“Damn, this is so boring,” I groaned to myself as I walked through campus.
I hadn't felt this way before. Well, there were times when I thought I tried too hard, but after that whole debacle from last year and my short stint of being the wild child, I could never think of everything the same way.
Maybe it’s just because this is the longest I’ve ever gone without studying, and I’m just getting back into it?
In a few more weeks, I could settle right back in. Well, with a few differences.
I stopped at a bench set under a tree and decided to stop and sit down. It was on the way to my next class, and I still had time, so it was fine. I pulled my phone out. Before, when I was bored and wanted something to fill the time, I’d look for a book online. When there wasn’t any particular novel I wanted to read, I ignored the ebooks and found some nice, long web novels that would keep me interested for a while. I couldn’t remember the last time I ever read something, though.
These days, when I was on my phone while away from home, it was to call back home, and I did just that.
“Honey,” Mom chirped. “Didn’t you say you still had one more class today?”
I sighed. “I do, Mom. But what did you need when you texted earlier?”
“Oh, it was nothing.”
“Mom,” I complained.
I could imagine her rolling her eyes at me.
“Would you stop being such a worry wart? It wasn’t anything I couldn’t handle without your being home. Besides, I have your siblings here helping me out. They’re still young, but they’re growing, they can stand to have a bit more responsibility thrown their way.”
“I could always skip if you need me...”
“Don’t you dare,” she warned. “If you’re in such a hurry to be out of school, then hurry up and graduate. Don’t forget to take things seriously, Klara.”
I knew better than to be careless. If it wasn’t for my sense of responsibility being rekindled, I wouldn’t have gone back to college after taking a break in my second year that lasted for two years.
“How is everything back home?” I asked casually.
Mom replied just as casually. “Oh, everything is just perfect here. The kids are having their fun now because their break will be over tomorrow, so it’s back to school for them, too.”
That wasn’t what I was asking about, and she knew it.
“How is the little one?” I asked.
She chuckled. “Do you keep calling home because you’re worried this old mom of yours can't handle things on her own? You’ve only been back to school for a week, and you still have a while to go, you know? You’ll age faster if you keep worrying.”
“It’s not that I don’t trust you, I can't help worrying.”
“Oh, I know. Anyway, no need to let it get to you. We’re all fine here, so you just concentrate on your work, hmm? He’s fine, Klara. You can see him after your classes are over and you come to visit.”
I knew she was right, but I couldn’t get him out of my head. He was my baby, after all, and in the past two years, I’d been doing nothing but spending time with him, and the separation wasn’t easy for me. I trusted Mom to look after him, she’d raised three perfectly okay kids, so one more shouldn’t be a problem.
After a few more pleasantries, we said goodbye and cut the call. Mom was right; I only had another three hours before I could go home…
Ugh.
It was almost time for my class, so I picked myself up and made my way to the new lecture room to wait.
Chapter Thirteen
Jake
It was the weekend. Since I’d petty much given up my previous, carefree life, I sometimes worked on Saturdays for half the day and took Sunday off. I didn’t go into the office when there wasn’t work for me to do there, but it was a big company
that was still growing, so there was still plenty of research I did during my free time into the company’s future.