Betrayed by Fate

Go to college? This wouldn't be within my reach if I didn't fight to get it myself. I grew up in a strict home, surrounded by religion and doctrine that tend to blind people with all those prohibitions and such.

In addition to a strict home, I can say that I was also sexist. I went to third grade in the small town of Winslow, in Navajo County, Arizona. I excelled in every class, ranking first for grades and everything. I applied to several universities in hopes of getting accepted to one.

For someone who never had family support in anything he did, this had been the best decision I had ever made. It would certainly cost me consequences, but what to do? I never had anyone's support.

The worst disappointment I had with all of this was realizing that I was accepted to several universities because of my exemplary record and grades, only to find out in the end that my mother had burned several university letters that had arrived for me, and had answered the phone from our house several times saying that I had given up my job.

When I questioned her, I couldn't believe my ears. I remember the day in question. I had found one of the letters in the trash. It had been torn in half. I picked up that piece of paper where it said I had been accepted to L.A. University, one of the best colleges in Los Angeles.

I strode into the house to find her in the kitchen doing something while my dad was sprawled on the couch in the living room, watching a game.

- Could you explain to me what this is? - I confronted her, showing the letter from the university in my hands, without thinking about the consequences.

- How dare you raise your voice at me, Maya? I'm your mother and I demand respect. What is that in her hands? Give it to me, now, stop digging through the rubbish. - she said, taking the pieces of the letter from my hands.

- How can you do that? You are my mother. Here it says I was accepted, and what do you do? Tear it up and throw it in the trash. Tell me, how many times did you do the same? WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME I WAS ACCEPTED? I asked, getting upset again when I saw the sarcasm on her face.

"Because no matter how many universities you get accepted to, you won't go to any of them. Don't you realize you're not good for that? Your brother does. He does have a great future ahead of him, but you? Look at you, you don't even hold a candle to him, Maya. It will be just another one, do you know why? Because women were made to serve, our place is here in the kitchen, men are in charge in the house and you must accept that, the Bible says that we must be submissive to our husbands. The man is the head and you must accept that. she said in a stern tone, making me gape at her response.

"I will not let your fanaticism ruin my future. I'm not a slave, I don't want to live to satisfy a man. I'm sorry, Mom, but you're very wrong if you think I'm going to do what you want, not this time. - I ended up getting excited when I heard those words coming from those who should support me the most. I didn't realize how loud my voice was until I felt the heat on my face and the tears welling up in my eyes like waterfalls.

After that slap, everything turned upside down. The next day, my father showed up with a man at our house; he must have been around fifty years old. My parents announced that I was no longer their responsibility, that from that moment on I would be the responsibility of that man I barely knew. According to them, I would be a great wife, this at sixteen, for a man older than my father and whom I had never seen in my life.

A month later I ended up marrying that man, I thought that would be the end of me. But in reality it was just the beginning of a new life, Santiago will treat me like a daughter and the marriage was just a facade, so that my family would not suspect.

Everything went smoothly for two years, until one fateful day Lia and I found Santiago dead in the living room, Lia was my best friend, she and her parents were the family I never had if I may say so.

After Santiago's death, I ended up inheriting his entire fortune. But my life turned upside down, I was already older so I decided that I would leave everything behind and start over. My place was still open at my dream university, so why not go after what I wanted.

It's been over a year and a half since I left Winslow, and since then a lot has changed, my parents didn't look for me and I'm glad for that. I'm sure I left a weight behind when I got on that plane to California.

Lia is currently in New York, she is studying Designer fashion, her dream course. I, on the other hand, am studying Psychology, I have always been fascinated by the human mind.

I recently got a part-time job at a diner near campus. Yes, I have all the fortune left by Santiago, not to mention the company and some assets.

But I don't let that go to my head, I like to get my stuff through my work, using my inheritance only when necessary. My past remains hidden for those who know me today, it's good, I prefer it to stay that way.

Maya Narrating.

The noisy, irritating university bell rings, snapping me back to reality. Right now I'm at the university, in class to be exact. The teacher at the front of the room was doing a brief dynamic, a time travel through our memories when the bell rang.

I mentally thank you for that, considering everything I've been through, I don't have good memories like maybe the rest of my class, well, at least not with my family.

- Well, students, I hope you enjoyed the proposal for this class. I look forward to seeing you next week, review the content as the assessments start in a few weeks. A great weekend for everyone. - concluded the teacher, picking up some books and then leaving.

