It was a long day at school. Marian returned to her dormitory after a pleasant conversation with Logan. He wasn't so bad to talk to, and she loved his scent and his eyes the most. It made her smile as she approached her dorm.
Her birthday was in a few days after, she suddenly remembered, the cafe down the street offered a job, she said she was going to take a look but had forgotten."Tomorrow," she said as she climbed the stairs to her room. She had enough savings. The door opened, "Marian!" Ruby threw the book at her, Marian dodged, and the book landed outside. She looked back at Ruby.Ruby Hans— Her roommate, Ruby, had ginger hair and deep blue eyes. Her hair was packed in a messy ponytail, and she wore white shorts and a pink top."What?" She asked in a low tone."How dare you mess up the room?" Ruby glared at her. Marian sighed and closed the door after her."I was in a hurry, and I had to look-""Hurry? I returned, and the whole room was so messy. Are you insane!" Ruby yelled."I'm sorry," she said, gently walking closer to the table and picking a purple book."My boyfriend is coming over, so be quick" Marian looked up at her and rolled her eyes with a sigh. "Don't give me those eyes. He would only spend a few days!" she bounced to the bed."What? That's not fair. Are you not tired of inconveniencing me? I know this is your place, but you can't have plans without letting me know. Where do I go now?" She asked. Ruby raised her brows, wickedly smiling."And how is that my business?" She asked."Ruby! You have to stop," Marian yelled, dropping the purple book angrily and glaring at her."Oh, tell me, what are you going to do? Toss me out?" She challenged."You know I have nowhere else to go," Marian cried, hanging her head down."You have your friend's or parent's place. You can go see them," she replied, folding her hands on her chest, awaiting her reply. Marian looked at her, tears almost dropping from her eyes, she had a lousy roommate that made her go back home, but this time, she didn't want to."You can help yourself then," she replied, staring at her, maybe wanting a reaction.Angrily, Ruby grabs a pillow throwing it to her, "What?" She asked.And again, Marian dodged. "He is your boyfriend, after all!" She said."Marian! You come here!" Ruby screamed. Marian slams the door at her walking away fast before she comes out and attacks her. Pushing the door opened, a fresh breeze blew against her, and she heard Ruby, she complained, but her voice was unmistakable. Ruby had always been an embarrassment for her in her hostel. "You! Come back here!" Ruby says. Marian walks away without saying a word. "Don't come back here," She had no idea where she was going but moved instead until she heard a sound. Marian turned back and found her clothes on the floor."You think you're smart, right!" she continued tossing them out, bunch after bunch, and when she was done, she took the box out the window and slammed it to the floor, breaking.Marian watched her, and a sad smile inched her lips, accompanied by tears that rolled down her red cheeks. What was she going to do now? She thought.Angrily, she rushed back and climbed the stairs, breathing hard and crying simultaneously. Marian banged on the door. She knew this would alert the whole dorm, but she continued. When Ruby opens up, she scoffs and raises her hand and a slap lands on Marian's wet red cheeks."After everything I've done for you? It is the way to pay me?" She asked. She gawked at her, "I have paid you just enough by tolerating your shits," she rolled her eyes and pushed her aside, bending down to scan the bed. The room was silent, and Marian heard a small laugh. She turned back to her and shrugged."What are you looking for?" Ruby asked."Where did it go?" Marian asked."What?" She replied, acting dumb."Where did my money go?" Marian yelled frustratedly. The box she had saved her money in was empty."I thought you left it for me," Ruby giggled, "You know, that was enough to pay me," she finished, folding her hands across her chest."Why would you take my money without my permission?" She screamed. That was her earnings for six months. She starved to ensure she got a place."What's your problem?" Ruby was surprised by her reaction.Marian looked at her, sighing heavily. Surprisingly, a smile graced her pink lips. She got up immediately and started packing her remaining. She had nowhere to go or anyone to help her, but Marian was getting on her nerves, and this was beyond her control. She knew a lady that could hold her for the night. Marian's