Not Just A Love Story

Chapter 1

LAUREN


Life is boring when you don't get what you want. We ignore the exciting parts of life while being busy and gloomy about everything else.

With a groan, I rubbed the sleep off my eyes when I felt hot sun rays on my face, peeking through the windows. Reluctantly, I got up and sat on the bed but continued to sleep with my eyes closed, as if I could.

Shaking the sleep off, I looked around my messy room and mentally decided to clean it tomorrow. It's not like I have any plans today, but I think I have a habit of postponing the tasks.

Glancing at the clock, I sighed when it was still eight in the morning. I contemplated between waking up and being productive all day or just taking another nap. Giving in to the latter option, I returned to my bed and closed my eyes, and just as I was entering my very own dreamland, reality pulled me back with my mom's voice followed by her footsteps.

"Lauren!"

I got up from my bed in a blink when I heard my mom's voice and wearily walked to the door to open it.

"You haven't woken up yet?" She asked me, pulling her eyebrows together and giving me a scary look. I stood in front of her with a cheeky smile, not knowing how to answer her question, and before I could, thank God, she spoke again.

"Fresh up and come down quickly." She spoke, and after getting a quick 'yes' from me, she walked away, and I closed the door with a sigh.

I decided to give up on my cat nap for now and walked toward my bathroom to start my day.

After getting dressed in a dark green sweatshirt paired with black jeans, I looked in the mirror, brushing my brown wavy hair down and countless thoughts raced in my head. My life has always been simple until now. A mother who is strict but deep down I know she loves me. And my father is also a nice man. He has always been there for me and loved me more than anyone else ever could.

I have always led a comfortable life with my father being a businessman and my mother being one of the best doctors in the city. My life is content with my family and a best friend. I have never seen the real world, at least not from my view. It has always been through a peephole and I'm not sure if I even want to. But now that I'm twenty-four, my future looks uncertain with me being jobless.

But the reality is harsh to everyone. No matter the rich or poor, when something is not meant for you, it will never be yours. It's been almost three months, and I haven't grabbed a job yet. I thought the job search would be a cakewalk, but it's not. And somewhere along the way, it's hard to accept that you are not getting what you want.

Not now. I spoke to myself, taking a few deep breaths, and my head felt free for now. I smiled looking at my reflection, and a new hope grew inside me with this new day. With a final glance at my reflection, I walked downstairs.

My father was sitting at the dining table, talking to his secretary on the phone. I walked in and took a seat beside him. He gave me a smile when he saw me and ended the call after a minute.

"Good morning, sweetheart."

"Morning, Dad." I smiled at him and he returned the gesture.

"So what are your plans for today, honey?" I turned towards him and cleared my throat before answering.

"I don't know, Dad. I've applied for a few companies and am currently waiting for their response." My father nodded at me.

"Just to let you know, my offer still stands, Lauren." He muttered, sipping his coffee.

I sighed at his words, not knowing how to respond. I would love to work for his company, but I just wanted to do something on my own. I don't want to get something just because I'm his daughter.

"I can't work in your company, Dad." He simply stared at me.

"Why can't you, Lauren?" He asked me with a frown, and before I could, my mother beat me.

"Because if she joins, your company will go bankrupt in no time. Isn't it Lauren?" I sighed when I heard my mother's voice.
Here she comes...

"Jane..." My father tried talking, but my mother interrupted him.

"Is that even a dress, Lauren? Can't you just dress properly at least for once?"

I looked down at my jeans and sweatshirt and looked up at her again. Please don't tell me; she is expecting me to wear a corset and a gown with an ancient handfan in my hand.

"What is wrong with this? This is comfortable." I shrugged my shoulders, avoiding her eyes.

"Jane, don't be so hard on her. I'm getting late. See you later." My father spoke to my mother before kissing her on the head.

"See you later, sweetie." he gave me one of his warm smiles before leaving.

I took a look at my mother from my seat to see her still glaring at me. I quickly looked away and started eating my pancakes. I searched for maple syrup on the table only to find it at a distance from me.

I tried reaching for the syrup from my seat and gave up when I couldn't reach it. I was eating the pancakes reluctantly when the syrup was placed in front of me by my mother.

"Can you be any lazier than you are, Lauren?" She shook her head at me, and I gave her a small smile before using the syrup.

"Thanks, mom."

She was about to continue the lecture when her phone rang.

"Yeah. I'm coming." She ended the call. I did a little dance when she packed her bag and stood up to go. As my mother is one of the best doctors in this city, she spends a lot of time in the hospital. You will not see me complaining in that matter. I'm glad that she is busy because I'm not ready to get an earful from her every hour.

"I have to go," she spoke to me before walking out of the room.

My mother is quite a personality. She is strict and caring at the same time. But I know that no matter what, she loves me and will always be there for me. Let's just say I and my mother have a love-hate relationship.

***

I completed my breakfast quickly and opened my phone to check if I got any mail from any companies regarding my job. I sighed when I didn't get any responses yet.

Although I could work in my dad's company, I just didn't want to work there. I just wanted to do something where my mother couldn't breathe down my neck.

