The level to which I listened to my mum was unsafe.

The following Monday, after Mr Kingston’s offer, I was already standing in front of the long mirror in our room and checking out myself. My auburn hair was in a neat ponytail, and my blue eyes were highlighted with light makeup. I put on the last layer of my nude lipstick and deemed myself ready to go.

Mum entered the room just when I was about to leave. She grinned broadly.

“I haven’t seen you in a formal outfit in ages.”

I shrugged. “It’s because I haven’t had any formal occasions before.”

She walked over to me and hugged me. “I have much faith in you, Mel. I trust you will do great.”

I hugged my mother and rubbed her back. She hissed in pain when I did.

I frowned. “Are you overworking yourself? Mum, you’re not the only… worker in this place. Please don’t. Ask for help whenever you need it.”

She shook her head sideways. “I’ll be fine. I’m merely getting used to my new bed.”

“I—”

Mum interrupted my possible objection when she held my hand and squeezed it. “I love you, Melanie. This is such a proud moment for me. I’m happy I got to witness it.” She wiped the corners of her teary eyes.

I frowned at her state and hurried to hug her. I told her we deserved everything good coming our way, and she shouldn’t have expected any less. We worked hard for everything we had. I hated to see her surrendering to circumstances or settling for low expectations.

After a short conversation with my mum about the importance of self-care, I left the mansion. I strolled my way to the university with GPS help. The semester started in a few days, so I had time to register for a major and enrol in some classes.

Growing up, computer science was my passion. Although my high school wasn’t prestigious or anything of the sort, I participated in a few coding contests with it. I won every single one and earned certificates. I loved the experience. That was when I knew I wanted to pursue computer science as my career for life.

Living with my mother only, missing the father who had abandoned us, according to her, made it impossible to study for that time. However, I still tried to save as much money as possible until I could study one day.

Then, I was offered that scholarship to the most prestigious technological educational institute in my area. It felt more like a nightmare than a dream. I wasn’t the insecure type, but I wasn’t about to throw myself into situations to make me feel so deliberately. Poverty was never shameful, but I also knew my place.

I wanted to study. Mum wanted me to, too, and I ought to make a dream come true. I had to sacrifice a little to make it happen.

I sulked as I watched my GPS app stop working due to my data plan running out. That way, it was bound to get more challenging for me to get there. I left early in the morning to avoid that, yet I spent much time afoot, so I felt myself getting late. My remaining choice was asking people around.

While I was on the sidewalk, a car stopped by. It was a shiny, black Mercedes. The latest model, probably. The black-tinted window rolled down, and behind it was a handsome, pale-skinned guy whose looks seemed to be taken care of very well on that challenging morning. He sported a brown leather jacket zipped up until his neck.

“Mellie, honey, what are you doing here?”

I didn’t know what was wrong with that guy, but he was getting on my nerve with his casualty. Just because he walked in on me doing… things, I didn’t imagine it gave him a free ticket to the shitshow called my life, yet he entered.

I glared. “Kai, what do you want?” I seethed through gritted teeth.

His brows knitted. “It’s young master, kitten.”

Why did it sound as if he wanted me to call him that, not just for the formality?

“Stop calling me nicknames to keep the formality, then.”

A giggle reverberated in his chest. “Hop in. I assume you’re going to university.”

I hesitated.

“It’s getting late. Not in your favour to catch on the registration unit while it’s crowded.”

He was right. I had no choice but to ride in to save my first impression. I greeted the driver, who I recognised as the same person who drove Mum and me to the mansion when we first moved in. He sounded like a nice man.

“What are you going to major in?” Kai asked.

I tried to remain calm by folding my hands on my thigh. “That shouldn’t interest you, young master.”

His fingers ventured to draw circles beside my knees on the seat as if they knew their effect on my sanity. When I tried to swat his hand away, he didn’t budge.

“Kai, stop,” I mouthed.

“Master, kitten. Repeat after me: master.”

A part of me believed he didn’t like being called that name much, but he insisted on it to destroy my comfort zone.

“Master,” I repeated, only to make him go away. “Back off,” I stressed out. I was sure I was as red as a ripe tomato.

Kai finally retreated, sitting back in his place as if he was the most innocent guy in the world. I breathed in and out, assuring myself nothing of significance had happened.

