Jasmine

1. 'Brandon Daniels'

2015 (Second Semester)

There's a girl by the name of Jasmine who is both lovely and sweet. But at times she has a bad humour and fiery temper. She barely has friends owing to this unamicable disposition. But, once she finds someone to connect with there is nothing she wouldn't do for the other -- that's how her family in particular knew her to be, and, this is how she is longing for Brandon to see her, trusting that if they started dating it would surely progress to marriage -- hoping that wouldn't scare him off too!

'Hi,

I got your email and think you're a nice girl, but, not for me.

I wish you well on your journey to finding him'.

Take care.

Like a punch to the gut. Jasmine gasps having not anticipated rejection. There's no way she could leave it there, she thinks, typing up a second email. When she has a sixth sense about something she rarely gets it wrong!

This message is not even dignified with a response even six days after sending it. "I guess it's time to give up", she thinks feeling languid the rest of the day.

Tuesday morning at lunch break Jasmine goes to the cafeteria, visiting a place named Theo's. Before her turn in the queue she has a fleeting thought about Brandon. Serendipitous she looks to her left and spots him with his back partially towards her. It seems he has bumped into someone, a girl, by mistake, and is apologising for his part in the collision. Jasmine sees him smile sweetly at the lady and she is overcome with jealousy. It should be her that he's smiling at; her he should be faffing over.

Rejection is hard to stomach Jasmine thinks as she types up another email to him.

I trust you're doing well.

I'm having a hard time accepting that you've turned me down. I've never confessed my feelings towards anyone before you - so this is hitting me a lot harder than I could have ever imagined. I hope you can re-evaluate your decision, or if not tell me something that will make this easier to bear.

Kind regards

Jasmine

In just a few minutes Jasmine receives a response. 

'Unfortunately, I cannot help you seeing as I'm busy and uninterested in getting involved not just with you but anyone in general. 

I wish you well and hope you won't find things as hard to bear for whatever fortuitous reason.

Him merely replying is what soothes her wound. He at least had the heart to make her feel better she thinks smiling although despondent.

She tells no one about the emails - she is too ashamed to even process them.

With blonde hair, blue eyes, pink lips... Brandon is likely to be favoured by many. And there's probably one amongst the many that has caught his eye because in Jasmine's eyes, Brandon was too good looking to be single for long.

Tomorrow it's Jasmine's birthday. Her one wish is to bump into Brandon and that he'll be more amenable towards her.

This does not happen. Jasmine spends the whole day at the computer labs writing and daydreaming about Brandon. It drains her. What she needs, she then thinks, is to find healthy ways to spend her time. Doing what though, she didn't know.

In two months, Jasmine spots Brandon by the Wits Science Stadium. He's walking with a girl whose company he seems to enjoy. 

"She's pretty, but plain," Jasmine examines. "Yet, with their shared features: hair, eyes and skin colour, plus their down to earth appearance - he and she seemed like they were made for each other."

Going past Brandon Jasmine and his eyes interlock, but only momentarily. 

"He looks guilty," Jasmine thinks as he looks down from seeing her. Guilty because here he is walking with a young lady and looking cosy doing so, after he'd told her he wasn't interested in getting involved with anyone. 

Typical man. 

Jasmine never thought highly of them. They are brutish, after one thing and exceptionally egotistical. Brandon's like the rest of them she then thinks distraught, bursting into inconsolable tears.

After a long and tiring day of teaching, studying and being rejected, Jasmine curls up in front of the tv watching her favourite soap opera 'Days of our Lives'. Philip Kiriakis diverts her attention from Brandon - with his sweet dimples and long boy haircut.