wailing became louder, and her nose began to drip uncontrollably. She couldn't control her tears anymore.Ruby stepped closer and grabbed her hands. Marian was packing. She didn't want her to leave. Who would cook, care for laundry, arrange the house, and even wash the toilet if she left? "I didn't mean it like that. I'm sorry. I will return it to you very soon," Ruby said, smiling, and when she wasn't answering, Ruby continued bugging. "Hey, Marian, you can stay for the night," Ruby begged."Can you stop!" She glared at her. Thunder struck the sky instantly. They both looked out the window, it was about to rain, and her remaining clothes were still outside."What do you want? Name anything, Marian, you can't go, it's raining, I was only reacting out of anger, and so are you, why don't you stay? Ah, if it's about my boyfriend, don't worry, he isn't coming," she stated."I would come back for this!" She said, looking at Ruby. The room wasn't hers after all. Why should she stay?"Where are you going to go?" She asked."That's none of your business," she replied and walked out, paused at something and looked sideways at her yellow umbrella. She had almost forgotten it. She grabbed it and shut the door after her.Two days later, Marian was absent from school, she hadn't been near the school, and it was difficult for Gabby to reach her. It troubled her knowing her situation.Gabby stood in front of Ruby's door, trying her again, hoping it would ring, but it sang repeatedly, not available. Then she decided to knock."Marian?" She called and immediately opened the door. "Mar- Oh, you must be Gabby?" She guessed.Gabby ignored trying to look inside, but Ruby blocked her, and she looked at her. "Is Marian not around?" Gabby asked."Huh? Oh, I thought you-" Fear immediately gripped her eyes like a dark curtain. Ruby was very transparent to read."Where's Marian?" Gabby pushed the door, leaving her hand banging against the wall."I don't know. Marian left the room even in the rain. I tried convincing her to stay, but..." Ruby replied, her voice shaking."Where did she go?" Gabby asked, looking back at her."I don't know," she said with her eyes popping out and her hands folded."What happened?" Gabby
"Mr Noel would like to offer you a place to stay," she let out. "Miss River?"Marian scoffs and turns around, holding her head. Then it hit her. How did he know about her situation?"Wait!" She turned back, and he stood firmly with the lady she didn't even know. "How did you know -" "My assistant got some information about you," he said bluntly, leaving her speechless. Seeing she had not said anything, he continued, "It's a very comfortable apartment and one of the best in the Philippines," "It's the W's apartment," Grace said, and Marian choked instantly, the W's apartment? This apartment was meant for millionaires, celebrities, and much more... Not people like her, but that wasn't her problem right now, "So -" Mr Noel was about to speak."You asked your assistant to run a background check on me?" She said following a small laugh, "Is this something you did for the whole student? I don't understand, ain't you are my professor - why would you -" "Grace, excuse me," he said, "Alri
"Oh, right, 15th-floor darling," she replied, Marian's heart skipped. She had never been to the 10th or 7th floor before, but 15th? She swallowed."That's quite a height," She whispered The elevator door dinged open, and the old lady who she had walked in with stepped out of the elevator and turned back to her. "You're such a lovely young lady. If by chance you move in, you can come for tea!" She offered. Marian smiled and nodded. "I will, thank you," she replied with a smile and watched the elevator close.She blinked and realized she didn't even know which number was her house. She sighed and leaned against the wall.Seconds later, the door dinged open again, and Marian stepped out. Looking around, she found the number of the apartment, 1503.Marian stood staring at the door, and his words kept playing in her head. _"The passcode is 0079," "You don't need to pay me rent, you can just work and have fun with your money,"_ Marian took a step forward and raised her hand to put in the
