"𝐑𝐄𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐍 𝐎𝐅 𝐋𝐎𝐒𝐓 𝐌𝐄𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐒" followed by Chasing Love is finally here!
One year ago, Samanun Freen vanished without a trace, making Mon devasted and heartbroken. Just as Mon thought she was getting better, Samanun reappeared. Stran...
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I was utterly drained, so I went to bed earlier than usual.
Tomorrow was my first day at Greystone College, kicking off my freshman year. My grandma had gotten me in, but honestly, I wasn't all that thrilled about it. I couldn't even pinpoint why. I woke up with a mix of excitement and fear. The thought of a new environment and a bunch of new people made me uneasy. Crowded places had never been my thing. Nobody knew why, not even me.
For about a month now, I'd been plagued by this strange headache that hit at random times. I tried talking to my grandma about it, but she just dismissed it as stress. Maybe she was right. Hmph. Maybe. The driver dropped me off at the massive gates of Greystone. Woah. That was one colossal college. Its exterior had an old-world charm, like something out of a gothic novel. Tall buildings loomed before me, like ancient giants watching over their domain. Each gate was marked with its category, giving off an air of exclusivity. - As I ventured further, I noticed the vast cafeteria and school shop on the left, a place where you could find everything you needed. On the right, a sprawling green space stretched out, dotted with a few benches under the shade of trees and a large canopy at the edge of a small lake. It looked like the ultimate student hangout, complete with a street food stand that added to its charm. Oh, ma gad. This place was even more beautiful in real life than I had imagined. OK, Sam, focus. We need to find our class now. I assured myself and started walking towards the, uh...V-Veritas Pavilion, the common building where classes were held. The entire college was a blend of gothic and modern design, with names that sounded like they were straight out of a royal movie. Gothic fashion-I liked it. I met Miss Becca Hayton, my protective granny had already called her beforehand. She was a young and innovative biology instructor, introducing cutting-edge techniques. In her lab sessions, DNA practically danced in test tubes. She welcomed me warmly, explaining the college rules and giving me a brief history lesson about the buildings and their fancy names. A while later, she introduced me to one of her colleagues, another biology instructor, Miss Nixya Starfall. Pish. I love her name. Miss Starfall was my first teacher of the day, so I followed her after Miss Becca introduced us. 'Samanun Freen, am I right?' I nodded, smiling at her. 'No need to be afraid, OK? They're very friendly.' She continued while walking, 'You'll blend in soon.' 'Thank you, Miss Starfall.' She gave me a clumsy look. 'Um, girl, call me Miss Nixya, yeah.' 'Ah, sure thing!' - I could just sense she was going to be my favorite teacher. As soon as she asked me to enter the classroom, I felt dozens of eyes on me, their curiosity like lasers piercing through my skin. I felt a flush of heat on my cheeks but still managed it off. I walked in with the uniform. The cattleya, and jasper-ish color backpack with a cute bunny chained to my bag's zipper. Some boys couldn't stop staring, practically drooling over the sight. Ah, typical. Who wouldn't crave such a fuckinghot mess, right? I had enough confidence, just to make sure I knew what the fuck was I thinking. Forget that, I noticed her immediately among the sea of indifferent faces in the classroom, a girl consumed by her world, scribbling fervently into what appeared to be a journal. Miss Nixya's directive to take the seat next to her filled me with apprehension. Hesitate. Erm. She's scary, what the fuck? I muttered inwardly, making a face as I reluctantly complied. Reluctantly, I go and the class begins. There's a class-ranking shit here. And Class Rank 1 was a guy, that was very unexpected- Archer Isagi. Sheesh. Nevertheless, I greeted the girl with a Hello, met by a fleeting smile before she returned to her writings, a pensive frown marring her features. Why do I get a feeling that it's about me? I shake my head, trying to peek. No, Sam, why would she write about ya, dumbo? I sat back and focused on Miss Nixya. The next classes go on like this before finally dismissing for the lunch break at noon. I went to the cafeteria, trying to look for someone to have a chit-chat. I was bored, at first-ever. Fortune smiled upon me as Archer, with his fiery hair, invited me to join his table along with the girl from class. Archer's attempts to lift her spirits seemed futile, and her distant demeanor left me curious. She...didn't look really happy at me joining. Archer was a very nice guy, humorous too. We had a mini talking before Archer finally spoke up, 'Let's dive in.' Oh, and can't forget her name is Mon. Mon Patricia. Rare. But before we could dive in, Mon excused herself from the conversation, leaving me and Archer kinda dumbfounded. As Mon excused herself, leaving us puzzled, an unexpected pang of disappointment struck me. Why did her departure affect me so? A stirring in my