Chapter 1; You're Here Again, Ocean Eyes?
Vince's P.O.V
I grin in excitement as I saw the notification that pops up on my phone.
"You have been offered admission into Westen's university. Please check your students portal for more information."
As a scholarship student, this is a dream come true for me. My poor family can't afford the tution fees as the university is a top notch and it is located at the urban city of Brooklyn.
I live in the suburbs with my parents and little sister and the thought of leaving them behind kinda makes me feel sad but it doesn't conquer the thunderous excitement within me.
"It's good news, mom." I fix my eye glasses properly and my mom's eyes light up.
The others come down too and gather around me.
"Dad, Gina. I'll be leaving for the university soon!" I exclaim joyously and dad smiles, Gina clutching my hand tightly.
"I'll miss you." Gina gives me a hug and I chuckle, patting her on the back. Gina and I are fond of eachother and she likes being around me a lot.
After my parents, she is the one I cherish most and I wish I can take her along to school but it's impossible.
"I'm not gone already and now you're missing me, what happens when I live and don't come back until some months, Gina?" I bend to her level and ruffle her hair playfully.
She is 10 years old and is quite short just like me. We take after our dad, even our ocean blue eyes are just like his.
Gina sniffs and I wipe her tear with my thumb.
"Don't cry." I pat her shoulder but she pouts sadly.
"Come here." I carry her in my arms and rest her head on my shoulder. Dad and mom watch us with love in their eyes and they smile at me.
They will miss me too I know but there is fear in their eyes and I'm confused.
"What's wrong, mom and dad?" I ask but they don't reply. I blink rapidly, waiting for them to spill the beans and tell me what's going on their mind but they remain quiet.
Are they sad that I'm going to leave them?
During dinner, their expression remain the same and I get more worried. I put Gina to bed and come back to speak with them.
"What's wrong?" I ask, moving closer as I place my hands on their shoulders.
"You don't have to worry, mom and dad. I'll be fine." I assure them. "I'll read well, come out with good grades and become a medical doctor just like you want. Our family's status will change when I get a good job in the states." I say and they smile faintly.
"We're happy about your new progress, son." Dad begins, "but how will you cope when they start to bully you again?"
"You've always faced rejection at high school and we can't even stop the mistreatment when we're here with you. What happens when you leave for university and none of us is there with you? Whom will you reach out to?" Mom's face fall and in no time, she starts crying.
I have a small figure and
I am not tall and muscular like other guys and most of my classmates say I look just like a girl.
It hurts me to hear them say that. I feel weak whenever they do but I can't stop them and fight for myself.
They always win.
I pull them both into a hug and I try so hard to fight back my tears but they trickle down my cheeks as I remember I have been living the past eighteen years of my life, unloved by the outside world.
Will the university get worse? Can I fight back when they oppose me?
It is 9pm and we all retire to bed. I know mom will be lost in thought even as I am but I don't want her to feel sad because of me.
I know I am weak and cannot face others so the only way to make my parents proud is by being a brilliant student.
The incident that triggers my dream is the incident that happened eight years ago.
My only brother died of leukaemia — cancer of the lungs and we couldn't get money to treat him. And after dad finally gets a loan from the microfinance bank, the doctor says he only has a week to live.
Victor died right before my eyes and anytime I remember this, it stabs my heart and I am pained to the core.
I sigh and move to the bathroom to take a shower before going to bed.
A smile crawl unto my lips when I remember Professor Kyle. He teaches at my highschool before he got transferred to the school's partnering university which is coincidentally, "Westen University."
I am always worried about my sexual preference because I'm not interested in ladies and even if they strip naked before me, I will never get aroused.
But with professor Kyle, it is different. He is so damn breathtaking, handsome and even though I'm pushed to confess my feelings to him, I just can't bring myself to do it.
The thought of him makes me touch myself every night and now I can't even erase his thoughts off my mind.
Well, I'm happy I'll get to see him everyday because I heard he teaches the science department and that's where exactly I'll be.
~~~~~~~
Days have passed and today is the day I'm going to be enrolled into Westen University.
My joy knows no bounds and even it is the same with my fear; I'll get bullied again. That is for sure.
My family escorts me to the bus station and Gina won't stop crying. I dab at her tears with an handkerchief and place a soft peck on her forehead.
"I'll miss you, Gina. Don't worry, I'll always come check up on you." I smile at her and she nods hesitantly.
"C...can I go with you, Vince?" She asks and I shake my head slowly.
"No darling, students aren't allowed to bring their family along." If there isn't a rule like that, I will be happy to leave with Gina but it's a pity such isn't allowed.
I move to hug mom and dad and after a moment of silence, they wave at me, except Gina who cries nonstop.
Finally, mom is able to calm Gina and I enter the bus as it is ready to move.
My heart won't stop thudding loudly as the bus stops in front of the university gate.
A new life is about to begin for me; a life without my parents nor Gina. I bet it will be so boring as they always make my day.
We are a poor family but we believe happiness is entitled to everyone and we do our best to make eachother feel worthy of themselves. But the society isn't helping me at all.
I can only get unconditional love at home. People dislikes ad and even the handsome professor I'm dying for doesn't look my way.
I gulp nervously and start walking into the school. After I done with other registrations, I try to find my way to the dormitory but the school map is quite convincing.
"Gosh, do I go North or South?" I knit my brows I'm confusion as I kept looking at the map and don't notice that there are a few students gathered on front of me.
I fix my eyeglasses, my hands shaking vigorously until the map falls down my hand.
The bullies from my class, why are they here!
I get kicked on the floor and I clutch my bruised arm, wincing in pain but they don't stop hitting and punching me, muttering cuss words.
"Hey, stop!" I hear a voice behind me and when I turn around, my eyes meet a pair of violet ones which are so familiar.
Quincy is here too? The school's top bully!
He bends to my level, tucking my blonde hair aside. His hand grazes down my chin and I cringe at his touch.
"You're here again, ocean eyes. You can't run from me and you should know that." He smirks, a mischievous grin spreading across his small cherry red lips.
He looks up at the other students who look impatient and can't wait to continue to punish me.
"That's not the way to do it. You start the torture slowly." Quincy pours the milkshake in his hand on my head and I freeze as the cold liquid sink into my skin.
With Quincy here, I know I'm ruined.