Secret And Surprises.

"Can you pick up the call and let him know I'm in the bathroom, and I'll call him later?"

My smile instantly vanishes as I exclaim, "Huh?!"

What on Earth is wrong with Kelly?

"Pick up the call before it ends, Mandy!"

I stand there, frozen in utter surprise, my gaze fixed on the closed door with my lips slightly parted and a deepening frown.

Why does Kelly want me to talk to her boyfriend? Someone I've never even met!

I shake my head, smoothing out my furrowed brows, and say, "Sorry, Kelly, I can't take the call."

Just as I say this, the ringing stops abruptly, and before I can glance at the screen, Kelly's sudden, ear-piercing yell echoes off the bathroom walls and makes me jump.

"See what you've caused, Mandy! Now I'm sure he's going to be really worried that I'm not picking up the call!"

I glare at the door, as if Kelly is standing right in front of me.

"But-"

"It's just a phone call, isn't it? Why are you making such a big deal out of it, Mandy?"

My frown deepens at her dismissive tone. Why would she downplay this?

"But you-"

"Stop acting like a naive country girl; it's really annoying!"

Her words ignite a spark of anger within me, transforming my frown into a scowl.

"What's wrong with you, Kelly? You're asking for a favor; you should at least be polite!" I snap, my voice rising.

"Oh, so now you're being rude," she retorts.

I scoff in annoyance, my frustration boiling over. "What do you mean I'm being rude? You're the one being unreasonable!"

Just then, the phone rings again, displaying the same contact.

"Come on, Mandy, just this once," Kelly pleads, her voice tinged with desperation.

My frustration ebbs away, but my frown lingers, and I'm still perplexed by Kelly's insistence that I take the call.

"But he's-"

"Don't be selfish, Mandy. If I were outside, I'd answer, but I'm not, so please help me out."

I sigh, raising the screen to my face as I stare at the contact, my doubts lingering. Should I really be doing this?

"Go on, pick up!" Kelly urges me again, her impatience growing.

I shake my head in defeat, resigned to my fate. "Fine," I whisper, relenting.

"Thank you! And can I have my towel when you're done?"

I nod reluctantly, my eyes fixed on the screen. "Okay."

Kelly responds with a satisfied "Good," and I approach my bed, anxiety growing in my chest about the pending call.

As I reach my bed, I moisten my dry lips with my tongue and raise my thumb to the screen.

But my thumb freezes, hovering above the screen as nerves grip me.

"Go on, pick up the call!" Kelly shouts, and I take a deep breath, gulping the lump in my throat.

I answer the call and raise the phone to my ear, my eyes darting around the devices on my table as I wait for the person to speak first.

But I frown, confused by the silence on the other end of the line. Why is he so quiet?

But then, a sudden "hey" shatters the stillness, making my heart skip a beat.

A gasp escapes my lips as the voice continues, "Uhm, hey."

The tone is eerily familiar, like someone I know, and it makes my chest heave with the thought of who it might be.

"Uh, Kelly," the accent is unmistakable.

"Can we meet tomorrow?" The thickness of the voice, the cadence, it's all too familiar. It's him.

My eyes fly open in shock as the realization hits me, and I feel like I'm reeling, as if the world is spinning around me.

"Hello," he repeats, awaiting a response.

H-he is Kendrick!

I cover my mouth, overwhelmed by the tumultuous emotions within. Anger, shock, happiness - or something else? I'm dumbfounded.

Another "hello" breaks the spell, and I blink rapidly, my hand falling away.

"Uhm..."

"Kelly, is everything okay?" he asks, his familiar voice sending a flutter through my chest.

"No, no, she's just bathing. She'll call you back when she's done."

I pull the phone away from my ear, ready to end the call, when he suddenly asks, "Your voice, do I know you?

My eyes instinctively widen in shock, my gaze fixed on the socket on the wall as I struggle to process the question.

"U-uhm, n-no, you don't," I stammer, trying to sound calm.

"I'll pass on your message," I add hastily, then quickly hang up, my shoulders heaving with shock. It's definitely Kendrick.

