Way Back To You-Completed

PART 1

Knock! Knock!

The constant rasping on the door became unbearable and Meranda ran through the hallway and hurriedly unbolted the door. Without even looking at the person standing at the door, she walked back to the courtyard. 

'Tsk!Tsk! you should always look through the peephole before opening the door. You are home alone for god's sake,' David's voice drifted through the long hall and Meranda picked up on a few words.

'Don't worry. The way you knock on the door is not something a normal person does. You take the door to be your taekwondo opponent. Poor door!' Meranda answered.

David jogged through the hall and walked to the courtyard. He squinted his eyes and covered them as soon as the bright sun rays hit him. He casually walked near the kitchen garden and kneeled beside her.

'Tilting the land for turnips?'

'Yes. How did you show up today?'

'Nothing. I just wanted to see you.'

'Did you bunk your classes today?'

 'Yes. How could I go to college if my best friend is not there?' David gave a tight smile. Meranda chuckled and shook her head. 

After fifteen minutes, they tilted the land and were about to water the soil, when David spoke up, 'I won't go to college from tomorrow.' 

Meranda abruptly turned her head and looked at him with a peculiar expression. Slowly, she mumbled, 'What do you mean?'

'Yes, I am changing college,' David didn't dare to look into her eyes.

'Why?'

After a minute, he replied, 'My dad went bankrupt and so he can't afford my fees. We will be returning to our ancestral estate tomorrow...I came...to say goodbye.'

'Wait, how could this happen? Our parents are business partners. How could this happen? Why didn't I know about it?' Meranda rubbed her forehead agitated.

'...Because your father was responsible for it. He cheated on my dad,' David stammered as he tried to get the words out of his throat.

'What? How dare you call my dad a cheater?'

 Meranda was appalled at the accusation abruptly thrown at her father. She immediately picked up the water hose and in a few seconds, David was completely drenched from head to toe.David gaped at her before he shook violently and cursed, 'Then that's it. It ends. I was here to only tell you that we won't ever meet again. Be happy. Goodbye, Merry.'

Meranda was startled at his sharp comments and moved back a few steps. She desperately called out, 'David?' 

Seething in anger, he had already jogged back to the front door. He banged on the door and ran through the hallway until he realized, he was standing at the end of the driveway. He took a sharp turn and leaned against the bare walls of the dark alley. Trying to calm his ragged breathing, he rubbed his forehead with his left hand and angrily kicked the small pebble in front of him. His mind was chaos and his predominant thought was "Sorry,...there was no other way...sorry."

5 DAYS LATER...

'Merry! Merry! Come down quickly. Dinner is ready,' Mrs. Fritz shouted from the kitchen counter.

Five minutes later, a white-faced Meranda appeared at the dining table and sat down next to her father, who was sitting with a newspaper in his hands. Her cheeks were tear-stained and her pink lips were swollen. Her father pulled down the newspaper and eyed her sternly. He pursed his lips as if contemplating whether to say it or not.

 A moment later, he spoke, 'You are going to a new college tomorrow and you are going to stay at the dorm.'

Meranda's right hand froze in mid-air. She instantly looked at her father, who bore only a solemn expression. She turned to her mother, who was sitting opposite to her, for any kind of mirth. But her expression was blank and her eyes looked down.

'I have never been away from you. Why are you doing this now? I know I am an adult but...'

'It is for your good. We will leave the city after we drop you. We will come to see you often,' Mr. Fritz answered.

'I...I...you didn't ...give me some time.'

'I am sorry, honey. This is our only option,' Mrs. Fritz looked at her with red eyes and gave her a small smile.

The heaviness of losing a best friend was already stirring up extreme anguish within her, now the sudden separation was too much for her to bear and she ran back to her room. After she finally closed the door, she laid herself on the gray bed and cried herself to sleep.

NEXT DAY...

 Warnsbury College was magnificent. It had the aura of strict disciple and a minuscule of misconduct could result in severe punishment. Silence enveloped the whole area. 

Meranda's parents bade her goodbye at the college gate and hastily handed over her luggage to the guard standing at the gate. He picked up her luggage and directed her to follow him closely or she might get lost in her way. As they went past the back of the school building, he took her to another half-dilapidated building and stopped at the entrance. He took out a paper from his pocket and ordered to follow him. 

When they reached the third floor, the guard said dryly, 'It is the time of Spring Break. Your school commences next Monday. You still have a week. Hence, they are only a handful of staying back. You would be lucky if there is someone in your room. At least it wouldn't feel too deserted.'

Meranda hung her head in despair and only hummed in response. The guard stopped in front of room 55 and instinctively looked at the lock. There was no lock, and he murmured, 'You are lucky enough. Maybe you might still have a friend.'

Meranda huffed and slightly knocked on the door. Surely enough, she heard the sheets shuffle, and there was a soft click. A petite, tattooed girl appeared in front of her. The guard nodded and left immediately. 

The tattooed girl cocked an eyebrow and asked, 'New here?'

Meranda nodded in response and walked inside.

 The room was a complete mess. Meranda momentarily closed her eyes and huffed. She slowly started unpacking her luggage.

'Did you join as a sophomore? Don't you think it is a little too late?' she asked, 'By the way, I am Pierre.'

'Family problems,' Meranda answered solemnly, 'I am Meranda Fritz.'

'Nice, it reminds me of "Tempest".'Meranda suddenly broke out into a fit of laughter and Pierre joined her too.

'You surely got a good sense of humor,' she remarked.

 'Yeah, childhood trait! Get ready. We'll venture out in the compound.'