Worlds Apart

Indifferences between opposite attractions either manifests into utter hatred or true friendship.

True friendship grows into a transcendent kind of love.

Transcendent love is built from a connection formed by life’s complexities.

Life’s complexities are created by ordinary people.

Ordinary people are you and me.

You and me often see ourselves in the eyes of lovers who have to fight the world to their last dying breaths for what they are feeling.

Feelings that we, unlike they, are too cowardice to admit because we lack strength.

The strength that these soul mates encase is that of love.

Love is what keeps them together.

Together is how those filled with envy, greed, and lust work to keep true lovers, like them, worlds apart.

One of them sprouts from the culturally rich world of Japan while the other comes from the industriously prosperous land of the United States. A vast ocean separates these two worlds with miles and miles of open water. Water, being colorless, unknowingly becomes the envy of these two souls from different realms for once their love blossoms into its true form they begin to wish that human beings would look at one another the same guileless way they all look at water. Water is universal, seen as what it is—water. All cultures view water as water no matter what walk of life a person strives from, yet although all men share the same organs with the ability to feel all sorts of emotions, we still antagonize each other because of what lays on the surface. Because we all look different, we’re no longer just humans to one another. We’re just different because we’re not alike, and one of the main factors in the world that divides us, ridding us of the opportunity to know more about one another, is the color of our skin.

Unfortunately, the harsh reality of life is that color dictates the majority of people’s decisions. It governs the way one will treat another due to what our forefathers did during time and history.

How those two elements alone have made fools of us all.

It especially made fools of these two different hearts.

Jun Matsumoto and Aminata raynolds. Both are different in more ways than one, mainly comparable to night and day.

Jun Matsumoto, a man who fled from everything he'd ever known, settles at Madison University with attempts to forget his past and everything in it in exchange for a quieter life. He’s currently in pursuit of a degree in English. Jun is a very dynamic character. Although he often convinces himself that he expects others to fend for themselves through hard work, he is helplessly diplomatic, giving a helping hand to anyone who needs it. One unmistakable characteristic about him is his inscrutability. Often submerged in his own thoughts, Jun is a man filled with multitudes of secrets beyond secrets. This in turn gives him a mysterious ambiance about him thus making him hard to perceive on various occasions. As a protective shield, Jun uses this wall around him and an unshakable tough demeanor to keep himself from reliving his painful past and even worse, revealing it to others.

Practicing that is easy until he meets her…

Aminata Raynolds is a young lady who believes her life is set, ignoring all the troubles from her past and present that constantly probe at her. She’s a vivacious, uppity character that has a huge secret crush on Jun. Unlike all her other past crushed, she is reluctant to tell Jun or anyone else of her crush because she fears her racial and cultural background hinder her from openly liking him. The budding scrutiny that she feels rising from her attraction makes her experience especially hard and distressing. Aminata has a few secrets of her own and is going through a tumultuous change in her life; the struggle for self love and self worth.

She thinks she has it altogether until Jun steps in…

As Jun and Aminata collide they find out that they are not what the other expects. But it is this revelation that strangely draws them closer together instead of straying them farther apart. By the time their secrets have taken center stage, their friendship is too strong for them to let any of their secrets step in the way.

Eventually Jun and Aminata's separate paths cross and they are left with the question of whether they will open up to one another and liberate their emotions for each other, or if they'll let their own fears and everyone else's judgments step in the way of something that they both need in their lives: true love.





A/N: This is your regular love story, so don’t expect anything groundbreaking lol. Whereas it is lighthearted in some parts, portions of this will be radically controversial. It's a tale of two people who love each other but must face obstacles because of their race, background, surroundings and social standings.

Please do not be offended due by some harsh intervals in the story for this is only a work of fiction. It is not being made to make jabs at different cultural/social groups but instead to show how when one uncovers the veil ignorance has placed on people, beautiful things, like love, can grow from that.




Prologue

A sad sigh heaved out of my chest when the song was over. With my head against the window, I looked through the rivulets trickling down the window pane, watching the needle-like threads of rain drift from the heavens to the earth. Hugging my jacket closer to my body, I closed my eyes and thought of him.

"If only you could see me...hear me...hold me...love me..."

Unfortunately, I knew that those were hopes that would never manifest...

Chapter 1

My friends and I were busy laughing up a storm and I was enjoying myself thoroughly until the jingle of the front door signaled an incoming customer. Normally, I wouldn’t have bothered who had walked in. My smile wouldn’t have dropped like a hot cake if it hadn’t been for my crush strutting through the door with his posse following close behind him. Everything about me began to work anti-clockwise and I suddenly wanted to hide my face as though he could see ‘I HAVE A CRUSH ON YOU’ stamped across my forehead. But that's how I felt whenever we were in the same presence. I felt as if he could see right through me...that is...if he ever even cared to look my way...

Which, I was certain by now, would probably never happen in this lifetime.

When he casually looked around the cozy café built for students who attended the neighboring college Madison University, I broke into a cold sweat that left my palms suddenly balmy. His eyes skimmed briefly over me but he continued to look unaffectedly on, as though I wasn't physically there. I was as important as the lights, or the chair, hell, maybe even the dirt on the floor. Fangs of rejection bit me.

When he skimmed over the place again our eyes met for an irrelevant moment before he continuously looked around and continued lumbering in. No! He couldn't come here! I would be too distracted. My heart rocketed to my throat so fast that my head span. Or was it spinning because he looked especially good that day? Good was an understatement. Hell, fine was one too. Sexy and mysterious was as close as a description as I could give him, but if I had to get extremely delineative, single adjectives wouldn’t get the job done successfully. I’d have to dig a lot deeper.

I could dive into all the platitudes of his most striking features…if only it were that easy. My crush had legions of classical features and I would take a lifetime explaining the magnificence of each one. My mouth watered as I took all of him in. Just pure perfection. His hair, a rich raven black, was straight with a voluminous amount of body that gave it a slight curl. It was a mixture of different lengths that all harmonized like a work of art with different sized strokes. The front hair came down to the vertex of his nose, and the back ended right on the base of his nape. His hair was so magnificent in my eyes it shamed the theory that hair was dead because in my opinion, it had a life of its own. When it was neatly combed and groomed it looked too reserved. I'd get this pressing desire to dishevel it a little and run my fingers through it.

Jun’s skin was the smoothest I had ever laid my eyes on. It was olive, slightly bordering on pale, but I took a liking to it, often wondering how it would feel to the touch. He was tall and muscularly lean and often his clothes fit him to perfection. I absolutely found everything spellbinding about him, even his voice. He had a deep, rough voice that had a knack for making my face unnaturally warm. It struck up illicit thoughts within me and I often found myself wishing those soft lips would caress my ear as he whispered sweet nothings to me.Although in the beginning I admit, I found the thinness of his eyebrows slightly odd, I grew to realize any other kind of eyebrows wouldn’t have fit him. His brows sat on top of eyes. His eyes, oh his eyes, there was something soulful, something poignantly compelling about them. They were a coffee brown, and always shimmered arrestingly. Hell, girls from all walks of life often told him he had nice eyes. One couldn't look at his eyes and not be engrossed by their pools of mystery. That big air of mystery that cloaked him was one that I hoped I would someday uncover. Truthfully, that wasn't the only thing about him I hoped to uncover. My young hormones often wondered what lay beneath the sexy attire he wore.

I loved his style of dress, for it was simple yet touched with a dab of panache that didn’t threat his masculinity like it would have anyone else. Today he wore a casual thin-threaded navy blue sweater with a slight v-neck that peeped a white t-shirt. The faded blue jeans concealed, but didn’t take away from his long muscular legs. His shoes were black and their long size often made me lewdly wonder about the length of something else. He was just so…perfect to me. There was something very virile, very rough about him—a take-charge quality that I could only have a strong affinity towards him. In a short time everyone had learned that Jun didn’t take shit from anyone. Other times I'd get the impression that he was cold and distant all the time because I often caught him with a pensive frown on his face. The notion of him being aloof and unkind would retract when I saw him giving others a helping hand or giving someone a genuine smile.

