CHAPTER 9

The moment I crossed over the threshold, something soft slammed me in the face. Though it wasn't enough to knock me over but still sufficient to startle me for a bit. The space in between my eyes creased as I shut the door. I sauntered further into the room but that was the mistake I made.

I just never knew I was coming back to face the wrath of Lana X.

"Ahhhhhhh." Her voice, a loud screech drilling into my ears was enough to deafen me completely, rendering me deaf for all of eternity. I made to side track her as she charged at me with full on warrior mode but when the back of my knees grasped the bed, I knew that was it. I hit the sheets, back on the spread without too much of a negotiation. She began to crawl over me till her knees were pressed on the sheets in between my body frame with a huge white pillow raised over her head.

I felt the soft bunched up feathers shove me countless times, her voice screeching in falsetto as she screamed her ears off in condemnation.

I turned over, shielding my face from her wrath with my hands while she pummelled me continuously. Guffawing at her actions, I squirmed beneath her trying to flee but she firmly held me in place, attacking me with her comical choice of weapon. It was then I knew her level of strength surpassed mine.

"You nuthead." She screamed. It was the most loudest ear-piercing scream I have ever heard. It sounded like a scream of wide panic. A scream of hysteria and incredulous, bordering on terror.

"Where the hell have you been? Where the hell were you? Do you know how many times I've had to go out there to search for you? Bitch, I almost called the cops." As she spewed, I dissolved into a puddle of uncontrollable laughter, cackling so hard like I had just been infused with a dose of nitrogen gas.

"And you are laughing?" She asked incredulously, hitting me with the pillow as the muscle beneath her right eye twitched, sultry eyes turning into angry ones.

I fought a new gale of giggles while still attempting speaking in between guffaws, "I-I got l-l-lost."

"Are you kidding me?"

I laughed, "I'm-I'm s-serious."

She stared at me, her eyes skimming over my features and there, my drenched clothes and sticky hair soaked with salty water didn't miss her wide inquisitive eyes. She got off me and kneeled by my side. I used the new found opportunity to do the same.

She gazed at me with a gentle kind of concern, running her eyes all over, trying to decipher the reason for my inane looks.

"Where were you?"

I chuckled, her facial expressions were funny. "At the beach. Went for a swim."

For a split second, her anger was suspended, her surprise bursting all over her, chattering like glass. I guess you could call it shock but to me they were the same thing that happened for the first fraction of a second, an inability to compute.

Brows shooting up so high figuratively brushing over her hair line, eyes blinking incredulously in stunned surprise as her mouth flew open, "What?"

"I went for a swim." I repeated.

"Are you kidding me?" Her eyes rounded at me. "Wait, let me try to understand this." Her knees adjusted on the sheets, her words spewing out with an utmost care of every word and syllable, as if trying to explain to a toddler. "You dipped your entire naked body into the ocean? At this time of the year? Hey, do you know how cold it is out there?" Her expression was of one with pure disbelief.

"I know. I know." I got off the bed, strolling into the bathroom. However, the clip-clap of her barefoot made me know she was trailing behind. "I just wanted a place where I could relax and if it would help, I actually wasn't bare in the water. I still had my inner clothes on. I just wanted to breathe you know and then I stumbled upon this beach so I dived in. But when the sun set and need do I say, it was really beautiful watching it, I got lost when trying to find my way back. Got some help and now, I'm here."

I glanced at her. She was leaning against the door frame, arms folded over her chest and her eyes fixated on me.

After what seemed more like some sort of stare down, her lips parted, "I've been in this college for three years Genesis and I can't seem to remember any beach stuck anywhere."

I shrugged. "Then I guess you haven't really looked around."

"What? No way, no way girl. Trust me, I know every hidden place in this vicinity." She left the door and moved away into the room.

I grabbed my toothbrush from the holder and spilled a minute dose of colgate on it. From the centre of the self contained bathroom, I could hear her loud voice from the room. Our dorm wasn't on the large side. Her clothes alone wasn't even enough for our small spaced closet. They still sprawled across the room along with her many possessions taking up the whole space but it was a college dorm and not a five star hotel suite. We could only do but manage it the best we could.

"I've got class in twenty minutes Genesis so I've got to start leaving." Her information immediately quickened the movement of my hands. They moved in quick concatenations leading to the end of my oral hygiene.

Leaving the bathroom, I met her running around gathering books and stuffing them into her handbag whilst discarding the ones already in there. At the same caking her face with make up.

I needed some way I could reach my mum and dad, some kind of way I could employ in talking to them. I have never gone a day without doing so and presently, it's been close to three days. I had my first class in an hour and I didn't have much to do till then. Co-ordination was a field I had learnt while staying at home with my mum.

