Forbidden whispers

pte

, her flirting skills on display. I couldn't help bu

he snapped angrily. "Stop calling and t

behind my back. You should be grateful that I s

e unfold. Our plans for the best shopping experience had complet

wn next to me and called the waiter over. "I

I inquired

r himself lucky that an aspiring influencer l

ed her, earning a death stare in

he best of her, and I couldn't help b

to find some nice stuff though?" she asked, her ey

ge?" I asked, ge

rvive college. It comes with so mu

seem so stressed," I sympa

do I balance my social life with my personal life? Not to mention

ds like a lot

y college guys though. They're the worst. Breaking your heart

from experience but I could tel

oming along" she asked,

sation away from her personal struggles. "I've managed to decorate

. "That's good. Having a comfortable space to come ba

in closer and asked, "Is something bothering you,

to be someone I'm not. Being an influencer is so exhausting. I constantly have to maintain t

mired by thousands of strangers, must be overwhelming. "Ivy, you don't have to pretend to be someone you'

expect a certain version of me, and if I differ too much, they'll

like me, will always support and love you for who you are, no matter what. And as for

to stop sacrificing my own happiness for the sake of others. It's

rong and talented. You have so much to offer the world, both as an i

ear that. And hey, maybe college won't be that bad after all. With you by

*****

(Univers

( Los A

ched as my mom enthusiastically sang along. Despite my offer to drive myself, my dad insisted on dropping m

the car, I unloaded my belongings and took in the breath

it?" my mom asked, he

andering to the other new applicants who w

us, causing all of us to turn in it

responded, a b

be Keisha West Jr.," the voice continued, empha

my dad interjected, hi

e giggled nervously,

umped in to save the situation. "You must be

extending a hand for a handshake. I eagerly

Is there anybody who cou

e it," I whispered, feeling e

d, Keisha. You should be

murmured, "I

and held my dad's hand, silently

oo harsh on her

here silently watching me. He leaned in close and whispered,

d in re

ing here. You don't have to worry about your daughte

urs?" my dad asked, his eyes s

t stood the

I said, my vo

my mom c

," I begged, avoiding my dad's hard stare. I pleade

ng there, I stared at my phone, contemplating

ide me. "I would literally shrink if my

understand where this ne

et he held out to me. It was meant to be my guide, providing crucial informatio

with the door?" I asked polite

e both stepped inside. "Looks like your roommate got here earlier than you. She ce

me. I was thankful that my father had already left; he w

xuding an air of mysticism. The logo intertwined with a depiction of a sinister, demonic face with razo

OF THE

or. Her eyes, accentuated by the dark eyeliner she was applying

e hell