Bitter Kisses (It's Just High School #3) - Thandiwe Mpofu Page 0,143
was drunk at this point.
“He’s getting ready for you, baby girl. Wait for him.”
Then he followed after Liam.
I tried putting myself out there though. I even talk to guys, thinking maybe all I need is one date for me to get over him but somehow the guys almost always never followed through. It’s as if I was talking to Mayflies who only exist for that one time they approached me and then die.
Putting all that aside, I couldn’t be more satisfied with what I’ve managed to accomplish so far.
There are days when I wake up in this still new to me town, surrounded by these still unfamiliar faces of students, feeling super happy that I took the leap and left Palos Verdes, California.
I mean, this is big, at least for me, especially when I was late to start college. They even accepted my double major in neuroscience and psychology. It’s a challenge but to be honest, chose the programs for selfish reason of course. The work keeps me so busy, some days I don’t think about Julian until I fall back in bed. It’s then than I would recall all the times he kissed me, the times he let me be myself in his arms
And also, because I still don’t understand how my mind works.
How is it that I can forget something completely while other details, especially everything that has to do with a particular person, remain intact no matter what I do to try to forget.
I lost my memory when I was four, but there are things that happened after that I still can’t recall and it’s for that reason alone, I chose MIT. And because it’s all the way across the country. Away from where I think Julian is, Cali.
Disregarding that though, MIT has been everything I could dream off and more. Because I was already late, I had to move in here in a rush. Mom helped me get my cute off-campus apartment that I’m absolutely in love with.
I love my personal space and I love that I can have company if I so decide, but it concerned me the way the apartment just became available for me.
When I expressed interest, the owner told me the apartment was already booked through Spring Break. The next day, she called me directly, apologized profusely and offered me a fifty percent discount on rent for six months.
When I told my mom, she just blinked at me in disbelief.
“All of that because of a mistake in scheduling?”
It was strange but fuck it. I decided to see it as the universe’s way of repaying me for all the crap it’s shoveled my way all these years.
I quickly get home, grab my only suitcase and my ID, then I’m out the door and rive to the airport with thirty-five minutes on the line.
I’m a college student. I live life on the edge.
My flight from Logan International to LAX is canceled due to terrible weather.
I’m so disappointed I want to cry but as I drive myself back home to another lonely birthday, I call my mom and let her know what happened.
“Aw, Mia, let me fly out.”
“Come on, Mom,” I say, keeping my voice upbeat. “You know it’s the same vice versa.”
“I really wanted to see you, honey.”
“I know,” I sigh. “But it was a bit of a stretch anyway, considering I was only going to stay for the weekend.”
Boston to LA is a long way to go for just a weekend, but this was a special one for me. And not just because it’s my birthday.
“Will you tell her I said hello and that I miss her?” I whisper but she somehow hears me.
“Of course, honey,” Mom says. “I’m sure Nancy already knows. She’s watching over us as it is.”
I believed it. There are times when I feel like she really is watching over me. Especially since I started college and that’s a lovely sentiment to hold on to.
“So, do you have any exciting plans for the weekend?”
“You mean besides finish all my assignments and this research paper I’m working on?”
“Yes, beside you drowning yourself in work, what else are you doing?”
“Hmm, I plan to sleep.” That’s not exactly a lie. I was tired. School had just recently started, but I took extra courses during the summer, just to avoid going back home. Mom understood thought I knew she was kinda sad about that, so she came and spent a month with me this past summer. It was amazing.