Chapter 1
1668 Words
Catherine
Last year in high school.
Maybe this year was waited by most of the students because we would say goodbye to our high school’s life and say hello to either university or become the official member of the society.
As for me, I couldn’t wait to start university.
I was thinking Stanford University. I had always had my eyes there. I’d been dreaming to start my journey at Stanford. I studied hard so I could get accepted. It paid off though. I would be officially a university student in September. Although I had to pass some exams first this month.
“I hate this,” Linda whined. Capturing my attention back. She was my best friend since I entered high school. I really loved her. She was so popular in our school. With her platinum blonde hair and her long legs. People could easily mistake her for being a model but she was not. Said she was not interested. I used to think we would be together forever until we started university. But after graduation, she would move with her parents to the Netherlands. I was sad when she told me about this because I would not be able to see her every day again.
“Relax, Lin. You’ve studied hard too. I’m sure you will do okay,” I encouraged her. Linda was known to be lazy and she hated studying. Not that I could help it. Although when she seriously studied, she nailed everything.
“Actually, I’m not worried about the tests. I’m sad because we will be far away, hon. I’m worried about you.” Aw, that was very kind of her. I was so happy to hear that. Linda and I were popular and known by most of the school because of our friendship. And she always worried about me.
“I’m fine, Linda. We can still communicate through Facetime, right?”
“Will you be able to defend yourself if a wolf is lurking around you? Sometimes you’re too nice and innocent. Thinking everyone was just being nice to you.”
“Well, you usually helped me.”
“Yes! Because you can’t tell the difference between a serious man and a playboy.” Ouch. Sometimes Linda just had no filter with her mouth. She said what she wanted to say – even though it would hurt. Linda was known as a sociable and very straightforward person. Before, there was a senior who was trying to get close to me. Linda was the person who stepped in and said something disrespectful directly to his face.
You just want to bed her, aren’t you? That’s what she said to him. I still remembered how dumbfounded his face was and immediately ran away from me. Because of her, everyone knew the true person behind his handsome mask.
“Cathy, do you know how popular are you?” she asked.
“Not as popular as you.”
“Hey, enough about me. We’re talking about you now.” True, Linda was famous not just because of her beauty but also her friendly nature. People just couldn’t help it to like her. She also would help the weak and anti-bullying person. She would immediately step in, uncaring whoever she was dealing with, and would desperately defend the victim. Because of her reputation, Linda was the pride of our year and juniors.
“I guess you won’t realize much of your surroundings because you’re too focused with your dear Richie,” she joked as I could feel the heat on my cheeks. “Aw, how cute!” She reached out to pinch my skin but I pulled my face away from her. And then she wrapped her arm around me. Instantly making me feel how big she was. It was obvious because Linda stood at five foot eight while I was only five foot three. “You know? If I’m a man, I will definitely fall for you. Just look at you. So tiny and cute. Who would let go this precious jewel?”
“You sound like a geezer, Linda.” She laughed and by the time Mr. Reynold-our homeroom teacher came in.
***
“Cathy? Do you know James?” Linda asked.
“James?”
“My cousin.”
“Oh, yes. Why?” Well, not exactly know him but I listened about him through Linda.
“He just made it to be the cover of Forbes’ magazine.”
“Seriously?”
“Yep. The head title is America’s Top Bachelor.”
“Wow… That’s awesome.”
“Yeah. Sometimes I still can’t believe he’s my cousin. I mean, he’s still young but he has already built the biggest and most successful company in this country. He will reach the world-class in the short time,” Linda explained.
James Greene. He was the CEO and owner of Greene Corporation. He was also Linda’s cousin from their fathers’ side. He was known as a genius and was able to expand his company when he was still twenty-five. Even when he just started his Master’s degree. How did that even possible?
Unfortunately, when he was twenty, his parents got into an accident. The plane they were using crashed shortly after it took off. Said there was a malfunctioning of the plane. The incident scratched a big and deep scar on James and also Linda’s family. It was so unexpected After the incident; James immediately took over his father’s company and had become the most successful one in the state.
“If Ricardo is not around, I will introduce you to him,” Linda said. “Because if you guys are married, we will be a family!”
I chuckled nervously. “Well, even without I have to marry James, I already consider you as my family.”
“Damn, girl. I love you so much! Hey, how about if we—” she stopped as her eyes were focusing on something in front of her. I followed and my heart beat fast instantly.
With his dark blue polo shirts, his tall body was leaning on his favorite black Camaro. And before we could say hello to him, he already looked at us first. Realizing he was our center of attention. “Hey, ladies,” he greeted and we walked closer to him.
“Hey, Ricardo. Come to pick up your princess?” God, Linda. Will she stop that?
“Yeah. Do you guys have to go somewhere?”
“Oh, no. We’re going home actually. Here,” She suddenly pushed my back to Ricardo and he immediately caught me by putting his hands on my shoulders. “Have fun, you two! See you tomorrow, Cat!” she parted while waving her hand. Walking toward the opposite direction. She could have just come with us so Ricardo could take her home. Oh, well.
Ricardo detached his hands from me. I looked at him and he smiled. “Shall we?” he asked as I nodded to him. He opened the door and I entered. Smelling his car’s perfume. The scent would never change. A smell of cigarette and lavender. He entered his door and started the engine. “How’s school today?” he asked as he started driving the car.
“Good. I’m just nervous the exam is close.”
“You’ll be fine. You’re smart. You’ll make it,” he cheered me up. I knew I would pass. It was just the feeling – the fear always haunted me. I didn’t want to disappoint my parents. Just imagining it only made my stomach swirl and I wanted to vomit. Disappointing someone was something that I was so scared of committing. The incident would haunt me for a few days. “Do you want me to tutor you?” Ricardo suddenly asked, breaking my thoughts. I blinked and looked at him. “If you’re still feeling uncertain, I can watch over your study. What do you say?”
“Really? But aren’t you busy?”
“It’s fine. I’m sure dad will let me. You know he loves you more than his own son,” he joked and I laughed a bit.
“Don’t say that. Uncle Jared loves you with his own way.”
“I know. So, how about it?”
“Sure, if you don’t mind. I’ll be counting on you then.”
“My pleasure, Kitty Cat.” The nickname immediately made my heart jump around inside like it was doing a dancing celebration.
He always called me that since we were little. I knew him when I was seven while Ricardo was twelve. That time, Ricardo and his family move to our neighbors and in a short time, we became close together with my brother-Jason. He started calling me Kitty Cat while I called him Richie. I once asked him why he called me that and he said because of my name – Catherine. And he claimed I was his only girl so Kitty Cat felt so special to me – to us. I didn’t quite understand whether he was just teasing me but then I found myself fond of his nickname.
I really liked him. Not just as a brother figure, but as a man.
I still couldn’t let out my courage to confess to him but I had made up my mind that I would tell him after graduation. I didn’t know yet if he would reject me but I had promised myself that I would tell him.
Ricardo was very popular among women. Just look at his Godly like handsome face. People wouldn’t miss out on his beauty. They might be interested in his face but they never knew how he always treated me. I often saw him with many women but when he spotted me, Ricardo would immediately leave the woman behind to be with me. His only girl.
Honestly, I was dying to know how he felt about me.
Hold yourself, Cathy.
Just wait until the graduation.
- Writer
