Nothing in this World

chapter 1

third person:

Winter started way before it was meant to that year in London. The city was covered in a thin layer of snow. People rush in the busy streets to navigate their way to their places of work, or to maybe even get a cup of coffee to warm their insides before they sit down for God knows how long at work.

Lina knew she should've ordered whatever she wanted, but she didn't find it in herself to bother someone this early in the morning, especially with the cold breezes that swept by in irregular intervals, growing stronger each time. Picking up her coffee and her sandwich, she left the warm confines of the cozy café and began her short walk back home when her phone started ringing. Balancing her coffee and the brown bag in one hand, she took out her phone seeing "dumbass 🐶" flashing on the screen. With a small smile on her face, she answered the call and immediately held the phone away from her ear to protect her poor eardrums. "BITCH WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU?! I CAME HOME TO SEE NO TRACES OF YOU. Did you finally get kidnapped or something? Fucking finally, some peace of mind." Alex's regular velvety voice screeched in between the conversation Lina knew he was having with himself by the end. "Calm your ass, I just went to get coffee and something to eat, and no, I didn't get kidnapped," Lina said, accompanied by the signature roll of her eyes. "Don't roll your eyes at me miss." he knows me too well. maybe I should murder him and make it look like an accident. "Don't even think of murdering me, Lily." aish this boy. The two best friends bickered for a while until Lina reached home where Alex was waiting for her.  

She could finally see her house in the distance. She hung up her call with Alex and walked towards the tall iron gates. She was her cheerful self when she was at home. Giving a small smile and bowing to the guard, Lina made her way to the front door, where she could see Alex waving his hands up and down seemingly trying to get her attention. this boy Lina thought to herself as she saw the 6-foot, 22-year-old kid trying to get her attention as he was all hopped up on sugar this early in the morning. "You know, you need to work out more because you're so fucking slow" Alex screamed as she reached the front door. "How are you already high on sugar this early?" Lina retorted with a roll of her eyes (a/n: we found our mc's signature move yall). "You keep rolling your eyes, and you might find a brain back there" Alex snatched the brown paper bag Lina had in her hands and rummaged for his usual coffee. "Well, maybe it's yours. Also, you're not getting your coffee right now, because you're already high as fuck, I don't think I can handle an Alex that's high on sugar as well as coffee." Lina snatched the paper bag from Alex's hands and walked inside the warm confines of her home. She didn't like how her house was always referred to as a "Mansion" by passers-by. Mansions are known for having a cold atmosphere, but not her house.

The Jeong Residence was always welcoming to others in her opinion. The warmth radiating off the walls that were filled with childhood pictures of her and her older brothers lined the entirety of the house. The stairwell walls, however, were lined with family pictures of when her mom was alive, and when her aunt and uncle, and cousins came over every summer vacation to their home; an unspoken ritual among the Jeong family. As she ascended the stairs to her room, Lina looked longingly at the family portraits curious as to when they'd all get together again.

She tuned out Alex's rambling as she knew it wasn't anything important. Although she was a tiny bit concerned as he was bouncing off the stairs talking about God knows what, probably stories about his boyfriend, what's his name? She should've listened more to Alex when he was ranting about his first boyfriend. Yes, her best friend was gay and she was proud to have been the first person to know about his sexuality even though he told her about the revelation when he was drunk. Though the next day she acted as if nothing happened, Alex sat her down and told her everything when he was sober as well because he knew what he told her when he was intoxicated, but he also knew she would never ask him straight to his face because she would want him to come clean himself. Yes, she was happy for her best friend having found someone who didn't judge him for how he was and what all he went through, but she was a disaster at remembering names. "Alex?" Said boy turned to her rather quickly, giving her whiplash at the speed his neck turned towards her. He waited for her to go on, raising an eyebrow, giving her the signal to speak. "What was your boyfriend's name?" Alex looked at her with a gaping mouth, opening and closing his mouth like a fish. Alex's reaction had her concerned at first, but then she knew he would understand. Alex breathed out a long sigh and answered her question, "Ashton. His name's Ashton. Please don't forget anymore." "No promises" Lina had a goofy grin across her face, to which Alex responded with a shake of his head. Ashton. i promise i won't forget this time. 

The bickering friends entered Lina's room and made their way to the window seat, which had almost a dozen books lined neatly in the bookcase. Lina was proud of her room. She designed it when she was young, and even though it was small and compact, she was comfortable in her own space. Lina was sitting looking outside to the backyard, as Alex sat across her and saw that she was spacing out a lot of times. He smiled softly to himself, as he took out a book to read, He knew she would tell him what was going on in her mind when she felt like it and knew not to push her.

After about 30 minutes, Alex suddenly came to a realization. With his eyes as wide as saucers, he looked at Lina and shouted something that had her come back to reality. "Break's over. We have college tomorrow. Bitch how the fuck-" we have college tomorrow?!! oh shit- Lina thanked all the Gods above for having done her homework well in advance. But with the way Alex was freaking out, she didn't know if he didn't do any of the work, or if it was for an entirely different reason altogether. "Why are you freaking out? Knowing you, I wouldn't think you would've missed doing any of your homework. So, what's up?" "Did you not listen to what I was telling you when we were climbing the staircase?" Lina looked at him sheepishly and he knew she didn't listen to a thing he told her.  "The infamous Kaleb Hawthorne is coming back to our university." "The who-?!" "Don't tell me you don't know Kaleb Hawthorne." "Is it necessary to acknowledge him by his full name? And no, I don't know him(?)" "Gurl, have you been living under a rock?" "Okay stop with the suspense and just tell me who he is-" "Kaleb Hawthorne. Rebellious. Cold. Narcissistic. And thinks he has the world in the palm of his hands. He used to go to our university but dropped out in between for some unknown reason. He's like the resident bad boy if this were a Wattpad fiction story." "Damn- How come I haven't heard of this guy?" "Well let's not dwell on your lack of social skills Lily." good point. "So, tell me why you're freaking out about this guy again-?" "Well, he used to hang out with Arthur and his gang." "Oohh that guy has something else waiting for him if he thinks he can mess with you again." Alex was terrified of Kaleb because he thought he would treat him how Arthur did, yes, but right now, he was more terrified of the murderous glint in Lina's eyes. "Lily, please don't plot a murder right now." "I'm not- What makes you think- Yeah, fine." *cue eye roll* "If the guy even dares to come near you, I swear to all the Gods above-" "I know, I know. Thanks Lily." "You know I always have your back." "Right back at ya bestie." "Ew-" The room was soon filled with laughter and gossip coming from Alex.

After a while, Alex had to go back home, because his mom was so close to filing a missing person's report. Lina was exhausted, to say the least, and the dread of going back to hell *ahem COLLEGE* didn't help with how she was feeling altogether. After dinner, she thought of reading a bit, but with her mind occupied with college, she just ended up reading the same line again and again, without even registering what was happening in the novel. Finally, she closed the book and packed her bag for the next day, and went to bed. oh God- please at least let me get through tomorrow.