[|]

I walked into my room quietly when I saw that my roommate was studying. I walked over to my small closet and placed down my hygiene items then started to wipe my body. After rubbing some lotion on my body and slipping into my night clothes, I climbed onto my bed and picked up my books to read.

"I saw you coming out of some expensive Mercedes G63 car a few minutes before the building was locked. Who was that?" Andrea, my roommate asked and faced me with a smile on her face.

We barely spoke to one another since her course had her away from the room most of the time. She was studying medicine and was always not sleeping in the room.

"Who?" I asked and Andrea crossed her long legs.

Andrea was a beautiful woman with wavy brown hair that cascaded down her curvy waist and framed her perfect face. She had beautiful hazel eyes that stood out on her beautiful face under perfectly arched eyebrows. She was like those online models with huge followers and great brand deals. Most of all, she was very intelligent.

"I saw you are coming out of a car when I was back from a night class. I was calling out to you but you didn't hear me. So, who was that? Your boyfriend?"

I had to laugh at her for tagging Lucas as my boyfriend. It was never going to happen. Not in this life, not in my next life if such existed.

"What's funny?"

"It's funny because he isn't my boyfriend just... Just someone from high school that I just met. He dropped me off," I said and leaned on the wall.

Andrea beamed. "Nice... So, is he single?"

"I don't know that," I replied.

"Well. Can you hook me up with him?"

I had an instant image of Lucas and my roommate going out on dates and Andrea telling me all about their dates. Something about it made my heart sting but I pushed it far away. I should not be feeling weird about them in that way.

"Lucas isn't someone you should think of dating," I said and watched how she frowned.

"Why?"

"From high school, he's always been a fuckboy or a playboy, whichever you choose," I replied and she scoffed.

"That was in high school and I'm sure he's a changed person now. And if he isn't, I'll change him."

Said every girl ever.

I wanted to voice out my thoughts but kept it to myself and smiled at her. I lay down on my bed and took out my phone from under my pillow. I unlocked the phone and in that instant, I noticed I had a text from a number. I clicked on it and gasped slightly at the content of the message.

Hey, it's Lucas. Just wanted to say good night. I hope you sleep well and dream of me.

I rolled my eyes at the message while a smile reached my face. Lucas was a funny person and too self-entitled. I dropped my phone and stared at Andrea who was back to studying. She was the perfect type for Lucas as she fit into the types of girls he used to be with in high school. She was the complete package and them being together would make a lot of sense but I still felt an ache in my chest at the thought of them together.

[|]

After attending class, I returned to my residential building and when I was about to walk into the building, I heard someone call my name. I paused and turned around to see who. Maddy's boyfriend was approaching the entrance with a paper bag and a smile on his face.

"Hi," Clark said the moment he stopped in front of me.

"Hey. What are you doing around here? You know Maddy doesn't stay in this building," I said and he chuckled.

"Yes, I know. Maddy asked me to take you to pick up something for her at some store down to the road. Are you free now?"

I was tired and wanted to rest. I've been at school all day and now I had to be out again?

"Alright. Let's go," I said.

We walked to a pick-up truck and just before I boarded the car, I saw Lucas' Mercedes driving into the parking space, two cars away from us. I quickly opened the car and got in, then closed the door. I didn't want to talk to Lucas because I wanted to finish school and leave without him being in my life.

As Clark got in and drove out of the parking space, I saw Lucas get out of his car with his phone in his hand. I had a feeling he was about to do something like call or text me. My phone in my pocket started to ring and I ignored it until Clark parked in front of a perfume store.

"We are here to get what again?" I asked as I got out of the car with Clark following suit.

"Maddy said that she ordered some perfumes from them and they are available now. She wanted you to come to help her smell them," he replied as we walked toward the store.

"I don't even know anything about perfumes," I muttered and Clark opened the door for me.

I stepped in and the whole place was filled with the scent of many perfumes that all mixed and gave off a nice scent. There were women in expensive-looking outfits in different places in the wide store while some attendants stood beside them, speaking and pointing at the products on the shelves.

"Hi, welcome to Luli's Scents. How may I help you?" A blonde asked after approaching us.

I shifted my attention from her when Clark began to speak. My eyes caught a vacancy signpost attached to the sales counter. Before I knew it, I was walking to it.

"Hi, welcome to Luli's Scents. How can I help you?" The lady behind the desk asked.

I didn't miss the grimace on her face when she eyed me up and down and I knew my outfit was something from my a year ago. I looked nothing like the customers here and I was sure that the cheapest perfume here could buy what I was wearing and changes would remain.

"H-Hi, I have a question," I said, feeling shy when the other attendants looked my way.

"What?" She asked in a miffed tone.

"I saw the vacancy post and I was wondering if I can apply to work here?"

I saw how she raised an eyebrow with a degrading expression on her face. She looked at her colleagues and they started laughing while staring at me.

"I'm sorry but this isn't a charity center. We don't hire people like... You. You'll only ruin the reputation of this place, babe. Go find a job at a street vendor or something," she said and walked away.

I felt my throat burn and my eyes prick at her words. I was poor, yes but all I wanted was a job to help me. Each day that went by, I was stuck on what to do in my second year. I had my school fees to worry about, where to sleep and what to eat. I hated that my only source of support which was my parents couldn't do anything at all.

I blinked rapidly, stopping the tears from flowing then walked away. I got to Clark who held a box in his hands.

"Are you done?" I asked, not meeting his eyes because I didn't want him to see I wasn't okay.

"Yeah. Let's go," Clark replied and we walked out of the store to his car.

The moment he placed the box in the trunk, he grabbed my hand and turned me so I was facing him. I panicked at his touch and tried to move away but he held my arms and steadied me.

"I heard what that girl said and I understand what you're going through," Clark said and I raised my eyebrows in shock.

"What do you mean?"

"Just don't let what they said get to you," he said and when he wiped my eyes with his fingers, I stepped back.

This guy was my best friend's boyfriend and he should not be touchy with me. With a smile, I boarded the car and prayed he would not do anything like that again.