"Can I use your phone?" Her eyebrow arched as she glanced at me.

So, I quickly added, "Mine isn't working remember? And I need to talk to my family. Promise I'll be fast about it."

"Sure." She tossed a white apple device at me. I fumbled with the phone due to lack of experience. Punched the numbers quickly, bringing it against my ear till it started to beep.

On the third ring, dad's voice sprang out emanating a Cheshire cat like grin from my lips.

"Daddy. Hey. How are you doing? It's been a long time." I cried out in excitement.

"Who's on the line?" I chuckled, shaking my head. He never picked up a number which didn't hold any form of familiarity so it was a little surprise he even picked up this one.

"It's me. Your Genesis."

"Jesus Christ, my dear. How have you been? How are you doing over there? Why haven't I heard from you and why hasn't your line been reachable."

"Dad, slow down with the questions. I promise I've got good explanations for all of them." I'm so so sorry I couldn't call earlier. My phone has issues and I...."

"What happened to your phone?" His seriousness was evident in the tone of voice he used in asking that question.

Colour drained from my face. I blanched trying to formulate a good enough response for his unexpected question.

"Uhh...well, dad. My phone fell. It isn't available at the moment. No receiving of calls till I fix it. Until then, I would be using this number in reaching you all. Oh Lord, how much I miss you guys. I..."

"How did your phone get damaged?"

My heart raced. The hair on the nape of my neck stood on end as a huge lump formed in my throat. I couldn't spill out the legit reason of my phone damage to him else he would snap and reveal everything to my mum and she, herself isn't likely to talk it lightly either. I'll be sure to see each of them here in Oklahoma ready to drag me back home so for the first time ever.....

I lied.

I lied to my dad.

"I....."

"Is that Genesis? Genesis. My beautiful girl. C'mon. Hand over, hand over, let me speak to her." I sighed in relief at the sound of my mother's voice for she just saved me from telling my dad the entire truth.

Mum's voice oozed out from the speakers next and we began to converse. It was the usual mum and daughter conversation. We spoke about how we missed each other and what I had been up to. Her plans for the day and the classes I had. She reminded me of the advices she gave me and the morals she instilled upon me. I asked about Jace and got to know he was out with a group of friends. Though, it still hurt me to know that there was still some lingering feud between the two most important men in my life. I told her to tell Jace to give me a call later in the night.

Ending the call a moment later with a bright smile on my face, I could feel some weight being lifted off my shoulders. Talking to my family always- always left me feeling happy and cheerful.

"Thank you so much." I smiled, handing the phone over to Lana.

She returned the gesture and crossed the room to stand in front of the door.

"I left two slices of pizza in the box. They have been microwaved already. Help yourself out if you feel like it while I'll just leave to burn in hell." She grimaced.

I laughed, throwing my head back, "Classes are fun."

She glared hard at me before slipping out, "Yeah right."



The cab stopped in front of the college building. Huge and picturesque, I couldn't still believe I was here. The driver turned around, catching me with his sapphire coloured eyes and I knew just what he was trying to communicate with me even without uttering a word. I handed him his pay and got out.

Finally the day I've been waiting for was finally here but I couldn't still halt the dawn ebbing its gradual way into daylight. My stomach shifted uneasily and I noticed that the hands that I was hugging myself with were pinching into my skin. I released my hands but then I couldn't figure out what to do with them so instead they clasped and unclasped each other as if in constant need of touch and reassurance as I ventured further trying to find my lecture class. From my timetable, MSG-101 was on the top list and God knows I didn't have an idea what that could possibly be.

The college ground was filled with tons and tons of students-in the mix of juniors and seniors bustling around with life in ones, twos and groups chattering away as they made for their various lectures. They all looked so sure of themselves or so I thought. I was trying very much to blend in and act like I wasn't lost and hadn't set foot on the campus for the first time but I just couldn't ascertain the location of my first class. Lana would have been of great help. I realized too late that I should have asked for directions before she skipped to class. It totally skipped my mind that I would be experiencing this.

Surrending to the fact that I would need some help, I gave in to find one. It didn't take much from me to find my faculty building since it was just situated in my front. I entered the premises and met a woman in front. Cladded in a black suit and a white crisp inner wear beneath, it was really obvious she was a lecturer.

"Goodmorning, ma'am. Please, I'm trying to find my lecture hall. I just got started here."

"Your department?"

"Medical Arts."

"You're running late." She pointed towards a notice board and asked to me check the schedule over there. I hated going late anywhere so I hurried towards the notice board and started looking for details about my class.

Timings were written in front of each lectures or practicals and just below classroom name and No's. Someone stood beside me, a finger shooting out to brush over the printed paper affixed to the notice board. I didn't try turning to check who the person was but from the slim finger and long manicured nail, I noticed it was a girl.

