Teacher's Girl (Aflyingwhale)

EMMA’s POV : 

The first week of college was a rush of classes, people, names, places, and feelings.

After lan went back to Georgia, it finally hit me, I was alone in this big, big world.

Thankfully, Sophie and her brother Tristan were kind enough to keep me company everywhere I went.

We attended days’ worth of seminars, picnics, icebreaker games, tours, and parties during Welcome Weekend.

Every day we were meeting new people and we heard every kind of advice available.

"Be careful of the freshman fifteen, it’s real,"

"Make sure you eat and drink plenty of fluids, the clear kind,"

"Listen to your professors, they will change your life,"

"If you need help, don't be afraid to ask for it,"

And then, the advice I dreaded the most, "Your social life is just as important as your academic life.Make sure that nothing is holding you back and you're putting yourself out there,"

"What are some things that would hold me back?"I asked.

"Things like, feeling homesick, isolating yourself, or long distance relationships,"they would reply.

I never knew that being in a long distance relationship was such a bad thing, especially in your freshman year of college.

As soon as I told people about it, their reactions were pretty much the same: "High school sweethearts? Aw, that's cute.But long distance relationships don’t work, sweetie,"

Sometimes I felt like smacking these people in the face and saying, "You don’t know my story! You don’t know what lan and I had been through! We're gonna make it!"

But I didn’t wanna look like a lunatic, so I'd just nod politely and smile.

"Don’t listen to these people.I think it’s great that you and lan are doing long distance.It’s the test of true love,"

Sophie winked at me.

Sophie and I had just finished our first week as college freshmen, so we went out to celebrate at this college bar that everyone kept dishing about.

It was a cool bar, it reminded me a lot of the bar in Emory where lan and I first met.

I got all sentimental every time I thought of lan or heard someone mentioned his name.

Quickly pushing the negative thoughts aside, I smiled at Sophie.

"Thanks, Soph, I think so too,"

"Trust me, they're just jealous of what you have.They wish they have someone that loves them and waits for them back home,"Sophie was so sweet.

I felt like I struck gold on the roommate front.She lifted her drink and we clinked glasses.I was smiling at her and she smiled back.

We were having a sisterly moment, when Tristan decided to join us.

"Hey ladies, what are we talking about here?"he asked.

"Tampons,"Sophie replied.

"Okay then,"Tristan grabbed his drink and got up on his feet.

"Just kidding, sit down,"Sophie laughed.

Sophie and Tristan were absolute sibling goals.

They were so similar, yet so different.

Sophie was outspoken while Tristan was soft-spoken.

Sophie was a big extrovert while Tristan was more of an introvert.

good at math and numbers, while Tristan

business major while Tristan

clear that they loved each other and they were looking out for one

an only child, I couldn't help but feel a

the two of you?"I

"Me!"Sophie exclaimed proudly.

and she refused to let

minutes of my

dramatically.exclaiming, "I know,

as

out a chuckle and he gave me

guess we can get some tofu soup.It'll sober you up.What

know if I could,"Tofu soup in Korea-town sounded

the food in Korea-town was and I was excited

the timing

my phone and saw that

was gonna Facetime lan tonight after going

to him that he was still a priority in my life,

is tofu soup we're talking about! Let’s go

me her best puppy

say anything else, I heard my phone chimed and I checked

that it was getting late and we should

was like the universe

right, it was late

home right now and get on Facetime, we'd probably only talk for a couple of minutes before

the screen and said, "Alright,

a lot

wasn’t lying about

spicy tofu soup and rice cake before, but those were

little, but

soju

right back to drunk Sophie mode in just a matter

were standing outside trying to hail a cab when Sophie suddenly puked her guts out in the middle of the

holding her hair back and

story short, no cabs wanted to pick

taking the public bus back

shoulder and her

an exhausting day and she

had to admit though, I

was what college was gonna be like, I had a feeling four years would be a

I still couldn't help but check my phone from time to

him and I went

was always missing lan and I was always wondering

we talked nonstop on the phone, but that wasn't the same thing

when he

screen was a picture of lan’s

smiled at the

distance treating

best experience, but we're doing our

"That's cool,"he nodded.

don't think it’s stupid? Most people here

"Love is love,"he shrugged.

in love with but you can choose to stay with them or

for free pizza for the freshman class, that was probably

him,

about you? Anyone

trailed and got nervous all

with Monique, everyone

Sophie said suddenly.

eyes were still closed,

"Shut up,"Tristan hissed.

"Who’s Monique?"I asked.

to high school with us.She’s also here in U Penn, but we're not close