Chapter 1

He is standing 5 feet away from me and begging me to go back. We are in a big library.

"I can't," I said.

"I don't want you in my life anymore. So just leave."

"What do you mean by just leave? Can't you see that I'm fighting for us?"

"You don't have to fight for us. I'm tired and I can't do this anymore. For God's sake..."

"Leave?" I finished for him.

"Yes" was his reply.

Before I could bring his words to my brain, the books in the library started to fall on his head.

"What the..."

Bang...

"Lara, It's already 7.30 and you have to get ready," said my mom.

Shit. Dream?

I was thinking about the dream in the shower and I had no idea about the guy who came in my dream. Who was he? Why did he say he doesn't want me? I started to ask questions to myself. I laughed when I thought about books falling on his head. Suddenly, I got scared about my future. What if this happens to me in future? I came out of the washroom and started to dress up. "I'm wearing simple jeans and a top today," I told to myself.

8 am. I'm sitting on the couch and drinking my coffee. No mood to eat anything after the strange dream. My father is sitting beside me, reading a newspaper and my mom is in the kitchen.

My dad is an ex-professor and now he is doing online business. He is enjoying his life with his sweet wife after retirement. My mom was a teacher and she loves to be a housewife now. They both love each other so much that you see them always together. I wish I can be like them one day.

"So, how's work?" Asked my father.

"Boring..."

I told my dad about the dream I had.

"Strange," my dad said.

"Maybe you should get married soon" shouted my mom from the kitchen.

"Not now" I shouted back so that she could hear me.

"Then, when sweetheart?" asked my dad.

"When I'm ready"

"I think you're ready and it's time to look for a prince for my princess."

"Come on, Dad. Give me some time." I took my car key and said bye to Mom and Dad.

I'm Lara. 33 years old. Single. I have straight black hair and brown eyes. I'm not fat and not thin. I have a perfect body structure. I'm beautiful enough to make people say 'You're ravishing'. I have an IT company on my own and I also have a coffee shop near my company in Georgetown. I love my company and my coffee shop and I'm successful in both.

I parked my Beetle and took the elevator. My company is on the 10th floor in a big building named Rogerstone. One of the well-known and famous buildings in town.

My staff greeted me when I entered the office. I greeted them back before I enter my room.

"Too many works to do. And you're gonna die if you don't finish it" I cursed myself and started my work.

Our business purpose is to provide information technology solutions for customers to satisfy their business-specific needs and to help them implement new technologies in a timely, yet cost-effective manner.

At 5 pm. I stepped out of my office and went straight to my coffee shop. I love to be here. Customers, my staff, the coffee smell, environment and so on. Usually, I'll be here until 8pm. Our shop closes at 10pm.

"Hey, Lara. How are you?"

"Mrs Han. I'm good. How are you?"

"I'm good as well my dear. Btw, you look beautiful today."

"Haaah. Thanks a lot Mrs Han. Are you having anything?"

"Nah, I just had coffee. I'm leaving now. See you some other time, Lara"

"That's nice. Ok, Mrs Han. Have a nice day"

Mrs Han is my regular customer and she loves to have Ristretto here. She once told me how a woman should carry herself. Trust me. She went through a lot in her life and she is an inspiration for most of the girls in town including me.

I got back home around 8.20pm and I was hungry even though I had cookies at the shop. I freshen up and went downstairs to have my dinner. Mom and dad were watching tv.

"How was your day sweetheart?" Asked my dad.

"Was great dad. Yours?" I sat at the dining table with a plate full of spaghetti.

"Yeah, was great too. I and your mom went to your uncle Martin's house today."

"Oh, that's great. How's Uncle Martin and everyone?"

"All good. It's just that Uncle Martin is going through some rough times because of his business. But I'm sure he will overcome it." Said, my mom.

"I hope he will"

Uncle Martin is an intelligent man. He is in the real estate business for almost 15 years. I wish to visit him one day. Soon.

After had my dinner I went to my room and collapsed on my king-size bed. Suddenly, my handphone beeped.

Don't forget to join us tomorrow. We will be waiting for you.

Text from my bestie. She is having a party and invited all of our friends. I hate going to parties. I hate loud music or having small talk. Don't think of me as a boring person. I'm a fun person but not to everyone. When I have my circle I can be a different person. In a good way, of course. But, the circle that I'm gonna be with at this party is not my kind of circle at all. Except for my bestie. And because of her, I have no heart to give excuses.

Alright, babe. I will be there tomorrow.

I was thinking about what I should wear tomorrow for the party. The good thing is there is no theme. How great is that? I mean, how can you expect someone to be excited about a theme when they hate parties in the first place? With that thought I slowly zonked off.