As Isabela stepped out of the school gate, she immediately saw her father waiting beside the car.Her shoulders stiffened. She let out a quiet sigh, already knowing she had no choice.Without a word, she walked toward him and slipped into the passenger seat. The door closed with a soft thud, but the silence inside the car felt heavier than the sound itself.
Neither of them spoke.
The engine started, and the only thing filling the space between them was the low hum of the car and the tension neither of them dared to break.
"How's school?" her father asked, his eyes fixed on the road.
Isabel shifted slightly in her seat. "It's okay."
"Okay?" he repeated, his tone unreadable. "Are you adjusting well?"
She nodded, even though he wasn't looking at her. "Yes, Dad."
When they arrived home, Isabela didn't even greet anyone. She slipped out of the car and went straight to her bedroom, closing the door behind her with a soft click.After changing into something more comfortable, Isabela climbed back onto her bed and pulled a book from her shelf. She lay down, propping herself up on her elbows, and opened the pages, letting the words draw her away from the heaviness of the day.
As she read, Theodore suddenly appeared in her thoughts again. Isabel's heart skipped a beat. She couldn't believe it—she had actually encountered him in person. The guy everyone at Monticello University seemed to know, the one whose name was whispered in every hallway, the one who carried an aura that drew people in effortlessly… and now he was part of her memories.
"Why am I thinking of him? Uhh…" she muttered to herself, frustrated at how uncontrollable her thoughts had become.She pressed her forehead against the pages for a moment, hoping the words would pull her mind away—but no matter how hard she tried, Theodore's face stayed, as if refusing to let her forget.
Suddenly, a soft knock echoed through her room.
"The dinner is ready, sweetheart," her father said.
She didn't want to eat with Sylvia, but her stomach was already growling. She had no choice but to go downstairs.The delicious food was laid out on the table. She thought of her mother. She began eating quickly, trying to avoid sitting close to Sylvia.
"You have to eat more; I cooked your favorite food," Sylvia said, her smile a little too bright.
"I… I'm already full," Isabel mumbled, avoiding Sylvia's gaze. "Goodnight, Dad."
"I'm sorry, just try to understand her," her father said to Sylvia.
Isabel overheard this, and deep down, she still couldn't accept Sylvia. No one could ever replace her mother in her heart.
After taking a bath, she checked her phone. It was a message from Lindsay, her best friend who was studying abroad.
"I'm here at Diez Bar. Come and see me," the message read.
"You're finally back!" she replied.
Isabela changed her clothes and put on simple makeup. Even without it, she was still beautiful. After asking her dad for permission, she finally took a cab to the bar.
The cab pulled up in front of Diez Bar, its neon lights flickering against the evening sky. Isabel took a deep breath, smoothing her hair one last time before stepping out.
Inside, the bar buzzed with laughter and music, but one figure immediately caught her eye. Lindsay waved energetically, her smile bright and familiar, like a piece of home Isabel had been missing.
"Lindsay!" Isabel called, hurrying over.
"I've missed you so much!" Lindsay exclaimed, pulling her into a warm hug.
"I thought you'd never come back," Isabel said, hugging Lindsay tightly.
"This time, we'll be together again," Lindsay replied, smiling warmly.
She had decided to transfer back to Monticello University just to be with Isabel, so they could finally be reunited.Isabel started telling Lindsay what had happened in her life. Her friend listened carefully. Lindsay couldn't believe that Isabel's father had found another woman so quickly.
"You don't have class tomorrow, right?" Lindsay asked Isabel.
"Yeah, that's why I'm here," Isabel replied.
Lindsay ordered drinks and quickly texted Isabela's father, letting him know that Isabel wouldn't be going home tonight—she was bringing her friend to their house instead.
"Oh, Lindsay, you know I'm not drinking alcohol," Isabel said, a hint of nervousness in her voice.
"Just this once, please," Lindsay pleaded, her eyes softening as she tried to coax her friend.