I pick up my cell phone that hasn't stopped vibrating for a minute during class. I unlock the screen, there are about ten messages from my flatmate Jessie. Today was Friday and as usual she was going to some crazy Party in a forbidden and good place, that was the reason for so many messages.

Jessie is my flatmate, she is in her fourth period of medicine, she has an incredible vibe and likes to live life beyond the limit, with the excuse that she only lives once. I quickly answer the messages and soon after I get up, I put my cell phone in my pocket and take my backpack putting it over one of my shoulders, I take some books that were on the table and walk out of the room, going to the corridor full of people. students, thank heavens for me it was the last class of the day which means today I can just walk up to the dorm and throw myself on my bed, well I hope so.

༒︎༒︎༒︎༒︎

The feeling of being able to get home and throw myself on the small sofa in the living room was great compared to the busy day that had followed, I worked this morning and then I left there running to college, I barely ate anything or had time for a decent bath.

Some dorms here at the college are mine apartments for two people, in this case they are an American living room and kitchen, two small bedrooms and a bathroom. Thank heavens Jessie and I managed to make ours look like us.

I'm the type who loves to read, doesn't really like going out, doesn't have many friends, but has books and loves a good old cliché, so it was already possible to imagine what my schedule would be for this Friday night.

I hear the doorknob turn and the bathroom door open, revealing Jessie wearing her bathrobe as she towel-dries her hair.

"I thought someone kidnapped you, Maya, damn it. I called you a thousand times. she said, stopping in front of the mirror.

"Ten times Jessie and you know I was in class. But then, what was so important to tell me? I ask, straightening up on the sofa and watching her with my raised eyebrows.

- Some friends come here today, well, just Luke and Angel actually. We're going to a party and I wanted to know if you'd like to come with us. she said with some excitement in her voice.

"No thanks, I have some plans for tonight." - I say lying back on the couch.

- Of course, because marathoning Harry Potter is much more interesting than socializing with humans or better with muggles as you usually say. - she said smiling. - I saw sis the pile of books that were in your room, separated for today. Let's live Maya even if it's just for tonight. she said smiling and making me laugh too.

- Wait, did you come into my room? - I asked, pausing briefly, but already knowing the answer.

- I borrowed that jean jacket of yours. - she said, shrugging.

I don't say anything I just get up laughing and go into my room, Jessie and I have a nice friendship she even behaves like an older sister and well that's good.

I get rid of my clothes throwing them in a corner of the room, I put on my robe and take my creams and my cell phone leaving the room and heading towards the bathroom.

Jessie was nowhere to be found, maybe she had already left. I go into the bathroom and remove everything that covered me, turn on my cell phone in my random playlist and get under the shower turning it on right away. While dancing to some Shaw Mendes song.

Bath taken and creams passed all over the body, hair washed and hydrated. Every woman's calming ritual, I donned my robe only since my underwear and clothes had been left in my room. All this to the sound of random music, can I right? That was my moment of peace.

I came out of the bathroom dressed only in my bathrobe and towel wrapped around my hair, Lia was answering who had sent a message asking if I intended to come home for the summer vacation.

We would have a vacation in a few weeks, to mark the end of the school year, right after handing in the grades for this unit, distracted on my cell phone, I end up tripping over something big enough to make me hit the ground, I realized that my legs were still on the object I had tripped over, well that is until.

"Maybe I should come more often." - The male voice sounds somewhat sarcastic.

In a failed attempt to get up I end up slipping again, sitting on the lap of that stranger who looked at me curiously.

"Not dinner first babe?" - The asshole says with irony. "Well, I don't think this would be the best time for us to do this, but we can arrange another day. - he said ironically, laughing afterwards so that I could realize the shit that was going on at that moment.

I quickly got up from his lap, standing up and looking at him.

"Can you tell me who you are by any chance?" And what are you doing sitting in the middle of my apartment room? I asked furiously looking for something that could serve as a weapon in case he was a maniac or God knows what.

- Ah, do you really intend to defend yourself against me, using the remote control? No comments. he replied while enjoying my agony. "You are pathetic girl. - He finished sitting down again, this time on the sofa in the living room with his feet under the coffee table.

- Get out of my house now, you slacker. - I say going to the door and opening it pointing to the outside and waiting for the good will of that being.

"That's not how you welcome visitors, kitten." - She said laughing at my situation and going back to watching the TV.

