Chapter 5: Sometimes Fate Isn't On Your Side

Dawn Everhart

Well, as much as I tried to avoid my him, I should've considered that fate will never go my way. I successfully made myself busy, making money and building my own empire. Following mother's footsteps.

"What are you doubting about, honey? They are only father and son. I don't see any reason to be afraid of since they seem benevolent." She told me.

"Really?" I raised an eyebrow with sarcasm.

"Yes, I am confident of it." She replied, while kneading dough to make a croissant.

"If that's so, why don't you marry Mr. Kline yourself since you're so 'confident' about him."

She flashed me a deadly look that gave me chills down my spine.

"Watch your words, young lady." Her tone was threatening kind.

"I'll try." I shrugged.

After months of avoidance, I figured I can no longer keep it up since we were going to the same school now. I cursed at this damned small world where all the odds are always on me. Between me and mother, I'm afraid I'm the most unfortunate.

I mean, come on! Does it always had to be this way? Does heaven really hate me that much or was I overreacting? Never once had things work my way and I can't keep blaming myself sucking at every plan I launched. So this has to be my life biased with me like, what did I ever do? (눈‸눈)

At least the school ain't that bad.

A couple of girls approached me as I entered my class, one nerdy looking and the other one bossy, introduced themselves as Caroline Flemming (the bossy one) and Jenna Wiles (the nerdy).

"I'm the class president." Caroline claimed. "Jenna's my friend. What's your name?"

Did they already elected titles or just self-proclaimed?

"Dawn Everhart. The transferee." I replied.

They looked at each other.

"You sound interesting." Jenna says, her eyes scanning me head to toe. "How about we turn this duo into a trio?"

"Deal." I grinned. One thing to survive a new school, is to have an ally who's fond of the school itself. I see some few transferee in my class. 

That's how the unstoppable trio formed in the Institute of Fine Arts. Being with them made my life easy to adjust into a new school. The whole school praised Jenna and Caroline claiming them the top students.

Then here I am, full of humility.

I didn't know what Mr. Kline's son looked like neither do I bothered to know his name so I always avoid crowds through the library or the music room where the musical instruments reside. They never failed to calm me down.

I forgot to study for the test and was out sleeping all day so I had to wake up 3 in the morning to do a quick study with a cup of Americano to keep me awake. Coffee helps everytime.

I maintained my straight A's and no more + or - beside it. I had this habit of looking at my formal and boring report card of A's.

"Just A? Not even a plus or two?" Mother looked at me skeptically.

"I want my report card clean and so does every test. Give me an additional or less than A, then the principal and I are gonna have a problem." I told her.

During math and biology, I got a mental block and panicked at my test. I managed somehow, but then I felt every veins of my heart palpitate and my hand were sweating and shivering.

Karma. That's why you don't drink coffee so early in the morning and panic, Dawn.

"Dawn? Are you okay?" Jenna scurried beside me.

"You were struggling at the test which is a rare sight." Caroline said.

"I'm fine. Just got a mental block." I exhaled sharply.

"How unfortunate." Jenna said. "You're lucky the test was just trigonometry. One time I had a mental block was when I was on a debate competition. I cried after that."

"Well, it happens often to me. That's where I got a B." Caroline said.

"C'mon girls." I laughed. "It's not like it's my first time. I'm fine, really."

They both looked relieved.

"So, Dawn. This Saturday, Jenna and I are having a sleepover at my house and we want you to join us." Caroline said.

"Sure." I agreed. "What's the dresscode?"

"Last time we slept in our jeans. So we thought of a cute sanrio pajamas and top this time. And all things must be related to our character, strictly." Jenna said.

"I'll have Hello Kitty." Caroline said quickly.

"Kuromi." Jenna and I said the same time.

"I already bought all my Kuromi stuff, please let me have this one." Jenna pleaded.

"Fine, I'll have Pom Pom." I gave in.

If I force Kuromi to myself, the poor Jenna is gonna have to trade everything back. She probably must've planned it all over and picked it first.

-

My hands weren't cooperating with me much on the piano so I was typically embarrassing myself instead of trying to calm down. A cute boy entered the room and, I am doomed.

My frustration grew with every mistake, leaving me helpless and keeping my hands to myself as I stared at the piano, no longer questioning why anyone else would choose to spend their leisure time in the music room. The guy offered to help me, assuming I was struggling to get it right, which only ended up damaging my reputation.

Things happened so fast that I choked on someone's tumbler when he told me he is Xavier Kline. I never knew the name, but his surname haunted me. It should be his brother right? My head often gives me reality checks and it slapped me with the memory that Mr. Kline has only one child.

I guess even chinese luck fails to get me out of this curse, right? And I can't believe mother would agree of his request knowing that I did every means to avoid him. I gotta admit he looked handsome in his turtleneck sweatshirt and trousers. The kind of look I wanted when I feel like wearing boyish clothes. Dang, I was jealous.

I was left speechless as his presumptuousness were standing tall like my dignity and hoisted my Nike sports bag over his shoulder.

"Ladies first." He opened the door and gestured.

"Thanks..." I mumbled.

I didn't dare utter a word as we sauntered on the sidewalk as leaves crumbled softly in every stride.

"I wanted to meet you. But it seems you have important things on your hands to do so." He finally spoke.

I can feel from his tone that he longed this day to come making me guilty why I didn't even try to meet him in the first place. 

Now, how do I respond to that?

"I should've..." I tried to come clean. "I just wanted to help mother. I'm sorry that you have to wait for me everytime with disappointment."

"I'm not disappointed at all." He smiled warmly. "I just thought, that you also disagreed with our parent's decision as I did."

"That's also a reason." I chuckled nervously. "But there's nothing I can do." 

"Pretty honest." He nodded in agreement. "I like you for that."

My stomach churned. 

"And you're pretty straightforward." I muttered.

Never have I met someone like him before. =⁠_⁠=