I scanned the printed schedule, running my eyes over it but it was very complicated to understand specially for newcomers as subject names, classrooms or lab names were completely unknown to me. It must have been hard for her as well because she turned to face me, her voice cutting the air with each syllable.

Loud and shrill, she inquired, "Do you understand any of this thingy because I get nada and trust me when I tell you I'm pretty smart."

I turned to gaze into a pair of blue eyes and gold hair. Shorter than average and certainly larger than a catwalk model, but in her ordinariness she was stunning.

Instantly, her eyes widened, mouth hung with lips slightly parted as she sucked in a sharp gasp, taking me in.

"Hey! You! I know you."

Brows furrowed, my eyes roamed around the hall before coming to stall on her. Realizing she was referring to me, I asked, "Me?"

She chuckled, "Of course, you. Well, I don't exactly know you per se but I remember you. You're the girl from the cafe. The one who had the brawl with that guy."

"Oh....I..."

"I took you back to your dorm yesterday right after you passed out. Well, not totally but this guy helped. He carried you to your dorm room. He was pretty shaken up though but sis, are you okay?"

The only thing I got from her speech was the fact that Keegan had taken me back to my dorm swaddled in his arms. My heart swelled at the thought of him being worried about me. I couldn't help this new feeling of mine concerning that boy. He was something else entirely.

Remembering she asked a question, I was grateful she repeated herself.

"How do you feel today? Yesterday might have been really hard on you."

"I'm better today." I smiled. "Thanks for your concern."

"I'm Amelia." She shot her hand at me.

I reciprocated. "Genesis."

She smiled at me and I couldn't help but smile back. She seemed nice. It felt refreshing to find someone like me. "I already knew that. Everyone's been talking about you, you know."

I blanched, "Wh-what do you mean?"

"The way you confronted that guy and the aftermath, it's on everyone's lips actually but don't worry, it doesn't mean much. They would surely find something else to eat from sooner than you think."

I stared at her, completely bewildered, face stuck in an incredulous expression.

"I don't want people to talk about me. I don't want..." Then it hit me. Eyes wide, I paled. "Do they have it on camera?"

Her eyes bulged out as she stared at me. I could see the wheels turning in her head. She was trying to ascertain if she should spill or not to spill but her looks and expressions gave her away. She didn't even need to utter a word.

Blood drained from my face, my brains stuttered for a moment as every part of me froze. Panic stricken, I fought to restrain my heart from thundering out of my chest.

"I'm sorry dear but I'm sure it's gonna die down very soon." I knew she was only try to make me feel better but I only felt worse.

Concealing my inner thoughts and reactions, I nodded, breathing out, exhaling and inhaling breath after breath.

"It-It's fine. I-I just..." I swallowed, squeezing my eyes shut and releasing them.

Rolling my shoulders and taking a deep calm breath, I inquired. "Do you have an idea where our first class would hold. I've been trying to riddle it out ever since."

She stared, as if assessing my mood before replying, "I'm as clueless as you are right now sis." She scanned our surroundings. The hall was clearing, thinning out as students started to troop into classes though still filled with a good number of students and lecturers.

"I didn't know it was this hard being a freshman."

"Real talk, sis. Real talk. Here, let me call someone." She reached and pulled her phone out from her rear. Manipulating the device till she pressed it against her ear. Soon, a voice came out from the speakers.

"Hello, yes?" Was the voice I heard.

"Hey. Uh...I'm your batch mate. Apparently, I can't seem to find...." She glanced at the notice board, slitting her eyes. "MSG-101 lecture hall. Do you have any clue where it may be?"

"Yes sure, it's on the third floor of the Humanities building. We just reached."

I checked the time of my wrist. It was 08:53am. The first lecture was meant to hit off fourty minutes ago. I was late. We were late. Late on my first day. I would surely keep it as a secret from my mum. No doubt.

She ended the phone call and I saw it as an opportunity to finally ask, "Do you know where the building is?"

She smiled proudly, casting me a wink. "Follow me as I lead the way."

We exchanged small talk as we walked towards the hall. Apparently she was in the same department as me and offering the same course as well. She was easy to talk to and appeared friendly. I soon realised I didn't even need to throw in too much words because her, herself loved to talk so I just listened to most of the things she said.

The building came in sight and soon we were entering in, side by side. As soon as I stepped in, all eyes were on me. They turned and whispered to themselves as the whisperees turned to stare at me as well. I kept my head down, sheiding myself from their despondent faces, gnawing on the inside of my cheek as I let Amelia hold my hand in comfort. My face rigid with tension, my breathing rapid and shallow. I could feel my pulse pounding in my temples. It was a relief to get to my chair, because between the heels and my legs shaking, I was afraid I'll trip.

