U n e x p e c t e d / I n e s p e r a d o

Expect the Unexpected

Reyna never understood how things ended between Ricardo’s and Stephanie’s relationship, the only detail that Reyna got from Ricardo was that he broke things off with her because they were fighting a lot and when he started to have feelings for her, but Reyna felt there was more than that. The truth was that Stephanie broke his heart when she left him for someone else. Whenever Reyna was included in the conversations between them she felt out of place, it was like they still had a special bond. A part of her felt like Ricardo still had unsolved feelings for her that’s why she didn’t like him spending time with her.

Stephanie watched Ricardo drive away with Reyna, Ugh, what does he see in her? She asked herself. “Are you talking to yourself again?" her friend Ariana walked up to her. "Of course not. I just saw Ricardo and Reyna leave together." Ariana gave Stephanie one of her looks, "When are you going to let that go?" she asked Stephanie as she got on the car. "Never! It wasn't a week after our break up when they started dating. She took him away from me." Stephanie said. "Well... what gives you a right? Didn't you cheat on Ricardo with Oscar?" "Just shut up." Stephanie told Ariana as they left.

Later that night Ricardo drove me back home, “I had a great time.” I told him as he turned off the car. We look deeply in each other’s eyes and we lean towards each other’s lips and started to kissed with an intense passion but I realize it was getting heated, I pulled away. I smiled. “Wow, um, I have to go in.” He got my left hand before I could open the door. “Wait… I have to tell you something.” He took both of my hands and looked into my eyes, "What is it?" I asked nervously. "The last few months with you have been the best in my life so far and I wanted to tell you that I... love you." 

I sat there, not knowing how to respond to his confession; I liked Ricardo a lot but I wasn't in love with him well not yet and I didn't want to lie to him by responding me too. I smiled. "Thanks, um, I'll see you tomorrow." I open the door and got off the car as quickly as possible. "Hey wait..." Ricardo had gotten off his car and reached for my arm before I entered my front gate, "What's wrong?" he asked. I smiled and then I kissed him. "See you tomorrow." Ricardo watched as Reyna walked away from him. "Bye." Was the last thing he said to her before Reyna walked in her house. I had reached to my front door, I didn't bother looking back because I knew he would still be there and I couldn't look at him. It's not that I didn't like him, I did but the I love you thing caught me by surprise. As Ricardo drove home that night, he thought about how Reyna had reacted to his strong feelings for her and wondered if it was the thought saying it was too soon or she didn't feel the same way.

 “Reyna, sweetheart, is that you?” My mom called me out from the kitchen. I laid my bag on the sofa and walked over to the kitchen to greet her. “Hi mom.” I hugged her and kissed her in the cheek. "Cariño, un sobre grange llegó para ti en el correo hoy." I glanced over at the dining table, and there was a white sealed envelope laying on top of my mom's cookbooks. Could it be? I asked myself without acting too excited. USC Office of Admission. "Open it." My mom told me. I took a deep breath and open the envelope. I took out the letter and it said, “Congrats, Reyna Munoz, for your college acceptance to USC.” "Qué dice?" My mother was waiting patiently for my answer. "Mami, me aceptaron.” I told her with excitement. The University of Southern California (USC) was my dream school, ever since middle school when we visited the campus for a class field trip, I felt in love with the campus. And even though it was a private college, and the tuition was not affordable, I knew that through scholarships, financial aid and my college savings I was going to afford it. My mom left what she was doing and hugged me, "Felicidades mija, estoy muy orgullosa de ti."

I was in a state of shock, me, Reyna Munoz, got accepted to the University of Southern California, I could not believe it. I sat in the living room chair staring at the acceptance letter, all my hard work the last few years, had finally paid off. As I thought about my future at USC, I started to think about Ricardo and this acceptance to USC would change things between us. 

I could not risk my future solely on my acceptance to USC, so I applied to other several schools like UCLA, UCI and UCSD and of course with my luck I was accepted to all of them, but my back up choice was UCLA. The thing was that Ricardo had also been accepted UCLA and when he found out he immediately assume that we would be going together. For a while, I had agreed to that idea and as time passed and I didn't get my letter, I knew that I was going to UCLA with him. But now, things changed... how was I going decide between them? My boyfriend or my dream school?