Bottom line though, was I didn’t know him as much as I would have liked.

And what sucked and often left me dejected was the fact I would probably never get to know him.

His name was Matsumoto Jun, and the only reason why I knew him by name was because the teacher took role in class every day. We were in the same economics class. He was an exchange student from Japan who’d come to the U.S. to study astronomical science—one of those really insanely difficult majors that I thought only insane people majored in. It was no secret that he was smart, earning commendations from teachers so regularly it had become second nature to everyone. Nobody got shocked anymore when they found out he was one of the top scored students not only in the class, but in the school. This made him a teacher favorite, not only that, but the mature air to him.

Realistically, Jun and I were from two different worlds, in so many ways that it actually hurt to think about. First was the obvious difference of skin color. Living in a land where the pigment of your skin actually mattered, I knew now was no exception. Being African American, I was many shades darker than he. That was only a minuscule of the many differences that set Jun and I apart. He was from Japan while I was American born—a southern girl to be specific. If that weren’t enough to put us in comparison to night and day, then our social parties were.

Simply put, I hung around people who I resembled. I’ve found out it’s only human nature to react that way—at least by hanging out with people like you, you don’t stick out like a sore thumb. The same went for Jun. He hung around a circle of friends that were just the same as he. They held the same Asian background that I wouldn’t find in my blood even if I dated back fifty generations until I reached our forefathers. The language that he spoke amongst his friends was something I would never understand unless I took the time out to learn—which, embarrassingly so, I’d been trying to learn as of late. One thing that worked to my advantage though was the fact in Jun’s first year of college he’d had to take some class that taught foreigners to learn English. From the grapevine I’d heard Jun was studious enough to have succeeded the top in that class, being the most well learned in there. That meant out of all his friends he spoke the most fluent English. Not to say he was an expert at it. Hell, I was American and I still struggled with the language.

Nonetheless, I figured since he knew the language no language barrier would come between us. But whenever that comforting thought graced my mind, depressing reality hit that it would never happen. There were far too many different things about us.

Admittedly so, guys like Jun had never initially tickled my fancy. Hell, I’d never even though to look at Jun’s type. Ignorantly, I’d always looked to guys of my racial background. And honestly, I’d never had the guts to really become attracted to another race because of fear of rejection.

Which brought me to why Jun usually left me with conflicting emotions. Whereas Jun was a breath of fresh air to my usual likings, I loathed this deepening crush that I had for him. Deep down inside, I knew Jun would never pay a girl like me any mind. Why would he anyway? He would never look my way. I didn’t have the long, lustrously jet black hair that the girls he were used to, had. My hair was cropped short, what some liked to call the ‘Halle Berry’ style, and dyed a summery, honey brown. If the texture of hair didn’t make me more of an outcast in his eyes I was most certain the dark coloring of my skin did. The girls I often saw Jun gawk at were olive skinned…and…and…

Mentally, I slapped myself for being so self-deprecating all due to some guy who didn't know my name. I’d always been confident in myself and who I was, but this guy, this guy from nowhere, this guy that I’d never said a word to much less looked into his eyes made me more insecure than I’d ever been in my entire life.

I tried to fight this feeling, and I was still trying, but there was something about him, this magnetic energy that pulled me to him by force. It was almost as if I had no choice. It left me weirded out sometimes, like something was wrong with me.

“Look at what he’s wearing.” A deep voice said laughingly beside me.

Snapping out of my musings I looked over at my boyfriend, Lamont. When I followed the direction his eyes were aimed at, I fell upon one of Jun’s good friends and frowned. Upsettingly, I pursed my lips together and didn’t bother giving him a response. It was as clear as broad daylight that the style Jun and his friends possessed was different from what was considered ‘normal’ around these parts. Well, give or take, Jun’s style was much more Westernized than his friends. He pretty much dressed like a regular college kid, but his friends were the ones who stood out the most. Unlike most, I commended them for their individuality and their ability to hold on to who they were without trying to conform to what everyone else expected everyone to be like. Whereas most people saw their flamboyant style as strange, I viewed it as unique. As a major of art, I was able to easily appreciate the beauty of innovation. I greatly admired one’s bravery to step outside the norm and do what wasn’t expected, which was what his friends did.

“Man, they’re some weird folks I tell ya.” Lamont chuckled with a shake of his head, making a streak of anger tear through me.

“You’d be considered weird if you were where they're from, you know?” I sputtered, unable to hold my mounting indignance back.

Lamont quirked a brow at me and I continued with a shrug, “With your oversized pants, and your hat looking like it’s about to fall off of your head, and an oversized shirt that almost looks like a nightgown…come on, don’t tell me you’d blend right in with the crowd.”

Lamont held my gaze for a few moments before and as if surrendering to my logic, he finally laughed with a small shake of his head and murmured a low but condescending, ‘I guess’.

After setting him straight, I looked back at them as they found a table beside the neon light acting as an outline of the legendary Marylin Monro's physique. My heart vaulted as an oblivious Jun laughed with his friends over some joke that only they knew. The ring of his laughter was distinct and unlike any other since his voice was deeper than the others. It made me shiver all over. Remembering that my boyfriend was watching me avidly, I tried hard not to show how Jun made me feel.

Haplessly, my eyes drifted back to Jun. There was so much I wanted to know about him, like what his favorite music was, or his favorite food. What he smelled like, what he liked to watch...what he liked in a girl...

Inwardly, I sighed with despair with my eyes now downcast to my now lukewarm cup of coffee.

Would he ever know? I often asked myself that question.

But the answer was simple. He wouldn’t.

Why?

Because we were simply from two different worlds that would probably never merge in this day and age.

And it left such a bittersweet taste in my mouth.

With the question unanswered in my mind, I looked up at him as if he'd give me some kind of consultation.

As if feeling my gaze, Jun suddenly looked my way. I reacted like I’d been stung by a red ant and flinched, quickly turning away before he could realize I was staring.

This was such a pity.

I had it bad.

I had it bad for him, but he would probably never know.

Because we were separated.

We were worlds apart.

That was...crazily good. Amazing use of detail and I like your writing style.

More !

AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!
tHIS IS REALLY GOOD~ i envy your writing stylE! >.<!

Chapter 2

The next day began terribly for me. The skies were filled with thunderclouds that released flashing lightning, growling thunder, and rain heavy enough to flood a small island. I was all for rain, I loved it because it brought the romantic side out of me. But the problem with the rain today lay in the fact that I had to run through it to get from the student center all the way to the library. It wasn’t exactly close. I’d have waited it out if I didn’t have a paper to print for a five minute away class and I didn’t have that much time on my hands to waste dilly dallying.

By the time I got to the monstrous library I was a drenched, huffing puffing mess. My lungs wheezed as I tried to regain respite, my feet hurt from the long cumbersome run, and my arms felt an inch longer from cradling the heavy college textbooks that I'd nearly spent my life savings on. Too concerned with seeking shelter, I blindly raced through the opening automatic doors only to collide with something hard enough to knock me off my feet—literally.

My rear end struck the terrazzo flooring of the library with a loud thud that resounded how hard the impact was. It inflicted sharp pain up my tail bone, making me grit my teeth and clutch my eyes tightly shut. Great. What a memorable entrance into the library. Remembering I had a class to get to, I had no time to brood over my shame. Opening my eyes and without looking up, started scrambling for my fallen books, sheets of paper, and purse with haste.

“Are…you okay?”

I heard but didn't put a face to the voice because in stumbling to my feet I not only experienced a splitting pain but also felt and heard the sole of my boot crunching something unknown. Before even addressing whom I’d bumped into I lifted my boot and gasped when I saw the cracked lens belonging to a pair of black framed glasses. In a panic, I forgot the throbbing pain in my leg and looked up only for all the air within me to be vacuumed out. If my voicebox hadn't stopped operating I would've screamed loud enough to break all the windows of the gym.

It was Jun, standing tall before me, faint concern worrying his features.

Without a control of my own I’d slipped into a trance staring up at him. Very rarely did I get this close contact to Jun and being this close rattled me very much so.