heart that defied explanation, why did I want her to have lunch with us? Archer didn't look bothered since he knew she skipped meals and it gave me a heartache. I didn't know this feeling. - For the first time, I yearned for someone's company, hers. I felt a weird feeling in my heart, the one that breathes when you start liking someone, probably. But we are both girls, so what is this weird rush? I could swear it wasn't any friendly rush, it was a peculiar rush, akin to a fatal attraction, that coursed through me. This was an inexplicable connection. I felt a connection. Before I could ponder further, Archer's voice broke the silence, signaling the start of our meal. I think the rest was pretty guessable. I finished classes and left. The next day, surprisingly a group of students surrounded me, claiming me their friend but how come? They were being crazy ass psychopaths. How come I knew them earlier when I met em' yesterday? Anyways, fuck that shit. I've some other business with Mon. I safely got out of the crowd and approached Mon about the bio lab project. I totally forgot about that shit. 'Mon, I'm so sorry but did you do the bio lab project?' She hesitated to talk but my words caught her off guard, 'There was a lab project?' At that point, I don't even know why I said, 'Do ya even stay in class?' But what she told me froze me to my floor. 'But do you even... remember me? You're acting like you never met me!' Mon's voice wavered, anger laced with hurt. I was confused, like what the pepper was she talking about? I swear on my life I don't remember anyone named...Mon Patricia. I sincerely denied her accusations, but before she could speak further, a teacher arrived. She looked disturbed by what I said. - But I swear I wasn't lying. I seriously don't know her. No sooner than the class ended, she rushed out of the classroom and when she came back, she just...left with her belongings, leaving me alone, once again. Samanun Freen was left alone, abandoned again by Mon. But could she really blame Mon? Maybe. What the fuck is wrong with her? And fuck that, what the fuck is wrong with me? Why was I being so sincere just now? What's all the attraction my body feels towards her? At this point, I feel like begging her to stay with me but it's just the second day of my college. Oh fuck, lord. I must be going mad, but being near her was like an addiction. The more I was around her, the more I craved her presence. What the fuck am I thinking? I'm a girl, and so is she. It's unnatural, Granny always said. That's why Samantha disappeared, and why Red died. I can't let history repeat itself. Fuck. Thoughts crashed into each other in my mind, each one colliding with the next. Why was I feeling this way about her? This sensation was foreign, uncharted territory. I was lost in a labyrinth of emotions. Shit, I'm fucked up. "What if you break the chain of history? Prevent it from repeating and forge your own path?" The whisper came from the dark recesses of my mind, challenging my fears. Beheh. I shook my head, trying to dismiss the rebellious notion, my lips curling in frustration. The rest of the day was a blur of monotonous lectures on literature, philosophy, and some convoluted star-crossed fate nonsense. Is this really what we're supposed to learn? Sigh. Yawns. Grandma always said Greystone College was different from the usual institutions in Milton. We moved here from Little Valeria about six months ago, but the reason remained hazy. And every attempt of mine to remember was gripped by the headache. Lazily, I packed up my things as the final bell rang. Archer suggested we walk out together, and I waited as he wrapped up his work. Rank 1, after all. He wasn't boring, unlike other top students I've known. I couldn't deny his charm; his looks were just a bonus. - As we walked, Archer shared more about the college, feeding my insatiable curiosity. What shocked me even more was learning that this institution was established over nine decades ago by a man named Balthazar Crowley. Holy fuck. Almost ninety fuckin years ago. Not a single drop of my bloodline existed back then. Balthazar built this school in memory of his wife, Benedetta Veil Crowley. She had always dreamed of creating an institution, but tragically, she vanished in the dense forest of Greystone. He named it Veilwood. The legends say this forest is a forbidden mystery, a place where everyone who enters never returns. - You know what they say: forbidden things have a hidden charm. I might go there. No, I will go there. Buahahaha. Archer continued, 'There's also a hall in our college where students perform forbidden rituals. It's known as the Occult Studies Department.' Boo-hoo, real spooky stuff. I love it. Please, I'm not crazy or a psychopath. I just had this twisted love for the paranormal. Those dark tales and eerie mysteries lifted my soul, made my heart race, and sent shivers down my spine. The stories of ghostly apparitions, haunted places, and forbidden rituals drew me in like a moth to a flame. That intoxicating blend of fear and fascination was another one of my deadly attractions, pulling me deeper into the shadows where danger and intrigue danced hand in hand. Parting with Archer, I returned home with a tinge of astonishment clinging to me.
