Welcome to Gaia! ::

~CHAPTER 1~

It had been 3 years since the break up. You didn’t know why but you still couldn’t get over him. You sighed as you sipped on your cup of coffee that you just bought.

“Hey Jean.” A voice called you from behind.

You turned around to see your friend standing there.

“Hey Mel.” You answered her.

“So, what’s with the sad sigh?” She asked you as she sipped on her own drink.

“Nothing. You finished the project that Mr. Webber gave us?” You asked her trying to avoid from having to tell her what’s wrong.

“Yeah. Now, tell me what’s wrong.” She said.

“Really. It’s nothing.” You said as you held your cup of coffee tighter.

“Hmm… and you expect me to believe that.” She said looking at you while one of her brow cocked.

“No.” You said as you sighed.

“Now tell me what’s wrong.” She said.

“Well, I just remembered about my ex.” You said as you looked down.

Tears were about to fall but you held it in.

“So… he dumped you?” She said to you.

“No. I did.” You said to her.

“Oh.” Was the only thing she could say.

“Well, doesn’t matter who dumped who. It’s all in the past. The future is what’s important now.” You said as you took a breath.

“Come on. Let’s go to class or else we’re gonna be late.” You said to her as you stood up.

“Alright.” She said as she stood up.

The both of you were walking on your way to school. You pulled your jacket closer to your body as you felt the cold wind blowing. You were now a university student. You moved to the states after the break up. At first you thought of studying at Korea because you couldn’t bear being apart from him. Your parents insisted you in going abroad to study.

But then, he debuted as an artist in Korea before you went to university. Since his debut, he rarely answered your phone calls neither do your text messages. He would also always cancel dates the very last minute. He would always say that he had things to do. Sometimes he would also say that paparazzo’s and fans were at his apartment so, he couldn’t see me.

At first you were being patient and convinced yourself that he was just busy. But then, it became months and months. His calls became less and less. You couldn’t take it anymore so, you made a decision to study abroad as your parents suggested.

It was against your own will but you had to do it to avoid yourself from being more hurt. It was hurtful to live like that.

“Hey,Jean! Hey, Melanie.” A voice said to you as soon as you stepped into your class.

“Hey Jazz.” You said to her.

You had your three best friends by your side. That is Melanie who is an active girl who has passion for sports and music, Jazmine who prefers to be called Jazz. She loves sports and music also. She’s also the cheerful and energetic kind of person.

Then, there is Jamie. She’s the soft and sensitive kind of person.

“Hey! Jame.” You said to her as you sat beside her.

“Oh! Hey.” She said as she turned her gaze from outside the window to you.

“Finished the project already?” She asked you.

“Yeah. What about you.” You said to her.

“Same.” She said.

“Good Morning class.” Your professor started the moment he came in.

“I have and announcement to make.” He said after that.

The class went silent and concentrated on what he was about to say.

“The school held a student exchange program. So, I have chosen seven students from this class.” He said as he picked up a piece of paper from the desk.

“I wonder who’s picked.” You heard your friend Jazz spoke.

“Alright. The students are Melanie Sung, Jeanine Han, Jazmine Lee, Jamie Kwon, Adam Marcus, Jules Draber and Daniel Stuart. I would like to see these seven students after class.” The professor said as he put down the piece of paper on the table.

After class, the seven of you stayed back.

“This is the form that all of you must submit. Although all of you do have a choice either you want to join or not. But I still hope that all of you would join.” The professor said while handing us the form.

You scanned the whole paper when a word caught my eyes.

“Umm…… Sir, I’m wondering if we will have a translator or not while we’re there?” One of the students named Daniel said.

”Well, the school never mentioned anything about this. I’m sorry Daniel I perhaps there isn’t going to be a translator with you there.” The professor said.

“Even though it’s that way, I still hope that all of you would join.” He said as he left the seven of us.

“Man! How am I gonna communicate and understand what the Asian peoples speak.” Daniel said.

“Don’t worry Dan. The four of us will be your translator.” Jazz said all of a sudden.

“Yeah.” The other two said.

You who were still staring at the paper didn’t hear what they just said.

“Jean! Jean! Jeanine Han Hye Jean!” Your friend shouted.

“What?” You said looking at your friend.

“Are you okay? You look kinda dazed.” Your friend Melanie said.

