1 First Encounter

◇ N A O M I ◇

"Bye, mom. See you next weekend," I said and kissed her cheeks. "Be careful, and don't forget my advice," she said while hugging me tightly. Her hug was forced and too tight for my comfort, but I acted as if I'm feeling mother's love when there is actually none.

"Let's go," dad said from inside the car, he was waiting for me there. I entered the car and waved goodbye to mom until I can't see her. After that disgusting act, I sighed a breath of relief and slumped down the shotgun seat.

I'm Naomi Shiba, my dad is Japanese, but we live in the Philippines. I'm 18 years old, and a first-year college student in Remington island. White hair that falls beautifully down on my back, violet eyes that shine like crystal, and skin as pale as snow; these are the features that made me stand out. For others, it is a gift, but for me, it is a curse.

Sporting a plain black crop top hoodie, paired with black shorts and sneakers; I sat comfortably while watching the road we are taking. We are on our way to my school since yesterday was my weekly, sometimes monthly, visit.

The silence that surrounds us, reminded me of our terrible relationship. My parents always fought for every single thing, small or big; then they will push the blame on me, for no apparent reason. Living in the dormitory was my only choice to escape this cruel family.

Looking out the window, watching the houses go, and the trees to come into sight. After the window slowly opened, the warm breeze from the outside brushes against my skin, removing all of my troubling thoughts. Lost in my thoughts, my consciousness slowly drifted away, and before noticing, sleep has taken over me.

---

"We're here," dad said, waking me up from my peaceful sleep. Oh, when did I even sleep?

After getting out of the car, I took my things from the trunk. "Bye," I said, loud enough for him to hear, before entering the dorm. And like any other conversation, if you can even call them that, I still got no response.

Entering the lobby, the warm ambiance greeted me, as some students said their welcoming words. Walking towards the elevator, I feasted my senses with the warm colors, chattering, the aroma of the coffee, and occasional greetings. Some students offered help, but I turned them all down.

After pressing the button, the elevator opened with the familiar bell sound, and I entered. Luckily, no one is inside, and no one else wants to follow me on the lift. These bags are quite heavy, and my floor is quite high for the stairs.

The elevator door opened, with the bell sound, as it arrived on the third floor. Going straight to room 312, some students greeted me, although I ignored them since my only focus is to arrive in my dorm room.

The familiar room with two double decks and one single bed welcomed me. The two double decks are on the sides, while the single bed is situated right beside the door.

The single bed has my name on it. It has stairs leading to the fluffy, black roses bed that has a bunch of black-colored stuff toys and pillows. While the lower part is a cabinet decorated with black roses, and a table with some black rose-designed organizers on the left part.

"Yo," Alexa and Julia greeted me as I put my bags down on top of my table.

Alexa is from a rich family. She has slanted eyes, and her skin is as pale as snow, like mine. She is good at both sports and academics. She is the tallest, and the person I trust the most in our group.

Julia has brownish skin, and her forehead is quite broad. She is talented, despite her family status, and she is the artist of the group.

"Oh, you're already here," Nike said, as she opened the door. She is not gifted with height, and her skin is also brown. She acts like a boy, but she is actually into cute things, even her size is cute.

"Let's go to the mall?" Thea asked the moment she opened the restroom door. Her skin is quite pale, and she is the second tallest in our group. She is well known as "The perfectionist."

"I'm just gonna fix my things," I said while unpacking some of my clothes, and putting it nicely inside my cabinet.

"Me also," Nike added.

"Alright, we'll be in the lobby," Alexa said before they left us behind.

I finished fixing my things in thirty minutes. "Are you done?" I asked Nike.

"Wait, I'm looking for my wallet," she said while roaming around her table. "There it is. Let's go!"

"Slow as usual," Alexa said, the moment we arrived at the lobby. She stood there like a mother scolding her daughter for being tardy.

"Sorry," Nike said, with a pout. If there is a mother, there is a daughter.

"Let's go!" Julia yelled from the outside of the dorm with Thea. We followed them, and they led the way to the southern gate of the campus.

Passing by students, each one of them greeted us, and we responded; I did but reluctantly. The warm air, brushes my pale white skin, as my long white hair got blown. This calming breeze can never fail to remove any stiffness or what-ifs inside this mind of mine.

After a 10-minute walk, we arrived at the mall. "National bookstore, first? We need materials for the event tomorrow," Thea suggested. We all agreed and went to the said store.

After deciding to meet up in front of the store after an hour, we went our separate ways. Walking around the store, I took all the things I needed and added it to my basket. And as usual, I went to the fiction section and looked for a new book.

I was about to leave when a book with a black cover, caught my attention. As a girl who is in love with black, anything with the said color attracts me.

I was about to take it when a stranger's hand lands on it, making me glare at the person. Oh, it's a handsome boy. Those beautiful blue eyes immediately met my violet ones, and those ocean blue eyes can make many girls fall in love.

"Got it first," he said, as he scanned me from head to toe.

"I'm not even fighting for it, am I right?" I answered with a glare. How rude, his looks are completely wasted on him. I just ignored him and scanned the shelf for other books.

"I finally found you! I've been looking for you for a while now. Who are you even looking at?" I overheard a stranger talking to the rude man. I guess he is a friend of the rude guy. Why am I even eavesdropping? So frustrating!

I was about to take a book when my phone slipped from my hand. And it went to their direction, aish!

"Excuse me, miss?" The stranger asked. I turned to him and gave him the emotionless look. "Your phone fell," he said, giving me my phone back. He is also quite good-looking, with those yellow eyes.

"Thanks," I said, snatching my phone away from him.

"Miss, what's your name?" he asked. I just ignored him, and took the book I should've taken.

"Aww, I'm ignored," he said, in a mocking tone. What an idiot. I was about to leave when he grabbed my arm, making me glare at him. His hand felt smooth against my skin, but his grip was quite tight.

"Are you leaving, miss? You haven't answered my question yet," he said with a bright smile.

"Let go," I stated, making my voice sound cold.

"I won't let go unless you answer my question," he said, a smile still on his face. A crowd starts to gather around us. I hate attention, but what I hate the most, is being forced to something I don't want.

Kicking him in his private part did the trick, and he is now crouching in pain.

"If I said let go, you should let go. If you wanna play, go find other playmates," I said, then quickly left. Walking away, I noticed the rude guy was watching us intently. Hayst, they really are friends. A silent but rude guy, and an annoying player.

I went in line to pay for the things in my basket. "Hey! Why did you kick that guy?" Alexa asked the moment she arrived and lined up behind her.

"He is forcing me to say my name. He even grabbed my arm."

"Hayst. You don't like attention, but you always do things that make people curious. You already know that majority of the students that shops here are from our university. We have transfer students and that guy might even be one of them. He also has good looks, so you achieved the top place in the rumors," Alexa said, scolding me sternly. I already knew that, but that guy didn't give me any other choice, since he tried to force me.

Letting my eyes roam around, I saw the two jerks and noticed that they are walking towards our direction. Why does it looks like they are walking towards us? Yup, they are coming to us, I might end up bruising their faces if they ever did anything rude. I clenched my fists, preventing myself from doing anything rashly.

And there it goes, they are already in front of us, and with another stranger. He looks kind and a gentleman, unlike those two.

"Sorry for my friends' attitude earlier, miss," the kind man said. I just nodded in response and ignored them.

"May I ask your name?" The kind man asked. Why are they so interested in my name? They are really testing my patience.

Before I even snap, Alexa quickly pulled me to a cashier, and we paid for the things we bought. We went out of the store and saw Julia, waiting for us.

Those guys are weird. Why were they so curious about my name, though? Gosh.