DEALING WITH THE STALKER

FINAL YEAR IN HIGH SCHOOL, PREPARATION FOR UNIVERSITY....

She bit on her pen and took a deep breath. This is going to be a tough nut to crack. She glanced a second time at the career slip in her hands.

"Shit." She muttered wearily. "Can I really pull this off? " She muttered.

" Pull what off? " Her mom said as she came to view with a jar of lemon juice in her hand. " Have you finally chosen a career yet?"

Rose sighed. Why does this woman have to be watching her every move? "I.. I.... I..."

Evelyn squinted her eyes suspiciously at her daughter. " What are you up to?"

Rose bit her lip. "I need more time to think about this."

Evelyn scoffed. "More time for what? It's easy. Just pick the goddamn chemical engineering. That's a very wide, vast, profitable course. It will fetch us millions if you major in it and come out good. "

Rose looked at her mom one sided as she ranted on about the advantages of being a chemical engineer. She shook her head and rolled her eyes. "I still need more time to think about this." She muttered and dropped the paper back into her backpack..

Evelyn frowned at her. " You've had the opportunity of three weeks, Rose. What the hell are you still waiting for? Don't tell me you are still thinking of music."

Rose scoffed. " This is my life mom. It's mine not yours. You have no right to dictate this for me. I need more time..... "

" You have had more than enough time to think about this Rose. It's either chemical engineering or nothing else. What do you know? We as your parents are doing our best to tell you what's best for your life and future, yet you keep aiming at joblessness. You wanna join those gangs that pierce rings all over their faces and paint their skins?"

" Jeez mom, I never said I was gonna do that..... "

" It's final Rose. Chemical engineering or nothing else. In fact, wait till your dad returns from work. I think we both have given you enough time. This issue has to be sorted out before things get out of hand. " She said and stormed out of her study.

Rose watched her leave and sighed. She tapped her pen thoughtfully on the study table. "This is frustrating." She muttered and laid her head on the table. "How the hell I'm I supposed to give up on my dream?" She muttered.

★★★★★

Afternoon turned to evening and evening turned to night. Rose sat in her study snoring lightly against her table.

Evelyn walked in and spotted her. She sighed and shook her slightly. Rose jerked and looked around.

"Get up sleepyhead. Your dad's back. He requests to meet with you." Evelyn said and left.

Rose groaned and stretched. "What now?" She mumbled and later left the study walking straight to the sitting room where the stern, frightening man in his forties sat typing speedily into a laptop on his lap.

"Good evening dad." Rose said and he nodded with his attention on the laptop. "Rose bit her lip and fiddled with her fingers. She didn't know if she should sit or stand.

You see, that has been the issue between her and her father. She never seemed to understand him and he never seemed to understand her. He's a stern man who had spent 80% of his life living it the hard way and that had psychologically affected the way he does and perceives things around him.

For about a complete fifteen minutes, her father, Richard paid no single attention to her but on his laptop. Rose knew better not to leave if she didn't want to incur his wrath. Although, she was already beginning to get really impatient. She gritted her teeth.

Evelyn sat in a separate sofa not even bothering a single dime about whatever was going on between them.

After what seemed like a millennial to Rose, her dad finally took his attention from his laptop and adjusted his spectacles peering at her with deep scrutiny. It gave Rose the creeps.

"I got news that you are still having a hard time choosing a career after three weeks of receiving the career slip. Is that true?" He began.

Rose scoffed and chuckled silently. Of course. Her mom spilled the beans. She sighed and nodded.

He sighed. "Well. I really don't see any confusion in that. Since you are having a hard time deciding that, I think it's high time I stepped in. I don't want to talk about this too much. I think I've given you enough time. Just pick the best available option set before you."

Rose gulped. " Which is?" She asked.

" Chemical engineering....."

Rose scoffed and looked away before he could complete his sentence. He glanced at her. "Do you have any other course in mind? You've seemed confused about that."

Rose's heart thumped hard. She knew what was coming next if she dared speak her mind. She took a deep breath. "I'll handle the situation, dad. It's not like I have limited time to make my decision. I've got all the time in the world. I'll handle this....."

" That wasn't the question I asked you. I asked what other course you have in mind." Richard stated giving her a stern look.

Rose shivered. She wasn't ready at all at the moment for his violent outbursts. "I have nothing in mind yet, dad. I'm taking my time to proceed with this. This is all about my life. I don't want to make mistakes."

" Chemical engineering is never a mistake, Rose!!" He thundered.

" Yes dad. I totally agree with you. It's not and can never be a mistake but it might not be what's right for me."

