Chapter Five

FLINT'S P.O.V.

Ring!!

Ringgg!!!

The noise of my goddamn phone woke me up. Who on earth would call this early in the morning?!

With still closed eyes, I managed to grab the phone at the side table, answered the call and managed to murmur a sleepy 'Hello'

"Good morning Mr. Bridge, I am from Medford University and we called you to inform that the school starts next month. Since you are our grantee for scholarship, we would like to meet you and all the other scholars a week before the school starts, which is 3 weeks from now. Kindly check your e-mail for follow-up information. Thank you and we look forward to see you at Medford University. Have a good day."

I hung up, rubbed some life against my face and stared at the ceiling. Processing the news I just heard.

I am going to college!!

I had a lot of thoughts running on my mind and plans I want to do as soon as I graduate. The thought of me wearing a lab gown, dissecting dead people, memorizing medical terms... I could go all day thinking about it. I got excited and rolled on the bed, then I saw the time, 7:30 in the morning.

I got up, made 2 cups of coffee for me and my dad as well, woke him up and make him drink then I went outside for a run.

I got changed and head to the door, plugged my headset it and started to run.

I'll just have 5 rounds around the city centre and head back.

After a few laps, I stopped at the corner of the street to catch my breath. I roamed around to see the busy early morning people heading to work, some are walking their dog, I saw a group of people dancing in the freshly mowed grass, enjoying the loud banging sound.

I looked around some more then I glanced a familiar head of hair, wearing her oversized blue cardigan jacket and oh, she's still in her pajamas while waiting at the line inside the Starbucks. I smiled at Henley's sight, wrapping her jacket around her and let out a huge yawn, gently slapping her face to keep her awake.

I ran towards Starbucks and went to Henley

"I suppose your head is splitting in half right now" I said behind her, startling her and she jumped out a little, to which I laughed at.

Henley, feeling annoyed and laughed at the same time, massaged her temples and let out a groan before speaking.

"Could you please lower your voice down, my head is aching so damn much. What are you doing here anyway?"

"One vanilla cream machiatto for Hennie!"

Henley stood up and took her order and paid. She looked at me as she head outside and I followed her.

We sat at the grassy part of the park and I watch her as she sips her coffee while wrapping her fingers around the cup.

"Hangover huh"

"Shut up. Don't ruin my good cup of coffee with you scolding me and my drinking habits"

"I wont scold you and I think you'll never get that drunk as you were last night cause this miserable image will only seen today, right? I mean, you know what you're doing out there"

"Hey can you do me a favor and shut the fuck up for a second? All I hear is echoes right now so yeah, that's a waste of time," she shut me off and took another long sip of her coffee.

After a few moments of silence...

"I didn't do anything embarassing, did I?" She shyly asked.

I leaned down the grass to ignore her question as I recall what happened last night.

"Oh come on! Flint! Stop grinning! What did I do to you last night?" She added

I let out a large breath and said straight to her face...

"You.... raped me"

Her eyes widened as if she just seen a ghost. She turned instantly red and she put down her coffee and hide herself on her enormous cardigan.I find it amazing to see the reaction on her face. I let out a loud laugh seeing her reation. Cute.

"No, I didn't!" she tried defending herself.

"Calm down, I'm kidding, I'm kidding! You didn't raped me, you just tried to get laid, with me. Me, that you only met twice that day. Top that," I explained in front of her worried face. I don't actually know if she clearly hears me now or not.

She went silent for a while, and moments later, she showed her face and looked at me with a deadpan glare.

"I hate you, Flint. Get out of my sight"

Trying to look serious, I intently looked her in the eye, as if we're on a staring contest. Her eyes are round, so round that I can even see myself on its reflection. Henley didn't seem to moved by my competitiveness and so I broke our eye contact and got up.

"You live around here? Looks like someone forgot to change their pajamas by the looks of it" I commented her ridiculously looking sight.

"I live just around the block," she got up and I watched her struggle so I took her coffee and helped her up. "See that building over there? Turn right- Oh you know what, I changed my mind. I won't tell you my address. I know you'll crash my place one of these days. Don't even dare" she shot me a death glare.

"Okay okay! I won't. I'm just worried about the people here. They get to see you in your miserable hand-knitted overlysized cardigan and pajamas every morning? I'm surprised they even let you in!" Then I took an overall look at her state again and laughed.

"Ha. Ha. Ha very funny," she sarcastically laughed then rolled her eyes. "Well, I gotta go now and do my laundry. Good fucking morning, Flint," she said and then went on her way without even waiting on my reply.

I just glanced at her and enjoyed the sight of her. I found myself smiling while looking at her. I looked at the time, put my earphones back, and jogged home.

After I took a shower, while waiting for out breakfast delivery, I opened my laptop. The apartment we're in is a building of all sorts and everytime I want to connect to the internet, I have to go to the balcony, where I can get the secured connection. Holding my laptop at one hand, I walked towards the balcony and fixed my seat.

As soon as I got connected, I quickly went to my email and found 4 new mails. I clicked the one from Medford and read all the information about my scholarship. I got one slot of the scholarship out of 10 so I guess I got to meet my fellow grantees one of these days.

My phone then beeped and I got one message from unknown number.

Let's meet at the coffee shop tomorrow at 3 p.m together with the other scholars. I'm Nic. I got your phone number from the office. See you there.

The doorbell rang and I grabbed my wallet and head outside to get our breakfast.

I fixed the table and went for my dad's room and put him in his wheelchair and head towards the table.

"Dad, I got accepted to the school I applied. They will cover all my expenses but I have to maintain a certain grade. I will meet with my classmates later so I'll call Grace to watch over you" I explained while I pour a maple syrup on his pancakes.

A simple nod from him said that he's proud of me.

My parents got involved to a car accident a year ago. They were taking their daily late afternoon walk at the side of the road when an overspeeding car went to the pavement they're in, killing my mom, and causing my dad to spend his life on his wheelchair and unable to talk. The doctors told me they can still find a way for him to talk and able to walk, but it will cause me a big sum of money. My dad haven't seen a doctor for months now. And I know its hard for him though he can't say it, I can feel it everytime I sit him in the tub, bathing him.

I just really hope that this job that I got, and this opportunity that I was offered will lead me to a better place for me and my dad. I owe him my life.

I sat down and called Grace to tell her she will be with my dad for the whole day. Grace is a 54 year old widow living alone with her cats down the block. She has no kids and so, aside from knitting, she offers her help with me and with other people who needs someone to watch over their loved ones. Even though she never asks for a pay, I always give her 50 bucks, a little appreciation.

I ate my breakfast and showered. I left dad in fron of the tv and I go out to fetch Grace down the apartment. After that, we brought snacks for my dad and her to eat while I'm gone.

"Where 'ya goin' again, son?" she asked while busy looking at the differences of two potato chips.

"Ahm well I got in to the school, the Med school I've been rooting for, and so we will have to meet with my classmates and process some papers before the school starts" I explained while patiently holding the basket

"Well how 'bout that. I guess my company will me more needed then. Don't worry I'll be here to take care of your dad. You take care of yourself too, young man" and she decided to put the barbecue flavored one on my basket.

"Yeah I'm fine. Thanks for always looking after my dad. Us."

"No problem, son. Now let's go and your father is waiting"

We paid, and head home. Grace put the groceries and I head to my room to change for a more proper clothes. Once I'm done, I said my goodbye and head out. I looked at my watch and I still jave a lot of hours to spare. And so I went to the central park and plugged my earphones in and observed.