Her Ideal Boy

Emotional Delimma

It had been a month since the  commencement of college. Keith had settled into her studies with commendable ease. Her academic excellence shone brightly in her classes, yet an undercurrent of unease persisted. Most of her peers came from affluent families, flaunting their expensive garments and casually mentioning exotic locales Keith could scarcely imagine. Her middle-class origins were of a stark contrast in this world of privilege.

As the weeks pass by, Keith grew more familiar with the college’s environment and the characters within it. However, not all of her fellow students were charmed by her intelligence and competitive nature. There were some who viewed her as a threat, making her adjustment even more challenging.

The enigmatic boy she had glimpsed on her first day remained an elusive figure. Though she had seen him but once, his image lingered in her mind, an intriguing puzzle yet to be solved.

“Hey babe, what are you pondering?” Rose’s voice cut through Keith’s reverie, startling her.

“Oh, Rose, you frightened me!” Keith exclaimed, earning a hearty laugh from Rose.

“I saw you walking towards the library, looking as though you’d seen a ghost!” Rose teased, causing Keith to chuckle.

“No, I was just contemplating the chemistry assignment,” Keith replied, attempting to steer the conversation.

“Dude, you’re a genius! This assignment is no challenge for you!” Rose declared, full of confidence in Keith’s abilities. Keith scoffed but inwardly appreciated Rose’s faith in her.

The girls entered the library and found a table in the middle. Ignorant of the fact that they had seated themselves in front of Tess Brown and Nessy Jane, two girls notorious for their sharp tongues and disdain for anyone who threatened their academic standing. Keith and Rose, with their combined intellect, were prime targets.

As Keith and Rose delved into their assignment, Keith’s attention was momentarily diverted. The mysterious boy entered the library with a companion, heading towards the computer science section.

“So, he’s a computer science major,” Keith mused silently. “No wonder I haven’t seen him in any of my classes.”

Keith was a master at maintaining a composed facade, concealing her emotions behind a mask of neutrality. She didn’t want to give anyone a reason to mock her vulnerabilities. As she watched the boy sit down with his friend, her heart quickened. She noted the precision in his features: a perfectly shaped nose, thin lips, and hair slicked back with a few rebellious strands falling forward. His frameless spectacles framed keen, thoughtful eyes, and his chiseled jawline bore no hint of stubble. He held his pen with a graceful firmness, his veins subtly visible as he scribbled notes with swift precision.

Keith’s fascination was abruptly interrupted by Rose’s voice. “Keith, can you help me with this sum?” Rose’s question brought her back to the present, and she refocused on the assignment, now acutely aware of her surroundings.

Behind them, Tess and Nessy observed with narrowed eyes and whispered disdain. “That girl, Keith, she’s so fat and ugly, but she’s smart. What good will it do her?” Nessy sneered, making Tess laugh.

“Yes, look at her man shoulders and big butt. She looks like she’s already a mom,” Tess added, their cruel laughter just loud enough for Keith and Rose to hear.

The mean-spirited words stung. Keith’s heart pounded as she struggled to maintain her composure. She had never let such remarks affect her in school, but here, amidst the alien environment of college, the barb’s impact was magnified. Ahead of her sat the boy she was secretly enamored with, and behind her, the malicious voices of Tess and Nessy chipped away at her self-esteem.