001

Soft yawning filled the room as Kim So Hee set her laptop aside and prepared to sleep. She had spent the last day of vacation fixing and redesigning her blog, knowing school won’t allow her to touch it as soon as it starts. Mesmerized by the glowing stars on her bedroom’s ceiling, she listened to the sound of the rain resonating from the window just above her head; contemplating for the millionth time how her life could be so plain and boring.

She was never the vocal or showy type. Most people think she’s living the perfect life – with her family’s wealth, her pretty face, and her smart brain – but they clearly don’t understand everything. She might have a comfortable life but that doesn’t mean she’s not miserable. Having everything often means nothing. She’s been breathing for nineteen years yet she never felt satisfied. She never felt happy. She never felt contented. In her world, each day is almost likely the same – same people to see, same people to talk to, same halls, same classrooms, same university. It’s like reading a page of a book over and over – tiring, suffocating, and boring. Her entire life had been planned out ever since she was born. Her parents, though barely even present as she grew up, are very strict about her upbringing. They’ve always pressured her to be nothing but smart, flawless, and worthy of the riches she’ll soon inherit. And demotivated her to no ends. How was she supposed to enjoy life when it was already laid out for her from the beginning? When she already knew how it’d turn out? She never had a say on what’s going to happen to her life. And it made her feel more like a slave than a daughter.

All she prays for is a twist in her life, a difference, something that will turn her world upside down. She needs something to spice up her otherwise tasteless existence other than pretentious college girls and lectures and professors. People usually get jealous of her because of what she has but in truth, she’s more jealous of them because of the life they have. She always wishes they could switch places. She often hopes she could be like them. Maybe then she could have a decent family, a proper life, rather than the repetitive one she’s currently leading.

She took her phone to set up an alarm. Her sophomore year will officially start the next day yet she doesn’t feel the least bit ecstatic. She’s 99% sure it’d be the same as her freshman year, anyway, which only made her roll her eyes.

She was in the middle of choosing an appropriate alarm tone when someone started calling. Seeing the familiar name, she answered without hesitation.

“What?” 

Sohee does not have many true friends. In her entire college life, she only met two. And one of  them is the person pestering her at the moment – Kim Jongin. 

Instead of a response, all she heard was loud music and screaming. It did not surprise her. There was supposed to be a huge party tonight, hosted by some of the senior students in her university. Jongin invited her to come but of course there is no way in hell she’d say yes. She’d rather lock her self up in her home than spend a night with girls who only talks to her for her money and boys who only itches to get laid. Also, why would she celebrate the end of her vacation and the start of another excruciating semester?

“Ya, if you’re drunk-calling me right now, I swear you’ll be dead---”

“It’s the perfect time, don’t you think?” an unfamiliar voice suddenly spoke. Sohee paused, trying to figure out who she’s talking to. She’s sure even a drunk and wasted Kim Jongin will never sound that way. The male continued, “The rain’s pouring. It’s cold and dark and… wet.

Sohee gulped. That last word came out so sensually she could feel the blood rushing to her face. For the first time in forever, she was definitely tongue-tied.

“I know you need me, Se Ra. I know you want me. And I know right at this very moment you’re thinking about me, too.”

Who the heck is Sera? she thought, frowning. She just discovered the male’s calling a wrong number and knew she ought to drop it now. She’s obviously hearing something she’s not supposed to but strangely, she couldn’t bring herself to end the call. There’s something about the mysteriousness of the male’s voice that’s continuously drawing her in, making her sin. 

“You know I’m the only one who can make you feel good. Come to me, Sera. Come back to me. I promise, I’ll give you something way better than everything you have experienced before.”

This time, Sohee wasn’t able to stop herself from speaking.

“Who are you?” she murmured, eager to know who the mysterious caller is. The male chuckled, making her feel all sorts of things. “Nice try, love. You can’t fool me.”

Her frown deepened.

“No, seriously. Who are you?”

There was a long pause. 

Heart hammering against her chest, Sohee pressed her phone closer to her ear as she awaits his answer.

All she heard was a faint and distant ‘’ before the long beep came.

She stared at her phone in shock.

The call had just been ended. 

She felt like her stomach dropped. 

She tried calling the number again but no answer came, everything went straight to voicemail. She made numerous attempts, unmindful of the minutes ticking by. It was already past 1 o’clock  in the morning when her call was picked up.

“Ya, Kim Sohee, what’s wrong?” 

It was the voice of her friend, Kim Jongin. Her face instantly fell. 

“Ya. Sohee. Are you okay? What happened?” It’s clear in his voice he’s already started worrying yet Sohee’s still in the process of deciding whether to ask her friend or not. She’s really curious to know who the mysterious caller was but she doesn’t want  to spill the details of their conversation. Heaving a deep breath, she decided to keep it to herself.

“N-Nothing,” she lied. “I was just wondering if you’re already home. You know school starts later, right?”

She could almost imagine him beaming at her.

“Yes, Ma’am. We’re going home in a bit.”

“Are you drunk?” she asked, sincerely thinking about him this time.

“Nope,” he replied, convincing her.

“Fine,” she sighed. “Drive safely.”

“Aye.”

She ended the call.

Lying flat on her back, her mind wandered back to the mysterious male’s voice and their weird conversation. She wanted to convince herself to just shake it off but her thoughts kept coming back to him. She cannot forget. She is intrigued. And she is very much determined to figure out who he is.

Glancing at her bedside clock, she realized there’s only a few hours before the semester starts. 

She began to smile.

For the first time in a while, she felt hopeful.

“Maybe this year won’t be so boring after all.”

***

This is the draft I made of the first chapter. What do you guys think? :)