I stumble backward, bumping into my bed frame before collapsing onto the bed.

Kelly's phone slips from my grasp, landing softly beside me, and I raise both hands to cover my nose and mouth, feeling the clammy sweat of my palms against my face.

That was definitely Kendrick - I'm certain of it. That voice, his accent, it's unmistakably him!

I drop my hands and rise from the bed, starting to pace around my room in agitated circles, trying to make sense of the surreal conversation that just happened.

The possibility that Kelly is Kendrick's girlfriend sends me reeling, my eyes widening in stunned astonishment as I freeze in my tracks.

I gulp hard, a disbelieving smile spreading across my face, and I shake my head in denial.

"I must be mistaken," I whisper to myself, but the doubt lingers, and I resume pacing, my mind racing with unsettling possibilities.

The first time I saw Kelly, I knew she looked familiar. The thought makes me pause once more, my heart pounding slightly.

Could she be the girl I saw in Kendrick's WhatsApp status?

The possibility sends my knees buckling, and I collapse onto my bed, my gaze fixed on the floor in stunned silence.

But then Kelly's voice and loud banging pierces the fog, shattering the spell and jolting me back to reality.

"Mandy! The towel, Mandy!"

I slowly rise from the bed, my heart still weighed down by turbulent emotions.

I retrieve her pink towel from the wardrobe and approach the bathroom door with cautious steps, my frustration still simmering just below the surface.

"I have it now," I say curtly.

The banging stops, and Kelly cracks open the door, her wet arm reaching out as she beckons for the towel.

But I hesitate, clutching the towel tightly as I stare at her outstretched hand.

The revelation that she's dating Kendrick still feels like a punch to the gut.

I recall the same girl in his WhatsApp status, and I know she's definitely the one.

"Come on, hand it over," Kelly says, her tone grating on my nerves and fueling my irritation.

I clench my jaw, my gaze fixed on her flawless arm, as a surge of frustration courses through me.

No wonder Kendrick fell for her - she's flawless, with porcelain skin and a polished appearance that screams perfection.

I roll my eyes and thrust the towel into her outstretched hand, then turn to walk away, ignoring her protests about my roughness.

I pause in the center of the room, surrounded by Kelly's belongings, which I've yet to finish organizing. Should I even bother continuing with this?

But then, the toilet door creaks open, and I shake my head, deciding to see this task through. At least it's a one-time thing, I tell myself.

I head over to her bed, focusing on gathering the scattered clothes, deliberately avoiding eye contact with Kelly as she approaches me.

"You're not done yet?" Kelly asks, but I ignore her, focusing on folding her clothes into one of her empty bags.

The wardrobe is full, so the bag is my only option.

But then, the sweet strawberry scent of her body soap wafts into my nose, but I resist turning to her, even though she's standing right next to me. I'm still struggling to believe she's Kendrick's girlfriend.

"Looks like I'll need to get another wardrobe," she says, and this time, my head turns to her instinctively, my brow raised in surprise.

She suddenly flops onto the bed, her back against the mattress, her half-naked body sprawling across the bed.

I frown, noticing her towel is now loose and on the verge of falling off if she moves.

But she doesn't seem to mind being half-naked in front of me.

I shake my head and turn away, still holding one of her cloths.

As a girl, I believe in respecting others' privacy, regardless of gender. Kelly, however, appears to be unconcerned about being seen.

Why did she even ask me for a towel? She could have just gotten out of the bathroom naked.

I roll my eyes, thinking what a waste of time that was.

Then, I fold my arms and glance back, only to see her still lounging on the bed, showing no signs of getting up.

I huff, annoyed by her laziness. What kind of roommate have I ended up with?

Initially, she seemed like a good girl, despite her revealing dress suggesting otherwise. Now, I take back every positive thought I had about her.

Just then, she asks, "So, what did he say?"

I frown, confused, my back still turned to her. "What did who say?" I ask, my tone tinged with disinterest.

"My boyfriend," she clarifies, and my mind immediately drifts to the call with Kendrick.

