"I can't wait to go home!"
Lost in thought, I overheard the words of another student boarding the same bus as me. I sighed and looked out the window. I wondered when the bus would finally move. I had been waiting for what felt like an eternity. December 2023. Today officially marks the beginning of my three-month semester break. My name is...
"Hanna Harrel!" I turned to look at Sara, who was running onto the bus. She caught up with me, panting. I was taken aback. Just a moment ago, I saw her heading home in a car. What the hell she suddenly hops on this bus?
"What are you doing here?" I asked. Sara grinned and took something out of her backpack. A book.
"I came here to give you this." Sara placed the novel in my hands. I stared at Sara in surprise, waiting for an explanation. Sara sighed.
"You're so slow, you know that? Yesterday you told me you wanted to write a novel during the three-month break, right?"
I nodded.
"That's why I'm buying you this. A novel writing guidebook. I know you were heartbroken because your novel got rejected. You have talent, but you just don't know how to write properly. That's why it got rejected. Read the guidebook and finish your novel. Okay?" I smiled broadly, touched by her kind heart.
"Thanks. I feel like crying now." I crinkle my face, ready to cry. Sara laughed and tapped my head, causing me to wince in pain.
"Don't be so dramatic. I'll head off now. Take care, and don't forget to chat with me, okay?" Sara advised.
"Got it!" We hugged briefly before Sara waved and left. I looked at the book in my hands, a thin smile on my lips. I turned my gaze back to the window. I wondered when this bus would finally move. I've been sitting on the edge of my seat for ages. As everyone probably knows, my name is Hanna Harrell. I am a student at the University of California, majoring in International Relations, and just finished my fourth semester yesterday.
"What are you going to do during this break? It's long, you know. Three months," my enjoyment of solitude was suddenly disrupted by the lively chatter of people behind me. Their loud voices annoyed me.
"What else? Hang out. This time, my dad said he wants to take me and my siblings on a vacation to South Korea. It's going to be outstanding! I can't wait," one person exclaimed.
"That's cool. Can I come along?"
"You want to come? No need. I can't even stand your face around here, and you think I'd want to see your face during the semester break? Definitely not!"
"You're so rude!"
"Whatever!" And laughter echoed loudly behind me.
I was losing patience. It seemed like the two of them were the only ones on this bus, and didn't care about anyone else. Frustrated, I sighed and turned my head backward.
"Can you guys please be quiet? Do you think this bus belongs to your fathers? Show some respect to others, can you? If you want to scream like monkeys, better not take the bus. Just go by private jet and scream all you want. Don't inconvenience others!" I scolded loudly. They both immediately fell silent. Perhaps they were shocked to hear my voice, which was now thunderous.
Satisfied, I plugged in my earphones and turned up the volume to the maximum. Releasing the pent-up frustration in my heart. Honestly, I hate going back, and I hate semester breaks. I'd rather stay alone at university than go back home. I swear I hate it so much. There's only one reason I go back—my mom. If it weren't for her, I wouldn't go back home.
PAP!
I glanced to the side when someone lightly tapped my shoulder. Looking at the person, my face automatically showed disgust. I removed the earphones from my ears.
"What do you want?" I snapped loudly. I stared at him sharply, not welcoming his presence at all. I hated him to an infinite level.
"Hanna, it's not nice to act like that. I’m a human, you know. Not an animal. At least give me a little smile," Tyler smiled. I rolled my eyes. Indeed, those sweet-talk lines made me want to throw up when I heard them.
Tyler Aaron. That's his name. From what I know, he comes from a well-off family. Whose son he is, I don't know, and I don't care to find out. But what surprises me the most is that he's attracted to me. I don't know what kind of creature he collided with. He even asked me to be his girlfriend. Crazy. I'm far from being pretty. In reality, no guy would be interested in my appearance—short, thin, and not attractive. For everyone's information, I'm only five feet tall and weigh 54 kilograms. My face? Not exceptionally bright. Acne scars abound. Haha. Don't even imagine my face to be anything close to Emma Stones.
I'm not in the category of beautiful women, and I'm well aware of that. My woman's intuition tells me he's a playboy. That's why I've never paid him any attention. Maybe he thinks I'm an 'easy' girl. Once he talks, it sends shivers down my spine.
"Ahem! What are you daydreaming about, sweetheart? " Tyler grinned like a rotten clam. I shot him a deadly glare. Oh God, I can't stand him.
"What do you want?" I asked harshly. He just won't stop ruining my mood. Tyler pouted his lips towards the seat next to mine, already occupied by my backpack.
"What?" I pretended not to understand. Oh, come on. As if there's no other place. There are plenty of seats at the back here. Don't blame me if the police find a headless body on the bus!
"Hello, that's my seat, okay?" Tyler replied casually. I widened my eyes. What the hell?
"This is my seat. Sit somewhere else. There are plenty of other seats," I said, uninterested. I won't budge, and I won't let him sit next to me. Period. I went back to playing with my phone, searching for ballad songs on my playlist.
"Knock... Knock... Is anyone here?"
I glared. Can't he see I'm not interested?
"What else?"
"Do you see this paper? According to what's written here, Mr. Bus Driver has confirmed that I've rented this seat. You can read it if you don't believe me." Tyler placed the small paper in my bag. Angrily, I took the paper. It turns out, everything Tyler said is true. I looked at Tyler with dissatisfaction. He smiled, showing off his money. Renting a seat, indeed. If I weren't patient, I would have given him a piece of my mind a long time ago.
"See?" Tyler gave me a snob look. I made a tight face, crumpled the paper, and threw it at his face.
"You want to sit so badly, right? Sit then!" I stood up, carrying my backpack. Disappointed, as there were no empty seats left. Tyler gave a mocking smile, pouting His lips towards the empty seat next to him. I rolled my tongue. Fine, let him sit alone. It's not like I've never stood before.