Chances

SECOND.

THE SUN IS ABSOLUTELY ANNOYING. That is the first thought that registered inside Corinne's head as soon as she had woken up from her deep slumber. Her roommate is out and she is more than thankful to have this morning all to herself. As much as she loves her roommate, Ruth has the tendency to get really annoying during mornings; and Corinne wants peaceful mornings without having to deal with Ruth's incessant rambling.

           A coffee maker sat by the kitchen counter, awaiting Corinne's appreciation. She bought the coffee maker sometime during the first few months of her freshman year, and it was one of her most prized possessions. She vaguely remembers meeting Clark while on the line to the cash register when she bought the coffee maker. He carried it for her and flashed her one of his charming smiles and she found herself getting weak on the knees.

           Corinne prides herself on being someone who loved deeply. This was carefully and recklessly demonstrated throughout the course of her encounters with Clark. Corinne loved every line on his skin, every crevice of his soul, and every word that falls from his lips. But now, they're all grown up. Clark is going to be this big shot architect and Corinne would still be a struggling Journalism student, they're completely different from who they once were, and Corinne isn't sure if the love she once had is still present in her system.

           Although she was once certain that it's impossible to un-love Clark, she realizes that feelings could be outgrown. She's grateful for his friendship, though. Without him she'd literally be stuck in a whirlwind of life choices she wouldn't dare make.

           She's working her way through the usual morning routine. First step is to make coffee, just to make sure that she'd still be alive enough for the rest of the day. She's required to attend three classes for the day; the earliest would start at around eleven-thirty in the morning. Currently, it's only eight in the morning and she figures she'd have enough time to just sit and think about stuff on the couch in front of the TV.

           The coffee's done and her encounter with Clark from a week ago hasn't left her mind still. Pictures of him smiling and looking like he ruled the world is embedded in her brain, and she's a hundred percent sure that they wouldn't leave anytime soon. It's been long since she'd felt like this. Way too long that she didn't think it'd happen again after a few years. Clark still makes her heart jump, and creates these hills on her skin whenever he'd say something that's just completely him.

           A thought lingers in her head, does he think of me, too? Because he certainly has this effect on her in which thoughts about him constantly plague her head.

           Corinne. No. She mentally reprimands herself. Clark shouldn't take up her thoughts today – not when she has two quizzes for very important subjects regarding her course.

           The blonde sighs and makes her way towards the shower. Today is going to be a long day. Corinne is sure of it.

           Cold water runs through her pale skin, sending shivers down her spine as she stands under the shower head. She needs to wake up, hence the choice of cold water. Ironically, Clark's message of 'I love you too, but not in that way' feels almost exactly like the first splash of cold water during a morning shower. It opened her eyes to the reality that he will never be hers no matter how much she tried, no matter how deep their friendship ran.

           Maybe friendship is the only relationship she could ever have with him. At the time, Corinne accepted it if it meant that he'd still be in her life. She signed up for a million heartbreaks, but she figured she'll move on eventually.