The first thing I noticed before even taking in his features was the smell of his spicy cologne. It wasn't overdone, but it was underlying in such a way that proved it would never run out, meaning if I had the chance I could inhale him for all eternity. For the first time in my life someone’s scent was not only sexy but very masculine. Maybe I was daydreaming but there was another scent, more natural, his inborn scent. Though it was incredulously attractive, it was also intimidating.

But not as much as the rest of him.

He appeared a tad startled. His brows were knitted together and locks of dark hair had fallen carelessly over his brow. A few strands obscured his eyes but not enough for me not to acknowledge their allure. His bottom lip, much fuller than the top, was parted in a gesture of perplexity that I couldn’t blame him for.

That day he was dressed in a black, cotton blazer that tailored him to perfection. Inside his jacket was a slate blue jacket with the zipper running up to his diaphragm where a 'v' introduced a white shirt with navy blue logo. It drove me wild how the hood of his inner jacket was out, resting on top of the back belonging to the black jacket. The army green strap of his bookbag run diagonally from his right shoulder to the left side of his stomach. He wore casual jeans and black sneakers. He looked so good that day if I had the guts I'd have awarded him all the money in my wallet.

When I realized I was staring too hard, I looked up to find that he was looking at me a little bit funny.

Oh god. He was probably wondering who was this random girl, this intruder, raining in on his parade and gawking at him senselessly.

An awkward silence enveloped us, one in which I’d forgotten he’d asked me a question previously. In that space of time Jun had lowered his eyes from me to view the fate of his glasses, but shifted his gaze up to me as if his glasses were an afterthought.

“Are you all right?”

My heart fluttered. His voice was deep, and though he had an accent, I found it appealing. It was very different than what I was used to. Flustered, I nodded, for once thankful that my skin was dark enough for him not to visibly detect my blush. And boy was I blushing up a storm. I didn’t know if it was from the abashment of bumping into him or just because being near him turned me as warm as a furnace.

“Yes,” I muttered breathlessly then caught a hold of myself. Damn it! I wish I didn't sound so 'stolen of breath' like those damsel in distresses belonging to the pages of those Danielle Steel romance novels. That was the last thing I wanted to appear as. But he made me so...breathless.

Unable to hold the gaze of his probing dark orbs any longer, I averted towards the floor only to be met with the trouble I’d caused. There a jagged crack marred the frame of his glasses and the frame was unusually bent. I noticed a few pieces of glass had broken off from the lens that was cracked.

“I’m so sorry—“ I looked up at him to find him distressed as he too glanced at his glasses. The look on his face made me feel a trillion times worse than I already did.

“I—I’ll pay for them," I stuttered nervously, "I’ll buy you new ones. I’m so sorry. Oh goodness...”

“S’okay.” He murmured, and getting on one knee, he began to pick the small broken shards of glass to drop them onto his palm. It was so insensitive of me to acknowledge the man's beauty, but in that time I noticed how large and strong his hands were. Though his fingers were gangly, strength resided in every joint. Unlike most guys that I knew, his nails were well taken care of. I sighed with relief. The last thing I could stand was a guy who didn't take care of himself but it was clear that he did. I couldn't say the same for my boyfriend who I always had to urge to start using a nail cutter instead of gnawing at them like a caveman.

Looking at Jun's hands made me wonder what they would feel like if he ever touched me. Their smoothness struck me with this compulsion to touch them, a thirst that I knew would never be quenched.

Not knowing what to do, whether to kneel in front of him and help him pick up the pieces, or just stand there, or just rush to class…The sudden realization of class made me bite my tongue to keep me from screaming in panic. My teacher never accepted late work. Not even if you’d set your foot in his door one minute past starting time.

“Jun I’m so sorry, but I’m in a rush—“

I cut myself off when he threw his head back and glanced at me after I’d uttered his name. Genuine shock replaced the disappointment that had been on his face. The unspoken question of ‘how do you know my name?’ was spoken through his inquisitive gaze.

My cheeks warmed from his gaze.

Eventually Jun looked away from me and stood up, his lips twisted ruefully as he examined his glasses. Again I felt like crap and began a litany of apologies. Nervously, I tried utmost to balance my books under one arm. I used my other hand to fish in my purse for a scrap of paper, only coming in contact with a receipt I'd received from buying breakfast at a fast food restaurant that morning and effortlessly found a pen. I pushed them towards Jun.

“Please just write your phone number or any form of contact so that I can give you the money—“

“It’s okay.” He murmured, sighing heavily at the burden I’d heaved on him. My shoulders slumped and my throat tightened as I returned the piece of paper and pen to my purse, feeling even much worse than I had before. Oh goodness! He must think I’m a nut or something. At a loss of what to do, I watched him stuff his glasses in his jacket pocket. Then I watched him walk to the nearest trashcan where he threw the small fallen glass.

At that moment someone called his attention and what followed next was a lingo that was ambiguous to me. When I faced the source of sound, I saw one of Jun’s friends, the one with the auburn-dyed hair, jogging towards him. An instant look of puzzlement came over his features when he looked at me then back at Jun. It was a look that said ‘why are you standing there with her?’ or ‘why is she standing there with you?’ or ‘why are you both standing together?’ or even worse, ‘what business do you have with one another?’ I knew my paranoia of our differences sometimes got the best of me but I couldn’t help it.

As his friend approached us, passing by the turnstile that acted as a weak attempt for security at the library, he aimed a question at Jun. I looked towards Jun who responded with something I didn’t understand. The look on his face showed he was a bit disgruntled as aimed at me with a faint bob of his head. I knew then he was talking about me and frowned. Who knows. Maybe he called me the crazy girl who rudely destroyed his only means of seeing clearly.

I felt so bad.

When his friend stood beside him, he looked at me only for his eyes to widen as though that was his first time actually seeing me. Forming an ‘o’ with his mouth, he put a fist in front of it before laughing and saying something to Jun. There was a look of amusement on his friend's face, making me wonder if he thought of me of some practical joke.

I was what people from my region called ‘ghetto’, or at least I could be. Ghetto meant being loud, abrasive, and audacious. It meant being uncouth and not having manners. It had its positive connotations though. It also meant bravery and the strength to endure difficult situations. It meant standing up for yourself.

Even though I had my shy, dainty moments, I’d been through enough crap from people all my life to just hold my tongue and let someone make fun of me. Ever since I was young I’d endured name calling be it the wideness of my nose, or the voluptuous curve of my body. I’d gone through insecure nights wishing I had an interesting color of eyes like hazel, blue, green or grey as opposed to my mundane dark brown. I’d wanted long flowy tresses of hair instead of this short, frizzly hair that required a lot of perms and treatment to keep it presentable. There were times I wanted to trade my busty bosom, tiny waist and curvaceous hips for a stick-figure thin frame. There was a time I’d wanted to be lighter skinned just because I couldn’t stand my brown tone. Then with the help of my grandmother I’d gained the confidence that I didn’t have and instead of feeling sorry for myself when someone ridiculed me, I’d fight back and defend my unique beauty.

Which was what my instinct told me to do now, since my gut told me that Jun’s friend was making fun of me.

“Is there something you’d like to tell me?” I sneered at him, not caring that he was friends with Jun. Just because I had a crush on him didn’t mean I would let his friends make fun of me speaking in a way I couldn’t ever fathom.

Jun’s friend clearly caught off guard, lessened the smile he was wearing.

“He said he really likes your hair. And thinks that you’re very pretty.”

The words, spoken mildly without any emotion, made me turn to Jun because he was the one who had said them. His head was slightly tilted to the side, which made me hopelessly appreciate the length of his neck. His hands were shoved in the pockets of the black coat. His expressionless gaze told me he wasn’t at all impressed by my arguable tone and stance. The bored look in his eyes said he wasn’t surprised that I’d thought the worst. It was almost like he had me all figured out. I wondered if he reacted this way because he'd come across a lot of people who tried to pick fights with him.

At that moment I wished trapdoors would open up beneath me and swallow me. How could I be so shallow? That wasn't who I was. I had my shallow moments, but I was honestly trying to become a better person.

