Her Memories

Every girl in the Psychology class is whispering and giggling, talking about the handsome graduating student sharing the subject with them. He is taking up Architectural Psychology while they are in a business course. Two of the girls are Asia's best friends, Stephanie and Margaret, but Stephy is obsessed with him. "Asia, do you think Joaquin is gay?" Stephanie suddenly asked Asia while tapping the pen on her pouty lips. "What do you mean? After all of those crazy tricks you did, you suddenly think he's gay?" She commented, trying to control her madness. She remembers how her friend intends to spill the soda on him just to make a move. Not only Stephy, but most of the girls did silly stuff just to get a chance to be notified by him. Though she can't deny that he is truly a handsome man, with his well-built body, that proves that he has a healthy living. His face looks like her favorite actor in a Turkish series, with dark eyebrows, a nice nose bridge, and glowing black hair. Unfortunately, she is one of the least, not that she is not attracted. Still, it is because she hasn't imagined herself yet with a boyfriend. She enjoyed life being single who can do everything she desires without anyone's dictation. "I just can't believe how he can resist me. Am I not pretty? Tell me! Even the most popular student Eunice's charm did not affect him." Stephy complaint while dramatically rolling her eyes. "So tell me." Stephy demands. "Tell you what? That he didn't find you pretty and interesting at all?" Asia keeps on teasing her friend. "Oh! Come on. I know I am." Stephy said while she flicks her hair with her hand, and Asia just laughed softly at her. "Whatever, one day he will recognize my beauty, you'll see." She added seriously. "Class, please pass your papers already," Mr. Wayne cried to his students and stood up. "That's all for today. Make sure you will review everything that we have discussed." "Yes, sir!" His students cried. And with that, the professor bids goodbye and walks out of the room. After that, Maggie starts approaching Joaquin to invite him to a party tonight. "Hi! Joaquin, are you available tonight? We're having a party in one of our schoolmate's places. I'm just hoping you could come. I swear that'll be fun." Maggie invited him cheerfully. "Thanks for the invitation, but I can't. I need to review tonight for my final exam." Joaquin rejected her kindly. "Oh! okay, maybe next time then?" She insists while blocking his way. "If you don't mind, I have to go now." Joaquin coldly said, obviously avoiding the conversation. It's not that he is a kind of alone and arrogant person. However, he's just not comfortable being approached by his schoolmates, especially girls who show interest in him, because he doesn't want to give them any false impression. "Sure! You take care." While waving her hand to him, Maggie said, but he didn't even give any reaction and just walked out. Asia glanced in their direction and thought that they rarely saw Joaquin's smile, he's always serious and quiet all the time, and that's one of the reasons why Asia wasn't interested in him. He is not like the other students that go along with the other, just like now when Maggie asked him, he's always serious and alone, exactly not her type. "Oh my God! When will he ever learn to have fun?" Maggie said unbelievably when she comes to her friend's direction. "What about you, Asia? I'm sure you don't want to miss this. Kenny is celebrating his birthday." Stephy announced while they're walking towards the locker. "I thought Kenny's birthday was last week?" Asia asked, confused. "It's a post-celebration, my dear, so? Of course, you will not miss it, will you?" Stephy said while putting some makeup on her face. "You know I love to, but I have a date with my dad tonight," Asia said, frowning while organizing her books inside the locker. "Why can't he just move it to the weekend?" Asia asked again. "I don't know. You know him. He can always host a party anytime if he wants to," Maggie explained. "But you know what, it's okay, your date with your dad is more important than any party," Stephy said, hugging her friend. Annastasia "Asia" Perez is an only child. She is a very loving daughter and a kind-hearted person that always wants everyone's happiness. "We can still hang out on Saturday night, right?" Maggie asked, looking between her friends "Of course!" They both cried. Asia and her friends Stephy and Maggie love to hang out every weekend, go clubbing, and meet new friends, but only if they don't have an exam coming. They were best friends since grade school and almost like sisters as they always got each other's back. Asia is on the way to her apartment and walks past her favorite pastry shop, the Sweety Cafe, and smells the ever-sweet donuts of all that makes her crave always. "Oh my God! How can I resist?" She whispered to herself while sniffing the sweet smell. "Asia!" A little voice called her from behind. She turned around to look at the owner of that little voice. "Lily! Oh my God! How are you, little pumpkin? I haven't seen you for a while." She excitedly said and gave the little girl a warm hug. Lily is her nine-year-old little friend; they met at the same place and saw her looking inside at the pastries and asked her if she wanted some. At first, she resists because of shyness, but Asia insists and uses her charm to treat the little girl until, little by little, they become friends. Her mother is a vendor in the wet market, and she told her that she doesn't want to ask a penny from her for the pastry because she knew that her mother is saving it for her dad, who is in the hospital at that time. "Come on, sit here and wait for me. I'll treat you," Asia said, smiling while tapping the table of their favorite spot. "Yey! Thanks, Asia. You're the best!" Lily exclaimed excitedly. Lily and Asia love this place. Aside from the delicious treats they offer, the ambiance of the cafe is so relaxing. She never comes here with her two annoyingly best friends because every time she goes there, she wants a peaceful aura, just like the aura of the little girl with her this afternoon. "So, how are you? How's school?" Asia started the conversation when she came back with their favorite donuts with coffee for her and a milkshake for the young one. They talked a lot about anything, like their studies and a lot of random things. They also laughed so much of their conversation. Asia just loves every moment with the little girl. It seems like she found a little sister within her. Suddenly an angry thunder roared and followed by heavy rainfall. Asia was wearing a hoodie with her uniform underneath and immediately took it off then handed it to Lily. "Let's just soothe the rain, and I'll take you home, okay?" She told the little one, who nodded in response, but just after a while, someone called out for Lily. It's her mother. "Lily! Oh my God! You're here. Come on, let's go home." Her worried mother said. "I just come here to get to see Asia," Lily explained to her mother. "I'm so sorry, Asia, if this silly girl bothers you again." She said, trying to take off the hoodie from Lily. "It's okay, Aunt Jenny, just let Lily wear it. The rain is heavy. An umbrella might not be enough to keep you both. Also, it is so cold." She said, smiling warmly at the woman. "But what about you? You might get cold too." She said worriedly. "Don't worry about me. I'll just call someone to pick me up." Asia reasoned. "Alright, thank you. Anyway, we have to go now, take care, okay?" She said. "I will," Asia replied and waved goodbye. Asia doesn't know that there is a pair of eyes watching her every move since she stepped her feet inside the cafe. It's been almost an hour now, and the rain is still falling heavily. Feeling defeated by the rain, she doesn't have a choice but to dash into the heavy rain with her umbrella. Also, she has no plan on staying at the shop forever, even though she loves the sweet smell of their pastries. Plus, she is sure that her dad will not be going to cancel their dinner. She really has to get out of there. She embraces her bag tightly, trying hard not to get it wet, and steps out from there, but just after a few steps, she abruptly stopped when someone blocked her way. She looked up and saw the campus crush staring back at her with his serious expression. "Joaquin?" She surprisingly asked. "Get in the car." He demands.