car. Let's go"

I walked with Jake towards the parking lot. Leya was waiting for us. We got into the car.

" Just tell me what happened? I am the only one who doesn't know anything right now" I asked straight away before Jake could start the car. Leya and Jake turned back to face me.

" It's true they broke up today morning. I talked to Betty to know what was going on and she said it was the right time to do it since they knew that they were never truly in love with each other" Leya sighed. Jake started the car hearing the horning of other cars in the lot.

" What the hell? The whole college know how much they were in love with each other"

"Mel, when it comes to a relationship it's not what others think, it's about how the two people in a relationship feel about each other. I knew this was bound to happen"

"What you mean by that?" I asked Jake surprised by his last comment.

" Come on Mel. How can you be so blind? That guy was madly in love with you. I can see that. Leya can see that. It was about time for Betty to see that too"

"What?" I was shocked.

I couldn't process anything. He is in love with me? No way. He told me yesterday that he was happy with Betty. It must be some misunderstanding. I was so immersed in my thoughts that I didn't know that we have reached my home.

" Mel. It's okay. They did the right thing. It gets suffocating when you try to be in a relationship without love. They're going to be okay." Leya told me when I got out of the car.

" Thanks, Jake for the ride. See you guys tomorrow" I waved at them and went straight to my room in a trance.

I went straight to the bath. I needed it after all those happened today. After the bath, I opened my bag to see my phone connected to the power bank Ron gave me. I should message him.

Hey I got your power bank with me

Before I could place my phone down, I got his message back

R: Oh. It's okay.

M: I will give it back tomorrow

R: Hm. Are you okay? You sure not hurt from the accident right?

M: Yeah I am totally fine

M: What about you?

R: You must have heard. Don't worry I am not crying  sitting in a corner now😅

R: I am actually feeling relieved. It's just I lost tons of weight that I was carrying on my shoulder.

M: You sure you're okay?

R: I've never been surer. Get some sleep, Mel. I don't want to see you vulnerable like you were today

M: Sorry about that. You to take rest. See you tomorrow

I placed my phone on the table and laid back on the bed. I wanted to hear what happened to him. But it has to wait until he is ready. Were Leya and Jake right about how Ron think about me? Well, he is caring and all. Other than Betty I was the only girl he talked freely to. Even he is not that much comfortable with Leya. But its okay right. After all, that's how friends are with each other. Maybe they are wrong. 

Wait a minute. Is it because of what happened today morning? I remember Betty was there too. But when we were leaving for the class she was not with the four of us. When did she leave? Did she get the wrong idea about me and Ron? If that's the case I should clear it out with her after talking with Ron.

I got distracted from my thoughts by the ring of my phone

It was Ron

" Hello"

"Hey did I wake you up?"

"No no. I was just reading something"

" Could you come in front of your lawn"

"Now? Wait. My lawn? You are here?"

" Yeah I am standing in front of your house right now"

I sprinted towards my window. He was standing there leaning his back on his car looking towards my window. He was wearing a navy blue T-shirt with black jeans. His hair was messy. I could clearly see him under the street light. When he saw me he waved at me.

With that cute smile of his.

I don't know why but I was happy to see that smile in his face.