Part 19: Your warmth lingers...

"Are you out of your mind? Do you have any idea how worried I was when I couldn't find you? And then you didn't answer your phone! Who leaves their phone behind, especially at night? The first rule is to always take your phone with you before leaving the house!"

Carrie's anxious and irate voice greeted me as soon as I arrived home.

"I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to worry you," I apologized sincerely.

"But you did! You have no idea how many irrational thoughts raced through my mind. Especially with that son of a—" Carrie's sentence trailed off, but her distress was evident.

"Harry texted me last night," I said, cutting her off.

Carrie's eyes widened with concern and curiosity. "What? What did he say? What did he want? How dare he approach you after everything? Is he insane? Does he think he can come back into your life just because the restraining order is over?" she asked, agitatedly picking up her phone from the table.

"We should notify the dean about this. He should be dealt with properly," she continued.

"Don't," I said, reaching out to stop her. "I don't want to involve the dean or the police. It's over, and I'm ready to move on." Carrie gave me a skeptical look but eventually nodded in agreement. I could see the concern and reluctance in her eyes as she set her phone down.

"But what about him?" she asked. "What if he can't move on and comes back for revenge? You know how a man's ego can cloud his judgment. He might blame you for his expulsion."

Her concerns were valid, and I had thought about them before. But what was I supposed to do—live in fear?

I shook my head and took a deep breath. "I'll handle it," I said confidently.

"There's no way in hell I'm letting him ruin my life again," I declared firmly. "I let him do that before because I was head over heels in love with him. I was blind back then, but now I dare him to try his luck."

Carrie nodded, a small smile spreading across her face as she saw the determination in my eyes.

"And Lizzy and I will be your allies," she added. "Let him try; we'll teach him a lesson just like we did with that thief three years ago. Remember that?"

I laughed at the memory. "How could I forget? That was the first time we all met," I said, recalling the incident fondly.

Carrie sighed and gently rubbed my arm. "You don't have to feel insecure here. Don't you remember how we ended up with this house?" Her question transported me back three years.

After the incident, I decided to return to school, though I couldn't bear the thought of living in the dorms. I commuted daily, trying to maintain a semblance of normalcy. Despite appearances, I was far from okay. I had become an introvert, struggling with trust and shunning friendships. I kept to myself, spending most of my time in the library or studio.

I withdrew from all the clubs I had previously joined, except for one related to school projects. Adapting to the cameras and other aspects of campus life was difficult, as they stirred up painful memories.

Carrie and Lizzy, who had rescued me from the brink of complete embarrassment, continued to check on me and keep me company despite my attempts to push them away. I wasn't ready to open up to anyone else, fearing another betrayal. Silvia returned after a few months, but not as the school president. The university's sorority had been disbanded and was never to be reformed.

While I preferred solitude, my two saviors proved to be persistent, like annoying flies that wouldn't leave me alone. One day, they managed to persuade me to help them with house hunting. Though I was reluctant, feeling indebted to them, I agreed in the end.

The moment we arrived at the estate, I fell in love with it.

The lush vegetation and tranquil ambiance immediately captivated me. It was neither crowded nor noisy—a stark contrast to what I had recently come to appreciate.

The house itself was a significant draw. Spacious and elegant, it featured three bedrooms. Large windows allowed natural light to flood in, showcasing the beautiful hardwood floors and modern finishes. It was clear that the house had been meticulously designed with both style and comfort in mind. Its charm and cozy atmosphere made me feel at ease, and I was particularly taken with the beautiful garden.

When I inquired about their choice of a three-bedroom house, they explained that the third bedroom was for me. They didn't insist I live with them but made it clear that I was welcome to stay whenever I wanted.

In the days following our house hunt, we spent time shopping for necessities and decorating the home from scratch. We chose wallpaper colors and customized the décor to our preferences. The process was both fun and exciting, and we were thrilled with the results. The house had truly become our own.

Slowly, I began spending the night at the house when I was late or tired, and before I knew it, I had made it my home as well. That's how our friendship has grown to this day.

"See? No one would dare trespass here with the top-notch security we have," Carrie's voice brought me back to the present. "Remember what I told you: it's okay to be scared, but don't let it control you." I smiled, appreciating her wise words.

Despite being the most impulsive among us, Carrie always had the most insightful things to say. She was a wise woman who taught us not to judge a book by its cover.

"I'm grateful for your persistence and patience. If you had given up on me, I don't know where I'd be today. I might have given up long ago and decided to go abroad."

"You did play hard to get. I remember Lizzy wanted to punch you a few times," Carrie said, laughing. Lizzy was known for her impatience. Carrie hugged me, her face full of joy and nostalgia. We shared a moment of silence before she spoke again.

"By the way, how did you end up at Nick's house?" Oh boy, and here I thought she had forgotten about that.

"Well, when Harry texted, I might have panicked and ended up at Nick's place." Carrie raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "Ah, so the first person you thought of in a moment of trouble was the boy next door?" She teased me with a grin. I couldn't help but blush a little, feeling embarrassed.

"Well, yeah, I guess so," I admitted sheepishly. Carrie laughed and shook her head. "So, you spent the night at his house? In the guest room or...?"

Carrie's eyes widened as she reached a conclusion. I didn't deny or confirm anything, knowing there was no point in hiding it from her.

"Oh. My. God!" she exclaimed, her eyes as wide as saucers but sparkling with excitement. I sighed and shook my head, trying to calm her down.

"No, Carrie. We didn't sleep together," I admitted, a bit shyly.

