1 Familiar Handwriting

"Gayle, wake up! You told me that you have classes by eight," there she goes again, waking me up two hours before the said time.

"Kenichi, it's only five in the morning. Let me sleep," I rolled my eyes before closing them again.

"You're like a turtle and moves slowly. Don't blame me if you're late again," she shuts the door loudly.

Kenichi jinxed my morning so like what she said, I was late again for the first period. My friend, Cloede, was snickering when the professor scolded me outside the room. I barely got in but since I'm the rank one student in my course, he let it slide.

"Did you finish your plates?" Cloede asked me when I finally sat on my seat next to hers.

I showed my work to her, "You bet, I did!"

"Ugh, I have to skip break time again." she grumbled and pouted.

We continued listening to our history professor. It was boring but our professor is an effective educationist, he makes a way to interpret it easily without the additional and irrelevant topics.

I immediately stood up when the professor bid his farewell to the class. I fixed my things, Cloede noticed what I was doing, "We have three hours vacant, what're you gonna do?"

"I'm going to the bookstore and read at the apartment," I made sure that may wallet is in my bag, "How 'bout you?"

"Can I do my plates at your place? I promise that I'll be quiet!" she insisted. I threw my key card at her, she smiled widely when she caught it.

"Don't lock the front door and buy me lunch." I quickly left her hanging so that she can't argue with me.

I saw some familiar faces while walking down the hallway so I had to greet them. When I was already out of the campus, I can only see few students from different departments since there are different schedules. I was smiling from ear to ear while passing by the familiar street where the bookstore is located.

Casually opening the door, the owner smiled when he saw me, "Here for a new book?"

"Yes! Are there new arrivals?"

He pointed at the pile of books that aren't placed in the shelves, "Check it out yourself. There are no discounts today."

"Of course, Mr. Pete. I'll pay handsomely," I winked at him which made us both laugh. I've been in and out in this place for two years already. That's why I'm close to Mr. Pete, who's the same page as my grandpa.

I browsed the pile, nit-picking my next book by reading the sypnosis at the back. There are three books that I like but I can only buy one so I placed the books in front of Mr. Pete, "Good sir, can you please reserve these two books for me?"

"Well, of course, Gayle." he nodded and hid it in a drawer. "Is this your final choice?"

"Yes, please." I took the exact amount of money from my wallet and handed it to him. "Thanks, Mr. Pete!"

The apartment isn't that faraway from the university, just a walking distance. I went inside a mart first to buy a drink and then made my way to my comfy home. Cloede followed my instructions to not lock the door, I saw her biting her lip while doing her plates when I entered. "You're back, your food's here."

I sat on the chair across her, "Did you eat?"

"Nope, later." She didn't even bat on eye on me.

"You went out again last night, didn't you?"

She avoided my gaze, "Hestia blackmailed me with free beer. It's not my fault that you and Kenichi aren't easily persuaded with free drinks."

"Kenichi was busy with her readings while I was doing my plates," I shrugged and mocked her, "If you did it last night then you won't look like that now."

"I get it. Geez," she rolled her eyes and focused again.

I ate my lunch and went inside my room to read the book I just bought. I flipped through the pages and I swear, it relieved my stress. I set an alarm so that I won't forget the time.

When I opened the book on its first page, I saw a familiar handwriting. And the note says: You're a book that I couldn't read. I ain't giving up on you, that's the last thing I would do.

Someone knocked lightly, "Gayle, can I borrow your architectural structures book?"

"Okay, sure. Wait a minute," I sighed and looked for it on my upper shelves. The clumsy Gayle did her thing again and dropped a few books on my head, "Ow." I scratched it for a minute before picking up the books that fell.

And there, I saw it again. That same handwriting that says: This isn't the right time for us but maybe someday, we can. My feelings for you will last for a lifetime.

The door opened and Cloede entered the room, "Are you hurt?" she helped me clean things up and found the book she was looking for, "I'll go back outside."

My curiosity kicked in and made me compile all the books I've bought from Mr. Pete's store and checked each. I separated the books that contained notes with the same handwriting. All of the notes seemed like a letter of love for someone. And at the back of the books, there are initials, "K.Q."

