Ch: 5 [Ghost from the past]

My heart raced as I caught sight of my father stepping out of one of the black sedans. My initial shock was quickly replaced by a surge of conflicting emotions – anger, resentment, and a hint of curiosity. It had been years since I last saw him, and now he was standing right in front of me, dressed in a sharp suit and exuding an air of authority.

What the fuck is he doing here?

From the second car, a tall girl stepped out.

My eyes shifted to the second car as a tall girl stepped out. She was stunning, with long ebony hair cascading down her back and a confident stride that demanded attention. Her eyes held an intensity that seemed to pierce through everything around her, and her presence radiated power.

As my gaze settled on her, a strange sense of recognition washed over me, as if I had seen her somewhere before. But I couldn't place it – the feeling was fleeting, like a distant memory teasing at the edges of my consciousness.

Leo, always the one with the least filter, voiced the obvious. "Who's the hot chick?"

Lily shot him a disapproving look. "Leo, seriously? Can you not for once?"

The girl's attention shifted from my father to our group, her eyes narrowing slightly as she took in our presence. There was something calculating about her gaze, as if she was sizing us up.

My father, still standing near the sedan, glanced in our direction. His gaze locked onto mine, and for a brief moment, our eyes met. His expression remained unreadable, and I found myself struggling to hold onto the mixture of emotions swirling within me. It was like time had frozen, and all the memories, all the hurt, came rushing back in a torrent.

Does he even recognize his own son after ten fucking years? I guess not, after all, he abandoned me after declaring me a failure.

"Travis," Rachel's voice cut through the tension, "do you know them?"

I tore my gaze away from my father and the mysterious girl, my eyes meeting Rachel's concerned gaze. I shook my head, trying to gather my thoughts, "You think a poor guy like me would know someone of their caliber? I mean look at their clothes... The shoes they are wearing are worth more than my entire savings."

Leo raised an eyebrow, not convinced by my attempt to brush off the situation. "Something seems off about this."

"Agreed," Jackson chimed in, his eyes trained on my father and the girl. "They don't exactly strike me as the casual college visitors."

Irine crossed her arms, her gaze unwavering. "Well, whoever they are, they're definitely not here for a casual stroll. And Travis, I'm with Leo on this – it feels like there's more to this than meets the eye."

That girl... Those purple iris... I have seen her before... A long time ago...

As my friends and I exchanged wary glances, my father and the mysterious girl walked past us, heading towards the entrance of the college building. Their footsteps echoed in silence, adding to the tension that hung in the air.

As they moved closer, I caught a glimpse of the girl's purple irises, and a sudden jolt of recognition surged through me. It was as if a distant memory had finally clicked into place, though I couldn't quite grasp the details.

The two of them passed us without acknowledging our presence, their strides purposeful and their expressions impassive. It was clear that they had a destination in mind, and whatever business they had here was important enough to warrant their attention.

The girl stopped near the hall and glanced back. Her eyes met mine for a flickering second, and in that brief moment, something passed between us. There was a hint of recognition in her gaze, as if she too had felt the tugging sensation of a half-forgotten memory.

Then, just like that, they continued on their way, disappearing into the college building. The sense of tension lingered in the air, leaving my friends and me standing there, exchanging puzzled looks.

"What the hell was that about?" Leo muttered, his confusion evident.

"I don't know, but it definitely feels weird," Irine replied, her eyes still fixed on the spot where they had vanished.

"Let's not get involved with them," Lily said.

"Yeah," Jackson nodded, "Let's go to the arcade as planned."

"Hell yeah, I am gonna kick Rachel's ass today. I have finally upgraded my fighter to level 30," Leo said as he punched his fist with an arrogant grin.

With the strange encounter still lingering in the air, we decided to head to the arcade as planned, hoping that a round of games would help take our minds off the unusual visitors. As we walked towards the arcade, the atmosphere remained charged with a mix of curiosity and unease.

Inside the arcade, the familiar sounds of bells, whistles, and electronic music greeted us, providing a temporary escape from the perplexing situation. Leo, true to his word, wasted no time challenging Rachel to a game, and the two of them quickly got lost in the world of virtual battles.

I watched as their avatars duked it out on the screen, Leo's exaggerated victory dances contrasting with Rachel's focused eyes and a tiny smirk at the corner of her lips. Irine and Lily opted for a racing game, their competitive spirits driving them to outdo each other lap after lap. Jackson and I, on the other hand, chose a cooperative shooter game, our teamwork proving to be a force to be reckoned with.

As we played, laughter and banter filled the air, the arcade's flashing lights and cheerful energy acting as a temporary respite from the mysterious encounter with my father and the enigmatic girl. For a while, it seemed like everything was back to normal – just a group of friends enjoying a carefree afternoon.

But despite the fun, my thoughts kept drifting back to that moment when our eyes had met, when a spark of recognition had passed between the girl and me. Who was she, and why did I feel like I had seen her before? And my father... What had brought him back into my life after all these years?

As the afternoon turned into evening, we eventually left the arcade and headed back towards the dormitory. The sun was beginning to set, casting a warm orange glow across the campus. Our conversation shifted to lighter topics, with Leo recounting his "epic victory" over Rachel and everyone else sharing their favorite moments from the games.

"Shut up," Rachel pinched Leo's arm, "That was only a single victory. 1/100 that is."

"But a win is a win," Leo said with a happy smile.

Irine nudged me playfully. "So, Travis, any plans for the rest of the evening?"

I shrugged, trying to keep things light. "Probably just catching up on some work and maybe squeezing in a nap after that."

"Sounds thrilling," Leo chimed in with a grin.

"Hey, not all of us have the luxury of endless free time," I retorted.

"True that," Rachel agreed, "Some of us have to maintain our perfect GPAs."

Irine rolled her eyes. "Don't act like you're not secretly jealous of our leisurely lives."

Rachel smirked. "Yeah, because partying and pranks are the pinnacle of success."

"Damn right!" Leo exclaimed, raising a fist in the air.

Lily's voice was tinged with amusement as she added, "Well, some of us find happiness in different ways."

As we continued to exchange playful jabs and laughter, the tension from earlier seemed to dissipate.

"Well, I'll see you tomorrow. I've got a job lined up tonight at the gas station," I said as we came to the crossroad. I have a job lined up tonight at the gas station.

"Working the night shift again?" Rachel asked, her brow furrowing with concern.

"Yeah, you know me," I replied with a shrug.

"We know," Jackson said as he lightly slapped my back, "Saving money for the unforeseen future in case you don't land a job."

"Just make sure to get some rest too, okay?" Irine said, her tone softer than usual.

"I will," I assured them, offering a small smile.

"Take care, Travis," Lily said, her expression genuinely warm.

"See ya, tomorrow," Leo said.

With a wave and a chorus of goodbyes, we parted ways, each heading to our respective destinations. As I walked towards the gas station, my mind was still occupied with the events of the day – from my unexpected encounter with Dean Clara to the appearance of my father and the mysterious girl.