For Better For Worse

CHAPTER TWO

"Ah, damnit!!" I groan in frustration. My hand rakes through my long hair as the other cupped my hips. For the past 10 minutes, have been trying to get these darn sheets to fit. Anytime I tuck in one end, the other pops out. I'm this close to giving up.

I glance over at the door when the knob turned and the falling of the door followed. Kim ambles in, shutting the door with the back of her sneakers.

"Hey!"

"Hey" she looks over at the bed, then her brows arched slightly. "That's not-

"I know" I stop her from stating the obvious. I toss the duvet on the bed, tired of making it.

"Are you up for tour?"

A distraction? Hell yeah. "Yeah" A smile spread across her face briefly and I walk over to the chair where my leather jacket lies. Her back on me, she starts ahead and I follow behind.

____

After visiting a few rooms because Kim wanted to buy some more bags. We were finally strolling around the campus as Kim pointed out and explained the background of most of the university's artifacts, some I knew about and others, intrigued as I was told.

We toured around most of the classes that were important to know. The very large cafeteria, the 'always' quiet library as she puts it, the basketball court, swimming arena, the field, and labs, which she didn't find necessary to show.

We sauntered deep into the school's environment. There was a forest with tall trees just behind the Boy's Hall. Particular Hall 3 and I got to know that deep inside, far away from ear reach, was a very large space where parties of different kinds were being held. I was overly surprised that she knew all of this as a fresher, but then again, she spent the whole summer here.

"The popular boys are like the owners of the space, if you wanna throw a party, you've got to be one of them or pay a reasonable amount of cash." She answers a question I laid out earlier. "Luckily for us, Gideon, one of the members, has a brother, who's also a fresher. So he's throwing a party over this Friday to welcome all freshmen."

"It sounds like it's going to be one hell of a welcoming party," I say, a little bit distracted as I adjust on the bench we are presently sitting on. We had stopped to catch a break while we were in a Faculty.

"Yeah, We're gonna go" I shoot a look at her and frown.

"We?"

She nods. "Yeah, you and me"

I shake my head. "Oh no. no. no.no "

She clicks her tongue. "Beth, You have to come, It's a welcoming party for us Freshmen"

"I do-"

"Except you have a phobia or allergies to parties."

I frown my brows "What-No! That's weird! I don't think anyone has that."

"It's called Anthropophobia" She states confidently

Anthro what now?

"Okay-I'm not Anthropopo-or whatever, it's just that I can't go." I rivet my gaze off her and channel it to the small potted sunflowers near the entrance of the Faculty.

"What are you scared of?"

Him, I'm scared of seeing him again. I'm scared all my plans of moving on would come crumbling down in front of me as soon as I see him. He has a thing for parties and a party like that one, he wouldn't miss it.

Even though I've made up my mind of not ever wanting to have anything to do with him, I know once I see him again, my heart will fail me miserably. It's like my heart is inextricably tied to his entire being and every time I try shutting him off my mind, my heart finds a way to remind me of a memory.

A memory where I could see myself melting under his gaze, a memory where his words melted all ice in my heart, a memory where his name escaped my lips in so many ways I couldn't imagine. A good memory. It was always the good one.

My mind, on the other hand, reminded me of the pain, the heartache, and the sleepless nights I spent crying my eyes because he was breaking me. The days when all I saw in his eyes were anger, the days when he would disappear without any trace and come back with little or no explanation. The lies he told to cover up his secrets and his capricious behavior towards any question he found touchy. Those were the memories that haunted me every day.

"Er.. Earth to Beth! Beth?!" A hand dances over my face and I snap out of my reverie.

"I'm sorry." I blink

"You okay?" She questions, eyes evident of genuine concern.

"I'm fine." I look away, blinking away the little tears that had formed in my eyes.

"You were lost for minutes. At first, I thought you weren't interested in what I was saying, But- You're sure you okay?"

"Kim, I'm fine. Just got lost in my thoughts. Could we continue with the tour? I want to see the rest of the school."

A searching expression dances on her face. She wasn't buying the 'I'm fine' story, which I didn't know I was telling.

"Kim?!"

"Whatever you say G.O.T.," She says and rises from the bench, strutting ahead.

"G.O.T got? Got!? You just called me got!" I stand, following after.

_____

Finally!

The sheets are tucked in all four corners and I am now done making my bed. I cup my hips, a beaming smile across. I kinda feel proud of myself. I plop onto the bed, lying down, and heave out a long sigh of relaxation. A moment of silence passes and I let out another sigh, slowly flickering my eyes shut. Then, an arrogant sound--my ringtone-- pierces through still air as it resonates loudly.

Groaning, I lift myself up, moving towards the drawer where my phone lies. I roll my eyes at the caller ID bouncing on my screen, I swipe to answer, bringing it up to my ears.

"Hey Dad" I greet.

"Muffin, how are you?" Honestly, I don't know why my parents keep calling me food names that are their least favorite. Mom's allergic to honey and Dad doesn't count muffins as a pastry.

"I'm surviving" I respond, ambling over to the window.

"Surviving? What do you mean? Are you having any trouble, Muffin tell me, I'll make a call to Jay and he's gonna -"

"Hold on-hold on-hold on. Dad, I'm fine. I only said that because you didn't call to say goodbye yesterday when I was leaving. I'm fine. Dad." I repeat the same two words that I've now come to believe myself.

"You sure?" His tone deep and questioning.

"Yeah, I'm fine." I shift my gaze to the already setting sun, staring at its orange beauty.

"Well, I'm really glad you're holding up. If there's any problem-"

"I'll call you asap." I recite his lines to which he laughed sightly too.

"That's my muffin. " There was a pause, then he speaks. "Muffin, I have to go back to work, I'll call you as soon as I get some free time."

Free time? Tch! "Talk to you in a week."

"Muffin"

"Goodbye dad, I love you."

He sighs shortly. "Fine, I'll talk to you later sweetie." The call disconnects and I bring the phone to my face, glancing at it, before tossing it to the bed.

Inhaling deeply, I let out a breath.

I'm fine.