Today is the third time you take the exact same table in the bar, your two best friends by your side, Kai and Chloe are drinking their cocktails, just like you are and you felt contented and excited to be back on campus. Most students might find you weird for looking forward to the new semester, but they probably don't hate spending their summer with their family back at home.
You do. You really hated it.
College was your escape from your family, especially your parents. You were happy spending every minute away from them, but they didn't get the hint and always called you.
The bar was full with students, it was a popular place on the campus and you notice familiar faces from some classes and the cafeteria.
"Are you okay?" Chloe asked, poking your side and you turned to face her as she mixed her drink with her straw.
You were close with Kai too but Chloe knows what you went through with your family. You didn't share details of your trauma with everyone, but Chloe was there when you needed her. She listened to you have a breakdown about your family drama that happened when your sister got engaged last year.
Your sister has been your enemy since day one, but not because she was mean or a bad sister, but because your parents made you hate the idea of her.
They planned to have one child. One perfect fruit from their love. That was your sister, Courtney. She was first in everything since she was born. Since she was born, she lived up to every dream your parents had. A gymnast, a dancer, good grades and now she was in Harvard, working in your parents company with her disgusting fiancé Tom.
You weren't part of their plan, but four years later you surprised them. They didn't expect to have a second child, nor did they want one and you knew that. But they dealt with your arrival and tried to make you another Courtney. They expected you to be like her, to reach the same achievements and they didn't care that you were a whole different person.
You were terrible at gymnastics and you were an okay dancer. You would've preferred music to dancing but they forced you to dance until you graduated from high school. You weren't top in your class, you didn't have bad grades and you were a good student, you just weren't the best in the class and it was fine by you.
But not your parents.
They never kissed the chance to bring up how Courtney was better at everything. Of course she out did you in activities, she chose them but you were forced into them.
Growing up, you just wanted to make them happy. You wanted them to look at you the same way they looked at Courtney, but it rarely worked. You realised you'll never be like her and you don't what to be.
"Yeah, I'm okay" You smiled at her, picking your drink up from the table.
"Happy to be back?"
"Yes" you laughed. "It's great to be alone at home"
"The privilege of having a place to yourself instead of living in a dorm" you sighed dreamily
"I offered you a thousand times to take the spare room and live with me"
"But you wouldn't accept my money for it and I don't want to rip you off" She said, giving you a knowing look.
"You wouldn't be, you know that-"
"That your dad pays for the place. It would still feel wrong"
You rolled your eyes. You lived in a two bedroom apartment close to the campus, it was the only good thing your parents gave you. Your Dad thought it would be degrading if you lived in a dorm with another person, that's the only reason you have your own place.
