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 me mum.

I miss home.

But I can't go back during the break because my dissertation 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 Dallas.

Aside from that, I don't want to go back home yet without me earning my master's degree yet. That's what I told myself few years ago right before I flew in here, I told myself that once I go back to Edinburgh I already got my masters 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 mother and I receives only but degrade from my half-sisters 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 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.

I worked as a part time English instructor in the university eversince I moved into the country. Lily is also on her Masters degree in the University of Dallas, same as me.

"I know." I replied sighing.

I don't know, I'm always so stressed eversince I started college but today has been a huge dragged for me. I called my mom last night that I won't be home and I can really tell that she was really disappointed and at the same time, my professor is so keen about the topic I am planning to research about.

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."

"No! 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 apartment every after 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 and I completely don't agree to it sometimes.

I just happen to love her and I owe her a lot eversince I met her. She had done so much for 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 sibling's tuitions.

Being a Spanish 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 brother and sister's tuition and family debts.

Being a part time teacher pays me well but my salary only covers my own tuition and basic needs. So I need another job in order for me to send money to my mum and support my younger siblings with their 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 as well. "I totally appreciate that, is it alright if I'll apply 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.

"What? It's actually a great story." I humored her. "A stripper from Dallas is a Masters Degree holder in Literature! 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. "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 chuckling 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 you're butt is phenomenal! You're basically a natural beaut, I hate you."

"Awwe 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 are honking at us and we didn't even noticed. Both of us are laughing once Lily started to drive 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 shopping--"

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

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

I tried. But it's really hard.

My mum 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 mum 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 my masters but I got used to this already, I've been doing this since college. 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 an instructor! You're earning enough money to cover all your needs, yet you don't rest! You still look for extra jobs and what not." 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!