I returned to my bedroom and opened my phone again to check if I'd gotten any messages from my friends. I don't know why I still bother checking when I hardly get any messages. Except for my best friend, Alice.

I decided to pass the time by scrolling through my social media for a few minutes and I ended up browsing for a few hours. Such a procrastinator, I am.

***

It was almost evening when my phone rang. I answered it when I saw that it was my best friend, Alice. Alice has been my friend since we were five.

"Hello."

"Guess what?" I heard her excited voice on the other side.

"I don't want to guess anything, Alice," I spoke, leaning back in the chair, and looking at my laptop.

"Seriously Lauren? Whatever. I'll just tell you... I got a job." I stayed silent at first, but once I registered what she said, I sprang up in my chair with a huge smile.

"Don't tell me you bribed someone to give you a job." I joked, and she laughed at my words, which made me smile in return.

"Oh please. I don't need to. I just sent a few sample designs to this company, and they liked it, and then boom, I got the job." She spoke with an excited undertone, and it was nice to hear her happy.

"I'm happy for you, Alice."

"I know you are. Let's meet at the 'Hotshot' within an hour, what say?" She spoke.

"For god's sake, Alice, can you just let it go now? I mistakenly called it 'hotshot' for 'hotspot'. You don't need to bring it up all the time." I huffed at her.

"Oh Lauren, I love teasing you. It makes me happy. What are best friends for if not teasing?" she chuckled.

"Whatever. See you soon," she muttered a bye and ended the call.

***

I was sitting currently at the hotsh—no, no, no hotspot—waiting for Alice. I had been sitting here for just five minutes when I saw Alice walking in.

"I'm so sorry, Lauren. How long have you been waiting for?" she quickly asked once she settled.

"I have been here for almost 30 minutes, Alice." I lied, fake glaring at her, and looped my hands in front of me.

"Oh... I got caught up in the traffic, Lauren." She gave me a cheeky smile and apologized.

"Whatever," I ignored her, hiding the smile that was creeping up on my lips, and ordered for us. It's a payback for teasing me earlier.

"So, what is the situation with your job?" she asked me.

"I applied for a few companies and nothing yet." She nodded her head at me.

"How is Mrs. Miller doing?" I asked her after a moment.

"She is still trying hard to cope with her new reality." She sighed after a moment of silence and gave me a small smile.

Last year, Alice's parents met with an accident, and unfortunately, her father couldn't make it and died. Her mother healed physically, but mentally, she is still suffering.

"She is going to be okay, Alice. She is a strong woman. Don't worry." I tried reassuring her. She nodded at me and smiled.

I stayed silent while Alice looked like she was reliving every moment she spent with her mother and the way her face changed, I could tell she was hurt by everything that happened. After moments of silence, I spoke again.

"Do you remember Natasha from high school?" I tried changing the topic

"Yes."

"She broke up with her boyfriend." I voiced my shock.

It's not like she is interested in some breakup story of a decade-old friend. I know she will take anything now to distract herself from the past and live in the present.

"Seriously? Why?" She asked me as if that's the most important topic in the world.

We continued chatting for some more time about almost everything. We finally decided to call it a day. When the bill arrived, I peeked at it before pushing the bill gently to her side.

She looked at the bill and pushed it back towards me with a tight smile. I frowned at her and pushed it again towards her side.

"You are so childish." She shook her head at me, taking out her purse.

"I was just kidding, Alice. Let me pay." I took the bill from her.

"No, Lauren. That's fine. Let me pay." She replied.

"It's okay, Alice. I'll pay." I tried taking the bill from her hand.

"Sure." She replied, placing the bill in my hand.

"No... You were supposed to say, 'Let me pay.' Where are your manners, Alice?" I lectured her like a mother while she rolled her eyes at me.

"And let you continue playing this childish game? No thanks. Pay the bill and meet me at the parking lot. I'll drop you." She spoke, and I shook my head at her.

I paid the bill and met her at the parking. We continued talking throughout the drive, and I got off when we reached our house. I muttered a bye and walked towards my house.

I saw that it was almost night when I reached the front door. Not only that, but I was quite happy today. Seeing her and talking to Alice made me happy because I missed our bickering and fights. She is capable of instantly brightening my mood and making my day better.

I opened the door with my key and walked in to see my parents sitting with someone. He was an old man who was about six feet tall with a wrinkled face. When he saw me, he gave me a warm smile, and I returned his smile.

My mother ushered me in, and I walked in to sit beside her.

"I need to go, Mike. I'm sure I'll meet you soon." My father nodded at the new stranger and stood up.

The old man stood up and walked towards me.

"I'll meet you soon, my dear." He added, about to walk away but stopped, "And don't forget me, my name is James Kingston."

I nodded at him, unsure of what to do, and he smiled at me for a final time before leaving me alone with my confusion. I turned towards my parents, and I noticed they were somewhat nervous.

"What's wrong?" I raised my eyebrows to get an answer.

I shouldn't have asked that...

Little did I know that their answer would change my life forever.

Author's note

thank you for reading.

So.. How was the first chapter?