“Do you even know your way to the registration unit or how it works?” Kai asked.

I gave him an irritated look. “I can use the map or ask around. Don’t let it bother you.”

Kai mock-laughed, receiving narrowing eyes and tight lips from me. It was ridiculous of him to find what I said funny. I took him as a childish person.

“Let’s stop here, Frank,” Kai told the driver, and he obliged.

We were in front of the registration unit. I assumed they stopped there for me, so I mumbled a ‘thank you’ and got off. To my surprise, Kai followed. I looked him up and down.

“If Mum saw you scrutinising me like this, she won’t be happy,” he remarked with a smirk.

“Why did you get off too?”

He shrugged. “To help a new student out.”

“Kai, you don’t have to.”

He flashed me a kind smile. “Oh, trust me, Mellie, I do.”

\

Kai was right. That place was huge, and his help came in handy not to get lost.

“When I first met you, I didn’t think I’d ever say this, but… thank you, Kai.”

The guy opted to keep cutting on his piece of cordon bleu without a word. Not only he guided me around the place, but he also bought both of us lunch, and then we were sitting in the cafeteria, a place where I feared feeling odd the most. There I was, sitting with Kai Kingston and having many eyes on me as if I was the most important lady in the place. Perhaps I was.

“Why are you doing this?” I pushed. The last thing I wanted was the Kingstons’ pity.

He dropped the utensils. They made a thud louder than needed. He looked at me with blazing eyes. “God, Melanie, can’t one enjoy their lunch without you blabbing? I’m merely helpful. I’m merely me.”

I recoiled back in my seat without any other word. I dug in my plate lazily. After all, it would be a shame for the food to be wasted. I decided to accept his kindness without further questioning, so we didn’t get awkward together. Kai sounded like a decent person; I was just surprised he was that eager to help me.

“Kai!” a manly voice said a few steps away from us. He even waved.

The guy had dark blonde hair and a tall figure. A brunette head with pale skin stood beside him. Her hands were tucked in a white coat that seemed to cost a year’s rent.

I looked Kai’s way, and he seemed equally excited, if not more.

“Ryan! Massie!” Kai hollered, getting up to hug the guy, then the girl.

I sat there awkwardly, watching them smash each other’s bones. Said Massie gave me a look from head to toe but eventually smiled at me. She mumbled a greeting, and I did the same.

When the guys let go, Ryan looked my way inquisitively. The guy had a pair of big blue eyes, almost like mine. His lips, a small pink bow, formed an ‘O’ as he checked me out.

“I’m Melanie González,” I quickly introduced myself with a robotic smile.

Kai added, “These are Ryan and Massie, Mel. My closest friends here.”

“Massie Williams.” She shook hands with me.

Ryan grinned. “Ryan Martinez. Dang, Kai, you’re back and got a girl on your side?!”

“We’re just friends!” I butted in. Kai was indifferent, however.

Heck, were we even friends?

Ryan shrugged, casually taking a seat at our table like Massie. “Are you going to finish this?” he asked, looking at Kai’s plate.

Kai shook his head, and Ryan didn’t waste any second to finish the plate. Massie facepalmed and rolled her eyes. I could only watch in puzzlement the level of comfort they were on.

“So, Mel, what do you study?” Ryan asked after he swallowed.

Kai sent a smirk my way.

“Computer science… hopefully,” I answered bitterly.

“Not to be rude, but… are you British?” Massie asked.

I smiled. “Only half Latina.”

Kai gawked at me. “I didn’t know that.”

“That’s because I lived here all my life. I have the British accent and mannerisms.”

“I knew it from your face! This is exciting. I’m a full Latino myself.” He smirked. “I know a Latino person when I see them.”

. . .

I finally introduced my favourite two. Ryan and Massie are my favourite characters in this book.

Kingston University is inspired by a technological university in my homeland. It’s a prestigious institute that doesn't have many students due to the fees. I so wanted to enrol, but I'm nowhere near rich. The students there are kids of ministers, royal family relatives, and businessmen 🤒

So, yeah, granting my wish to Melanie.

If you ask me whether the photo at the beginning is Melanie, I'm not sure tbh. but feel free to imagine her like that! I merely used it as a reference for the outfit as I'm not the best at describing fashion 🤡

Vote, comment and share! Lemme know what you think of my writing xx