The Path Leads To You

Chap 2

"Ouch!"

"Sorry!"

A college student just bumped into me, she was holding books in her hand and was running trying to catch up to her classmates who were already walking away. I tried to move to the other side however it is too late when she bumped me over making her books fall on the ground. They must have a class which is why they are rushing, she even forgot to close her backpack.

Returning to my state I pat my butt as I stand, I just fall on my butt and that really hurts. That girl didn't even help me up.

"Eshhh!" I pouted upon realizing my high heels just broke. "What now?"

Maybe I shouldn't have walked here in the first place. I was inside a university. This is kind of open to outsiders because it is just on the side of the city and some people need to pass the school to get to their homes. Well, me? I just had the idea of walking around here. Aside from being just 10 minute walk away from my apartment, this is where I graduated college. I used to be like those students rushing every after class just to get to the building where our next class would be. It's very nostalgic to be here. Back in those days, I don't have much of friends, but thankfully I got along with most of my classmates.

Finding a place to sit, I tried fixing my shoes but then give up when there is no chance to fix them.

"Maybe it is really the time to change you."

Well, I had these shoes for more than a year already. Putting it back, I looked around me. There are many students as always, but there are also outsiders, who I think just came here to take a look and walk around the university. I can also see some of the teachers I'm familiar with. Some were my teachers before and the others, I just know them. Maybe if I go there and greet those old teachers of mine they will not recognize me. Of course, it's been five years since I graduated here.

Looking at my watch it's already 4: 20. Maybe I can just sit here and enjoy sightseeing until it is dusk, and I can just go home barefoot. Maybe no one will notice it.

Playing on my Spotify I can hear the song I always listened to when I was still in college. I don't know I just feel like listening to it, maybe because after so many years I still remember this place.

I didn't know how long I just sat there but I am already irritated at the way how those boys looked at me. They keep on glancing at me. Just now a boy approached me trying to hit on me. But boy! Sorry, cause am already your aunt.

"Sigh! Should I just go?" Asked myself and looked at my shoes, I pouted upon seeing their state. Poor feet, your lovely heels just got ruined.

I saw a girl coming towards me, I wasn't sure if she is really coming for me until she smiled at me shyly.

"Am- I'm sorry bout earlier, for bumping you!" She said as I was just looking at her.

Oh, right she's the girl a while ago. I didn't recognize her easily because she left immediately after she pick up her things.

"Oh, it's fine. I'm not hurt." Tried to smile at her but I think it became more awkward.

"Here. I think I ruined your heels, sorry about that," she said and put down the shoes she was holding and walk away after saying 'bye'. I just saw her run to her friends waiting for her. They laughed and teased her when she got near them. I just smiled at them when they looked at me and laughed when I saw how they blushed and walk faster.

Looking at them reminds me of those times, I and my friends use to laugh so loud as we walk around the university. How we stalk our friend's crush and tease each other and suddenly keep quiet when a teacher walks through us.

Yeah. I know I'm being sentimental. Still, what can I do? Now remembering, I haven't talked to them since then. We all parted and walk our different paths after we graduated. I don't know if some already had their own families.

"Okay, enough with that." I looked at the pair of shoes. They are quite bigger. I don't think this is hers. That girl is petite and well, it would be useless if the girl gave me her shoes. Come on I may be not that tall but I'm 5'6 I have longer feet than most girls do.

Just shrugged my shoulders and put it on. It's for boys but I don't mind. Now I can finally go home without needing to walk barefoot.

"Come on let's go home!" I said to myself with a smile.

......

*Bzzt* *Bzzt*

I reached out my hand to get my phone just above my head.

With a groggy sound, I answered it.

"Yoohoo! Come on Hannah I'm in front of your gate."

"Argh! Wait a minute. No maybe 5 minutes." I said before finally standing up. Looking around I can see it's in a mess. I forgot to fix my table, some papers were scattered, the pillows are on the ground and my laptop is on my bed. I forgot to fix everything before falling asleep last night. I've been trying to start my new story but I just exhausted myself. Aside from being a teacher/ tutor, I'm a writer. I write different fiction stories. However, right now I could not come up with a good story. My editors are already asking for new books but I just can't give them some.

After fixing my things now it finally looks cosy. Putting on my dress, I went to get my friend outside.

"What took you so long?" I just laughed at her complaints.

"Well, who came here so early?" I said and hugged her. "I miss you so much, dear Miah!"

"I missed you too girlfriend! Now kiss me."

"Eww!" We both laughed at our silliness making the people outside look at us.

"Come on let's go up." Inviting her to go inside. Reaching my apartment on the second floor. She just keeps on wowing.