I'd irrationally and judgmentally thought his friend was saying something demeaning because I was a black girl. Because I wasn't Japanese like the girls he was used to.

How could I be so stupid and insensitive to jump to such unfair conclusions?

“Oh,” I murmured in a strangled voice. Swallowing hard, I shifted my gaze back to his friend who I guessed had seemingly already figured this was a misunderstanding because of the small smile he wore on his face. The hand that wasn't balancing my books against my chest went over my mouth dismally.

“I’m sorry! Please forgive me.” I muffled and he laughed.

“It’s…okay. Okay.” He said with an eager nod and I knew instantly he wasn’t as fluent in the language as Jun was. He looked almost unsure of what he had said but when I smiled apologetically his own smile brightened.

“I didn’t mean to come off rude. I’m just—ah today is such a bad day. Thank you very much though…for the compliment.” As I spoke to Jun’s friend who nodded despite probably not knowing all that I was saying, I felt someone’s eyes on me. I knew very well who they belonged to. Gosh, it was so unnerving having him stare at me when days ago I had loathed the fact he was unaware of my existence.

Guiltily I looked at Jun whose hard features were relaxed. My heart galloped in surprise when I saw the traces of a faint smile. It was almost like he was watching something adorable from a far. Then I told myself to cut it out and stop giving myself so much credit. He was probably laughing inwardly at how foolish and goofy I was.

“I’m very sorry about your glasses too. I’ll do what I can—“

“It’s okay. Didn’t you say you were in a hurry?”

Jun’s pointed question made me gasp sharply.

“My class!” I cried with my hand to my mouth. Oh goodness! I'd forgotten all about my paper because of him. It was all his fault for being so damn handsome and intriguing.

I started for the turnstile so that I could get to the computer room where the printers were resided. When I made to move, I winced and flinched when a shooting pain streaked through my right leg.

“You sure I didn’t hurt you?” I heard from behind me just as I was going through the rotating stile. Distractedly I turned to find Jun had stopped leaving with his friend and had turned to ask me. Although his expression was inscrutable and his voice held no emotion, just him merely asking me if I was okay made me feel special for a reason unbeknown to me.

Suddenly afraid that he could see the budding crush I had for him through my blush, I nodded with a shaky smile and turned away from him. In my haste to get away from him as though he would bite me in any second, I came to a jarring stop and my hip bone struck something hard. My body toppled sideways and I clutched onto my books with my one arm before they slipped from my grasp.

I would’ve fallen if I wasn’t fixated in place.

When I tried to free myself from the humiliating moment by pulling on the strap of my purse, I remained immovable. Looking down to figure out what was stopping me from going, I saw that in my haste to get away from Jun my purse had gotten stuck in the turnstile.

Oh my god! Of all the ways of me and Jun to ‘meet’. This was so not my day!

To my dismay, loud laughter followed, echoing through the library entrance. Horrifically, when I looked up Jun’s friend was the one laughing. On the contrary, Jun only wore a small smile that was short of endearing.

Biting my lip in consternation, I yanked and pulled at my purse, but to no avail. Goodness, the devil was on my ass today, I thought.

“Don’t do that, you’ll only make the jam worse.” I heard and looked up to find Jun had said those words. I dont know why I was surprised he knew the word 'jam'. Perhaps he was more proficient in English than I'd initially thought.

My thoughts about him knowing English or not were cut short when Jun started approaching me.

iNo! I thought in mortification. Don’t come here and add salt to my embarrassment please! It was kind of like being in a heavenly and dream grotesque nightmare all at once. Here my night and shinning armor was coming to save me, buy I was looking like a hell of a fool while he did it.

“Are you okay ma’am?” the question came from the lady who’d been sitting at the front desk nearby the entire time. Oh wow! More audience to make this more unforgettable for me.

“I got it.” Jun said confidently and again my cheeks warmed, leaving me with a strange sense of glee. Hearing him speak English with such self-assurance and hearing the tonality of his voice was like hearing a new distinct style of music set to rock the music world.

With every step he took closer to me, my heart thumped harder and harder against my chest. By the time he was close enough for me to smell his heady scent, my heart had stopped because I'd sucked my breath in.

Quietly, he inspected the stoppage. My purse was lodged between one rod of the turnstile and the black block beside it. After scrutinizing it for a few moments, Jun gave it an effortless tug or two that freed it from the jam.

“There you go.”

“Thank you…” I practically whispered when it was freed and Jun turned around to leave.

“No problem.” He called over his shoulder, walking towards his awaiting friend with a swagger that no one would ever be able to imitate. Throwing the hood of his inner jacket over his black hair, he shoved his hands into his pockets, walking into the rain that had now converted to a light drizzle…

He was completely unaware that he’d left me light-headed…on cloud nine…

Gathering my books more steadfastly against my chest and clutching onto my purse so that it wouldn't cause me any more mishaps, I walked towards the computer room, unable to believe my crush had knocked me off my feet.

Literally.

Ohhh!!! I love this story! It makes me smile 'cause it's so awesome and cute. My favorite about this story is how descriptive you are! Keep up the good work!~♥

Thank you I know the plot synopsis may seem a bit cliche, but trust me this not your regular love story. And after reading this chapter you may think it's a 'love triangle' situation but it's not. I'll try my hardest to make this have the traditional aspects of a love story but with an original twist.


RATED R WARNING: There are some expletives in this chapter, not too much but just placing a warning out there.

Chapter 3

“Yeah so, I barely passed my English paper.” I told my bestfriend, who was seated across from me munching on a blueberry muffin.

“What else is new?”

I stuck my tongue out at her jab, throwing a napkin at her in retaliation. All she did was give me a sugary sweet smile. My bestfriend’s name was Gina Fletcher, and we’d been friends since twelfth grade. We were now juniors in college. We looked the total opposite. She was of Afghan descent, with big smoldering hazel eyes and caramel skin. She had the Rapanzel long hair that I often dreamed about but had cut it all off to her chin because she said she wanted 'change'. Either way, it suited her. Me being a diminutive five foot four, Gina was a tall slender five foot seven. She attracted male crushes like moths to a flame but didn't even recognize her own beauty. Which was why I kind of liked her. She didn't capitalize on her stunning looks but likable personality.

Having similar aspirations of pursuing our passions for the arts, we’d both chancily picked the same college hoping to both major in art. She was majoring in theater where I was strictly an art head. Part of our bond stemmed from —who opted for us to go to medical or law school—weren’t the only reasons we shared a close bond.

We both had shared a morbid sense of humor that nobody else would ever be able to understand. Most females would get offended if I called them ‘bitch’ or ‘whore’ on a regular basis, but Gina and I did it in an oddly endearing sense.

Yeah, in other words, we were both weird and knew nobody else would tolerate us so we stuck with one another.

“Are you going to Nick’s party this weekend?” she asked, taking a sip of her espresso. Nick was the man's man of Madison University. Everyone liked him, which meant everyone from all social stratospheres would attend his party.

I sighed heavily, staring at my mug of coffee, “No. I don't really feel like it.”

She let out an aggravated sigh.

“Gosh what’s wrong with you Aminata? You’ve become such a party pooper—“

“Gina, have you ever liked a guy who you never thought you’d like?” I blurted without preamble. It had been gnawing at me for such a long time I couldn’t keep it a secret any longer.

“Nope. All my crushes have been legit.”

“Gina I’m serious.” I told her. When she saw I was up to no games she sobered from her inbred sarcastic nature.

“Well, yeah. I think that’s happened to everyone at some point.”

“Have you ever liked someone you’re not supposed to like?” I hedged, fleshing out the question because I didn’t think she knew what I was trying to get at.

Gina eyed me suspiciously, “Look, you’re my bestfriend and all, but I don’t swing that way. Although I can see why you would find me irresistible. After all, I’m drop dead gorgeous.”

When I didn’t laugh at her joke, she sighed, set her muffin on her plate and folded her arms before leaning forward.

“Okay, what’s this really about?”

I bit my lip, waging a war within myself whether to tell her about my crush on Jun or not. I opted against it. She wouldn't understand. Hell, she might even laugh at me.