I noticed that the books are my favorite ones or should I say, the books that changed my perspective in life. How come I've noticed this just now? I should probably return these 'cause it seemed like valuable items.

My leisure time for reading went to packing, I piled everything inside a box. My alarm rang like crazy which halted my actions, I took my bag and went outside. Cloede was already sleeping from exhaustion.

"Cloede, wake up. We still have our Statics class," I slightly tapped her back.

"I finished it just in time," she said, half awake.

"Yeah, you did." I helped her fix her things and stuffed some food in her bag, "Eat on the way."

On our way to the campus, we saw Kenichi walking like a zombie, "Hestia invited us to drink tonight. Y'all go?"

"Where?"

"Drink Mania." she answered.

"Too far," I shrugged.

"Oh, come on. That's your excuse to avoid drinking and read inside your room," Cloede rolled her eyes, "Convince your cousin here, Kenichi. She needs a night life."

"Reading books at night is a night life." I rolled my eyes at her too, "We have to go or we're gonna be late!"

I pulled Cloede away already, she was still half awake so she's a bit cranky. I'm used to it though and sometimes it's worse than this. We were early or rather, the professor is late for this class. Cloede used the remaining time to eat while polishing her plates. While I'm just sitting around because the book that I bought today went inside a box.

We had the usual discussion and made our way to the hell class, a terror to every Architecture student that doesn't want making plates every week. The professor eyed each one of us and smirked, "All of you look tired. Fine then, I'll call you one by one. For those who aren't doing anything, you may sleep."

That's just great, I could've used this special time to read. When it was my turn, I hesitantly asked, "Prof, can I go to the library for a minute?"

There's still two hours before the class finishes, I'd waste my time just looking at my blockmates sleeping.

"Alright, Ms. Rodriguez." she observed my plates first, "You did great again, are you inspired?"

I nodded, "With the fantasy books I've read, yes." She gave a few comments before letting me do what I want to do. There were a few students inside the library and half of them are sleeping.

Walking soundlessly to the fiction section, a guy wearing a lab coat was already there. I didn't mind him and just started looking for the same book that I bought from the store, his smell bothered me though. He smelled like chemicals all mixed together, not in a bad way.

I was there for half an hour and still couldn't find what I was looking for, the guy was already gone. I didn't even notice that he left. There was an obvious spot that he didn't properly arranged so I did it for him and just my luck, it was the book that I was trying to find. Is he a mind reader?

Shrugging it off, I happily gave my library card to the librarian so that I could borrow the book. I didn't bother going back to the room because it's cooler here. Finding a comfortable spot next to the air conditioner, I finally entered my own world.

Stopping at page fifty, I yawned and stretched my arms. It was a sign that I need to head back because I probably spent more time than I should have.

It wasn't the usual chaotic day so with just a little push, my cousin Kenichi already convinced me to go the club with out friends. She was already wearing her club outfit when I got home so she waited for me to finish.

"Hurry up! We still need to pick up Sierra at her place," she continuously knocked on the door.

"Wait a minute!" I said, while adjusting my pace to her preferred speed. I didn't bother putting on makeup because I don't know how but I did put on some lip tint. When I was done and went outside, Kenichi's bored face automatically made my eyes roll, "Why do we always have to pick up Sierra? She's living close to the clubs."

"Tell her that later and see what happens," she just smirked.

I won't bother ask, Sierra's an amazona and is always willing to fight anyone who questions her way of living. I'd prefer seeing her as a lawyer than an engineer but she's also the type who can go to jail anytime.

"Took you long enough." Sierra fixed her dress and hair when she sat at the backseat.

"Did you have coitus with someone while waiting for us?" Kenichi eyed her on the rearview mirror.

"What do you think?" Sierra smirked.

We immediately brushed it off like we heard nothing. It's the usual Sierra and I'm not against her sexual activities. Even though she does it with different men from time to time, she's still serious with her studies so everything's good. As long as she knows her priorities, I won't judge her and tell her what to do. That's what friends are for.

"We're finally complete!" Hestia cheered when the three of us arrived.

Hestia and Cloede arrived early because their condominium was right around the corner. Hard liquor was already lined up on the table and only needed to be opened to get this party started.

"Drink all you can, sisters!"