"Haha stop it. Like you've never seen it before." I said stopping her from looking around.

"No. It's just that it's very different from before. Look there are new gadgets, and it looks neater now." She said with amusement.

"Nah just that, nothing more. But yeah, it changes a bit thanks to Lauren's new things. But still, they're s always messy." I said and motioned her to our as always messy room.

"Hahaha Nah! It looks fine to me." She commented while she sat down on the wooden sofa.

"Did you eat? Because I haven't cooked yet." I said and brought her a glass of water.

"Do you still not eat breakfast and take water for the morning?" She asked me, making me laugh. "I knew it, you really didn't change with that. Eh. Here I brought some food"

"Oh! You really are my good friend, you know me well. Haha." I excitedly opened the food box and saw plenty of delicious food.

Miah is my college best friend. She knows everything about me more than anyone. She knows where did I go years ago. Though we never lost contact, this is our first meeting after 5 years.

"Ah. These are my favourites! Thank you, Miah. You are the best!" That just made her laugh. "But, you should eat these with me. I can not eat all these." I said while pouting at her.

"Eh, come on those are just a few, don't tell me you're on a diet."

"Exactly!"

"Nah, look at yourself you're already sexy and thin. Much thinner when we were in college you know." She said reminding me.

"Tsk. You remind me of that. I was really fat during those days and had a lot of pimples on my face. I don't know but I feel like having episodes during my college years. I just gained weight unexpectedly and had terrible pimples. People can't even recognize me during those times." That was the worst for me because I feel so insecure back in those days. People I know before would ask me what happened and how different I look, which sometimes offend me.

"No! It's just that's what you think, you're just bigger than most of us but you are not fat. And look at you now, I almost didn't recognize you." She said fluttering me.

"Haha. Well you too, you are still beautiful as always! And you look blooming today is Mr Right treating you well?" I said jokingly. And she just laughed.

"My, my. Look at my dear friend now she's moving forward, while looking at me still that single and hasn't mingled." I said just trying to be poetic making us both laugh.

"Well, why don't you find yourself one too? It's been too long since you were single. You are getting older now you know. If I don't know you I would think you are waiting for someone or someone who has not moved on from her ex." She said and I hate that look. Come on I'm not that pitiful.

"Well, as you know me I haven't been thinking of those. And I don't think I meet the right person yet." I just said.

"Sigh! By the way aren't you planning to move out? Did you find an apartment?" She asked. Diverting our topic.

"Oh yeah. The condominium I just bought months ago was just renovated. Maybe next month or so." Well, yeah I'm moving out from this old den of ours. It is kinda sad but I just can't live here with my cousin forever.

"Wow, as expected of my dear friend after living abroad. She's now a big shot. " Among all the people who know me, she's one of the few people who know I did go abroad after a year I graduated.

"Haha, come on I'm still broke."

"How about this apartment?" She asked and look around.

"Well, one of my cousins will be going to college soon, so he'll take over this apartment. As you know Laureen will be marrying soon so we'll both move out. It's kinda sad though, we have many memories here." Yeah. This apartment has been my comfort zone before.

"I agree we use to cook a lot here before. I also remember these walls were covered with anime pictures before." We were both laughing as we remember our old days. How she slept over here for our projects. How we gather here to celebrate birthdays, because all of us were still studying we cannot afford to celebrate in a restaurant so we could only buy food and cook it here.

...

"Anyway, how was your work in the municipal hall?" I asked. Miah is permanently working at the mayor's office now for almost 2 years.

"Well, kind of stressful. The Mayor is always not in the office and I do most of his things. If only I wasn't receiving a good payment I would have changed career." She said putting her coffee down.

"Well, that's still good to know."

"How about you? Are you staying here for good?" She asked and look at me waiting patiently for my answer.

"We don't know. I'm not sure. Maybe if I get tired here I will leave the country again. Maybe going to Country C again, or to Country H." I said with a smile.

"Tsk. You are a rascal! But if you intend to go, remember to inform me. Hmmph. If haven't called you 4 years ago I wouldn't know where did you go. You even stopped replying on all your social media."

"Yeah. I will surely inform you if ever," I said and took a box just underneath the bed.

"Here is a present I save for you," I give her the box containing the present.

"What's this?" She opened the box and was delighted with what was inside. "Is this a Zaleriana?" She exclaimed upon inspecting the bag in her hand.

"Yeah, that's a real one so you better take care of it." She looks really happy because she took her phone out and took some pictures of it.

Nobody actually knows why I suddenly went abroad. My family didn't even know I planned on going far away. When I graduated they expect me to stay in the city, but that wasn't the case.