Coyly, I ducked my head and fingered the corner of my napkin, “Ah, it’s nothing. I’m being silly. What are you going to wear to the party?”

“Okay you did not tell me that you, the girl with the star athlete boyfriend, likes someone who she’s not supposed to…all to just change the subject on me when I’m trying to get down to it.”

My posture slumped reprehensibly, “Okay okay. I know it’s wrong of me to feel anything for anyone when I have a lovely boyfriend.”

“Lovely?” she snorted and rolled her hazel eyes, “I so beg to differ.”

“Please let’s not get into that.” I begged softly.

“Of course not. Let’s just keep ignoring the recurring problems you keep having with him.”

The issue about my boyfriend wasn’t particularly my favorite subject of subjects. Whereas he was generally a ‘good’ guy, I couldn’t put the same label on his boyfriend methods. At times I didn’t even blame him for being how he was—bossy, overbearing, overzealous—because I realized I was a part of the problem. When I’d first come to this college I’d been starry eyed for the six foot one, one hundred and ninety frame. I had gone goo-goo-gah-gah over his caramel skin and hazel eyes. I had wanted him because everyone else had. I don’t even remember how I got him, considering he’d never dated a girl like me before.

By the time I realized that Lamont wasn’t all he portrayed himself to be it was too late. For some reason I couldn’t shake him out of my system. I guess it was because I held on to the good memories and all the good things he had done for me when nobody else would help.

Hypocritically, I always boasted that I was a strong girl when I let this guy mistreat me time and time again.

“Speaking of the devil…”

Gina’s words made me look up at her and follow her gaze. My heart dropped to the base of my gut when I saw Lamont walking arm and arm with some freshman who he claimed he was only friends with.

“What is he doing with her…” I murmured in disgruntlement.

“Like you don’t know.” The snide tone in my friend’s voice brought a painful image in my mind if him being intimate with her. I knew nine times out of ten that’s what they were doing but I didn’t want to accept it. I don’t know why.

When Lamont spotted me, his eyes widened and so did his grin. He started to approach us.

“The nerve of him. How can he come over here with his arm over he shoulder like that?” Gina asked angrily.

Before any of us could answer the question Lamont was standing in front of us, his ‘friend’ hanging by his side. She smiled at me in an uncanny way that made me uncomfortable.

“Hey baby what’s up?” Lamont greeted, dragging a chair from a nearby table over to where we were seated and stood it beside me. Like a lost sheep the girl he’d brought with him dragged a chair to sit beside him.

“Gina.” He acknowledged Gina who was already glowering at him.

“Asshole.” Gina responded briskly with a mischievous grin to match. He murmured a derogatory term under his breath that I looked at him admonishingly for.

“Don’t call her that.” I chided.

“She started it—“

“Hey…Aaliyah?” the girl seated beside him rudely interrupted. Her face was caked with makeup fifty shades lighter than what her real tone was. So many layers of lip gloss were smothered on her lips I was afraid they would start dripping onto her chin at any moment. Heavy mascara unattractively clamped her fake eye lashes together. Her pencil thin eyebrows gave clowns a run for their money. Her blue eyes and long hair were store bought. I wondered if her unnaturally large breasts to her petite frame were installed by a plastic surgeon too.

I wondered what he saw in her. Then again I wondered what he saw in me sometimes.

“It’s Aminata.” I corrected her, trying hard not to be crude but failing. She smiled, revealing teeth I was sure were veneers.

“Oh. That’s a very unusual name.”

“At least it’s a name. Do you have one?”

She pursed her lips as if to keep an expletive in tact before speaking, "Sara."

“Oh. That's a common name.” I kept my tone bored. She narrowed her eyes to slits and cut them to Gina when she snickered.

“Sorry. It’s not the most unique of names.” Gina remorselessly said while batting her eyelashes provokingly at Sara.

“Ladies, ladies,” Lamont cut in, “Why all the hostility? Can’t we all just get along?”

Ignoring Lamont’s lame attempt at expunging the tension, Gina stared directly at me, “Please allow me to shove my foot up his ass.”

“See what I mean? I told you she never did like me. And yet you claim I’m the one who always starts arguments.”

“Can I talk to you in private?” I ordered him tightly, getting up from my chair to show him we were going to talk whether he liked it or not.

Without looking back, I walked out of the café situated in the actual school. The one that my friends and I normally hang out in was nearby the campus, but with a lot more festivities than this one. This one was simple, for students on the go.

Crossing the blue-green carpeted lobby, I smiled at acquaintances even though deep down inside I was raging. Lamont could be so insensitive and there were times I had to remind him that the people he dealt with were human beings and that human beings were capable of feeling, which meant their feelings could be easily hurt.

When I made it to narrow set of stairs that led to the basement, I looked over my shoulder to make sure he'd obliged. Thankfully I found him following close behind, grumbling under his breath like a petulant little kid. In the basement was the campus bookstore and across from it was the lounge place where students came to hang out, have group study, or shoot some pool on the green pool tables permeated around the room. At this untimely hour in the morning when most students were either asleep or groaning as they forced themselves to class, it was preferably empty. For that I was glad. I knew we would find some privacy here.

“What is it? What is it with you?” I heard him and when I whipped around I saw his hands were thrown up in surrender.

“You know what it is. And by you acting as if you haven’t done anything wrong, you’re giving me more disrespect—“

“Aminata…what the—I don’t even know why you’re pissed off right now!”

“Do you ever consider my feelings? How do you think I feel knowing my boyfriend spends more time with all these other…other whores than he does with me!”

Lamont lowered his eyes at her, letting his hands fall as if their harnesses had been snipped off, “That’s what this is about? Me talking to other girls? So now I can’t have any other female friends because you’re my girlfriend?” he scoffed scathingly, “Sorry but I didn’t sign up for that.”

“No where in my accusation did I say you’re not allowed to have female friends. That’s where the problem lies! You don’t treat them like friends. You treat them like…like…”

“Like what?” when I failed to respond, he took an intimidating step forward that made me take a cowering step back, “What? What is it that you were going to say?”

I flinched at the loudness of his voice.

“You don’t have to be so loud with me!”

His nostrils flared indignantly, “So you think you can run me now? You think you’re the boss of me? Nobody runs me. Just remember that. Not even you. I try my best to be a good boyfriend to you but all you do is whine. Do you really think you run me?”

“Stop yelling oka—“ my words came to a screeching halt as did my heart when I saw Jun walking through the entrance, oblivious to what was going on. The first thing I noted were the black pair of glasses that he wore. The only times I saw Jun with glasses was in the classroom and if they didn't fit him well then I didn't know what else did. He wore a white sweater wit a v-neck, with its sleeves rolled up to his elbows. The hem was tucked in only at the front to reveal the buckle of a skull and fashionably faded blue jeans. A baseball cap with the school’s logo crowned his head. I surmised his hair was tucked in because I couldn’t see it. One hand held a book by his hip and the other casually stuffed in his jean pocket.

When he saw us, particularly me, he gave me a brief nod of acknowledgment. Even with the pall of stress Lamont had brought me, just him noting that I was there broke the clouds over my head apart to stream a little ray of sunshine. My heart melted and I felt myself blushing only to feel a restricting band over my arm which hurt like hell. So much that I let out a small startled scream as I was roughly grabbed and thrust forward into Lamont’s hard body.

“Are you even listening to me?” he ground out through clenched teeth. His features were a contorted emblem of his fury.

In the blink of an eye the sun that Jun had brought to me slipped behind the clouds of Lamont’s overbearing behavior.

“Stop it!“ I wrinkled out of his hold. Suddenly aware that we had company I looked over at Jun who had stopped dead in his tracks and was staring right at us. Shock was written all over his face.

“You need to look at me when I’m talking to you.“ Lamont ensnared me again, and this time he caught a hold of both of my wrists, pulling them and the rest of my body up to him. The pain was more excruciating because of the watch and bracelet I wore on my right hand.

“Stop it!” I shrilled at the pain of my skin being dug into, writhing against him to try and get free.

