𝙇𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙨 𝙊𝙛 𝙃𝙞𝙨 𝙇𝙞𝙛𝙚

prolong 2.1( Ira)

There's something so liberating but so scary at the same time about moving to a different country at the age of 19. Alone.

All my parents ever wanted was for me to be happy, so when I applied to the international program at Cambridge they were proud of my decision. When I got in, they were just as happy as me if not more. I am sure they cried their hearts out. I did too in the plane. But like I said, they wanted whatever made me happy. 

The first couple of weeks I was a tourist. Just exploring the country. Eating good food. Meeting new people. And settling in. And then college began.

As much as I love what I am studying, I'd be lying to myself if I said that it was easy. It was anything but. The occasional weekend parties were a stress reliever for my roommates. I never went, primarily because I don't drink and because it's just too much for me sometimes. But two months into the first semester I went to one. And that's were I met him.

I was walking up the stairs, there were some guys there including him. That's when a guy grabbed my ass, I so wanted to punch him. Lucas got to him before me. After making the guy apologize to me, he led me outside to get some air.

" You didn't have to do that", I didn't look at him.

" I know, My mom raised me good I guess".

I nodded, still didn't look at him
" I am Lucas btw. Everyone just calls me Luke ", he tried to engage in a conversation again.

" I am Ira. It's nice to meet you Lucas ", I don't know why but I just can't seem to look at him.

" Please look at me", I snapped my head up to look at him at the veiled vulnerability in his voice.

" Hi", he whisper looking into my eyes.

" Hi", now I can't look away from him.

My friends interrupted us then, I was mildly annoyed but I didn't show. Lucas did though. He had a frown on his face when I said goodbye, it was so cute.

Now that I know him, it's like he's everywhere. We saw each other a lot for the next one month before he finally asked me out. I said yes.

Maybe it was because of my major, literature, or because I talk about books a lot. Our first date was in a bookstore, I talked about books all day and he listened. After the bookstore we went to a restaurant to have dinner. He talked about himself, his home, his parents, his friends, even his ex girlfriend and I listened. It was perfect.

Our second date was 30 minutes long. It was after one of my classes and before one of his. We bought subway and Starbucks, sat underneath a tree and talked some more.

This became a routine for us, hanging out at every possible time, studying together even though we were studying different topics. He got me coffee every morning, I buy lunch when we have our mini picnics. Eventually hanging out with him became the best part of my day.

On our 6th main date, for which we travelled to London together during the weekends, Lucas asked me to be his girlfriend, mere ten feet from where Gwen Stacy died in Peter Parker's arms. I said yes.