Richard glared at her. " What vile nonsense are you spitting out of that filthy mouth of yours? What do you mean it might not be what's good for you?"

Rose gulped. She's messed it up. " I'm sorry to say that dad. I didn't mean to say that. All I was saying was....."

" You have nothing reasonable to say, Rose. My decision is final. You have no other course to study except chemical engineering. Take it or leave it. You don't have the slightest inkling of the advantage you have to have parents to guide you on the right track in life. Most of your colleagues don't have this opportunity. They are praying for it. Yet you act like some crazily misguided fellow. My decision has been made. You are definitely going to NYU to study chemical engineering. Failure to comply with that, I never knew you as my daughter." He thundered and left the sitting room with his laptop.

Rose broke down and slumped back into the nearest sofa. That was her life going shipwreck a few seconds ago. She wept and Evelyn glanced at her with a scoff. She got up and later left.

Rose wept the more. This was all too tiring for her. Why would they even want to have the authority to decide her future for her? None of them understands her. They don't just get it.

She didn't just want to study for studying sake. She wanted to study to live off her passion, her gift. That which she had loved ever since she was in kindergarten. That which took away her worries and...

She angrily stomped towards her room and began tossing things around. She picked up her lyrics notebook and furiously tore it to shreds. Why is life just being so unfair to her? Why are both her parents being so unfair to her?

THREE YEARS LATER, THIRD YEAR IN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT.

ROSE'S POV

I glanced at the last assignment I had to do and yawned. The warm, tender, seductive arms of slumber were fast calling for my attention but I wasn't ready to give up. Not just yet. I yawned for what seemed like the hundredth time and squeezed hard against my pen.

This is just so hard. I widened my eyes and rubbed it frantically, frustratedly. It's fruitless. I picked up my phone and checked the time. It was just a few minutes past seven. Why the hell do I feel so sleepy at early hours nowadays?

I sighed and was about to drop my phone when a message notification popped up on the screen. I furrowed my eyebrows and tapped it. It was a message from my friend and coursemate, Brittany. Well, that seemed to do a great job wiping every single ounce of fatigue from my eyes.

I settled down and read her message.

BRITTANY TO ROSE: Hello dear workaholic. Do you remember the Jake's show I told you about the other day?

I sighed and thought deeply. Yeah. I think I do. I typed back.

ROSE TO BRITTANY: Yeah. What about it?

BRITTANY TO ROSE: it's about going live, baby girl. At the freshers club. The club is going to be crowded. You have to hurry so we don't get to stand.

I chuckled at how fast that girl can be typing messages.

I glanced at the last assignment I had to finish and sighed. Should I? I mean, this is a show I have craved for almost my entire life. I can't just let this opportunity pass me by because of some crappy chemistry assignment.

I looked back at my phone and typed back to her.

ROSE TO BRITTANY: I'm in. I'll be out in a jiffy.

I hurriedly arranged my books and stacked them in their rightful positions before heading straight to my wardrobe.

"What in the name of the spirits I'm I going to wear?" I muttered as I opened the large wardrobe and glanced at the multiple luxurious clothing aligned in hangers. This is just about one of the things that frustrates my life. Picking clothes!!!!!!

Few minutes later, I was finally done after settling down for blue denim pants and a sleeveless red blouse. I wore a red jacket with a hoodie above it all and zipped it up. That's me for you. I'm just so cursed with the color red. Maybe because my hair is actually red or....well. I don't know. I just love red.

I sprinted out of my hostel room and locked the door making sure the key was tucked in safely in the inner pocket of my jacket. I walked briskly out of the hostel towards the large gate of the hostel compound. The gate was still open so I guess I was lucky for now. If only I can make it back before it gets locked and the guards disappear.

The club wasn't that far from the hostel so it seemed like a possible mission to accomplish. I got to the club in no time and was shocked to see the heavy amount of crowd gathered there already. Not like I was shocked seeing them. I just didn't expect them to be this early. I mean, the show is supposed to start by 9pm according to the poster I saw. But the time is just 7:15 and it's already crowded this way?

Well, who doesn't want to see the illustrious C.Jakes. New York's No3 rising music star artist. Someone suddenly grabbed my arm and I turned to see Brittany pulling me through the thick layer of crowd.

"Peep peep peep. Coming through." She said as we went by to clear the road. We finally got to a long row of seats. She pulled me through the midst and sat me down on an empty seat.

"Pheew." I blew out a deep breath and she laughed. I glanced at her. " That was brain stressful." I muttered.

" Isn't it? The crowd honestly made me go nuts. You should have seen the struggle when the club was opened. Boy it was a stampede. I didn't expect this many people." She said,

" Me neither."