“I’m not hurting you damn it. I just want you to listen—“

“Stop it Lamont. Please! You’re hurting me!” my eyes were inflicted with tears and more tears tightened a knot in my throat.

Not wanting Lamont to see that I was about to cry I averted my gaze only to come into contact with Jun once again. His brows were risen and his lips were slightly parted as he took a slow step forward.

Thoroughly embarrassed I turned away from him and faced the wall, unable to believe that Lamont had the gall to treat me that way in a public place. I knew he didn’t know Jun or anyone else for that matter, was there but still. Even behind closed doors him grabbing me like this was not morally right.

Lamont had never hit me, and I don’t think he would ever. But lately whenever I approached him about doing something I wasn’t fond of, he’d snap much quicker than he used to. This was the second time he had grabbed me like this. Other than that, he never put his hands on me.

“Is your leg feeling better?”

The question spoken by a deep voice made both Lamont and I turn to the source. This time when I looked at Jun there was a displeased, stony look on his face.

Lamont immediately let go of me. My hand went over the wrist that hurt and held onto it as though that would stop the caustic pain.

Timidly, I nodded but kept my eyes averted.

“What is he talking about?” Lamont asked.

“Nothing.” I snapped at Lamont. Suspiciously Lamont eyed the two of us before focusing his attention on Jun.

“I don’t appreciate you interrupting me and my woman like that, man.”

I looked up Lamont with reproach, “Lamont!”

“I didn’t know she was your property.” Jun remarked shrewdly, making my jaw go slack to gape at him. I could even feel Lamont’s shock.

“What you say?” Lamont said while lifting his chin arguably.

Jun was clearly unperturbed, his vague expression unwavering by Lamont’s attempt to intimidate him. Rolling his eyes with a heavy sigh, Jun switched the book from one side to the other and unhurriedly walked up to the vending machine, fishing for something in his pocket with his other hand. Quietly, both Lamont and I watched as he fed the vending machine a one dollar bill.

After getting his drink, he surprised me by opening the soda using his teeth. He then reposed languidly against the vending machine and looked at Lamont over the rim of his can with the same collected calm. Nervous energy roiled my stomach because of the thick tension that stiffened the room.

Huffing impatiently, Lamont caught my chin with his fingers and sharply made me turn to him.

“We’ll finish this later.”

Slicing a chilly glare at Jun, Lamont stalked out of the pool area.

The silence that followed was long and dreadful. The only wake sound was the occasional fizz from Jun’s popping drink.

Trying to ward off the awkwardness that surrounded us, I forced a smile and looked up at Jun only to find that he’d been staring at me. My heart jumped at the unsuspected stare.

"I-I see you got new glasses already." I stuttered pitifully. As always, being around him got me nervous. I wouldn’t be surprised if I started speaking in tongues at any moment.

It had been two weeks since our incident, but I hadn't seen much of him because I'd been stuck in my apartment with a cold.

Jun's expression didn't shift, thus making me very uncomfortable.

He just continuously sipped on his drink. It was a while before he finally spoke.

"Does he always treat you like that?" Jun asked with no emotional inflection behind his voice.

The unheralded question made me freeze.

His gaze was penetrating, as if he could see the depths of my soul. That unnerved me greatly. The urge to cry got more and more intense by the second, and without sparing him a look, I made to leave the pool area with festinated steps.

I don’t know why but him seeing me at such a weak and vulnerable moment got to me.

I suddenly wished I didn’t even know him, but by thinking that way I was unfairly taking my frustrations out on him. On a stranger.

Yet, I knew that in some strange way, he had knowingly stuck around because he'd probably figured Lamont would never do anything to put to question his debonair character in broad daylight. He knew that by him staying Lamont would no longer rough handle me the way he’d been doing.

The stranger that I had always watched from afar had saved me.

Right before I reached the door, Jun spoke again.

"Not that it's my business, not that it should be." I turned around to find him crushing his beer can, thus producing many veins up his forearms. My breaths quickened at the sight of his muscular arms. I got mad at myself for reacting to him that way.

Eventually he tossed the crumpled can in the bin before looking up at me nonchalantly, "But if he always treats you like this and you consistently accept it, then you're as much a fool as I already know he is."

Tongue-tied, I stared at him making his way over to me. The jaws of fear bit me from the inside out, fixing me into place so that I couldn’t walk away from him if I wanted to. Even if fear hadn’t been the case, the look in Jun’s eyes made it hard for me to move or even look away. There was something so magnetic about them and I didn’t know what it was.

Angry at myself for melting so easily because I began to smell that heady cologne of his that I'd missed, because I'd missed his hair and eyes, I furled my hands into tight fists at my sides.

"You don't know me. So you can't say something like that..." I told him quietly, trying to keep any heat out of my voice.

When both of us stood in the door frame, Jun tilted his head inquiringly at me.

"Okay then, I'll just ask. Is he always like this?" there was a detached way he talked to me, as though he didn't really care either way. That, coupled with him assuming me a fool, made me defiant.

"That's none of your business." I hissed with recalcitrance, staring at him through a blur of tears that only came to me from remembering how Lamont had treated me...in front of someone else...someone else that I liked...

Never in my life did I think I would snap at Jun like that—much less talk to him. I fractionally regretted it, but then again I didn’t.

Nonetheless, these were one of those times I was reminded of how different we were.

For a long time Jun stared at me with his brows drawn together in skepticism. If I wasn’t so rattled I’d have given him an award for looking so sexy. Goodness, what was it about this guy? Even when he made me beyond nervous and angry my body was able to react to him so strongly. For a second there I thought something was chemically wrong with me.

All the while he held my gaze with his reserved one, he removed a cigarette pack from his pockets and never once taking eyes off of me managed to somehow extract one cigarette from the box.

“You-You smoke?” I don’t know where I found the boldness to ask. It surprised me though that he smoked.

Scoffing at me, he wrested his gaze away from me, and looked away while lighting his cigarette with a silver lighter he’d gotten from his pocket. His textbook was fixture between his chest and arm.

When it was lit, he took it out of his lips and lowered his head until it was only an inch away from mine. My heart had never sped so quickly in my life. I felt myself shrinking beneath him.

“That’s none of your business.”

With that said, he returned his smoldering cigarette between his pink lips and ambled off towards the staircase.

I was left in a stupor.

Wow, you're really good. Your characterization is on spot. I can really imagine him puffing the cig in a somewhat cold manner. I can also vividly imagine him saying "That's none of your business." That's the Jun I imagine he'd be. I love this. Waiting for the next one!

thaanks

Chapter 4

Instead of returning to the café, I sought refuge in the girl’s restroom. There was too much I was feeling at that moment. My feelings ranged from anger to despair. I couldn’t believe that Lamont had manhandled me that way, much less Jun had seen all of it. I found that what bothered me even more than Lamont’s mistreatment of me was Jun’s reaction and his words.

Sniffing, I wiped away any tear residue from my face and willed myself not to cry any longer. The tears were from Lamont’s maliciousness of course. Jun only made me feel dumb, among many other feelings that I chose not to address to save my wilting heart the heartache.

I felt utterly foolish for crushing on someone who could prejudge me that way—telling me I was a fool. He had no right or standing to decide how long this had been going for. Only I knew. And I knew that Lamont wasn’t the type to abuse on a woman. Yeah he might have bullied some freshmen here and there but he never belligerently put his hands on a person unless they asked for it.

Had you asked for it? An inner voice asked.

Rinsing my hands in icy cold water, I ignored the question.

Placing my hands on either side of the sink, I looked at my reflection in the mirror and frowned. I hadn’t been looking good since running in the rain that day had made me sick. Today I had woken up not only feeling but looking ten times better but all of that seemed of no use right now. My argument with Lamont had drained all the energy from me physically and spiritually.

Using my fingers I smoothed down my hair, ready to go back out into the world and face it only for the probing thought that needled the back of my mind to prick me sharply. An image of Jun came into play and I winced.

“That’s none of your business…” the reiterated in my mind like a stuck tape recorder.

Sighing, I tried to ignore the unnatural hurt I felt. I need not feel hurt. After all, we didn’t know each other.