We opted for the desk at the back of the class just beside a boy. He looked really young but beneath the tight short sleeved shirt he had on was lean muscles peeking in. Sun-kissed skin and black hair with cheekbones sitting high on his face. In this morning light he could be twenty-five, but in the harsher brightness of the day, I assumed he was closer to twenty.

Our presence must have called to him giving the moment he turned, the corner of his lips curling up in our sight.

"Hey, hi. My name is Michael." His voice was that of any rich boy, honeyed and proud.

Amelia spoke first, beaming at him with a hand extended, "I'm Amelia but friends call me Amy."

"Oh, then can I? Since we are like batch mates and all."

"It's a free world." She shrugged, keeping the beam on her face.

I kept mute, deciding against uttering a word. I was extremely bad at meeting new people and I didn't like to force conversations. I preferred a more natural basis.

"What about you?" I turned to find him staring at me with the same sweet smile plastered on his face.

They must have diverted into a different area of conversation entirely from the one prior and needed my opinion or something in that range.

Confused, I asked, "What?"

"Your name." He kept his smile on while clarifying. I glanced at Amelia but her eyes were on Michael. I thought he was supposed to know because of....

I swallowed, trying to coerce strength into my voice, "My name is Genesis."

"The first book of the bible?" He asked surprised.

I chuckled, "No, it's not like that. It's just Genesis."

He beamed wildly, like it was that big of a deal. "Amazing."

"It took us long to find this class." I tried to build a conversation.

"Haha, it took me a while too."

"You don't say? I had to call a random number from our whatsapp group to get here."

"What whatsapp group?" I glanced at Amelia.

"For our batch. Our phone numbers are all added into an official whatsapp group created by our class representative. There we could get to know each other, talk about stuff both academically and non-academically related subjects and just you know, chat. Aren't you in?"

I shook my head in the negative, amending, "My phone isn't available at the moment and I'm not into social media either."

"I think this one is necessary though. You know, to get updates on lectures and stuffs like that. Informations and bla bla bla."

"Hey, someone called me about the class. Was it you?"

Brows creased, she said, "Wait, let me check." Pulled out her phone again, she swiped at the screen. "I'll redial the number."

Indeed she did and the moment a loud beeping sound oozed from our desk and Michael pulled at his phone staring at the screen incredulously, we all busted into laughter catching the attention of those who turned their heads to us.

"Are you serious?" Michael asked in between laughs.

Amelia chimed in, "I can't believe it."

It was really amazing. Who said coincidences never happened because that individual was absolutely wrong. I just witnessed one right in front of me.

Lectures hadn't started here yet. I glanced at my watch. It was over 09:05am. Classes were meant to be ongoing by now.

Confusion striking through me, I asked, "Aren't we having lectures? What's happening?"

He glanced at his wrist, "I don't know actually. I've been here for an hour right now."

"Guess we were quite early then."

"Or the professor is just running late."

Just on cue, the door creaked open before pausing. Then, picked up again all the way till the back grasped the wall behind. Where a full-beard obviously looking professor should have strolled in, the lady that walked in could have graced any billboard or those magazine covers my mum liked to read.

She was the kind of girl that women loved to hate. An adult I suppose, but so young that she still had the exuberance of youth. She had that movie star look, not overly tall and willowy, but more like an action star. Her muscle definition was perfect and she walked with the confidence of someone a decade older. The entire hall stood on attention upon her arrival, silence choking the air instantly.

After her came in a guy whom I have never seen before. Amelia gaped openly as she caught the sturdy looking Adonis striding in the direction of the girl. He paused beside her and attached his back to the wall whole muttering something inaudible into her ears as she chuckled silently.

Razor sharpened chin and cheekbones, he had a straight nose in between two very dark eyes. His midnight brows were actually graceful. All of it were framed by thick, warm dark chocolate curl. Cladded in blue washed jeans and a thin back vest which accentuated the ripped toned arms sticking out. With a height as tall as the skies above. He was sheathed with an inordinate self-esteem and assurance.

"What's going on?" Amelia asked in shock and surprise but I had not a valid answer and I doubt Michael did either.

At the appearance of the third member of the troop, my heart began to pound so loud in my chest...duh-duhn, duh-duhn, deep heavy breathes sounding from within. The hairs on my arms stood to attention as a militia of chills marched down my spine.

His enigmatic entrance into the hall froze me to the spot. I could feel my heart beat... every single thump in my chest. Not through my ears for that was occupied by the steady deep, exotic sound of his euphoric laughter resonating deep from his stone carved chest as he iconically strolled into the hall, stalling beside his companions that came in earlier.

"What's going on?" Now, I was the one with the question.

And of course, just like the first time, the answer was obscured.