Did You Miss Me?

Lina shakily approached the phone. The caller was the last person in the world she hoped to call her. 

"Aren't you going to pick it up? You look like you've seen a ghost," Isabelle snorted, glancing outside the window to see the sun was high in the sky and it wasn't time to sleep. 

Lina wordlessly picked up the phone. No greeting or anything, but her mother was already speaking. 

"We haven't seen your photo in ages and the first thing I see is that you've gained weight. Look, your belly is protruding as if you're six months pregnant in that photo with the DeHaven Young Master."

Lina pretended to not hear any of the insults. If she didn't hear it, then it didn't hurt her. 

"What do you want?" Lina muttered.

Lina's mother breathed through her nose audibly. "You've shaken the entire family with the photo. You're lucky your brother-in-law was able to get it deleted from the media in time. What will happen if your future fiance catches wind of this—"

"I'm no longer a Yang," Lina coldly said. 

"Whether or not you admit you're a Yang, it's still on your birth certificate and family registry. Winter break is one month long, and I've already sent people to your college. We'll take you by force, kicking and screaming."

Lina gritted her teeth.

"And for heaven's sake, give those poor bodyguards a break and come in peace. Unless, you want the entire campus to know your identity—"

"I get it," Lina snapped. "I'll come home." 

Lina hung up the phone before her mother could make another comment. Reluctantly, she began to finalize packing her suitcase. She initially was thinking of going to her grandfather's, but now it'd be impossible. 

"Your mother?" Isabelle wryly asked. They had been friends for two years now, but she still didn't know about Lina's family life, except how toxic her mother was.

"Yeah," Lina muttered. A knock echoed in their dorm. 

Both girls quieted down and looked at each other, wondering who was the one expecting a guest. 

Lina opened the door only to slam it shut. 

"Who is it?" Isabelle asked.

"The devil's henchmen!" Lina groaned, looking towards her window. Was it too late to jump? Her room was on the second floor. She'd make it. Right? Suddenly, the doors curtly opened and men dressed in black suits walked in. 

"Wow, loan sharks have really improved their attires," Isabelle complimented, blinking at the men dressed in suits. They had ear-pieces, dark sunglasses, and looked like the typical bodyguards her dad always walked around with.

But what would the poor Lina need bodyguards for? And with what money? Lina still owed Isabelle a meal!

"Nice job Mister! You guys look more legal now." Isabelle nodded her head in approval as if they didn't just storm into an all-girls dormitory.

"I'm packing," Lina begrudgingly told them. "I'll be out in just a second."

Lina wordlessly shoved clothes into her suitcase.

"Get out and let me get dressed," Lina coldly told them.

The men exchanged glances with each other, but they didn't dare to disobey her. Everyone awkwardly shuffled into the dorm hall, like teenage boys waiting by the women's bathroom.

"Uhm, an explanation please?" Isabelle asked.

"Just think of this as legal kidnapping," Lina said, quickly getting changed, not caring about her attire. 

"O-oh, my brother gets that sometimes when he tries to run away from his blind dates set up by my parents." Isabelle shoved her friend a thumbs-up. "If you need any tips and tricks, text me. I'll get you in contact with my brother!"

"See you in Spring," Lina said, forcing a smile as she walked out. Instantly, the men surrounded her, forming a protective circle.

"Wow, who do you think is in the center?"

"I didn't know a hotshot lived on this floor… Usually, they're in the higher levels."

Lina wordlessly climbed into the black car. Soon, they drove to a highway, until the college campus was nowhere to be seen. Her stomach clenched in anticipation, like if something bad was going to happen. 

"This isn't the way to my parents' house," Lina said, staring at the unfamiliar streets. Where were they going?

"Please rest assured, Young Miss," the driver told her.

Lina observed out the window, seeing the bodyguards' cars were following closely behind. Even if she jumped out of the car, they'd catch her. Not wanting to reenact a high-budget movie, she scowled in her seat.

Lina grabbed her phone and called Isabelle. Maybe it was time to ask about those tricks…

"Did you miss me already?" Isabelle teased, picking up on the first ring.

"Yes, I am. I'm already in tears at the thought of leaving your side," Lina sarcastically responded, holding back a smile.

She saw the driver instantly straighten up, sending her a worried look through the rearview mirror. Oh god, did the Young Miss have a man on the side…?

"Anyways, who are those guys that—"

"Can I have your brother's contact?" Lina asked, getting straight to the point before Isabelle could probe.

The Young Miss wanted to blatantly cheat?! The driver cried on the inside, pitying the poor boyfriend who had to willingly give off his girlfriend to his own brother.

"Alright, but I better not expect a best friend's brother trope going on, or else I foresee your love story heading towards an upsetting ending," Isabelle complained.

Lina laughed. "Don't worry."

"But lucky for me, I don't have to suffer the trope of my best friend dating my brother. I can just text you the tactics he's used, since I'll also be needing it soon…" Isabelle trailed off, shuddering with the knowledge that her grandparents might also set her up on blind dates. 

Her conservative grandparents believed women should get married soon and not waste time on education.

"Great, thank you. I'll talk to you later then," Lina said, just as the car came to a screeching halt.

Her heart dropped to her stomach. Sure enough, they weren't going to visit her parents. They were going elsewhere.