Squaring my shoulders, I looked my reflection right in the eye and decided he was right. He was none of my business.

With my head held high, I made my way out of the restroom with a reformed attitude.

My silly crush on him was officially over.

It was time to think straight and not gush over some skinny guy who didn’t give a damn about my ass.



With a heavy sigh, I slammed my sociology book with a loud thump and wailed for the world to hear.

“But I can’t believe he smokes! He looks too…well groomed to smoke!” when that was finally off of my chest, I sighed a sigh of relief. It had been bugging me all day. What bugged me more was how him smoking seemed to augment my attraction towards.

My gosh this guy was going to be the death of me!

I was getting closer and closer to hating him with each new discovery of him only because each knew discovery made me like him more. I know, I know, I’m complex and confused.

“Okay…” my Gina drawled, rolling her head up from the book on her lap to look at me atop the gold rims of her glasses, “may I ask who you’re talking about?”

I was about to say his name but caught myself, shaking my head to shake the frustration out.

“No one. Nothing. Nevermind.”

“You’ve been acting weird lately missy.”

“Am I being that obvious?”

“No. only blind people can notice that.”

I wrinkled my brow in worry, “Am I that bad?”

Gina mutely nodded.

Covering the stigma on my face with my textbook, I threw my shoulders backwards until my back pounced on the fluffy mattress. Now my book acted as a tent over my face, shielding my shame from the world. When I spoke, the cold pages muffled my voice.

“I embarrassed myself today Gina. In front of him.”

“Who?” she stressed.

“The guy…”

“Who is this guy anyway?”

“That’s not the point,” I unnecessarily snapped, “The point is I’ve been harboring a crush on him for as long as I can remember. I never thought we would ever talk to each other but lo and behold, the way we meet is me bumping into him. Then the next time we meet…” I didn’t want to mention Lamont putting his hands on me because of the violent way I knew Gina would handle the situation, so I hedged, “Today I embarrassed myself again by just looking stupid. Period.”

Although I’d made a covenant with myself not to let the unfortunate encounter I had with Jun get to me, it did. And I would get butterflies in my stomach everytime I thought of how close his face was to me before he’d told me whether he smoked or not was none of my business. I bet if I’d tiptoed a good inch our lips would have met.

The thought made me grab my book at my sides and sit up angrily. Gina was giving me a weird look.

“You’ve got it bad.”

“Oh? You think?” I switched off my faux sweet voice and rolled my eyes.

“Oh what am I gonna do Gina?” I slumped into her bed again, my face on the pillow this time and my text book somewhere else. I think it had dropped. I didn’t really care about a got damn Sociology anymore.

“Well first,” I suddenly felt the bed convulse by my feet, knowing then she’d sat at the edge of the bed, “You’re going to tell me who this guy is that’s got you going crazy.”

“Never!” I screamed playfully into her pillow and she laughed.

“Well then I can’t help you.”

Rolling over, I cast her a dark glance, “Friends don’t bribe friends. Gina I just want him out of my mind. We barely know each other. All I know of him is…just the outward appearance. It’s not even so much of what he looks like Gina. It’s the way he carries himself. There’s something really smooth about him, this self assurance that is just to die for. And then there’s the expressions he makes…he’s so handsome and he makes the cutest little expressions sometimes. And his smile…it’s out of this world. Ugh…I sound stalkerish. I need a break.”

I was seated up in bed with my legs crossed. Gina sat the same way.

“Yeah you do sound stalkerish. This guy has to be Brad Pitt or something.”

“It’s not only what he looks like. It’s this aura about him,” smiling with chagrin, my eyes were absently facing the flower print of her bed, “Maybe it’s just because he’s different. I mean, he’s not like most of the guys that I’m used to…”

“Is he white?” Gina asked pointedly.

Twisting my lips, I wondered whether to tell her or not. Unable to withhold my secret, I nervously wrung my hands together and with my chin close to chest, I answered inaudibly, “No…”

“Huh?”

“I said no.”

“Well damn if he ain’ white…oh my gosh is he gay?”

The weary look that I gave Gina made her laugh softly and nudge me on my shoulder, “Come on, lighten up,” her voice lowered, becoming more serious, “Really though, it seems you really like this guy. You ever thought of approaching him?”

I hang my head heavily to one side, “Um, I’m not that crazy.”

Remembering how indifferent he had been to me today and the time I bumped into him, I sighed and got off the bed. Using my foot I moved the pizza carton over to one side and walked towards the only window in her small bedroom. Placing my hands on the windowsill, I leaned forward and gazed up at the cloudless, starry sky.

It was a Friday night. Instead of going out, Gina had invited me to her dorm to study since her roommate was out of town for the weekend. I lived at the apartments off campus. Without resistance I’d complied to come spend time with her because I knew if I’d stayed home I’d be moping around.

And Jun wasn’t the primary reason.

As a college student, I was running low on money. I was worrying about paying next month’s rent, worrying about my grandmother’s health, worrying that my major in art might be a costly one.

After all that worrying I’d be back to square one reminding myself of my loneliness.

Sighing heavily, I focused on the most effulgent star in the blackened sky, “What is it about stars and moons that make people want to fall in love?”

I wasn’t particularly asking anyone. It was just that I was a hopeless romantic, and looking at the stars always made me think of watching them with someone else who held me close. Yes, I shouldn’t have been longing for such trivialities when I already had a boyfriend. But I had a boyfriend who didn’t care to do all those things as he did getting his hand up my skirt.

For a brief moment I wondered what kind of boyfriend Jun would be…

“Whore, what are you talking about? This guy has got you talking crazy.”

Gina’s voice tore me out of my musings. Blushing guiltily, I looked at her over my shoulder with an apologetic smile.

“Okay, maybe I’m overreacting,” sighing heavily, I turned around and replaced my hands on the windowsill behind me, “I think it’ll pass. I mean it’s probably just me being bored, searching for something to fret over.”

“Yeah. I mean if you don’t go up to him, you just have to live with it.”

I harrumphed, “Trust me Gina, he wouldn’t look at me twice. And even if he did, he’d probably try to fathom how someone so ugly could live amongst the human race.”

She lowered her eyelids dangerously at me and I knew then I would receive a lecture on self-love and confidence if I didn’t rectify my statement. Gina could go on and on for three hours straight lecturing me on how I needed to stop thinking I was unattractive and tonight I didn’t want to hear it, so I quickly jumped to my own aid, “Okay okay okay, no need to feel sorry for myself I know. But how would you feel if a guy who wasn’t of…your kind…I mean…wouldn’t you be at least a bit apprehensive? Even knowing he didn’t talk to people of…your kind.”

“Are you sure he’s not white?”

I shook my head, “It has nothing to do with race really. I don’t know, nevermi—“

At that moment my phone rang the tunes of my favorite artist, Janet Jackson, informing me of a call taking place. Excusing myself, I went to answer it from her work desk where it sat only to feel sick when I saw the caller.

“Lamont right?” I heard Gina guessed probably from the sour look on my face.

Without answering her, I sighed heavily and pondered a few seconds whether to answer it or not. I hadn’t spoken to him ever since he stormed out of the basement. If I saw him around campus I’d duck or simply turn away to discourage any type of contact. He’d been calling me all day but I’d been ignoring him. Against better judgment, I answered it.

“What?” I answered bitingly.

“Okay, I know you hate me, but hear me out.” When I remained unresponsive, he added, “Please. Please baby, hear me out.”

“What do you want, Lamont?”

“To apologize.”

I was actually surprised. Normally, Lamont didn’t apologize to anybody. He was a proud man and felt absolutely no desire to explain himself to anyone. Because this was so unnatural of him, I gave him room to progress.

“Today, man, I was so out of line. I don’t know what came over me. I think I just, I’m paranoid baby.”

I sat down at Gina’s desk, looking at her pleadingly when she gave me a ‘are-you-really-giving-that-asshole-the-time-of-day’ look, “Paranoid?”

“Yeah. it seems like these days everything that I do is wrong. I feel like I’m going to lose you at any moment. I don’t wanna lose you but…it seems like…”

I was frowning deeply now. He truly sounded regretful. I’d never heard him sound this way before.