At that point I was already at my limit, what do you mean, an asshole, retarded, weird. Enter the AP and feel at home.

"Could it be that I'm going to have to call security." I say irritably.

I walk over to it, about to cut it with the remote that was still in my hands. When the unfortunate dodges my blow and ends up pulling me towards him, making me fall sitting on his lap.

Since there's nothing bad that can't get worse, I hear voices coming from outside the apartment, and the door being opened shortly afterwards. I swear all I wanted was to dig a hole in the ground and bury myself in it.

"Holy crap Maya, when I said some friends were coming and I mentioned Luke, I didn't think you'd welcome him like this. - said Jessie entering along with another girl and two other guys. - it was a bad friend, the party went bad before it even started, can you believe they called the police? so we decided to come and keep you company. - Jessie finished putting some bags on the American kitchen table.

- I already liked the idea of ​​us watching the movie only in a bathrobe. - said one of the guys who were with Jessie with his eyes focused in a specific direction.

I felt my face heat up and I was sure I looked like a bell pepper at that moment.

- I don't think this is Maya's idea, right? - said Jessie, laughing at the situation while everyone else just watched and tried to contain their laughter.

I realize that I'm still sitting on that imbecile's lap, I get up quickly, fixing my robe and I walk heavily into my room, closing the door right after.

I changed my clothes and fixed my hair, turned on the air in my room, laying down on the bed with one of my books in hand. I was busy with my reading when the bedroom door opened revealing the same madman who was on the sofa minutes ago.

Maya Narrating.

. My bedroom door opens again revealing the same asshole.

- What do you want? - I ask diverting my attention from the book I was reading and focusing it on the being in front of me.

"Wow, rude. This is not how visitors are treated. - Said that being walked to my bed and sitting beside me. - Harry Potter ? Really ? I know it's so cliché. he said, taking the book from my hands and getting up, flipping through a few pages.

- Could you return it and please leave my room? I don't know you and you already enter my room like someone from home? Get out of here boy. - I say after getting up and heading towards him in a failed attempt to pick up my book since the asshole was much taller than me.

What reluctantly caused a small imbalance on my part, I almost fell to the ground if a pair of strong arms had not quickly encircled my waist. For a moment I found myself lost in the immensity of those brown eyes, almost as deep as the night.

- You should have less force, you know. he whispered, close enough that only we could hear what was said.

- And you should be less nosy. - I say, coming to myself and trying to recover my posture and the dignity I still have left.

It was silly of me to think I could let go of those arms that were still attached to my waist.

"And yet you wouldn't complain if I kissed you now." - he said convincingly bringing our bodies together even more.

"By the way, you're not really my type." - I say putting my hands against his chest, speaking a little lower than normal, making a little pressure in the failed attempt to push us away.

"You're still going to beg for a kiss from me." - whispered the same so close that I could hear his breathing.

Then I felt his arms detach from my body, I watched him smile smugly and soon after he left my room, leaving me with sensations on the surface.

Strange to feel so hot since I had just taken a shower, I grabbed my book that the asshole had thrown on the bed. Strange if I said I don't remember when he threw the book.

I sit on my bed again with the book in hand, the failed attempt to refocus my attention on reading. Yes, a failed attempt since my mind was still traveling in everything that had happened, frustrated I left my book aside on the bed putting the pillow on my face.

Damn time I said come in, I realized I couldn't focus on my book anymore, I walked to the bedroom window watching the starry night outside for some time.

The thought of taking a walk and feeling the light night breeze was present in my mind at that moment, I go to my wardrobe, changing clothes and taking my cell phone and my money.

There was a little live music venue near campus, it was a Friday night and it must have been packed, I'm not the person who goes out every night. But let's say it was a little necessary that night when I found myself changing my plans so that my mind would travel somewhere other than the memories of minutes ago.

I let go of my hair and after applying just a gloss and mascara, I leave the room finding Jessie and her friends all in the room watching some movie which, I deduced was a horror movie. I walked quickly to the door, opening it and leaving quickly to avoid questions.

As soon as I left the apartments, I noticed some people talking there. There was a big party at some fraternity at the end of the street since it was possible to hear the noise of the stereo, as well as the lights that drew attention and the large number of people going in that direction.

I walked out of the campus enjoying the light breeze of the starry Los Angeles night. The city was busy by the way. Since I arrived here about a year and a half ago, I've always enjoyed walking around the city at night, it was beautiful, with all the hustle and bustle at times.

