Once Upon A Time

As they waited for Maya to come back to consciousness. Despite distant voices, the corridor remained empty, and turning a corner, Alex came upon two adjacent sets of lift doors. ... He stood, feet apart, his broad square jaw set firmly. He stood with his back to the wall; He stood still, closed his eyes, and tried to calm himself down for a few moments. His mind raced back to the time when he'd first met her seven years ago.

There is always a girl who thinks she is a sassy, funny, kind, smart, beautiful everyday princess looking for love. After a lifetime of watching Disney movies, rom-com, and your friends' cute meet stories, they will wonder if they are cursed with romance. They desperately have to find their soul mate. Many women want their knights in shining armor to come along and sweep them off their feet, but in reality, Prince Charming could very well ride upon his horse and fall off. But ignorance is bliss, isn't it?

Women are exhausted from dating a string of men who just won't commit or Men are exhausted from not looking for a serious relationship and just want to have fun. Both men and women are waiting to find 'The one'. Everyone in college is fixated on one pressing question: Where is my happily ever after? Where is my fun?

Boom!

Cue dramatic entrance of your very own relationship Love Guru- Yours truly, Alexander King. Alexander King, the typical popular guy who was a fun-loving, happy-go-lucky guy, but he was also hot-headed. Alex is also an honor student, doing his Masters in Business in scholarship at Yale University, who bears an acute sense of fairness, a flashy dimple, and a heart of gold. Girls swarmed around him like a flock of vultures. To the contrary opinion, he doesn't have a different girl on his arm every day. He is still waiting for his dreaming girl who would sweep him off his feet.

"Come on, Man. She wanted me to wish her at 12. It's her birthday and I hate to disappoint her on her birthday." Ranted Rian, his best friend.

They were sitting in the corner which was a quiet secluded spot in the pub. Nobody could hear what they were talking about. Josh went to the bar and bought a round of drinks.

"Dude, you realize that she stays in the women's dorm and they do not allow men?" Questioned, the ever-sensible Josh.

"See, you got to help me, man. If I don't make it, then she will break up with me." Pleaded Rian.

"Before we take on this adventure of venturing into the forbidden Women's dorm. Ask yourself: Do you see a future with her?"

"That's not fair! We have been dating only for 3 months and I don't have a time machine to see to if we will still be a couple in 2030."

"Fair enough! Josh, are you in?"

"Are you giving me a choice?" Josh questioned, smirking, and crossing his arms. The boys laughed at this question.

"Nope! Listen, this is what we'll be doing. We will cover ourselves in a burqa and sneak into the dorm at 11:45. Josh and I will guard downstairs near the warden's room and you will go to your girlfriends and surprise her."

"What's Burqa?" Asked Rian

"It's a long, loose garment covering the entire body from head to feet, worn in public by women in many Muslim countries. I will arrange for it."

"Isn't that offensive?" Asked Josh.

"Hey, I didn't say a word wrong or belittle anyone, dude. Walking into a ladies dorm with a penis is a suicide mission. No offense, I'm trying to save our lives and studies without getting rusticated from the college." Alex defended his decision.

"Fine, let's do it." Both Rian and Josh said it together.

By 11:45 in the night, the boys were ready and walked into the ladies' dorm, raising no eyebrows. When they entered the dorm, the boy saw two girls.

"Rian, you go upstairs and we will stay here and watch. Remember, we will leave at 12:15 with or without you. Got it?" Alex's voice was full of authority, so the boys obeyed.

They exchanged fist bumps and high fives amongst the boys before they left.

He saw two girls walking in the corridor and pulled Josh and hid behind the staircase.

One girl was dragging another one into the warden's room. Curiosity got the better of Alex.

"Maya, please, if she finds out she will skewer us on a butterfly knife." The girl with short hair pleaded. The fear in her voice was palpable as a heartbeat.

"Why fear when I'm here. She needs to be taught a lesson. Let's go." Answered the girl with long hair. There was an aura of confidence in her words.

"I know these girls." Whispered Josh.

"Who?"

"The girl who's scared is Sasha Williams. She is the confident one who shoots off any guy with a glare. The other girl is Maya Davis, the scared cat who always hides behind Sasha. It's irony to see their role in reverse."

The hallway was narrow and empty and dimly lit. About a few minutes later they heard a high-pitched, wavering, screaming. Every light in the hallway turned on, illuminating the whole hallway. Slowly, everyone in the room turned on their light, hearing the high pitch scream.

Josh and Alex panicked and ran, only to bump into the girls who were running out of the warden's room.

The girl wobbles, and she screams as she falls backward. "Oh, no… NO!" Alex gasped in horror.

"Maya!" Shouted her friend

Alex dived forward, and by some miracle, she landed in his arms, sending him down to his knees. He leaned forward, holding her close. They both were breathing fast, their noses almost touching. Her eyes blink open, and it meets Alex's golden-brown as whiskey eyes. Alex felt like he was falling off a cliff. A sharp inhale, and he was surrounded by a fresh spring and flowers. The girl was as soft as silk, her breasts against his chest, and her full, glossy lips part in front of his.

Thud, thud, thud goes his heart, before stopping altogether.

"Sweet Jesus, an angel…" He said in a breathy whisper, a little raspy and a lot sexy. Alex had to force himself to stop staring at her as he has never seen a girl before.

Maya pulled away and held Alex's wrist in one hand and Sasha's in the other to hide under the staircase.

"I'm sorry. The warden insulted my friend in front of the whole dorm. I wanted to teach her a lesson." Whispered Maya in her sweet voice.

"Who are you?" Demanded Maya's friend, in a very rude voice.

Before I could reply the warden walked out in her PJ's shouting. She was a picture to behold. She screamed and walked away, asking whoever did this to come out. The warden's complete face was painted in colors, and Alex saw Maya's expression morphed into a slow smirk.

"Let's go, Sasha." Whispered Maya, as she turned her attention to me. "I would appreciate it if you don't share this with anyone." They got up to leave when Alex grabbed her wrist.

He removed the black veil on his face and heard the girls gasp and froze in shock.

"Hi, I'm Alexander King." Alex stepped forward and held out his hand.

Before Maya could respond, voices from the end of the hallway interrupted them. Alex leaned forward suddenly and pecked her on the cheek with a quick kiss. "Until we meet again, beautiful." And disappeared into the night.

Alex woke up with a start as his alarm went off. Alex felt his heart drumming in his chest and realized that he had been dreaming again. It had been the same dream, night after night, over the past few days. He closed his eyes tightly as he tried to get rid of the thoughts of Maya, but he couldn't.

It's been ten days since she fell in his arms and he couldn't seem to stop thinking about her. It's like she moved in his head and heart rent-free. No matter what he did, she crept inside his thoughts. Alex realized it's futile fighting this anymore.

"Or I'm just going crazy!" He shook my head and got out of bed to get ready for college.