Chasing over the Belief (Secondary Series #1)

Chasing over the Belief crescent1004   DISCLAIMER: This is a work of fiction. The names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either a product of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblances to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.   This story is not affiliated with anything.   Please be advised that this story might contain some strong languages that are not suitable for some readers.   ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————   "Felicity! Over here!"   I heard the familiar girly yet soft voice from afar as soon as I walked out of the airport pushing the baggage tug that contains my big luggage and a few paper bags placed on it.   "Nicole!" I ran to my best friend's arms as she opened it wide to welcome me.    "We look like some people who did not see each other for a year when in fact you only stayed in the US for two weeks." Nicole said, letting out a laugh. I laughed along while taking my sunglasses off.   I went to San Francisco for two weeks to spend our trimestral break because my parents said that I deserve it. Maybe it is for the best because for the next break, I will be a graduating student already and my schedule will probably be packed that will result in my busy life once I start 4th year.   "I told you! You should have just come with me!" I complained.   "Even though I did not come with you, I enjoyed being at the beach with my family anyway!" she cheered. The satisfying look on her face is so obvious that it made me glad she spent some time on the beach.   Nicole and I just finished our eight term before I left for San Francisco. Right now, we only have a total of four terms, including this incoming term to complete our 3rd year, before we graduate college. It still depends if we want to overload or not so we won't need to enroll for the twelfth term already, which means we can graduate by the end of our eleventh term. That is why as much as possible, we tried to spend our trimestral break this time by relaxing because we know that the next breaks won't be satisfying and relaxing anymore.   "I will stay in your condo for a few hours before going to our house, Mom wants me there." she said.   I raised a brow while taking off my denim jacket. I am left in my plain white shirt tucked in my black jeans and a pair of white sneakers with my shoulder bag hanging on my right shoulder. The heat of the weather makes it uncomfortable for me since the weather in the US is far different from ours. Nicole is lucky because she is wearing a short.   I pushed the baggage tug as we crossed the pedestrian lane to go to her car. "How about just drop me off in the condo then go straight to your house? I mean.. It might be urgent since tita needs you there."   We stopped in front of her grey SUV before she pressed her car key to open the car so we can put my luggage and the paper bags I have with me in the compartment.   "What am I? Your personal driver?! Once you're done using me, you will just throw me away?" she outburst.   "You are the one who says that, not me!"   She looked at me as if she was betrayed from my answer. I only laughed at her reaction before walking to the passenger seat.   Nicole is actually living in the same condo building as I am but we are two floors away from each other since the unit next to me was not available already when my parents bought my unit. How unlucky.   "I still need to take what you bought for me so I can't just leave! After making me drive for an hour because of the traffic, I deserve some compensation you know?" she sarcastically said.   I glanced at her, chuckling, as I shook my head before she drove away from the airport. The distance between the airport and our condo is not that far but because of the traffic, it really took her an hour to drive. Traffic is too heavy here in Manila which makes her complaints valid.   "Wait... why is it that you are the one who picked me up? I thought Noah would be the one to pick me up?" I asked.   She looked in the side mirror before taking a turn to the right. She glances at me with a smirk plastered one her lips. "He asked me, last minute actually, to pick you up instead of him since he said he has an important project to do."   I nod and laugh. Important project. That is so typical Noah. His excuse has always given us laughter because it has always  been the same even though we are clearly aware that he is busy with something disguised as an important project.   "So... are you ready for the party tomorrow?" Nicole suddenly asks.   One of the reasons why I returned two days earlier, than my planned return, is because of the party my parents organized. It is a business related party which makes the party surely full of businessmen and probably their children.   "I'm sure my mom already got everything ready. I just need to go home and get ready." I answered and smiled a little before looking outside the car window.   Though I wasn’t looking at Nicole, I can sense that she still wanted to ask something but she chose to stay silent which I'm really glad for. She drove for an hour, stopping by the drive thru to buy our food, before we arrived in my condo.   