In a nearby square there were some street singers, it was normal to see in the busy nights of the city. All that big city magic made me not want to go back to the apartment that night.

Upon arriving at the PUB where I used to go a few times, I sat down on one of the benches that are close to the counter, ordered a drink from the bartender while enjoying the live show of a Linkin Park cover band. By the way, a great improvised program for the end of a Friday night after a tiring day.

It was after two in the morning, when I left the PUB, a night with the right to risk an attempt to sing in front of everyone, I made friends with the Bartender, met some people and kissed a stranger.

I know strong emotions for someone who barely likes to leave the house, on the way to the apartment I realize that even at that time everything was still lively, when arriving on campus it was still possible to hear the loud music that was playing in one of the fraternities, that party still rolled.

In Minha in my mind I considered the possibility of going to that place. But I also remembered that I'm not a fan of parties like that at all. I went to the area where the apartments were located, they were a sequence of four buildings each with five floors and about six apartments per floor.

I walk to the building where the dorm/apartment I share with Jessie is, with the help of the spare key that was inside the small potted plant I unlock the door since I somehow go out and forgot to take the key.

I open the door slowly to find a few bottles of booze around the room, one of Jessie's friends sleeping with SpongeBob underwear over his face. While she slept cuddled up with one of them on the bigger sofa. Now the question that was repeated in my mind was, where did he get those underwear and why would he have them on his head?

I shook my head trying to dispel those thoughts. I smiled a little when I realized that the same one who slept with his underwear, called for his mother and said he didn't want to eat the vegetables, I shook my head negatively and went to my room.

I open the door of the same room that was dimly lit by the weak rays of the moon, without the need to turn on the lights because I know every corner of my room, I took off my clothes, leaving only my underwear. For those who aren't used to getting up early on the street in bars and things like that, my body was already begging for bed, the night's excitement had been great, but it didn't compare to my weekly movie marathon that didn't happen.

I grabbed my bathrobe and pajamas from my wardrobe, put them on and headed to the bathroom. Taking care not to wake the visitors. Bath taken and my energies seem to have been reinvigorated, seen my pajamas back in the bedroom, hung my robe somewhere I'm sure I wouldn't remember later.

I go to my bed throwing myself in it as I always do, until I hear a groan of pain coming from below me. I get up quickly and turn on the table lamp. To find the same asshole lying in my bed.

"You Ogress, you nearly crushed me with your weight." - said the asshole making me even more angry with him.

- Dude, what the fuck. Can you tell me what you are doing in my room you asshole. I ask, still trying to keep what little patience I had left.

- Visitors are not treated in this rude way. he said with sarcasm in his voice. "And for your government, Jessie let me sleep here. he said smugly.

"I'm sure when she authorized you to sleep here, she was referring to the apartment and not my stupid room, get out of here kid. I say, raising my voice a little.

- Why this hatred in your heart? I'm from peace Mayazinha, or is all this revolt for not having gotten a kiss from me? He snapped, leaving me speechless. - It's not for that, I make this effort. - he said smiling in the corner and getting up from my bed coming slowly towards me.

- Don't you dare touch me, you brute. I say, regaining consciousness. - or you'll regret ever coming into my room. - I say grabbing something from my dressing table to try to move away the same thing that stopped in the middle of the room looking at me with one of his eyebrows raised.

- A comb? Really even if it was a thief or something you would defend yourself with a comb? You are pathetic girl. - said that imbecile turning his back on me and laying down on my bed again.

"You know what, what the hell, man. I go to Jessie's room. - I say irritated, putting my super weapon (Comb) back on the dresser and giving up.

- It won't happen, Angel and James are over there. he said loud and clear, smiling sarcastically.

- Come on girl, is my company so despicable? - he asked making a face.

"Maybe if you weren't such an asshole." - I retorted in an arrogant tone.

- You won. - he said getting up again and heading to the bedroom door. Pausing just before opening it, he looked at me and smiled. - we're still going to share the same bed. - he said leaving the room and leaving me standing there and perplexed by such audacity.

I think I can define that sleeping was never as difficult as that morning, I tossed and turned in bed looking for the most comfortable part of it, but how do we do it when the brain doesn't want to rest? Searching for answers about that night so restless to say the least.

The hours passed slowly, the clock seemed to have stopped. I managed to fall asleep when the first rays of sun were already present on the horizon.