"Cherry! Cherry! Wake up, my child!"
Jerry's voice echoed from the bottom of the stairs, rising in urgency.
"Come on, girl, get up! Don't forget—it's your first day of college!" she added.
Upstairs, nestled under a warm blanket, Cherry remained completely lost in her dreams. The morning sunlight spilled through the window, dancing gently across her room, but it wasn't enough to stir her.
"Cherry!" Jerry called again, louder now, as she marched upstairs and into the room. "From today onward, you are going to start sleeping early!"
With a swift motion, she pulled the blanket off Cherry.
"Mooom... five more minutes," Cherry mumbled sleepily, turning to the other side of the bed.
"Cherry! If you don't get up by the count of three, I'm taking your laptop!" Jerry warned, her tone now sharp with mock anger.
Cherry groaned and sat up quickly. "Okay, okay! I'm up! See?" She blinked sleepily and stretched her arms.
"Good girl," Jerry said with a proud smile. "Now get ready and come downstairs for breakfast. You don't want to start your first day on an empty stomach."
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Cherry's Thoughts
Oh my gosh... Today is my first day of college! I can't believe it's finally here. I'm so excited. I wish Mother were here to see me... But it's okay. Mom is doing everything for me now, in her place. I just hope today turns out to be amazing. Please bless me, Mother.
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Downstairs at the Dining Table
"I'm ready!" Cherry called out as she bounded down the stairs.
Jerry turned to look at her and gasped in delight. "Look at you, Cherry! You look absolutely gorgeous."
Cherry was dressed in a purple pleated skirt that swayed with her steps, paired with a crisp white top under a fitted black jacket. She wore black stockings beneath the skirt and had wrapped a beautifully embroidered scarf around her neck. Her look was polished and effortlessly stylish.
"What do you mean 'today'? My daughter always looks gorgeous," Steven said with a grin as he walked in, holding a mug of coffee.
"Thanks, Dad," Cherry said sweetly, giving him a kiss on the cheek.
Steven's smile softened. "If your mother were alive today... she'd be so proud of you."
Jerry reached over and gently took his hand. "She would."
Cherry's smile didn't fade. "Don't worry, Dad. She is proud. And she's happy, too. I have you both—and if you're proud of me, I know she is too."
Jerry couldn't hold back and wrapped Cherry in a tight embrace. "Don't worry, sweetheart. Your mother and your mom—we're both proud of you." She kissed her daughter's forehead gently.
Cherry laughed. "Okay, okay! Can I go now? I really don't want to be late!"
Steven chuckled and grabbed his car keys. "Let's go, dear. First-day excitement waits for no one."
---
At College
Cherry stood at the entrance of the college campus, wide-eyed and amazed. The courtyard was bustling with life. Some girls were practicing cheerleading routines under the sun while a group of boys stood nearby, clearly impressed. In another corner, students were rehearsing for practical exams, their books and models spread across the ground.
Taking a deep breath, Cherry stepped further in, her heart fluttering with excitement and nerves.
As she entered the auditorium, she was met with chaos. A large crowd had gathered inside, murmuring and craning their necks toward the center.
"What's going on?" she asked the nearest girl. "Why is there such a huge crowd?"
"Two boys are fighting over there," the girl replied casually.
"But why?" Cherry asked, trying to peer past the sea of heads.
"No idea. Just enjoy the show," the girl shrugged.
"What? You're all just standing here watching?" Cherry asked, stunned.
"Hey, if you're feeling all noble, go stop them yourself," the girl snapped—and without warning, she gave Cherry a little shove.
Caught off guard, Cherry stumbled forward and landed on the ground. Ahead of her, the two boys were still at each other's throats.
"Ex... excuse me! Stop fighting!" she shouted, getting to her feet.
One of the boys turned sharply. "Stay out of this, girl!" Jackson growled, then pushed her back again.
Cherry fell a second time, the force catching her by surprise.
"Hey! Are you alright?" a calm voice asked.
She looked up—and for a moment, everything else disappeared. Towering above her was a boy with striking features and kind eyes, his hand extended toward her. There was something about him—an air of quiet strength and loneliness—that made her breath catch.
That was the moment Cherry met Jim.
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