1 1. Keya

June

I am supposed to go back home today. Home to where I can hear some nice accents again.

Home to where I can just go walk on the beach eating fish and chips.

Home to where I can ride my bikes and explore our little town. And home to where I can eat the delicious Shepherd's pie, and Mince and Dumplings made by my mom.

I miss home. I miss Southshields.

But I can't go back during the break because my undergraduate thesis is begging for me to start writing it. And besides, I'd rather spend the plane ticket I purchase in paying all my bills and save it up to cover all my expenses in the next twelve months of being here in Houston.

Aside from that, I don't want to go back home yet without me earning my college degree. That's what I told myself few years ago right before I flew in here, I told myself that once I go back to Southshields I already have earned my degree without asking for a single help from my biological father and his family.

Yes, I am a product of my parent's mistake. I am a daughter of another woman, and all my life my mom and I received only but degrade from my half-siblings and my father's wife. That's why I want this so bad, I want to prove to them that I can be successful without asking for any help from them. Even if it means me juggling two jobs every now and then while studying just to survive.

"Seriously Keya, you need to chill. The semester just ended and you still look so dragged!" Lily said as we both leave the Arts and Sciences Department building of the Houston State University.

I worked as a student assistant in the said department within the university ever since my freshmen years. Like me, Lily is also a Literature major student in the Houston State University. She was the first person I became friends with when I moved in here and honestly, she is a total babe. She helps me all the time even though I don’t ask for any favor from her.

"I know." I replied sighing.

I don't know, I'm always so stressed ever since I started college but today has been a huge drag for me. I called my mom last night that I won't be home and I can really tell that she was really disappointed. My professor is so keen about the topic I am planning to research about and she wants me to start writing it ahead over the break.

Bloody hell! I was just still planning and I am not sure yet if that's what I really want on my final paper, because I haven't decided yet. However, my professor seems to make up her mind about it already.

"You know what? You need a girl's night out!" She suggested which made me to snort.

"And what? Get drunk? That's even more stressful! You wake up the next day with hangover. Absolutely not for me."

"Not just that! You need to get laid. I'm calling Jessy later." Lily said juggling her car keys when we reach the parking lot. "We'll go out this weekend."

"But I haven't said I agree to it yet!" I replied hopping unto the passenger seat.

Lily drops me off in my dorm every after class or sometimes at my work since we both head the same way and I can't absolutely pass a free ride, it's absolutely helpful if you are saving up.

"Do I look like the person who accepts no for an answer?" Lily challenged.

I chuckled. "Of course not."

Yeah, she doesn't know how to take a no for an answer. Especially when it comes to going out and parties. She also happens to have this kind of habit on dragging me everywhere because according to her, I am cool and always says yeah! Let's do it. Her words, not mine because I certainly don't agree to her ideas sometimes.

I just happen to love her and I owe her a lot ever since I met her. She had done so much to me financially, mentally and emotionally. That's why saying yes to everything she suggests that doesn't put us to danger, of course, is the least I can do.

"By the way, do you still have a tutoring gig after this?" She asked as we head out from the campus.

I shake my head.

"The tutoring session has already ended two weeks ago." I answered sighing, because I literally don't know how to feel, whether to be happy because my schedule won't be that hectic anymore or be sad because I won't be able to earn extra money to finance my needs and to send some money for my younger brother's tuition. I'm also helping my mom in sending Kam to school even if I'm still also a student myself.

Being a French tutor pays me more than the actual rate since the family of the kid that I am tutoring happens to like me and they're rich as well. However, my job there is already done and I am not gonna lie I haven't saved up much from it. The tutoring gig paychecks all went to my sibling's tuition and family debts.

I'm working as a part-time waitress at the nearest diner in town, a student assistant and a French language tutor. However, those jobs only covers my own tuition and basic needs. So now that my tutoring gig is finally over, I need another job in order for me to send money to my mom and support my younger brother with his education.

"I'm actually looking for another job during the break. Anything you know?" I asked.

She nodded.

"The nearest strip club on my street is currently looking for a stripper actually. I can give an outstanding reference if you want." She said innocently.

"Oh that would be cool!" I said innocently with definite exaggeration. "I totally appreciate that, is it alright if I'll send my application later?"

I asked trying to hide a smile on my face, especially when I saw the shock on Lily's face.

"Are you serious? Key, I'm just kidding okay? There's no way I'm going to let you do that!" She exclaimed hitting the breaks so hard that I almost hit my head on the dashboard despite of the seatbelt buckled all over me.

I started chuckling.

"What? It's actually a great story." I humored her. "A stripper from Houston, Texas is a College Degree holder! That's going to be an iconic news, hun."

"No." She replied firmly. "If you want to be a stripper so bad then you can! But you can only strip in front of me and that's just it!"

"Oh my god." I said dropping my jaws in complete exaggeration again. "Does that mean you want to see me naked?"

She chuckled. "Hun, I've seen you naked a lot of times before."

"Yeah! But stripping in front of you is a bloody different story." I said laughing too. "Do you have a crush on me?"

"Key, everyone have a crush on you and that includes me." She said showing how annoyed she is for having a crush on me or whatever she says. "You have lovely skin, lovely hair, though you have small boobs but your butt is phenomenal! You basically have a natural beauty, I hate you."

"Aw, thank you Lily." I said completely flattered about what she had said.

"Seriously I ca-- oh shit! We're holding traffic!" She exclaimed realizing that we literally stopped in the middle of the road and all of the cars behind are already honking at us to move and we didn't even noticed it.

Both of us are laughing once Lily started hitting the engine again.

"I sometimes wish I have the same heritage as you, surely I look so stunning." Lily added sighing.

"Oh shush hun! We both know you are stunningly gorgeous. You have a boyfriend and I don't!"

"Because, you work so hard and refuses to chill out!"

"That's not true!" I complained. "I always go on a night out with you guys."

"Yeah? Once a month." She blurted out. "You don't go party that much, you don’t go shopping--"

"Because I am saving up for my brother's tuition plus our family debts." I said only to earn a loud groan from her.

"I understand your responsibility Keya but you have to choose yourself first once in a while."

I tried that. But it's really hard.

My mom keeps on saying the same words but I just don't want to. Every time I tried to put myself first, I always feel so guilty. I saw how my mom worked her butt off to support me and my brother all on her own without asking for my father's help.

I promised her that once I graduate I'll help her with all of our finances and debts. That's what I am doing right now, it's hard doing it I am not gonna lie. Juggling jobs while studying but I got used to this already, I've been doing this since I was in middle school. Besides, my life won't surely be like this forever maybe. I'll surely arrive on the destination I have been wanting all my life anyway...

I hope!

"You're a university scholar, you're grades are over the top, you're earning enough money to cover all your needs, yet you don't rest! You still look for extra jobs." Lily added. "Seriously Keya, you only live ones. We're all gonna die so enjoy while you still can."

"I'm enjoying."

"Lies!" She blurted out. "We're so going to party this weekend. You really need it."

Not really looking forward to it. But I might as well go out sometimes, she's right! We only live ones, so why not!