The moment she opened the compartment, she immediately took the paper bags that I brought from the US. I was left with my luggage, the plastic that contains our food, and my shoulder bag. I shook my head as she walked first with me behind her as if it's her unit that we're going to.   "This is one of the reasons why it should be either Noah or James to pick me up whenever I came back from another country." I complained in a low voice before following Nicole inside. It was never a great idea for one of the girls to be the one to pick me up.   "Felicity?!"   Someone said my name as I looked back to see a young lady at the same age as me and Nicole. She is wearing a black shirt tucked in a white high waist denim short and a pair of sneakers with her gym bag on her shoulder. "Sophia!"   She immediately gave me a peck on the cheek because hugging is a little useless right now with the things I have on my hand. I look at Nicole, who is standing a few meters away from me and Sophia, to know whether she is waiting for me or if she went to my unit already. I caught her talking to a tall guy in a grey shirt and white shorts whose back is facing me. I can't see Nicole's face because the guy's back almost covered her whole existence so I just looked at Sophia again.   "I see that you just came back." she said smiling before looking at my luggage.   I nod before she meets my eyes after scanning my luggage. Sophia is about my height. She is 5'5 and has a well toned body, probably due to her being an athlete and going to gym continuously. She currently has dark brown hair with a pair of deep brown eyes and a natural plump lips which makes her very attractive. She is a schoolmate of mine in DLSU.   "Yeah... I actually just landed an hour ago. You just came back from the gym?"    She nods with a sweet smile on her face before I look back at my best friend who is standing alone already but her face seems restless and almost like she's not breathing anymore. I roamed my eyes to look for the guy she just talked with but Sophia beat me up.   "As much as I want to talk more, I need to change now. I still need to go to school since we have training in the afternoon." she said.   "Oh yeah! Sure! Good luck with the training and see you at the campus!"  I said as she nods before leaving my side. She greeted Nicole, who is still not in her normal state, as well before she officially leaves.   My attention turned to Nicole after my eyes followed Sophia who entered the elevator. "Are you okay?"   I worriedly asked her as we walked to the elevator before pressing the up button.  "Of course! Do I look like I'm not?"   "Well, you look weird," squinting my eyes, looking at her. "But anyway! Who are you talking with earlier?"   Her eyes immediately widened before avoiding my eyes. She looks flustered with my sudden question which made me confused even more.   "N-nothing! It's just someone I know here." I stared at her but she continued avoiding my eyes.   The guy is somehow familiar to me even though I didn't manage to get a peek of his face. No matter how strange Nicole acts right now, I just shrugged it off and shook my head when I heard the elevator sounds before it opened.   We entered the elevator before I pressed the button of my unit's floor. I don't know if I'm just seeing things or what but before the elevator door closes, I saw a very familiar guy passing by.   "Did you see that?" I look at Nicole who looks at me, she obviously didn't see anything because she still looks brothered or what, I don't know.   "See what?" she simply asks.   I shook my head. A very bad idea to ask this girl about anything right now. I'm probably just overthinking or what.   We arrived at my unit shortly before Nicole immediately sat on the couch. She checked each of the paper bags trying to find what belongs to her. I place the plastic that contains our food in the table located in my dining area before dragging my luggage in my room.   My unit is actually big for me. It has a small dining area located close to the small kitchen area, a living area that accommodates at least 8-10 people and a balcony.  I have 2 bedrooms here, the other is my guest room because my other friends sometimes stay here after a night out and the other one is my personal space. Since it's my parents who bought this unit, I have no choice but to receive it. Besides, Christian can use and live here once he starts college too anyway if he decided to enter DLSU as well.   "Are the others coming?" I asked Nicole when I walked out of my room. She shakes her head while looking at the papers bags, still trying to figure out which is hers. "The Chanel paper bag is yours."   Her face lightened up and immediately took the white paper bag before taking out the Chanel bag I bought for her. It was the bag that she wanted to buy for a month now but it's always sold out so I decided to drop off at a Chanel store in San Francisco to buy it. I saw how her eyes sparkled as soon as she saw the bag. I smiled, on the other hand, feeling satisfied with her reaction.   I took a seat beside her before opening my phone because I know she will choose to admire the bag first before talking to me. I opened our group chat, only to be bombarded with messages from the other 4.   Noah: Hey Nicolette what now?! Did you pick up Amora already?   Emma: NICOLE FORGOT ABOUT US GUYS!! :