To Girls You've Ever Loved | ✔️

Chapter 1

Dahlia Meadows

I enjoyed the blinding lights that came every morning, peaking its way through the windows. It felt so mellow to me like I had a grasp of the sunlight after a while, I was a homebody so I went out when I felt like going out. Right now, I went out since it was the day I had to pick up my daily coffee at the café that was unexpectedly close to where I was living in. Until then, it became my usual hobby to grab a cup of coffee once, twice or even thrice a week. I was really addicted to caffeine that it was my only source of serotonin because of the stress my academics brought for me.

I grabbed my phone and took a picture of the sun along with the pine trees that covered it as the refreshing wind swung past the trees that were in front of me. I then added a caption saying The view here looks so pleasing in the eyes! Currently hanging out in the Brioni Cafe! It didn't feel weird to me that I even shared where I had a cup of coffee. It was my problem, I guess it was valid to reciprocate what Katherine said about being a pathological people pleaser.
I can never get enough attention from people. I hated being unseen.

I walked out of the coffee shop and had a girl who's my age come over to me.
"Hi! Are you Dahlia? Can I take a quick picture with you?" Her grin was enough to show how anticipated she was to take a picture with me.
"Mm, that's fine for me!" I grinned. Her friend took a quick picture, and bid a sweet goodbye. That's what I must have gotten being a girl who literally overshares everything, someone really approached me before I left the place completely.

I had to go home as soon as possible and take pictures of the endorsement products that were sent to me. I called Katherine to go to my apartment as she is the one who helps me manage my account too. She is only my closest friend that I shared my life with, I'd say. Katherine knows single detail about my life. She knows that I hate pickles and tomatoes in my hamburger, how I hate bugs so much they bother me, and how I got robbed off by some dude I had my parents set up for me. There were a lot of journeys that Katherine was included, she was no exception. She's just basically a freelancer photographer, assistant and whatever job may satisfy her.
Her motto in life stays beneath: staying pretty as I'm petty.

"Kat! Are you on your way?" I asked. "I am suddenly craving a donut."
Katherine gasped. "Lia.. diba you just went to a coffee shop? Baka mahigh blood ka."
TR: Lia, you just went to a coffee shop right? You might get high blood.

"If I was to get high blood, it'd be because of you." I let out a loud sigh, full of plead so she could hear it. "Okay, fine. Thank god I still had a little bit of patience even if you call me everytime I go there and say what you want me to bring–" I cut her mid sentence and said, "Whatever, just come now. You always take forever to be on the way."

She then arrived at my apartment, holding a box of dozens of donuts. I grinned, locking my eyes with the donut and quickly unboxed it. As I was to bite it, my saliva dripping out of my mouth, a stubborn hand grabbed it. "Eat it later, let's take a picture first!" I rolled my eyes and lazily stood up.

I took a product that's about a facial cleansing product, and quickly posed as I held it. Hearing praises as I move an inch of a movement, they were all coming from Katherine. A ring from my phone interrupted our photoshoot for sponsorship. I got a glance and it's written Papa, it immediately felt like a void of hazard. "Shit, it's my papa Kat. Quiet for a moment." I grabbed my phone and carefully answered his call, I coughed as I talk to him. "Papa, why'd you call? Is there anything you need-" A loud shout came from him. "Dahlia! What's this photo of yours?! Why are you half naked? It's close to being almost, and nearly naked!" He said in a loud, discerning mannered voice.

"Pa, chill. I wasn't naked or almost or nearly. I was just wearing a bikini!" I facepalmed as I answered him. "Still! Your aunts asked about it! She saw it." This is the problem. My life in media was completely exposed to my relatives which made them more updated on my life. I couldn't blame them. I guess wearing a bikini is too offensive to my Filipino relatives. They were too obsessive with my family's life, they knew how I was living here peacefully as I have moved out of Philippines. I miss my country, but my experience with its people was hell.

He told me, and continued. "How's your application to Hamptons University. Any news?" with a questionable tone.
"The application results are coming out tonight, Pa. I'll tell you and Mama any news once I see it, okay!" I assured him with a affirming yet petrified tone. "I'll go now, Pa." I looked at my phone and ended the call. I stared at Katherine who was looking at me the entire time, with her mouth wide open. "The results are gonna be out tonight?! Sweetie, you did not tell me anything." Katherine added.

"I'm not even excited at all, I need to pass or else I'm going back to my house and lose this apartment. I promised them one thing, it's to pass an entrance exam for this school." while looking worried. "You're be just fine girl, ikaw pa."
TR: You're gonna be just fine girl, it's still gonna be you.

I didn't know if this was going to be the start of my problem or start of a new beginning.
Though, it felt like the beginning, a good one.