" Hey hello Rose." Someone said and I looked around to see Brittany's boyfriend at her other side.

I beamed and waved. "Hey hello Mike."

Brittany chuckled. "Mike helped to keep the seats for us." She said, "It's an advantage that he works here." She muttered and sighed deeply.

I felt Mike casting me a side glance and turned to him. He winked at me and I swallowed. I hurriedly looked away.

Mike and I have a long history that goes way back to the time I first came to the university. I fell foolishly in love with him but he was just a player and wanted nothing more than to get into my skirt. I refused him his desire and he ended the relationship before it had the chance to build.

I met Brittany later and the next thing I know, he and Brittany were dating already. It felt quite unfair to me because whenever Brittany narrates her experience with him, she never mentioned anything about all that he did to me. It seems Brittany was his soul mate and they have been together for three years now. He still throws occasional winks and air kisses at me but I take it as nothing.

Even though it still hurts, I can't do anything to make Brittany detest me. She's my best friend.

I looked away from him and took a deep breath to calm my throbbing nerves, glancing at the crowd gathered around. A strange awkward feeling coursed over me and I shivered. I can't be blamed. I wasn't used to being in the clubs. All my nights were always spent in my hostel solving chemistry equations and the likes.

The only thing that sent me running here like some crazy girl is this silly show that won't start immediately. My slumber battle had long ended and it shocked me to remember how sleepy I was back in the hostel.

After several hours of waiting, the club was finally in order and the show began. Many other aspiring artists hit the stage first and nearly bored me to sleep.

Brittany kept laughing at my reactions whenever the other musicians sang. I felt like I should return back to my hostel but won't my coming here be a waste? The main reason I was here is yet to come.

Well, it took a while, but not forever, the moment finally arrived and an uproar ensued the moment C.Jakes was called to the stage.

Oh goodness me.....I had to admit. I now see why all the girls keep drooling over him. I'm not an exception. I've crushed and fantasized about him till my heart ached. He is far cuter than the pictures I've seen of him. He's......I don't even know how to begin to describe him. He handled the microphone in such a perfect way that will let you know he owns the stage. He looked like a god. I gulped down hard, completely lost in his beauty.

If not for the loudspeakers in the club, I probably wouldn't have heard a thing because the entire club was filled with screams and squeals of lots of girls as expected.

I watched him with admiration as he sang with that heavenly melodic voice of his pulling excess attention from his fans. Damn. He's pulling my heart as well.

In a way,.I envied him. There he was, doing what makes him happy and he's making a lot from it. But me, I keep stressing my brain over some frustrating, brain draining chemistry textbooks.

Brittany nudged me and grinned. "Isn't he cute? I bet he has a space in your heart already. "

I rolled my eyes and scoffed. " Stop dreaming Brittany. "

" No. I should be the one telling you to stop dreaming because you have been staring at him for a long while now like he's some vanilla milkshake. "

I chuckled and bit my lip. This girl is a bitch.

The moment C. Jake's was done singing, he bowed and left the stage. That exact moment, every single girl dashed out of the club in order to catch him and get his autograph.

Damn, the stampede was too much and violent. I just sat at a place and covered my ears hoping and praying that I wouldn't get crushed as the majority of them even jumped over chairs to get out.

Brittany too almost surprised me by joining in the stampede. She urged me to come along but I refused.

I remained where I was till the stampede ended.

ROSA'S POV

I stayed in a place till the stampede ended, then I looked around. Shit. What the...the entire club was empty. Did the guys also follow? I was the only soul left in the club.

I got up and walked forward slowly towards the stage admiring the decorations and sighed. How I've long dreamed of being on a stage like this, singing my heart out. I gritted my teeth and shook my head. I didn't want to think about that now. I don't want to get depressed.

I climbed the stage and looked around to see if I was being watched. I stood and faced the large empty rows of seats before me. Imagine if these seats were filled with my fans and here I am singing and screaming into the mic with all my might. I chuckled and felt a tear escaping my eyes. So this is how it feels. It's so beautiful I can't even explain it. I wiped my eyes. I'm not gonna cry about that anymore. I've long wept for that enough so, not now.

I looked back behind me and spotted the stage background design. A slight opening in the middle revealed that there was a room behind it. Inquisitiveness got the better of me and I looked around before sneaking in through the curtains.

I smiled and nodded with discovery the moment I got to the other side. This is the backstage where all the preparations were made. I looked to the right and spotted a portable practice studio with a mic and headphones.

I beamed. That is totally not resistible. It's been my sole attraction all my life. I can't miss this chance now that I found it. My eyes glittered with desire when I saw it. Maybe it won't hurt to give it a little try.. I looked around and briskly walked up to the studio.

