BACK IN CHICAGO

Valeria and her mother board the train to Howard station, they were seat partners. Geraldine noticed her daughter was looking sad and seems to be lost in thought.

"Valeria" Geraldine called softly touching her hand

"Yes mother" Valeria replied a little bit startled

"Sadness doesn't look good on you. I know how hard it is to say goodbyes to your loved ones" Geraldine said caressing her hands gently

"I'm fine mother" Valeria said faking a smile

"I've said goodbyes too and it still hurt till today" Geraldine said sadly

"Sorry about that mother" Valeria said putting her head on her mother's shoulder

"Sometimes we need to say goodbye to be able to achieve a set goal" Geraldine said caressing her hair

"I understand mother, it's hurt seeing them sad" Valeria replied

"You can call them anytime you want, they will always be available to pick your calls" Geraldine said and Valeria nod. They continue the rest of the journey in silent, Geraldine was calculating her market while Valeria was reading her favorite novel on webnovel. Soon the automated announcer announced their last stop, they alighted and board another train to Garfield Station. In the train Valeria and her mother couldn't seat together, Valeria next to a girl of her age whose head was down while her mother sat next to am old woman and they were quite far from each other. The journey started and the girl beside Valeria raise her head up and turn to Valeria.

"Hi I'm Hannah" The girl put her hand forward to shake her, Valeria turn to the girl and was surprised to see it was the same Hannah she met a week ago.

"You?" Hannah asked in shock before Valeria could react

"How are you?" Valeria asked comporting herself

"I'm good and you?" Hannah replied happily

"Great" Valeria replied faking a smile

"How was your journey to Chicago? Did you visit those place I asked you to? Tell me about it" Hannah asked excitedly

"Only spent family time with my parents" Valeria replied

"That's nice, I had fun at my grandmother's place" Hannah said and Valeria knew she was about to start talking

"So where are you heading to?" Valeria asked hoping it will be a busstop before hers

"Chicago, I'm going back home" Hannah replied

"You live in Chicago?" Valeria asked not happy they will both reach the last busstop

"Not really, my favorite cousin lives there, so it's basically my home too" Hannah replied

"That's nice" Valeria said hoping it ends there

"Talking about my grandparents, I had the best time of my life with them. We organised a cooking competition and I won my grandfather" Hannah said happily and she kept on talking while Valeria did the listening. Thirty minutes later, Valeria was asleep.

"Oh! Is my story that boring?" Hannah asked herself and turn away from Valeria. While Valeria was dealing with Hannah, her mother was also dealing with the grumpy old woman beside her who complains at every little thing she does. Thirty minutes later, the automated machine announced their stop and they alighted.

"Bye Valeria" Hannah wave at her as they alight

"Bye Hannah" Valeria wave back as her mother watch her

"Seems you made a friend" Geraldine said and Valeria laugh. They board a green line to the University of Chicago, they were seat partners.

"If that girl is my friend then I'm dead!" Valeria said laughing

"She doesn't seem bad" Geraldine said not getting what Valeria

"She's such a sweet girl but talkative" Valeria replied

"You can't judge a book by its cover" Geraldine said

"Maybe not a book you've read twice" Valeria replied and Geraldine gave her a puzzled look

"This is our second time meeting and it was the same way" Valeria said and Geraldine laugh

"That's a sign you will be friends" Geraldine teased

"She's a sweet girl but I can't deal with that talk. She doesn't even mind if you respond or not" Valeria said and the automated machine announced their stop. Mark was there waiting for his family.

"Hi father" Valeria greeted hugging him

"My university girl" Mark praised

"Hi darling" Geraldine greeted.

"How was your journey darling?" Mark asked

"It was fun" Geraldine replied as they walk inside the University. Soon they were at Max Pelevsky Residential, they met with the caretaker.

"Good morning ma'am" They greeted

"Good morning" The caretaker greeted back trying to recollect their faces

"Valeria Melvin" Mark said helping her to recollect

"Oh! The girl that paid for room 209" the caretaker said and they nod their head

"It's great seeing you here" The caretaker said

"Same here ma'am" Mark said

"She has been given admission so I'm here to ask if she can stay in the room now" Mark added

"The room is hers but I have a policy. And the policy is that every person chosen to stay together will meet first, pick a random paper and stick to the bed number given them" The caretaker said

"That's a nice idea" Mark said

"So others will be coming tomorrow, so she can come here tomorrow too" The caretaker said

"No problem ma'am, we will be here" Mark said and they leave after greeting the woman again. Valeria's mind was not with her parents or the caretaker, her heart and soul were hoping to see Dennis since school is on and every students could be seen walking up and down. She didn't tell him she was coming because she wanted to surprise him and now she wished she had told him about her coming so they could atleast see each other even if it's from far. Soon, she and her parents were out of the school compound, they board a cab to her father's house. She couldn't take it anymore and hope to see him the next day so she sent him a text [Hi Den, I'm back in Chicago]. She pray he replies faster which he did [See you tomorrow then. I love you]. Her happiness know no bounds and now her day was complete.