XANDER

PROLOGUE

“He is not coming back.” She reminds me while packing the last pair of clothes in my cabinet. “The bus is leaving anytime soon. Are you going to college, or only your luggage will?” She asks again with sarcasm.

I sighed. Okay. Now I am leaving this house, the third house I have known. But I do not understand why mom would talk to me like she does not want me back? Last night, my last night here- to be exact, all she did was nag at me. Point out everything wrong I do and act like I was too immoral. Well, nothing’s new.

“I will just finish these foods. Grandma really woke up early just to cook for me, mom.” I gently say.

“Of course, you always have an answer.” Before leaving me alone in front of this small wooden dining table, she just said.

Is not it joyless? I am leaving for college, yet I cannot feel that she will miss me as a mother should be. For a nineteen-year-old girl like me, who is going to live alone in a place four hours away from home, is not it that she should be comforting me? Should not she make me feel that she has my back after all?

I shook my head and ate the last piece of nugget I had on my plate. I roam my eyes at the small place we are living in. Cute, they say. It is just an extension of my grandmother’s house, with a space of a studio-type apartment. Not even enough room for us three- me, my mom, and my little brother. My grandma’s house is wide; it is my mom who does not want to stay there. She is always a proud being, and I sometimes hate it on her. Why do we live this way? It is because my mom and dad separated about a year ago. So we had to go back here to mom’s place for good.

“Are you not done yet?” Mom yelled outside, so I was startled and drank before running towards the door.

Even the door has anger towards me, it hit my arm. Yeah, I got scratched a little.

I smiled upon seeing the smile of my little brother, who was innocently sitting on the porch. At the age of five, the family we had was incomplete. As much as I wanted to give him a father's love, I could not.

I walked to him and hugged him tightly. “I am going. I will go to get closer to my dreams; it is to give you a better future than you could even imagine.”

He giggled and kissed my cheek. Because of that, I could not suppress my tears anymore. But before mom could even shout at me again, I hurriedly went in the car.

About my grandmother? She hates goodbyes, so she told me earlier not to.

Mom started driving her small car, which she had just bought months before she and dad separated. The rearview mirror tells me that she is not happy to drive me... at all. And I bitterly smiled at that thought.

…

After eight minutes, we reached the terminal. Mom just helped me get my things to put on the bus and sighed.

“I want you to study. Not to flirt around with guys there. And as much as possible, if you will hook up with some guy, make sure that guy can feed us all.” She said, more of a reminder. And all I did was nod at her. “Off you go; I still have work to do.” She plainly said and went in the car, driving it away from me.

Another tear fell. No goodbyes, no I love you, not even a single caring word. What do I expect? She does not like me anymore. And it is my fault, after all.

I wiped the tear before someone I was waiting for could even see it. Just about when my mom’s car found its way out of the terminal, a guy pulled up a white Chevy car near me. I smiled upon seeing his beautiful face and pleasing smile. My angel.

“Hello, love.” He went to hug me and kiss my temple. “Are you sure you would not like it if I drive you to the town?”

I shook my head. “No, I will be fine. I told you I should learn how to live alone.”

We distanced slightly, and I smiled even more while staring at his smile. This guy never failed to make me happy. We are only in a relationship for two months, but I can see my future with him.

“I love you. I will visit you there once I am free.” Rodney said before kissing my forehead.

He is not studying anymore but handles one of their small businesses at the young age of eighteen.

I nodded while thinking of how lucky I am to have him. “I love you,” I said.

We hugged each other again and stayed like this until I smelled like him.

“Off you go, my love.”

I took a deep breath and climbed onto the bus, trying to forget the painful memories and think instead of how I would survive the city without any guide but a digital map.

…

I paid the taxi driver and asked for an apology. He is obviously pissed off because I did not know the exact address and directions to the apartment mom paid for. Yes, I never saw it. Mom just called her friend here in Xander to find me an apartment. She did not even check it. But her friend said it is perfect here, so she already agreed. Should I feel okay about that?

“Heaven’s sake, this should be fine,” I said to no one as I assessed the bungalow apartments right before my eyes.

It looks more of a subdivision to me. It is an expansive lot with different types of apartments. This is better than dormitories or houses where I get to live with someone else.

Slowly, patiently, I brought my things into the subdivision and thanked the security guard, who did not even bother to look at me.

“Excuse me...” I said, calling his attention.

“Why?” He plainly asked.

“I am new here, sir. My apartment number is twelve, and I do not know where it is. Would you help me?” I said with my soft voice.

Finally, he looked up at me since he was busy reading a magazine from where he was sitting. “Just walk to your right and find the number. Bet you have the key.”

I shook my head at that, and he gave me a long sigh. He stood after, dialed a number on the telephone, and talked to the person on the other line.

“You wait.” He said with a tune of not being interested.

It is a bit hot now since it is almost lunchtime, and there is no shadow of tall things here that can shade me.

It took minutes before a middle-aged woman appeared with a smile.

“Hi. You must be Veronica Gabriel.” She sweetly said.

I smiled at her approach. “Hello, madam.”

“I just received the p*****t from your mother. Come, there goes your place.”

She walked ahead, and God knows how thankful I am to the guard here who is watching me carry and pull all my things alone. Sure.

It took us maybe a minute or two before we stopped in front of a black wooden door. The woman gave me keys and explained where each fit before leaving.

Okay. I am feeling a little down. How am I gonna leave alone? Gosh, God better send more angels to help me.

I opened the front door, and I smiled at the place's ambiance; a studio-type apartment that would not disappoint me.

The right side would be perfect for my bed, just beside the window. The sink is spacious enough for me, and it has a clean design.

I hurriedly checked the bathroom, hoping it would be perfect for my sensitivity. And I really chuckled to see it clean and fully furnished. Only a pail is missing.

I walked to the center and sighed. “This needs a lot of money,” I said.

It echoes, empty as literally. I have to buy a lot of appliances and things and more. Anyways, mom gave me a lot of bucks, enough or even more to buy the things I needed for this apartment. There is no problem at all when it is about money… I like that side of hers, though. But before anything else, I brought my things in and thought of where I could eat. These changes make me hungry.

“Wow, you are new here.”

“Oh Jesus!” I snapped as I looked back at the doorway where a petite, weird-looking girl spoke.

“Sorry, I did not mean to shock the hell out of you.” She chuckled.

Okay. Looking at this girl, having straight black hair with lines of pink, dark eye-lines because of make-up, pale but glossy lips, with an oversized hoodie and skinny tight jeans with boots… she looks liberated and vulgar. Or maybe I am over judging her.

“Hi.” I smiled.

“Can I come in?” She said but steps in before I can even answer. “I am Chelsey.”

“My name’s Veronica. Call me ‘Nica, ’ please.”

How I hate it when they call me Veronica.

“You are new here. From what place are you?” She asks while roaming her eyes on my place.

“I’m from Agustine. You?”

“I’m from Corine. It’s my third year now in this city, but I just moved into this subdivision yesterday.” She said with a tone like she was going to hit me anytime.

I was just looking at her like wanting to hear more, and I guess she got it.

“Yeah, this is my eighth address in this city already.” She rolled her eyes. “Hopefully, people here are less judgmental.”

Okay. I am starting to think of things that she does that make people judge her.

“Can I be your friend? I act like this, but I’m a good person though. There’s a police station near here, so you can have me arrested if I do something bad to you.” She said with a serious tone.

I smiled and walked near her. “Sure, I can be your friend. Can we have lunch together?”

She smiled, which made me happy, somewhat.

…