CHAPTER THREE: TYLER?

After we had bought everything we needed and ate at that restaurant, we made our way back to our dorms and rested.

"Are you new here, too?" I asked, somewhat randomly.

"No, we've been here since last year. But we're still on the same year" Zhena answered. Surprised and confused, I sit up.

"What happened?"

"Well, Oli and I were crackheads at school," Zhena replies. Oli then appears from the bathroom, and joins in, too:

"Let's just say, we failed to pass our year, so we're both repeaters", he answers. I slowly nod my head and ask them again…

"Uhmm, about the Dean's secretary…”

"Oh, don't start on that!" Oli interjects, laughing hysterically.

"Why? After all, he asked me to meet her in the garden but she didn't even explain why"

"Don't even bother meeting her, Lara. She's just gonna grab you and kiss you...she's a freaking tomboy. A creepy tomboy!”, Zhena explains, laughing.

"She tries to kiss every other newbie here; she's creepy" Oli adds.

I laugh and get up from my bed.

Suddenly, I think of something:

"Well...did she kiss the both of you?" I ask, half-joking.

Zhena and Oli glance at each other. Zhena shakes her head and Oli looks down as though he were embarrassed.

"What?" I ask, chuckling.

Oli explains: "Well, you see. I was the very first one to occupy this room. She came and gave me the laminated schedule for my classes. Then, she said that I NEED to be in the garden at seven. I went there, thinking it is something important. But geez! She kissed me there. Grooss!!"

The three of us laughed. I described to them how the secretary had been here and told me to see her at seven. Zhena had been warned by Oli. That's how she had avoided being kissed by that creepy tomboy secretary,

Hours passed and both Oli and Zhena fell asleep. The room was dark and cold. There is no other light in our room; Oli's Christmas lights were switched off. I turn them off because it was smoking, slightly.

I was staring at the ceiling, thinking about how I miss my family. My heart is aching, I can't explain how I feel. Half of my heart is saying that I should just go home and play with my siblings, while the other half is saying that I had to stay and study here.

Suddenly, I hear a creaking sound coming from outside the window.

I jump out of my bed. Curious, I slowly walk closer to the window, being careful not to make a sound that could awaken Zhena or Oli.

When I reach the window, I hear that creaking sound again. I am starting to feel scared, and it sends shivers through my entire body.

I slowly turn the little knob of the window and was about to open it. Suddenly, a squirrel jumps onto the glass pane making an eerie creaking sound. I almost jump out of my skin. I hold my chest and slowly pat it, calming myself down, as best as I can

The little squirrel is staring at me, I sigh and touch it from the window.

"You stupid little squirrel; you scared the hell out of me" I hissed. The squirrel is touch the glass too, it's almost as if we're touching our hands, separated only by the thin glass. I chuckle and stare at the squirrel. And wave my goodbyes to it.

I walked back to my bed and was about to rest when I see the laminated schedule that the secretary had given to me. I grab it and look at my schedule for tomorrow.

My first subject will be at 9:00 am and it's English Lit. I sigh and put it down. I guess I should go for a run tomorrow so I can focus on class. And of course, to get to know this place.

When I awake, it's 6:00 in the morning and Zhena and Oli are still sleeping. I yawn and stretched my arms. I tie my hair into a messy bun and walk to the bathroom.

I will just wash my face and take a shower later after I take my run. After I washing my face I quickly change my clothes, and don some leggings, and a sports bra, of course...I'll were a hoodie on top.

I took my phone and AirPods, I also brought one tumbler; I guess I would have to look for a vending machine to buy some bottled water.

It's not my style to drink directly from the bottled. I'd rather transfer the water to my tumbler.

I left a note for Oli and Zhena saying I'm out for a run. I slowly twist the doorknob and open it. I quickly shut my eyes when the door makes a nasty squeaking sound.

I walk out of that room and close the door slowly and smoothly. I smiled when I successfully close the door without even making a sound.

“Hey! You look like a criminal"

I jumped in surprise when I suddenly hear someone speak behind me, like that. I dropped my tumbler and it made a loud bang.

I quickly turn around. It’s Tyler. He's smirking and looking at me with cold eyes.

I gulp. I am freezing to the spot where I am standing. I don't know what to do. His sudden presence is making me feel very uncomfortable.

"What's your name?", Tyler asked. His voice is so deep that it's giving me goosebumps. And for some reason, I suddenly notice that he has a British accent.

"I'm Lara. Lara Williams" I answer. He smirks coldly and looks down at my tumbler on the floor.

"Well. Pick up your tumbler, Lara" he commanded and walked away, I gasped and turned to look at him, as he disappears to the elevator.

I rolled my eyes and picked up my tumbler, all I can think of now is what a jerk Tyler is!

