* Eleven *

                                                                                    Sky

I lay there, eyes closed, my body still humming with the warmth of Rose’s touch. The soft afterglow of our passion lingered, a quiet hum in the background of my thoughts. For a moment, the world outside the walls of my room did not matter. It was just us, wrapped up in each other’s arms. But as Rose slowly pulled herself out of bed, the weight of everything came crashing back. She kissed my forehead, whispering something I did not quite catch. Then, she left.

I ran my fingers through my hair, staring at the ceiling. A sigh escaped me, a mixture of satisfaction and frustration. I had given in, and now it felt like everything was just a bit messier than it should be.I glanced toward the window. The night outside was thick with shadows, the hostel lights casting just enough glow to outline the domes beyond. Kate would be back soon. My stomach twisted at the thought.

I had not told her anything. Neither had Rose. Neither of us had confessed that there was more to our relationship than just friends. It wasn’t supposed to be like this. I should have been content with my secret, but the truth was, I was not. On top of that I lied about not being a homosexual.

Then, the sound of a car door slamming shut outside and giggles caught my attention. I quickly pulled the blankets over myself and glanced at the door. I could feel the tension building, but there was nothing I could do. Kate was back, and I was not ready to listen to how perfect her date was with prince charming, how I hate that guy. Already I had a good night and I am not about to kill my mood.

                                                                                  Kate

The cool night air kissed my skin as I stepped out of Thabo’s car. My head was spinning from the three wine glasses turned into five, turned into God knows what else. My mind was a fog, but there was a blissful warmth inside me. Thabo had done it. He had finally proposed. I was officially his fiancée, I know that I was a bit anxious about it but I have never been sure. I mean he is everything I could wish for in a guy so why not? In that very moment I felt like there was nothing that could ruin this moment.

I stumbled slightly as I made my way towards the room, the ring glinting on my finger. The diamond caught the moonlight, shining bright as I knocked on the door, I misplaced my keys. Honestly speaking I was too drunk to see the keys that were in my hands. I let out a loud laugh of embarassment, I was loud as hell I didn’t even think about the neighbours or Sky. Let alone my reputation as an RA in that moment, what example was I setting? 

“Sky?” I called out, a giggle escaping my lips. I was tipsy, but I could not stop smiling. I had to show her. I walked in our room, the ring still sparkling in my hand as I dramatically flung it toward her. “Look what I got!” I laughed, my voice a bit slurred. Sky was sitting on her bed, her eyes instantly darkening when she saw the ring. I could feel the change in the air, the way the tension seemed to suddenly snap tight. My heart still raced with excitement, but something in her expression… made me stop.

“Kate,” she said, her voice strained, her gaze fixed on the ring. There was something there, something I could not quite place. I blinked, still giggling. “It’s beautiful, right? Thabo proposed. We are going to be married!” I could not help but beam, but when I looked at Sky again, the joy on her face had disappeared, replaced by something… darker. Her eyes flickered between me and the ring, and suddenly, I was not sure if I had made a mistake by showing her. The energy in the room had shifted. It was not the usual playful energy between us. No. It felt different, almost like something was about to break.

“I am sorry, I did not mean to” I started, but Sky cut me off. “You are engaged now,” she said quietly, standing up from her bed, her voice calm but with an underlying edge to it. “That is what you wanted, right?” I nodded, suddenly feeling uncomfortable under her gaze. “Yeah… Yeah, of course, it is what I have always wanted.” Sky did not say anything else, but the silence between us felt heavy. I wanted to say more, to tell her I was happy. I wanted to ask why she looked so hurt, but the words would not come. Instead, I looked at her at the sharp lines of her jaw, the way her lips were pressed tight together. Her gaze was locked onto me, and something in the way she stood made my heart skip.

                                                                                    Sky

I could not stop looking at her, could not tear my eyes away from that damn ring, the symbol of everything I could not have. She had always been the one I could not reach, the one who was always just a little too far out of my grasp. Now, with that ring on her finger, I felt my chest tighten. The walls I had so carefully built up felt like they were cracking beneath me. I took a step forward, and suddenly, I was not sure if I was doing the right thing. But I did not stop. I could not. The air between us grew thick. It was as if something unseen was pulling us together, despite all the reasons why we should stay apart.

I stepped closer to Kate, my breath shallow. She was not as confident as she had been moments before, the playful glint in her eyes now replaced with uncertainty. But I could not stop myself.I reached out, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face, my fingertips grazing her skin. The contact was electric, like I was sparking something I should not have. I could feel her inhale sharply, her body stiffening for a split second, before she relaxed into the touch.

“Sky…” she whispered, her voice barely audible, but there was something in it something raw and desperate. And that was all it took. Before I even realized what I was doing, I was kissing her. The kiss was hot and needy, like something we had both been holding back for too long. Her lips were soft against mine, but there was an urgency there, a hunger that mirrored my own. I could feel her body press closer to mine, the heat between us burning, stealing away any remaining space. I pulled her in, and her hands shaking, trembling  went to my neck, pulling me even closer, as though she could not get enough.

The kiss deepened. There was no turning back now. The weight of her engagement, the ring, the lies we had told, it all melted away in the intensity of the moment. I did not care anymore. All I cared about was her, and the way she felt against me. But just as quickly as it started, we broke apart. Both of us panting, our faces flushed. We stared at each other, unsure, the silence deafening. A mix of regret, fear, and longing filled the space between us. Kate’s lips trembled as she pulled away, her hand instinctively touching the ring on her finger, as though trying to reassure herself that what had just happened was not real.

It felt like a mistake.

                                                                              Kate

I sat on my bed, my hands trembling as I looked at the ring again, like it was some kind of anchor. But no matter how hard I tried, the feeling in my chest would not go away. Something was off. Something I could not ignore. “I shouldn’t have” I began, my voice cracking. “I’m sorry, Sky. I did not mean to…” Sky stood up slowly, looking at me, her face unreadable. “You do not have to apologize,” she said quietly. “It is fine.” But neither of us believed that.

                                                                               Rose

I had just returned to my room, fresh from my night with Sky, when I heard Kate’s voice from the hallway. I froze in the doorway, her excited tone cutting through the air. "I’m engaged, Rose! Thabo proposed!" Honestly speaking I was happy for her. Finally a perfect love story, I hope me and Sky reach that stage someday.