“You’re not going to lose me Lamont.”

“Am i? you seem so irritated by everything I do these days.”

“Well how would you feel if I strutted around campus arm in arm with another guy?”

He was silent a moment before conceding grudgingly, “I wouldn’t like that.”

“Thank you. Try to see it from my point of view sometimes Lamont. It hurts when you throw other girls in my face and expect me to be all chummy with you the next second. I have feelings you know—“

“Feelings that I care about. Okay trust me, from here on out I’ll try to be better. I swear it. Just promise not to leave me.”

For the life of me I couldn’t understand why I thought of Jun at that moment. Thinking of him then made me realize that this was ridiculous. ‘This’ meaning my crush on him. I then decided it wasn’t so much a crush as it was an attraction. The attraction was dimmed today by his obvious disinterest of me.

Get real Aminata, I said to myself, he sees you as an outsider. You’re not one of him, you never will be. All the daydreaming you’ve been doing since you were born has brought you to a sad place. Get realistic, let it go, and focus on those precious people who are in your life right now.

With that outlook in tow, I decided I’d been making a much bigger deal of my crush on him than it really was.

Smiling, I held the cellphone close to my ear and said warmly into it, “I’m not going to leave you. Not for anything, not for anyone.”

“Thank god. I love you.”

My smile wavered, and I found myself having to force the words back in reciprocation. After talking a bit more, we finally hung up, and when I looked up at Gina, I saw that she was the least bit impressed.

“What?”

“You really fell for whatever crap he told you?”

“Oh Gina cut the guy some slack. You didn’t even hear what he had to say.”

“Let me guess, he made himself sound sorry before laying the guilt trip on you.”

My failure to respond gave her answer. Shaking her head dismally, she returned her gaze back to a fashion magazine she picked up while I was on the phone, mindlessly thumbing through, “I don’t know why you keep staying with a guy who treats you like crap.”

I averted my gaze from her and started arranging the stationary on her desk to distract me, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Yes you do, you’re just forcing yourself to be blind. You know you deserve someone better.”

I looked up at my bestfriend, who was looking back at me with a worried frown. It was so easy for her to say things like that. She was gorgeous. She could always get a new ‘somebody’ with a quick snap of her fingers. It took me eternities to even receive an open crush from anyone.

I smiled sadly at her, “If only guys wanted me…They don’t Gina…”

“Oh honey, trust me, there are guys who’d die for you.” she bobbed her head with an assertive nod and continued to look through her magazine.

“You’re just too stubborn and scared to put yourself out there.”

I can't wait to see what's gonna happen next!
Your writing is so good and the way you portray Jun's character kind of reminds me of Sawada Shin (Which is a good thing because I love Shin!)

And I don't think it's cliche.

thank you

there are small clues in the story of things that will be revealed later lol just thought i'd put that out there.
Chapter 5

The next day when I woke up my spirits were sky high. It had been a long time since I’d woken up with a smile on my face. I didn’t know why I was happy. I just was. For a Saturday morning I woke up unnaturally early, as my waking up hours during the weekend were routinely late. After taking a refreshing shower I picked a hot pink spaghetti strap that stopped right above my navel. A regular attendant of the gym, I used their facilities to keep me in tip top shape, so I had no problem showing off my midriff. My jeans were a pale sky blue with tares at the knees like the kind rockstars wore. I folded the hems a few ways higher than my ankle. My feet slid into stilettos the same screaming pink as my shirt. Large, silver hoop earrings dangled from my earlobes and I slipped a bevy of silver bangles up my wrist. There was no particular occasion today. I was just in a feel good mood and I wanted to enjoy the beautiful spring weather.

Calling up my hairstylist, I managed to goad her into squeezing me in for an appointment despite her busy schedule. Me being a faithful client for ten years worked to my advantage.

I lived in a small apartment on my own. It was right across the school, which made it convenient for me since I didn’t like using my car. The gas prices were crazy so I usually walked to school. If I needed to go somewhere a bit further away I’d take a bus or the subway. I’d cleaned my bedroom that day, which was highly unusual for me. I had a habit of leaving my room messy, but for some odd reason the rest of my apartment was usually clean.

After making sure all the lights were in the house were off, I locked the door behind me. Just as I extracted my house key from the key hole, a lightbulb went on in my head in remembrance. Reopening the door, I dashed back into the apartment to get my Ipod.

I took the bus and the train to the hair salon and in two hours I was as good as new. I’d had the short brown haircut for quite a while and my hair began to outgrow it. I’d decided to die it pitch black and add on long black extensions that went down the middle of my back.

As I walked down the busy streets of Atlanta with my earphones blasting rap tunes into my ear, I realized that having confidence surely made people notice you because I got an array of glances from different guys. Or maybe that’s what I wanted myself to believe.

Devoid of a purse I only had a small wallet, which I kept in my jean pockets. With my hands stuffed in my pockets just to keep tabs on the wallet, I merrily walked down to the bus stop, intending to go pay my boyfriend a surprise visit.

The bus finally arrived and the glass door slid open to reveal a lewdly smiling driver. There were three gaps missing in his mouth where teeth should have been. The rest of his teeth were a sickly bronze color. I shivered in repugnance at the way he gawked at me.

“Hey baby…wanna ride?”

I scrunched my face up distastefully and wondered what had possessed me to dress so saliently that day.

“Come on, we ain’ got all day.”

Sighing, I decided it wasn’t like I was the only person on the bus. A quick look at the windows and I verified there were a lot more people there. If he wanted to kidnap me he’d have to kidnap everybody else. Boarding the short flight of stairs in the bus with my hands on the railing, I nearly regurgitated this morning’s heavy breakfast of pankcakes and cereal from the way he licked his lips at me as though hungry for a saucy meal.

When I was finally at the top, with my hand now on one of the silver poles in the bus, I frowned when I saw that almost all the seats were taken. I was skimming through the bus for a vacant seat and caught my breath when I came across someone that made the hairs on the back of my neck spike up.

There he was, Jun Matsumoto in the flesh. He was sitting by the window with his arm loosely looped around his raised knee, and his hand thoughtfully under his chin. With him looking outward I got a view of his side profile—a few that made my legs melt into gelatin.

The breakfast that I ate suddenly felt like a rolling bowling ball in my gut. I’d have run away if I wasn’t afraid of looking so stupid. The reason why I was so unnerved was because a convenient amount of space was beside him, one that wasn’t anywhere else in the bus.

“Come on now, you may be fine but I got places to go woman.”

The rude words were spoken by the driver, making me realize I had to quit behaving so foolishly. Earphones were plugged into Jun’s ear and I figured we probably wouldn’t be talking to each other anyway, which was a good thing. He appeared rather deep in thought, and although I didn’t want to disturb him, I had to sit because everyone was waiting.

Taking a deep breath, I tentatively went for my designated seat, only for my darkest wishes to come alive when Jun suddenly looked my way as if he’d felt me there. The sudden look made me trip a little bit and just as I bit my lip in mortification and looked away. Oh great! He wanted to laugh at me for my clumsiness!

Holding my head regally high to show I wasn’t fazed, I progressed on, only for the jarring restarting of the bus to make me lose my momentum once again. Gasping lightly, I gripped onto the steel handles of the seats flanking me. What an idiot of a bus driver. He’s not supposed to drive while passengers are still standing. Then again, I’d been staring like a dummy at Jun for what seemed like centuries.

The dark strands from my newly cut bangs fell over my face and when I looked up I could barely see because of them. What I did see was Jun looking around him at the few people snickering at me with a shrewdly. He shook his head at their boorish behavior before. Then he looked at me and did the unbelievable. Sliding out of the vinyl seat, Jun used his hands to balance himself on the back of the chair with the other wrapped around a nearby pole.

When I didn’t move, Jun sighed and swung his head in the direction of the seat as if to say ‘come here already’, making some dark locks of hair fall into his line of view. I’d never seen anything as naturally sensuous as when he gave his head a quick flick to try move the burdensome yet luscious hair away from his eyes.

Biting my lip in consternation, I eventually drudged to where he was stood an