Marian looked shocked. How was a professor able to afford this much? "Marian, won't you come in?" Marian watches him enter. From that day, he became part of her life. Not only did he come every day, but he stayed as long as possible. She decided to take a break from school for a week. She wasn't mentally stable and had no solution for her case. Whenever he had a class, he wouldn't come over and promise her he would come that night. They had already gotten close in a week. Marian sat outside waiting for him to come that night. She gazed at the bright sky that shone on her face, and she took a sip from the orange drink she was drinking. She could hear people dancing and singing on the streets, the smell of Christmas had already gotten more muscular, and there were about to go on break for the season. Marian looked at the gate every five seconds. She wondered when he would show up. It was already four pm, and he hadn't come. She stood up from the chair to head inside when the gate
"Logan?" she rushes to the door, as soon as she does Logan appears at her front with red roses. "I'm sorry for ditching you..." Marian interrupts him with a hug. "I hope this is not a dream," she says quietly, she missed him like a mother would miss her child. "Did something happen when I was away?" he wraps his hands around her too. Marian hugs him still without answering his question. "Um, Marian" he taps her back. "Oh my, I'm sorry" she pushes him away "Um, is everything okay?" he asks "Where were you?" She looks at him he was dressed in a full suit. "Oh, I received an urgent message at home" "You went home?" she watches him take off his coat. "Yes, we had an urgent family meeting" Logan looks at Marian she wasn't even inviting him inside and he wanted to. "What's wrong?" she looks back at the apartment. "Won't you at least invite me in?" "What's that?" she says pointing at the bag he was carrying. "Dinner" he raises it smiling, he looks inside giving Marian a clue
"I lied, I still want you, who wouldn't?" she smile at his face giving him a peck on the lips. "Vanessa" he raises his head."See you soon" she unlocks the car door. Logan looked at her not knowing what he was going to do with her, he knows what Vanessa is like. ____________________________________ "Marian!" Gabby slurred. "Ya!, I have had enough drinks I'm going home" "Come on, we said we are going to my place this night" "I miss him" she cries. "Marian!" they both shouted on the streets. "Yah come on you can't go back to him" "I wanna ask him something" she drops to the ground. "He can't be married" people around look at the both of them. They were both wasted. "I'm going, Marian!" Gabby gets tired. Marian sat on the floor, her chest was heavy she didn't know where to start from, she looked at her bag it was open, her dress was too short, you could even see her underwear. This was Marian falling in love, she didn't know how to tell him she loved him, the
"I would wait for you, NL" she reads. "NL?" she questions. The first person that comes into her head was Logan, Logan Noel. Marian stops, "If he is Logan Noel? that means this apartment" She covers her mouth. "It can't be" "Logan owns this apartment too? it can't be true" Marian's list of things she wanted to ask him became much. Marian was anxious that she could barely sleep, she woke up as early as possible took her bathe, and brushed She took her time this morning to prepare she stretched her hair and wore a nice white and yellow floral gown, She got this when some people come to donate at the orphanage, she picked it and only promised to wear it on a date but she had none, she felt like this would attract Mr. Logan. Marian heads to school, Mr. Logan hadn't gotten to class yet, Marian entered. "Oooou, Marian are you going on a date today?" Faith asked. "No why?" "You look as if you want to seduce someone's husband" she replies. Marian had forgotten he was m
Marian!" a voice calls her. Marian turns to see, unfortunately, it was her adopted sister Jane, Jane was the last child of Mr. and Mrs. Rivers. "Marian, it's you!" "Sister?" Marian says shocked, she knew she was in trouble. What are they even doing here by the way? "Sister?" She walks closer to her, Logan looks out the window, He sees how uncomfortable Marian was, he looks at her side and sees a young girl beside her. Marian kept quiet and slowly waited for her to come closer. "What are you doing here?" Jane asks, looking around. "Huh?" she looks at her "Why are you dressed like this? who is your catch? don't tell me you are waiting for someone to pick you up!" She folds her hands across her chest. "Jane, please" Marian beg. "What mom said was right, you now live in a luxury apartment! after making us go bankrupt!" "I'm sorry but I can't..." she tries ignoring her. "Where do you think you are going?" she pulls her back. "Jane stop!" Marian says, her voice cracke