After all, he was the one who suddenly spoke. It made me jump so the tumbler fell. It should be he who picked it up, dammit!

I walked straight to the other elevator and entered. I pressed the button and waited for the doors to close.

When I arrive on the first floor, I quickly leave the elevator. To my surprise, Tyle is about to enter the elevator. He gives me a wide smile. Very confusing!

He was a total jerk earlier and now he's smiling at me ...widely! What the...??

I roll my eyes at him and walk straight fast. Jeez! He deserves that. I shake my head and take my run.

After a satisfyingly long run, it's almost 7 am. I return to our dormitory. And there I see Oli. He's still asleep, and Zhena is busy making her bed.

"Good morning" I greeted. Zhena turned to look at me and smiled. I smiled back and look at Oli who is asleep, and drooling,

"Geez, don't mind him, his class isn't until one pm, so he stays asleep to gain energy for later", Zhena explained while chuckling. I chuckled too, and shook my head in disbelief,

"OK. Go and get changed; let's have breakfast together," offered Zhena. I nodded and took my towel from the cabinet.

I quickly took a shower and changed my clothes. Zhena was doing something on her laptop and Oli is now awake and biting his lips.

"Hey Oli, good morning" I greet him. He turns his gaze to me and bites his lower lip. Zhena and I are puzzled by his facial expression. We glance at each other and turned to Oli:

"What happened? Are you okay?" I asked, Oli then jumped from his bed and faced both Zhena and me:

"I had a bad dream," he says. My eyebrows furrow[ed] and I tilt my head to signal my confusion.

"What dream was that?" Zhena asked.

"I dreamt that that hot criminal raped me and he killed me right afterward!" Oli exclaimed, I turned to look at Zhena, who's desperately trying not to laugh.

"That is why I don't want to listen to your news," I said, shaking my head. I then and went to my study table to pack my school things.

"What if...What if that will happen to me? what if it comes true?" he asked, nervously. I smiled and turned to him,

"Oli, a dream is a dream" I reasoned trying to convince Oli while he bites his nails. Zhena then adds,

"Come on, Oli! Lara is right. A dream is a dream" Zhena added and winked at me. I smiled and continued packing my things.

After Oli had taken a bath, we all went out and headed to the cafeteria. When we arrived, many students started murmuring when they saw Oli.

Others are laughing at him and others are muttering. My forehead creases as I look at Oli, who is walking confidently. Meanwhile, Zhena is tapping something into her phone.

I shrugged my shoulders and continued walking with them. We chose the last table in the cafeteria as it was the last one that was free. Zhena offered to order the food for us.

Oli and I nodded and we sat down. I stared at Oli, who is confidently sitting in front of me.

He turns his gaze to me and he smiles. I smile back, and speak to him:

"Don't mind them, Oli", I said and smiled at him.

He nods and smiles at me, too.

I look around and soon I see Tyler's group. They are on the fifth table from us. He looks at me as if he was figuring me out. I smirk and roll my eyes at him.

I think Oli noticed it because he quickly turned to Tyler's group and me.

"Uhmm, d-did you just...rolled your eyes at my husband?" Oli asked, accusingly. I chuckled because of his reaction.

I turn to face Tyler, who is still looking at me, I smirk at him, and raise my middle finger to him, in a rude gesture.

Oli then slapped my hands. I laughed and returned Oli a teasing look. It seems like he has a huge crush on Tyler. But for me, Tyler is a jerk.

Zhena then came over and placed the food in front of us.

"Okay, so what did I miss?" Zhena asks and sits down right beside me.

"Oh, nothing much. I just raised my middle finger at Tyler because I like teasing Oli" I replied. Zhena then looked at Oli, who is pouting.

Zhena, laughing, then turns to face me and whispers "My gosh, Tyler is Oli's ultimate crush"

"Well, what do you expect? he's a jerk." I replied, Oli now raising his left brow.

"Are you sure?" he asks. I turn to look at him, waiting for him to speak. "Tyler is an angel, he barely gets mad. And that is why Tyler is a campus crush. Because you will never see him being a jerk"

"I agree" Zhena added.

"What? But he was a jerk earlier" I said.

Both Oli and Zhena laughed.

"I swear, girl. You will never see Tyler being a jerk" Zhena said, laughing.

"Or are you dreaming because of him?", Oli teased and laughed,

I roll my eyes and pick up the spoon and fork and start eating. Whatever. What's the point of explaining, when they're both asleep at that time?

But I can't help but think, he was really different earlier than now.

I bat an eye on him. He's stealing glances at me.

Does Tyler have a split personality? Geez! He's way different from the Tyler I met earlier. He's like an angel right now.

But… maybe he was just not in the mood earlier?... Maybe.

-TO BE CONTINUED...