Chapter 102

Liliana's pov :
Chatting with Ben on the calls was the highlight of my day, I missed him so much. I kinda forgot how it used to feel having him around in the house. He called me to wish me good luck with the mid-semester exam when I had just two papers left. Instead of complaining, I appreciated that he at least called me. He must have been busy with his final year of graduation.
Sometimes I wondered why he just left and never wanted to come back, he didn't even talk to mom and dad on the call. It wasn't like I communicated with them every day or I enjoyed conversing with them. Still, we frequently did and I was desperately waiting to enter college so I could move out from this mansion.
It was my exam week so I was preparing for it with the coffee and books. My table was surrounded by books and coffee mugs. I had finished three cups already and the servant just brought a fresh one.
The clock said that it was 3 o'clock so I took the mug and after revising Jay's notes last time, decided to take a nap for three hours.
It was my last week of the exam and his exam was finished last week. We were on strike not to see each other for two weeks except weekends so I didn't disturb him in his exams so did he. In fact, he was still controlling himself for not visiting me. Jay badly wanted to at least drive me to the school for exam week but I denied his offer, it could risk my future. I wanted to take admission to the University of Southern California, the same University as his, so I better get good grades.
We were a pure distraction to each other so we made a rule to just text and call during exam times so we could focus on our studies. Even though we tried this time to manage the relationship and exams together but it didn't work out, never to mention, it was a poor attempt. I went to his place so he could teach me mathematics but we ended up calculating the rounds we went on in his room.
Because of my job, I was so busy that I couldn't make notes but he had his last year's notes so it saved my time and helped me a lot. He was a topper so his notes were as perfect as his handsome features. My hopeless romantic boyfriend drew cute kissing emojis with I love you and Good luck at the end of the notes of all the subjects.
The next morning, I woke up early and checked my phone to see his good morning and good luck text. I instantly replied with I miss you and Morning instead of thank you, there I lost my control. I badly wanted to call him but it would have a bad impact on my paper so I had to wait for two more days.
It was my second last paper and the day after tomorrow would be my last exam. After that, we would go on a date and there would be a vacation for Christmas. Just two more days and I would be able to spend plenty of time with him just like before.
Last Christmas, we had just started dating so we were hesitant to celebrate it together. But this Christmas wasn't going to be the same. We would surely have a great memory of this Christmas.
My mom was going to invite him and his family for dinner next weekend. And after what Alex's dad said, it was necessary to make my dad meet Jay. I hadn't told him before about Jay because he never showed any interest in my life so I didn't know that he would try to fix my engagement even without asking me but instead of arguing with him, I decided to let my mother do what she was dying to do!.
Taking a good amount of time in the shower, I quickly took a tank top and flat jeans and got ready in five minutes as usual by combing my hair and applying a lip balm.
I asked the driver to drive me to the school because I didn't want to drive during exams. As a nerd, I was fully focused on the study during exams, no job, no date, no other thing!
I made my way to my classroom but soon I stopped walking as my route was blocked. Emery, Emma, and Mia were ready to halt me with their stupid barbs.
Adding them to the list of reasons why I wanted to finish high school as soon as possible, I pretty much ignored them as they were nothing but jealous bimbos.
"Hey, no boyfriend to wish all the best?" Emma made me roll my eyes and I fanned myself with my fingers, mimicking their signature action.
"Why are you still so interested in my boyfriend?" I retorted and earned their scowls.
"It's just the first year of his college, soon he'll realize that you're not his type," Mia commented and smirked.
I sighed and pushed Mia and Emery's shoulder so I could walk further, while walking I turned my face to reply to them. "He likes me because I'm different, unlike a bimbo like you."
"Bitch!" Emery tried to slap me but her friends stopped her, good decision! Otherwise, she would have become a victim of all my frustration.
Their jaws dropped to the ground when I grinned and waved them goodbye with a few kisses. Emery reminded me of Alex's mom, somewhere both of them were bitches with the same names.
Completing my paper, I hastily started strolling towards the parking lot. My much-needed sleep was waiting for me, and I had to take a rest this week.
The ex-senior of mine was standing beside his bike with an arrogant smile on his face, he was waiting for me in the parking lot. He broke the rule but instead of being mad, I walked to him smiling and kissed him.
He lifted me and twirled me around until I felt giddy and yelled to stop him.
"I should be pissed off, you broke the rule," I pouted and folded my hands.
