A contented smile had taken shape on Vivian's lips as she looked at the big A+ encircled on her test paper. To say that she was satisfied and proud of herself was an understatement. The sweet taste of success motivated her to pull an all-night study session once again for the last examination waiting for her the following day.

Eight o'clock came around while she was alone in the comforts of her room. Jamie, the girl she was sharing a living space for the semester, had just left to attend a party. Not before firing her frequent trial to make her tag along of course, with her famous words "let loose for once and a while"—to which she politely declined. She already had her mind set on studying the rest of the night once again, the paper with the big A+ encouraging her to do so.

After storing her paper underneath a stack of books in her study desk, something caught her eyes. The emerald beads on the bracelet sitting atop her table had stolen her attention, reminding her of a pair of green eyes.

It wasn't something new to her; recollecting memories of the people she met. And she couldn't understand why she would always remember. It had remained as a dilemma; was it any good when you failed to forget a harsh memory? Reminiscing a tragic event of the past was a nightmare.

She took a heavy breath and pushed the thoughts aside, then made way towards her bed with a book in hand. But a grumbling sound arose all of a sudden. She stopped, feeling her stomach with one hand as she slowly realised that she has not eaten since lunchtime. 

I deserve a treat, she thought to herself, deciding on going a little over her budget for tonight’s meal as a way of rewarding herself for a job well done. She grabbed a coat and put on her shoes; her mind was already going over several different kinds of food she could have for the night. She left her dormitory a few minutes after and hailed a cab to one of her favourite bistros nearby.

She watched the city lights grew in sight as the car drove away from the university’s avenue. The buildings were slowly increasing in size, and the cars became more numerous. At this part of the city, it felt as if it never sleeps. Bars would be open, restaurants were full, and people would be enjoying strolls down the park adorned with lights and music. The scenery made it safe and inviting for everyone. She has always loved this city. Everyone was happy, free, and in love.

Her sight-seeing was cut short when the cab stopped just outside her destination. The big bright La Patrona hung just above the entrance. She paid for her ride and stepped into the concourse lane. A woman whom she assumed was the hostess welcomed her with a smile as she escorted her inside and gave her a seat just by the window. Afterwards, everything went smoothly; she ordered her usual, asked for a glass of light drink, and after twenty minutes or so, her food arrived.

Before she began on her medium-rare meat and white-sauce pasta, she heard a commotion. While keeping her gracious pose, she tilted slightly towards the source of the stir. At the corner, a man had fallen from his chair. He staggered to his seat, followed by a loud bang of a glass. The man was no doubt, drunk. She rolled her eyes and decided to ignore him, not wanting to have this random man ruin her appetite.

As the thought about to take fleet, she heard him spoke.

"Can’t I have a drink around here? Where are the fucking waiters?!" 

The voice was so familiar and recent that the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. A pair of green eyes plunged into her mind in the instant, dragging her gaze back to where the noise came. It was him, the miserable man she encountered at the café yesterday. His head wasn't shrouded with a hoodie, revealing a tight face. Ink crawled up to the base of his chilled jaw. His fumed didn't degrade the fact he was actually good looking.