Consequences of Breaking a Heart

Chapter 1

"Here, let me grab those." Dad nudged me aside and took the cardboard box I pulled out of his 2003 Nissan Altima trunk. "Wow. What is in this box? Bricks?" He turned the cardboard around so he could read the marker on the other side. "Ah, books. I should've guessed."

"Hey, without them, I wouldn't be able to snag the scholarship." I poked him in the hips, then bent to grab another box. "You should've thanked them."

Dad threw his head back in a booming laugh. "Maybe I should take this box with me to dinner. You know, a little wine and dine, really show them books my appreciation."

I rolled my eyes, but couldn't help my smile. "You do that, and I'll pretend I'm an orphan."

"Ah, you're no fun, beaver."

We made our way through the parking lot to the three-story concrete building in front of us. The Andromeda Apartment, my home for the next year.

The building stuck out from the rest of the campus because of its modern design and relatively smaller size. It had better amenities compared to the rest of the dorms too, which put it way out of my price range. Fortunately, my scholarship includes tuition and a shared room in this fully-furnished apartment.

"Wow. This is ..." Dad took in the building in amazement. I couldn't blame him, I looked exactly the same when I first scouted the area. "You sure this is for free, right?"

"Yeah." I read my welcome packet five times, and I had already confirmed my accommodation with my advisor weeks before. There was no way I made a mistake. "Come on, I'm on the second floor."

We climbed up the side stairs to the hallway. There were five doors on this floor. My room was next to the last one.

"204 – this is it." I announced, trying to balance two stacks of cardboard boxes on my hands while opening the door with my elbow.

It swung open smoothly without any noise. In fact, it was so quiet, the people inside didn't even notice our entrance.

A beautiful blond woman with high cheekbone and full lips sat with her legs crossed on the couch. Next to her stood a raven-haired man in an expensive-looking suit. Sitting across from them was a girl who looked almost identical to the woman.

"I still can't believe you choose to live in this dump. I mean... look at the size of this place. They don't even have cleaning service here." The woman huffed, brushing invisible dust off her shoulder. "You should've taken that Penthouse on 19th Avenue with the Parkinson girl."

The girl rolled her eyes as if she was tired of the conversation.

"I'm sure Daphne will be just fine, dear." The man tried to soothe her.

But the woman plowed on, "And her roommate – ugh, her roommate. I have people look into her. Hermy-something-or-other. His father works in a grocery store, for god's sake. They're a bum."

My jaw slackened. She had people look into me? What a creep. And what's wrong with working in a grocery store?

"Excuse me." I clear my throat.

Three sets of eyes quickly turned to me. The girl quickly jumped to her feet, a guilty look crossed her face. Meanwhile, the woman took her time standing up and straightening her dress. No guilt whatsoever in her face.

I set down the boxes on the floor and put on a friendly smile as I approached them. "I'm Hermy-something-or-other. The bum. Please to meet you." I extended my hand toward the woman, and she crinkled her nose like she just smiled something unpleasant.

"Come on, dear, let's go." The woman flipped her wavy blond hair and turned at his husband, ignoring me. Her shiny heels clicked against the hardwood floor as she sauntered out, head held up high, but not before throwing a disapproving look at my dad.