"You broke it first, don't you remember the no flirting and sweet messages rule?" He wrapped his arms around my belly and rested his chin on my shoulder. "If my girlfriend sends me a message of I miss you, of course, I'll be at wherever she is in the next moment."
I chuckled at his cheesy words and rolled my eyes. "I was missing you so much," I admitted and kissed his cheek.
"I missed you, too, baby." He retorted and made me face him. "Um, that kiss was too short for my preference. And I deserve a reward for waiting for you here for the last one hour."
"I still have one paper, baby." I winked at him and he frowned.
"You have a one-day gap so it's not impossible and you don't worry! I'll just drop you home, won't take you on a date and waste your time."
"Aww, you look so cute when you're mad."
He protested, "That's my line!"
"Whatever!" I waved him off. "But you still look cute with that pouty face."
"Would you like to go on a short coffee date?" A sheepish grin appeared on his face and I nodded so we could at least spend an hour together.
He started his bike and I got on the back seat of his bike. After a speedy ride, he stopped at the nearby cafe and I ordered a latte. I didn't know why but he always ordered the same as mine even though he liked cappuccino more.
"I really miss being around you all day like school days and sometimes I feel like we are doing long distance even when we are in the same city and fortunately, we are neighbours," he uttered and made me feel overwhelmed.
"I wish I would have been born a year earlier. But that's how life is going to be, we'll be busy with our studies in future and then, with our career. With all these things, if we want each other, we have to manage the time and I'm worried about that."
No matter how much I liked being his princess, the future won't be the same. He would have to be the CEO of the Casano Empire and I had my own goals, too.
The waiter came with our latte and Jay thanked him with a genuine smile. He didn't utter anything but took his latte and started sipping it slowly.
After a while, he broke the silence. "Your college life will be full of assignments, lectures, and so much work, especially when you're a medical student, you would have practical classes, too. You won't have enough time to miss me."
I sighed and took a deep breath as I knew where this conversation was going. "I know that but you'll be busy studying the business and learning the business. You're gonna join your company after this Thanksgiving, right?"
He told me once but I ignored it because it didn't feel very serious by his side but I sensed it when he started this busy conversation.
"Yes! I mean, that's my future. And I have to learn that. Everyone else is doing either a job or helping their dads in the business so I also want to help my dad, and this way, I won't feel idle and won't bother you all day by calling and texting."
I finished my latte and put the cup down on the table. "You know, we watched pretty good high school romance dramas at your beach house, those dramas were all sweet and romantic but when you step into college, you're already feeling responsibility on your shoulders and that's where the hustle starts."
Smiling, I held his hands and assured him that he could make it through. We couldn't live in the sweet dreams forever, we had to come back to reality one day so this Thanksgiving was going to be special and important for him.
Even though he didn't tell me that he was scared of joining the company because he had never worked and somewhere, he was nervous about working with his mom as his dad was handling the out of town's businesses.
"We'll still be good, huh?" He raised his eyebrows and I nodded. "You won't leave me if I couldn't reach on time on our date and wouldn't be able to take you on romantic dates due to work overload because that's what happens in business and relationships. That's how things change and go out of our hands." He shrugged as if it was so cool to talk about it now.
"First, we'll try harder. Second, I'm not a bimbo so I won't mind if you can't take me on a date unless I find you fucking any blonde," I taunted him and pouted after crossing my arms.
He started chuckling and paid the bill before leaving. He held my hand and kissed it before intertwining our fingers. "Cheating on you is the last thing on my mind. Every serious talk where I'm scared of losing you, I don't know how you take it easy and make me laugh in the end!."
"Girls are more mature than boys," I smirked and bounced my shoulders. "Half semester is gone and I'm looking forward to passing the rest of the semester and then, I'll kiss you in front of all those girls who hit on you."
I promised and a proud smile twitched his lips before speaking, "I didn't know you were the jealous type like Barbie."
"Uh-huh! Dominant and possessive type!"
"That's my type!"
"Because you are mine."
"And you are mine."
He dropped me at home and I was laying in my bed with wide-opened eyes, thinking about our future. With Jay, everything felt dreamy and so good that I never wanted to see the end of this dream and come back to the cruel world.
When I thought about that saviour boy who gave me the courage to fight with the world, I never imagined that it would be Jay. And now when everything was going smoothly and all the important people of my world were happy, I didn't want to ruin anything or the ending of this sweet dream.
Deep down, I knew that handling my relationship with my dream wasn't going to be easy so there would be hardships, and it won't be less than an ordeal. I had to be stronger to deal with the issues because it was a sure thing that there would be issues. The question was will we make it through?