In-yeon

Chapter 2:- The Past and the Present

6 Years ago

Karishma

"Hey! We have some friends over. Do you want to join us?"

Shit! I forgot her name. It starts with K, but what was it? She is being so polite. She helped me move my stuff earlier and now asks me to hang out.

"Sorry......"

"It's Kendrah. And it's hard to memorize your name, but I will try my best." And saves me from the embarrassment. How kind of her.

"Kendrah! Right... hmm. I have a lot of things to unpack." I struggle with this idea because I must attend my college orientation tomorrow. I want to wrap up everything and clean my room. But this is a new country and new faces. And I am saying no to socializing?

She was about to leave, and I blabbered, "But a few minutes won't hurt. "

I follow her to the living area, where four new faces greet me. My other two roommates are busy getting snacks ready. Kendrah introduced me to all of them and publicly warned Tony to stay away from me. I assume he is the flirty one.

Soon, We all grabbed our drinks and started playing the usual lame drinking games, but this time, they were surprisingly fun and got everyone talking. After downing a beer and losing a few rounds, I said my goodbyes and promised to join the next big gathering.

God! I'm going to love this place. The people are so lovely. Just the other day, I bumped into someone, and he apologized—he apologized for my bumping into him. How absurd! And Everyone is warm and welcoming. I hope to have the fun, loving college experience I never had in India. Over there, it was nothing short of a nightmare.

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Okay! My bed is all set, and my room is clean. Now, I only need some supplies and groceries. What's the harm in going out in my pajamas? The store is right across the street. Yup! I am not going to bother changing.

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Wow! There is not a single young fellow out here. Is this neighborhood for exiled old people? Anyway, let's check the list.

As I filled my cart with paper towels, a voice drifted over from the next aisle, immediately capturing my attention. "Could you please let me shop? Stop! Why do you always act like a child?"

God! Whose voice is that? It's so alluring, husky, and inexplicably sexy. Though it carries a hint of annoyance, the underlying calmness in her tone is soothing. Weird. The authoritative edge feels like a whip. And the accent? Is she from India, too? Should I move to the next aisle to see her? I probably should.

There she is. The moment I lay eyes on her, everything shifts into slow motion. 

She stands parallel to the shelf, her smooth hair obscuring part of her face. A hint of worry is etched across her features, her focus fully absorbed by the shelf. It seems she's deciding which oil to pick. Her hands look soft, almost like she's never done a chore.

Wait. Is she with the man next to her? No way! God, please don't let her fall into the trap of heterosexuality. She belongs to our world. Please...

And Will she ever turn sideways to give me a full view of her face?

Holy Shit! She just moved her hair behind her ear. My heartbeat quickens, and I can feel it pulsing in my throat. I don't know how to describe her or the feeling my gut has infused me with. 

Is she biting her bottom lip in worry? She looks irritated and confused. All these expressions? just for an oil? How can she assault those delicate, beautiful lips that look like fresh petals of rose? The rose I would love to pluck, bite, and keep it all for myself. I can almost feel the sensation of her soft skin under my touch.