The Experience Buddy [Completed]

Chapter 28

Before we all knew it, summer break had ended and the final quarter of the academic year had begun. The usual playful chatters and carefree vibes on campus turned into quite the serious mode as everyone gets ready for their finals, especially those of the graduating year.

Even Hugh, who I always found to be the most stress-free, worry-free person I've ever known, has toned down significantly. All of us were focused on our studies but we do take adequate breaks when needed.

If summer break was for us to "play hard" then this quarter would be the time to "work hard" to balance.

Having endured the intense quarter, I have successfully completed my first year at Stanford. Even better news, my GPA met the criteria to retain my scholarship. While in other news, the winner of the writing contest will soon be announced.

Happy days pass by in a blink of an eye.

They become memories that you want to relive over and over again.

On the other hand, unhappy days seem to put you in an endless loop.

Trapping you in a nightmare that you wish could come to an end soon.

I open my eyes slowly to see that you are lying right next me.

You are resting your head on your arms as you smile warmly at me.

The soft rays of the sun that shine through the glass of the windows seems to accentuate this mellow atmosphere as they create an orange tint around the room.

Your countenance is perfect whenever, this sunkissed version is beautiful too.

I smile back at you as you continue to look at me with those loving eyes.

But when I reach my hand out to touch you, you disappear.

Dissolved into thin air.

My hand grabs at nothing.

Where did you go, my Hero?

The sides of my eyes felt moist as I gained consciousness. I woke up on my bed in my dormitory as I continued to lay still on my back, staring up at the ceiling.

Murphy's Law, according to the internet, is a popular adage that states that "things will go wrong in any given situation, if you give them a chance," or more commonly, "whatever can go wrong, will go wrong.".

I wasn't sure if subsequent events were just playing out according to fate and were bound to happen or was it my negative thoughts that steered the course of the road.

It was the start of my sophomore year, whereas Hero enters into his penultimate year in Stanford. We were 3 months short of celebrating our first year anniversary but to me, it felt like we've been together much longer than that.

Just when I thought the days of enduring through harmless pranks and empty threats were over with the end of the academic year, I started to receive insults and threats via text messages from the same unknown number.

Unknown: Stay away from Hero, you ugly bitch.

Sometimes, the messages are more mild, in the sense of the lack of profanities, but still hurtful.

Unknown: You don't deserve him.

I tried blocking the number, but everytime when I did, I would just receive messages from another unknown number daily. After blocking a couple of numbers, I gave up. Hero told me to ignore those texts but as much as I wanted to, like how some people are more sensitive towards selective words, I am no exception.

Ever since the new academic year started, Hero's basketball practices have extended given that the team was training for the regionals which would be held at the end of this quarter. Last year, they missed the chance to advance to the nationals by a mere two points difference. This time, Hero said the team was more focused and determined. In addition, he has been selected as team captain. I couldn't feel more proud of my man when he relayed the news.

Extended practice hours also meant that he would have lesser chances to pick me up from the cafe when my shift ended. But that's okay with me. I've decided to be a supportive girlfriend and turn the tables around, I would bring him an isotonic drink and "pick him up" at the end of his practice instead.

As I was approaching the indoor basketball court, from the outside, I could already hear the repeated squeaking of rubber soles against the hardwood flooring. I was trembling with excitement, picturing Hero in his basketball uniform, the beads of sweat forming on his forehead and arms, his serious expression on the court. I couldn't wait to see another side of him.

And just as fate would have it, as I opened the door, I was greeted by the sight of a blonde girl wiping the sweat off of Hero's face with a towel. I told myself to keep calm, given the numerous romance dramas and movies that I have watched with Madison, I should know that looking at such scenes at face value can easily lead to a misunderstanding between the couple. They would then quarrel and most often the relationship turns sour and then it ends.

Even though I told myself that but I could feel my insides start to burn up.

That girl needs to stay away from my man.

But why is Hero letting her just do what she wants and not stop her?

It was said that at the start of every new relationship, the couple would go through a honeymoon phase in which everything you do and everything about the other person feels fresh and exciting. Upon exiting the phase, the filter starts to wear off and that is when the relationship becomes a roller coaster ride, full of ups and downs.

I already knew that not all relationships are unicorns and rainbows, in fact, most aren't. But I didn't think we would be faced with an obstacle so soon. And this obstacle has a name, called 'insecurities'.