"We just talked and went to bed. It was completely innocent." Carrie sighed in disappointment, though her curiosity was still evident.

"Well, at least you had a cozy night with him," she said, winking. "How did it feel cuddling with him?" She leaned in, eager for details.

Mmmmmh, how did it feel? I bit my lower lip, recalling how it felt to wake up in his arms, safe and warm. It was unexpected but not unwelcome. His soothing presence made it hard not to snuggle closer. I blushed at the thought and met Carrie's mischievous grin.

"Oh, come on, spill the beans," she urged, and I couldn't resist.

"It felt nice," I admitted, a smile spreading across my face.

Carrie's grin faded as she noticed the blush on my cheeks. She then changed the subject. "So, what about your church guy? You stayed the night at his place, right?"

I decided to switch topics before my face turned any redder. Carrie's playful expression shifted to one of frustration and sadness. She exhaled deeply and looked at me. "Oh, how I wish. Apparently, he's part of a church choir that practices at night because most members have work or school during the day," she explained.

"Well, at least you shared a moment, right?" I tried to offer some encouragement.

"I suppose," Carrie sighed, her exhaustion evident.

"I was overjoyed when he asked me out because I thought he had finally noticed me, that he liked me. But we ended up at church," she trailed off, her voice tinged with disappointment. The unexpected turn of events seemed to have dashed Carrie's hopes for a romantic evening.

"Look on the bright side," I said, trying to lift her spirits. "He asked you out. Even if it wasn't what you expected, the fact that he thought of you, approached you, and invited you to join him shows that you've caught his attention, right?"

Carrie considered my words, then nodded in agreement. "You're right. I should be grateful that he even asked me out," she said with a small smile.

"Do you think he has a crush on me too?" she asked. "Now that you mention it, I believe he does. He wouldn't have bothered asking me out yesterday or today if he didn't."

"Did he also ask you out today? It's not another church date, is it?" I asked, curiosity piqued.

"No, it's not a church date," she replied with a smile. "He asked me to a charity event. It's actually at a children's home." I felt happy for her.

"See, baby steps," I said with a smile.

"Right, how could I have doubted myself? Only someone without discernment would let this gem slip away," Carrie said confidently. We both laughed. She was indeed a gem, and any man would be lucky to have her by his side.

"He also promised to give me a gift if I joined him. And what better day than GiftThursday!" She smiled and clapped her hands.

"GiftThursday? What's that?" I asked, confused.

"Don't tell me you haven't been keeping up with the school's updates," Carrie said, shaking her head. "Arrogance might be bliss, but ignorance can be a real problem!" She proceeded to explain.

Apparently, every Thursday leading up to Valentine's Day, students are encouraged to exchange gifts with their friends or significant others.

"Oh, I see." I thought about how nice it would be if Nick gave me a gift. I laughed internally at myself for such a ridiculous notion. Why would he?

"Speaking of gifts, I'd love it if you and Lizzy could join me later," Carrie said. "Not right now—I need some alone time with my beau." She had a dreamy look in her eyes, making me roll mine in amusement.

I couldn't refuse her pleading eyes, especially when it was for a good cause. Besides, I enjoyed shopping for gifts, particularly for children. It was always heartwarming to see their faces light up with excitement and joy.

"Of course, Carrie. You can count on us. I'll talk to Lizzy, and we'll meet you later," I said with a smile. Carrie's face brightened with gratitude and relief, and I knew I had made the right choice.

...

"Why do I feel so used? Hey, don't you feel used? How can Carrie just leave us with all this work while she plays the part of the social butterfly?" Lizzy grumbled as we made our way toward the pavement.

"You're really complaining a lot today. Are you that frustrated? But then again, you just came from your guy's place," I teased, which earned me a sharp glare from her. She muttered something under her breath that I didn't quite catch.

"Isn't that the guy next door?" As we rounded the corner, we came face-to-face with my dream guy—Nick.

We had just seen him a few hours ago, but it felt like ages. Lizzy's glare turned into a smile as she spotted Nick.

"Yoh, Nick! Why do you always seem to be busy whenever I run into you? Do you ever take a break?" Lizzy quipped, gesturing towards the items in his hands.

I couldn't help but agree with Lizzy. Nick seemed tirelessly occupied. He chuckled as he set down the materials on the ground.

"I guess I just want the house to look presentable so that the gecko doesn't scare off my..." His voice trailed off suggestively as his gaze landed on me, making my heart skip a beat. Nick's teasing expression made me blush. I knew he was playing around, but I couldn't help wondering what he meant to say next.

"Huh? A gecko? I didn't know there were any here," Lizzy remarked, puzzled by Nick's inside joke.

Nick laughed and shifted gears. "Where are you guys off to all dressed alike?" he asked, noticing our coordinated outfits.

"We're heading to the children's home, but first, we need to swing by the market to pick up a few things for them," I replied this time, briefly meeting Nick's eyes before looking away.

Every time our eyes met, I was reminded of that morning.

"Oh, that's very kind of you. I wish I could join you, but as you can see..." He pointed to his materials, which were on the ground. Yeah, how I wished he could come with us.

"Oh well, too bad. We will leave you to your work. Nice day," I said, grabbing Lizzy's arms and walking away from the man, not looking back.

"What was that all about?" As we walked away, Lizzy inquired.

"What is what?"I feigned ignorance. ""The awkwardness. Which reminds me, Carrie mentioned something about you sleeping at his place."

When did she even tell her?