Author's note:

There is no promise too hard to keep expect the ones that are changed by a sequence of events.

Often, things that you least expect to happen are those that hits you hard. What happened back then was beyond everyone's expectations. Both of us thought things would turn out exactly the way we painted it in our minds. Have we forgotten that life isn't as beautiful as it seem? Look around, and you'll find ugly sights you wished you didn't knew.

This story is about us, our promise, and how it changed.

*Disclaimer: Any parts of this fiction that may have resembled any real life incidents are only purely coincidental.

Chapter 1 - Back to school

It was the second term of high school. The entire atrium was bustling with students yelling in joy and hugging each other as if they've been apart for more than a mere summer break. Late for the morning lecture, I squeezed my way through the crowd.

"Such inconsiderate kids!" I mumbled to myself. Right before I could finish my sentence I found myself losing balance. I tripped and fell. The lecture notes in my arms fluttered in the air, gliding down slowly and gracefully. The entire campus fell silent as I tumbled on the atrium floor; it felt as though all eyes were on me. Right there I felt like I could find a hole to hide myself, I knew I was going to be the joke for the entire school term. The chatters returned, this time together with a huge burst of laughter. Angry and embarrassed I swallowed my words, "I'm going to kill you, whoever that tripped me." Turning around to pick the lecture notes I saw Sarah Parker squatting right beside me, picking up pieces of my lecture notes.

"There you go", she said as she passed me the stack of papers she managed to retrieve.

"Thanks", I replied quickly without looking at her.

With concerning eyes she asked, "Are you alright?"

I stood up, arranged the notes in my hands, dusted my jeans and told her, "Yea, yea I am. Let's hurry. Mr Simmons wouldn't be too happy." In fact what I least wanted was any sympathy that would only make me feel worst.

Sarah Parker has been my classmate since last school term. In my impression, she belongs to the nerdy, hardworking and gentle type. The teacher's pet kind of girl. Not really the kind of girl I would mix with.

Whatever it was, I am to some extend glad that Sarah Parker was with me this morning. Her presence saved my some embarrassment as well as hurtful critics from the other students. So that was how my first day of the second school term started. I went to class with Sarah Parker.


to be continued...