Their Parallel Universe ✓

Chapter 02

It is a few minutes past seven o'clock in the morning, and students are starting to pile up at SDV University. A Triumph Bonneville, with its rider and a passenger, stops at the campus's designated parking space for motorcycles.

The shorter person at the back hops off first as soon as the driver turns off the bike's engine. Taking off their helmet, long and curly ash brown hair tumbles past a young woman's shoulder. She places the helmet on the pillion seat, careful to not let it fall, so she can remove her jacket and gloves. And then, she thrusts the garments in her large backpack full of art materials, before looking at her companion who just finished locking his own helmet to the motorcycle's handlebar.

"Did you dye it again, Eujae?"

Eujae turns to her, eyes behind amber contact lenses looking puzzled for a moment. When he realizes what he was asked, he instinctively ruffles his hair. "Oh yeah. It's golden bronze. Does it look weird?"

The woman shakes her head as she answers, smiling, "Nah, I think it's fine. You can pull off any hair color or style anyway. Oh, and it's nice that it matches your contacts today."

Eujae smirks while pulling off his black gloves. "There's a reason why you're my favorite cousin, Lia."

"I'm your only cousin though." Lia giggles. She watches as her cousin picks up her helmet from the motorcycle's back seat to shove his gloves in it. Unlocking the top box, Eujae grabs a sling bag inside and replaces it with the helmet. He also takes off his biker jacket and secures it with the helmet and gloves.

Together, the two turn to leave the parking space.

"But seriously, Eujae," Lia starts a conversation again while they are walking on campus's pedestrian corridor, "I kinda miss your bad boy look era when we were still in high school. It was just amusing to see the gap between your appearance and personality that time. Too bad, you stopped with that style when we entered college."

Shrugging, Eujae answers, "That's because a lot of professors told me to tone it down with the styling since it doesn't fit my good student image." He runs a hand on his medium-length hair before continuing, "One particular professor even said I am not some kind of pop idol and told me to stop trying hard to look like one. She's a fan and I think she just couldn't accept the fact that I am a lot more handsome than her idols."

Lia laughs and playfully punches her cousin's shoulder. "Stop joking. But yeah, I remember you still had your black long hair with silver highlights during our first few weeks here. Oh, do you remember our first day in college? You were so pretty with your messy man bun that day. I can't forget because it was one of my favorite looks of yours."

As his cousin relives their first day in college, Eujae frowns. For a completely different reason, even he cannot forget that day. How could he when it was one of his worst days? It was the day a certain immature asshole spilled paints all over his clothes and broke his tablet. He could have easily forgiven it because he knew it was an accident but not only did the aforementioned asshole refuse to apologize, he even had the nerve to blame Eujae and accuse him of blocking the hallway.

"Good morning, L.A."

Speak of the devil.

Eujae doesn't need to look at the owner of the voice to know who it is. There is only one person who is childish enough to greet other people and leave Eujae out of it as if he is invisible.

The cousins turn around and are greeted by the sight of the Torres twins and Tem's boyfriend, Cloud, behind them.

Lia, Tem and Cloud greet each other in unison.

Eujae nods and returns the couple's greetings before he glances at Poll, expecting him to be pretending that he doesn't see him at all. What meets him instead is the male twin looking daggers at him. Oh, if looks could kill.