"Sere, I'm leaving now. My ride is here. Are you sure you'll be okay alone?"

"I'll be fine, Raye. Go and have fun."

Raye is my roommate. I met her at a "Welcome to Northwestern University" convention a week before school started. Somehow, the fiery-tempered woman and I hit it off and we promised to be each other's roommates. Raye and I are complete opposites. She loves to party and flirt shamelessly with the jocks at our school, while I choose to sit back and watch the show, never joining the fun. Despite Raye's flamboyant personality, she's the best friend anyone can ever have. She treats the people she cares about with a caring personality that strangers and those who are not close to her know nothing about. Raye once claimed that she's always worried about my subdued demeanor. I just laughed and told her not to worry about me. She does anyways.

"Sere. Are you sure you don't want to come with me? You can save me from all the boring chatter that will be going on. This is a family reunion! How fun can it be?"

"Raye. I'm not part of your family. Besides, you have your brother. You can always talk to him."

"But..but..alright! But if I come back and you're still studying, I'll personally knock you out with my karate chop and carry you to the bed!"

Oh...did I mention that Raye is a national Judo and Karate champion?

"Yes, Raye. You always say that. Now, shoo, before your ride becomes impatient."

"Ooo...speaking of rides. My brother is picking me up. Why don't I introduce you to him?"

"Raye..I don't want to go out with your brother."

"Who said anything about dating? You just have to meet him. Gosh, Sere, I know I told you my brother's hot, doesn't mean you have to be so anxious in dating him!"

I rolled my eyes. No one can argue successfully with that woman.

"Raye.."

"Darien! Come on in! Lemme introduce you my roommate, Serenity!"

"Raye...you're going to make us late..again."

Something about that voice jerked my head up from the small captions I was reading. That deep, husky voice sent a chill down my spine. I suddenly realized how dry my lips had become and how parched my throat suddenly got. I licked my lips quickly and swallowed nervously before standing up and turning around. What I saw literally took my breath away.

Standing at door, is a man about 6'4" tall. He had very broad shoulders that took up almost the entire doorway. He adorned a black Armani suit that accented his narrow hips, long legs, and a remarkably broad and strong chest. The first two buttons of his shirt were open and showed a bit of his tan chest. His black hair fell messily over his dark-blue eyes and right now, his mouth was in a small smile.

He hasn't seen me yet. He was in the other room and couldn't see me behind the small door of my room. But I can see him. I was suddenly shaking so much from just seeing him that I turned around and sat back down in my chair. I didn't even notice Raye go out to talk to her brother until she came back in a second later and saw my flushed face and trembling hands. Immediately, she took my hands into her own.

"Sere? What's wrong? My god, your face is red!"

I just looked into her violet eyes and said nothing. Raye hauled me up by my elbows and pulled me toward the door. I jerked my arms out and wrapped myself within my own embrace.

"What's wrong? I just want you to meet my brother, Darien."

"Uh...on second thought...your brother said you were going to be late! I don't think it's a good idea to meet him right now. So, go, shoo, go!"

I chuckled nervously to relieve the tension before reaching my arms out and pushing her unceremoniously out of the room. She humphed and pushed back at my hands but I was determined to make her and her brother leave before he sees me.

"Sere..what..wait...what's going on? Sere?!"

I didn't respond. I just kept pushing her. My heart is pounding and I was desperate, more desperate than I have ever been in my entire life. Quite frankly, I didn't know why I was acting like this. He was just my roommate's brother, and he was just a man, a gorgeous man, mind you, but still only a man. I've dated before, but I never truly trusted a man yet, never given my heart out fully. And somehow, when I saw Darien, I felt the barriers around my heart fall apart. Never has a man done that to my heart. As far as I'm concerned, no man will do that to me. At least, not yet. So, the only way to preserve the barriers I built around my heart, I must never meet him face to face.

"Raye. Don't be difficult. Just go. I...I can meet your brother some other time."

"Alright. If you're sure."

By this time, I've already pushed her fully out of my room. My arms were still extended and pressed against her back. I pushed one last push and smiled one bright smile at her before wishing her a good time at the family dinner and closed the door promptly in her face.

When the door closed, I turned around leaned against the door. I slid down the length of the door and curled up into a ball when I reached the ground.

'Breathe, Serenity. Breathe.'

Slowly, my heartbeat slowed down to its normal beat and I resumed studying the small captions in my book.

***************

"Well, that was strange."

"I thought I was supposed to meet your roommate."

"You were. But somehow, she doesn't seem to want to meet you. Did you do something to scare her away?"

"Raye! I haven't even met her yet! Now, c'mon, let's go. Mom and Dad are going to be mad if we're late for dinner again."

"Alright. Lemme grab my coat."

While Raye went to get her coat, I thought I would take a quick bathroom break before hitting the road. I wasn't very familiar with Raye's dorm and just took my chance at opening any random door, hoping the room behind the door was the bathroom. I came to a room that was closed. I pressed my ear to the door and tried to determine if there was anyone inside. Nothing stirred. I opened it and the sight in front of me stopped my tracks.

A body was hunched over the desk. Her elbows were folded underneath her head, supporting the weight as she slept on. Her golden-silver hair spilled around her head, creating the appearance of a halo. Her shirt rode up and a glimpse of smooth, ivory skin showed through. I gulped uncomfortably at the sight. I decided to leave before my hormones got the better of me.

However, my body and my thoughts seem to have different opinions. My feet started walking again, but not to the doorway as I had intended. I started walking toward her. When I reached her, I looked down and my eyes traveled over her entire face: her forehead, her small button nose, her pink lips. My hand reached out to brush a strand of hair from her face before I regained my senses and jerked it back. As I looked at her face again, I noticed that I see everything.....except her eyes. Suddenly, I started willing her in my head for her to open her eyes. Somehow, I wished that my message can reach her telepathically. I knew it couldn't. I straightened my body from the hunched form it had been in while inspecting the sleeping beauty. I willed my feet to move out of the room, and this time, they listened. Turning around, I took one last look at her before walking out of the room and closing the door behind me.

"Darien? Where did you go?"

"I was..I was looking for the bathroom."

"Oh...I thought you went into Sere's room for some reason. Silly me. C'mon, let's go."

I laughed nervously at her statement and just grinned at her while leading her out of the dorm with my hand.

I took one last look at the dorm and knew that I will come back. I will come back to see her again. The next time, she will open her eyes to me.