those years between us

SALOME LAM had pined after Orion Ip for as long as she could remember. It was a way of life, a habit ingrained into her routine that felt completely and utterly natural. He was the boy next door, two years older, someone who was always just out of reach. She could try all she wanted, but she could never fit into his life. She could never quite be anything in Orion's world. And because life is cruel (or perhaps it was kind, since she was at least always in close proximity to him), they met at place after place, school after school, city after city.

University was meant to be different. A brand new start, finally forgetting the boy carved so deeply in her heart, who hadn't even a clue the extent of Salome's feelings for him. If it was pointless, why not end it now? Why waste more time playing this game that yielded no result? But they're at the same place again. St Lucia's College at Oxford, where Salome can't escape him or the way he makes her heart pound.

Except this time was different. As if he was actually noticing her. As if she wasn't just the little girl who lived next door, not quite a nuisance but also beneath his notice. Now they're talking and spending time together and he's initiating those interactions too. Salome had promised herself she'd forget, but how could she when it felt like this time, she truly had a chance?

Perhaps, there was still time for one last try. Before Salome truly, for once and for all, decided to cut Orion Ip and those years between them out of her life.

(bobas & lattes #2)
readable as standalone