“Yeah. I’m fine. Sorry bout that.” You said.

“Alright then. We’ll be leaving now. See you later on the field for soccer practice alright Jazz.” Jules said as he walked out of the class with Daniel and Adam trailing behind him.

“I’m heading to the café right now. Anyone wanna go?.” Melanie said.

“I can’t. I have soccer practice.” Jazz said.

“Fine with me.” Melanie said.

“I’ll come.” Jamie said.

“Jean you coming?” Melanie said.

“Umm… that’s okay. I’m going to head to our dorm.” You said as you stood up and walked out of the class.

.:MELANIE’S P.O.V:.

“What’s wrong with her?” Jamie said as she stood beside you.

“I dunno. I’ll talk to her later.” You said.

“Alright.” Jamie said as she walked towards the door.

“Yah! Chakaman!” You shouted after her.

“Aish! Onnie run faster! You’re running so slow.” Jamie shouted.

“You’re not teasing me aren’t you.” You said to her when you were standing in front of her.

“Ani! Ani. Ahhhhh! Onnie!” Jamie said as soon as you started chasing after her.

You kept on chasing after her until the both of you reached the café.

“HAHAHAHAH! Onnie. You run *pants* so slow *pants*” She laughed while panting.

“Whatever.” You said as you took a seat at a table.

“Man! All that running makes me thirsty.” Jamie said sitting down on the chair in front of yours.

“Want me to get you anything?” Jamie said.

“Yeah. A strawberry smoothie.” You said.

“Alright. I’ll be right back.” She said as she left for the counter.

You sat there trying to think if you should call her or not. After thinking for some while you took out your phone and dialed her number.

. razz HONE CALL:.(Talking in their korean names and in korean)

Melanie: Yobseyo? Jean ah.

Jean: Yobseyo. Ah… Jin ah.

Melanie: I just wanted to ask you if you’re really alright.

Jean: What do you mean?

Melanie: Well, you were acting a bit weird.

Jean: Really? I didn’t notice that.*laughs sarcastically*

Melanie: You can’t lie to me Jean ah. I’m your best friend. I can’t believe you could lie to me.

Jean: I didn’t want to lie but… but…

Melanie: But what?

Jean: I don’t want to enter the student exchange program.

Melanie: Why?

Jean:…………

Melanie: Jean ah? Hye Jean ah?

Jean: Yeah?

Melanie: You know what? We’ll talk about this when I get back alright.

Jean: Nae.

.:END OF CONVERSATION:.

“What did she say?” Jamie asked as soon as she reached the table.

“She won’t tell me. I’ll talk to her later when we get back.” You said.

“Okay.” Jamie said while sipping her drink.

After finishing your drinks the both of you headed back to your dorm.

You walked to yours and Jeans room.

“Jean ah. I’m coming in alright.” You said as you walked into the room.

When you walked into the room, you saw her sitting in front of a small coffee table that was placed in the center of the room. She was looking at a piece of paper. You walked behind her to see her holding the form.

“Jean ah. Do you want to talk about it?” You asked her.

“Huh?” She said as she turned around.

You pointed at the form.

“Oh…” She said as she stared back at the form.

“Wanna tell me why you don’t want to join.” You said while twisting a lock of her hair.

She sighed. “It’s because I don’t want to see my ex again.” She said.

“Don’t tell me that you still love him.” You said.

“I... I do.” She said after a short while of hesitating.

“But I thought that you were the one who dumped him.” You said while looking at her.

“I did.” She said softly.

“Then?” You asked her.

“I… I dumped him was because… because it’s just hard.” She said as she fiddled her fingers.

”C’mon. You can tell me. Nae?” You asked her.

She started to tell the whole story to you.

After finishing, you saw a tear roll down her cheeks.

“Jean ah. You can cry all you want. I know that you probably wanted to dry does tears long ago but restraining yourself from crying won’t make any good for you.” You said while hugging her.

That night she cried to sleep in your embrace. You couldn’t bear seeing her like that. So, you’ve said to yourself. You have to make her face her fears. That night, while she was asleep, you filled up the form for her. When you finished, you looked back at her and the form.

“I’m doing this for it’s the best for you.” you said as you sighed.

You placed everything inside your bag and went to sleep.
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