5: Overprotective much?

Till the end of the day, no lecturer enters the hall — even though it's already the second week of resumption — and I'm grateful that I listened to Eric when he said we shouldn't wait.

There were many Ither things we needed to do upon resumption and I didn't know about this until Eric informed me. We still had to print some important documents from the student portal, have them signed, make photocopies and submit. According to Eric, we won't be considered students if in our final years these documents aren't in the administrative office.

But all I hear Eric say as he explains all we have to do is work, work, work. I was wishing we'll get to sit one place, gist and laugh. But no! We have to work, work, work.

By 4, I'm exhausted and thankfully —  even though we're not finished — the offices are closed and we're told to come back the following day.

“Your house isn't that far from school,”  Eric tells me as we make our way to the taxi rank.

“My parents didn't want me having to spend much on transport. It'll save cost this way.”

He agrees with a slow nod.

“What of you?” I ask. “Where are you staying?”

Although he describes the place, I have no idea where he's talking about and he gives me a look. 

“I just got here,” I say. “It will not pass, I'll come and see you this weekend. On Sunday.”

He shrugs.

We get to the section for Taxis going our way and as Eric opens the door, stepping aside for me to enter first, I'm stopped by a voice that calls Eric's name.

When I turn and see the dimpled guy from this morning, I smile and wave at him. 

“You know him?” Eric asks.

“Yeah. He helped me find the hall this morning. You know him too?”

“He's my flatmate.”

“Oh. Wow.”

Dare reaches us and both guys shake hands.

“Debby, right?” Dare says with one eye narrowed.

“Yep. Nice to see you again, Dare.”

He chuckles, probably at the way I mispronounce his name. “I see you guys know each other.”

“Yep,” I say and cling to Eric's arm. “Best friends.”

Eric forces me into the taxi by pressing my head down, prompting a snicker from Dare as I slap Eric's hand away.

“So, how far? Are you going home yet?” Eric asks Dare as I come out of the taxi and slap his atm, to which he doesn't flinch at.

“Yeah. It's my girlfriend that I'm waiting for.” Dare checks his wristwatch and scans the area. “She said she'll meet me here by 4:30 and this is ten minutes over 4:30.”

“Maybe, she's already on her way.”

“Is your girlfriend that girl from this morning?” I jump in to ask.

“Yeah,” Dare replies.

“She's very beautiful.”

“Did anybody ask you?” Eric says to me.

I scrunch up my face. “Was I talking to you?”

Dare laughs. “It seems like you two are cat and rat.”

“This one doesn't just know when to shut up,” Eric says.

“And you like to vex too much. As if I was talking to you.” Pouting, I enter the taxi and look out the other side of the window.

Soon, Dare's girlfriend arrives and another passenger completes the set before the driver moves.

“Please, can you shift?” Dare's girlfriend tells me with a gesture that makes me notice around her wrist the same bangle Dare's wearing.

Ah, so it's a couple bangle.

“Oh.” I move closer to the door and as Dare attempts to move to, she grips his arm, pinning him down with a glare.

I pretend not to see anything as I look out the window.

The two talk in whispers that I hear, even though I'm trying not to listen.

“What's wrong with you?” Dare asks her.

“What do you mean what's wrong with me? Is that not the girl from this morning?” she replies.

“So?"

“So? Dare, so? I hope it's not what I'm thinking.” 

“You're always thinking something.”

Because I feel like I'm eavesdropping, I take out my earpierce from my bag, plug it to my phone and block my ears as I set the volume to the highest.

The drive later becomes a quiet one, safe from the music blasting in my ears. Eric is sitting at the front with the last passenger, so I can't hold any conversation with him. The car hits a bump and the head of the girl sitting beside him hits the window, causing everyone to inhale sharply, including her.

“Sorry,” I hear everyone, including myself, tell her as I take out my earpierce.

“When she'll be sleeping. How won't her head hit the car,” Dare's girlfriend says instead.

Shooting a glare her way, I watch as she sneers at the girl while Dare shakes his head at her. His eyes almost meets mine when I look away.

Soon, Dare and his girlfriend alights while the girl sitting with Eric gets out of the front to sit at the back with me.

“Good evening,” I greet her.

“Good evening.” She turns away, laying her head on the window to continue her sleep.

She looks exhausted and possibly didn't mind being uncomfortable as long as she could squeeze in a quick nap.

The taxi reaches our stop and everyone gets down. While the girl takes a bike, Eric and I decide to trek since the distance to my place isn't much.

“Is Dare's girlfriend living in the same place as you guys?”

“No. Why?"

“Just asking.”

He lifts his right eyebrow, but I change the topic by asking him for his phone.

“All I see here are rap songs.” I scowl as I scroll through his playlist. 

“You don't know what you're missing," he tells me.

"I can say the same about you."

Huffing, I share with my phone the few songs that I like (not rap songs) and soon, we get to my hostel.

“No light. Mtcheew,” I let out as we walk through the gate. 

Some girls laughing at their doorstep stop to stare our way (mostly at Eric) before continuing their conversation. It's not a wonder they stopped to look.

Eric is a catch. It's impossible for any girl to walk past him without looking. Is it his fair skin that is without blemish? Or his abs (seen when he's shirtless) and thick biceps gotten from hours spent in the gym? Eric is a masterpiece, I must say, but it's quite unfortunate that I'm also an onlooker like those girls. Being his best friend makes things even worse.

His phone rings when we reach the main door to my flat. As he takes it out of his pocket, I push the door open.

“I'm at my friend's place,” he says when he answers the phone.

We're at my door when he cusses under his breath.

“I totally forgot. Where are you now?” he asks and my heart sinks at the thought of him leaving. “Okay. I'm coming.” 

“Did something happen?” I ask, doing my best to hide my displeasure.

“Yeah. I made an order and it just came in, so I have to go get it. I'm so sorry."

“It's fine.” I smile.

“See you tomorrow.” He flicks my nose and pulls the door, ripping out my heart from my chest as he leaves.

With a lengthy sigh, I turn, about to enter my room, when I see the exhausted girl from the taxi clumping towards the room next to mine, her head thrown back.

“Hey.” I wave at her with a smile.

When she tilts her head forward and sees me, she smiles back and I walk over to her.

“So you live here too?” We ask simultaneously and burst into laughter, hers a bit weak.

“You look really tired,” I tell her.

“Yeah. I got here this afternoon and I've been busy since then. Haven't been able to sit down for more than two seconds.” She bends backwards, her hand to her back as she groans.

“Ow. Sorry. You should go inside and get some rest.”

She chuckles as she straightens. “I should. But I still have to unpack.”

“Why not do that when you wake up? You'll just slump before you're even done.”

She holds a thoughtful look for a while. “You know what? You're right. This life is just one.”

I snap my fingers at her and she chuckles.

“I don't know your name,” she says.

“I'm Deborah but you can call me Debby. What about you?”

“Annabel. But call me Annie.”

“Nice to meet you, Annie.” We shake hands and I'm certain I'll like this flatmate.