I beamed and flipped the switch. I put on headphone and cleared my throat and sang a few sofa notes. Damn. The effects were Incredible. I chuckled and thought of one of my long dumped lyrics. Well, it all came flooding back to my memory. It's actually just so hard to forget a song written by me. I sang softly listening to myself in the headset and flowed with the rhythm.

Immediately, all the pain and burden I've carried for years about having to do what is not me floated and elevated off my chest. I felt free as I shut my eyes and sang with all my heart letting the lyrics rhyme according to my desired mood. A tear slipped out of my eyes as I felt profound joy. Then all of a sudden, I heard a loud crash through the headset and jerked my eyes open.

I immediately took off the headset and turned to see the almighty Lord and master of music, C.Jakes, staring at me like he had seen a ghost with his eyes wide and mouth agape.

I gulped. Looks like I have crossed the line. I immediately dropped the headset and turned to the other exit of the practice room.

"I'm sorry." I said and dashed off with all my might. Few steps to the door, strong huge powerful sturdy arms gripped me giving me the creeps and I jerked in shock yelling a little.

"Hey wait. I'm not here to hurt you." He said and soon had me trapped against a wall. I had nowhere to escape to. I gulped...

I clasped my hands together as if pleading. "I'm sorry. I had no intention of storming your studio I just....I just......... Jeez, I'm sorry please. It won't happen again."

He just stared at me and chuckled in amusement. "I'm not bothered about that." He said with that deep soft silk voice of his. I slowly looked up at him and felt my eyes water as I gazed into those heavenly crystal blue almond shaped eyes of his. He's a god. Seeing him up this close was making me giddy. I felt like I was dreaming. This can't be real can it?

I was lost for some seconds staring at him and blinked rapidly before taking my eyes off his crystal piercing gaze. My veins throbbed and my heartbeat raced, pounding rapidly. My goodness. I was finding it hard to breathe.

"I have to admit....." He began. "You have the most stunning beautiful voice I've ever heard." He said with a chuckle and I felt my cheeks heat up. Damn this feeling. It was all too much to bear. It seems fantasizing about him from afar didn't do a thing to take away my secret crush on him. Now that he is up close, I can't even breathe.

"I have to go." I muttered and tried to find a way to get past him.

" Hey wait." He said and held my shoulders to stop me. At that moment, I felt a sudden jolt of electricity pass through my veins at the contact. I shivered.

"Are you cold?" He asked and I chuckled nervously. I am going insane. Crazily insane. And if I don't do anything to get out of his radar right now, I will definitely explode.

"I'm fine. I need to get going. My friend is waiting for me." I muttered but he held my arm stopping me in my tracks. Oh my God. Won't he let me go?

"Hey uh.... what would you say about having a collaboration with me? I have a forthcoming project and I'm in dire need of a stunning voice like yours to back me up."

My heart pounded hard. This has to be a dream right? No. It can't be real. Nah it can't. I'll just have to ignore this dream and continue my journey out of here. I tried to move but he didn't let me go.

"Please." He pleaded. "I can't bear to see a talent like yours go to waste.

Okay. This is not a dream. No. It has to be a dream. The whole freaking Christian Jake is right with me at the backstage of this prestigious club and is asking me for a collaboration??!!!!! I'm going nuts. I bit my lip and turned slowly to him.

He flashed me that mind spinning glorious smile and my heart raced the more. Can't he just stop that? I'm about to explode. I swallowed hard. "I....I...i-i...I...I d-don't know w-what to say."

He chuckled. " I understand. Just say you will and I will take you away from here and bring your name to the top of the charts. What's your name by the way?"

I blinked. " Uhhh..... Rose."

He chuckled. " Wow. That's a beautiful name. Just like your hair."

I felt my cheeks swell and bit my lip. He should just stop it. My heart thumped harder.

"What do you say, Rose?" He asked, looking at me expectantly.

At that moment, the words and sentence that have always haunted me for three years now came floating back to my memory and my heart fell. The sentence that said;

"My decision has been made. You are definitely going to NYU to study chemical engineering. Failure to comply with that, I never knew you as my daughter."

Tears slipped out of my eyes and I sighed deeply. He examined me deeply. "Are you okay?" He asked and tried to help wipe my eyes.

I chuckled softly and moved away from him. I wiped my eyes. "I'm fine but.........." I looked up at him. "I'm sorry. I can't. I have to go."

" But wait........"

I turned and immediately dashed off out of the club to my hostel where I could cry out my eyes.

This is the reason why I never wanted to remember this.