My lips part slightly as the connection clicks into place. Kendrick, my supposed ex, is now dating my roommate?

I force a laugh, trying to sound nonchalant, reminding myself that I've moved on and have Daniel now. Kendrick is firmly in the past, and that's it.

I transform my fake smile into a genuine one, and my expression softens as I turn to face Kelly. She's gazing at the ceiling, her lazy smile a picture of contentment.

"Well, he said he wants to meet up with you tomorrow," I say, and Kelly instantly sits up, her towel slipping off her chest.

I quickly avert my gaze, but not before catching a glimpse of her bare chest.

I blink rapidly, trying to erase the image from my mind. Why did I have to see that?!

"Oh, okay then," she responds nonchalantly, oblivious to my discomfort.

I remain frozen, still feeling like I've seen something I shouldn't have. The image of her erect, pink nipples lingers in my mind, refusing to be dismissed.

"I'm going out tonight, wanna come along?" Kelly asks, prompting a frown from me.

Why would I want to join her? No way, not happening!

"I'm sorry, Kelly, but I can't. I don't think it's-"

"Right," she interrupts, but I force myself not to turn around, avoiding another glimpse of what I saw earlier.

She continues, "You don't think it's right, I know. I won't force you. Have fun alone."

"I don't mind having fun alone. You go ahead and enjoy your night out," I respond.

"I would, I would," Kelly says, her voice followed by the sound of her standing up from the bed.

Then, the unmistakable thud of her towel hitting the floor makes my eyes widen in surprise.

"Uhm, you should wear some clothes, you know," I say, trying to sound casual.

But she just chuckles, and I resist the urge to turn around and ask her what's so funny.

"Since we're both girls, I don't see why you'd be embarrassed. Unless, of course, you're self-conscious about seeing me in this state," she says.

This time, I don't care if she's naked; I turn around with a frown, ready to respond, but then I soften when I see she's wearing a plain white shirt that barely covers her.

The shirt is thin enough that her erect nipples are still visible, poking through the fabric, and making me wonder if they are always erect.

Then, she folds her arms and raises a brow, "what?"

I blink rapidly and frown in response. "It's nothing."

"Hmm, okay," she nods and heads towards the exit door.

Is she leaving?

"Uhm, are you going out?" I ask, and she pauses, turning around with a smile.

"Well, yeah."

I raise a surprised brow and eye her from head to toe. "Are you really going out in that?"

Kelly unfolds her arms and scans herself, "Well, there's nothing wrong with what I'm wearing, Is there?" She asks, her tone playful, and my jaw drops in awe at her response.

"There's something obviously wrong with what you're wearing! That's just a top you have on. Wouldn't you feel ashamed going out in that?" I ask, incredulous.

Kelly chuckles and shrugs, "I don't see what the big deal is. I'm comfortable, and that's all that matters."

She turns to leave, but I call out to her, "Kelly, wait! You can't seriously be going out in public like that!"

She spins back around, a mischievous grin spreading across her face, "Watch me."

Before I know it, Kelly is out the door, the door slamming shut behind her.

I know I'm not her mom, but as a fellow girl and her roommate, shouldn't I care about how she's dressing?

A sense of lingering concern nags at me - she's my roommate, after all!

I shake my head in disappointment, my gaze drawn involuntarily to the bags that had been brought in earlier.

"I even forgot to relay their message to Kelly," I remind myself, sighing and shaking my head again, my hands on my waist.

I didn't expect things to go this way.

Despite my concerns about Kelly and Kendrick still simmering in my mind, I push myself to finish helping Kelly with her belongings, trying to set my worries aside for now.

Soon, I'm done, and the room looks tidy, giving me a sense of accomplishment. Everything is organized - her clothes, bags, snacks, drinks, and foodstuffs all in their place.

But then, my growling stomach echoes through the room, reminding me I haven't had lunch yet. And to make matters worse, I have no idea what time it is.

My legs carry me to my bed, and I collapse onto it, instantly reaching for a nylon packet of cornflakes.

I sit up, propping my back against the sturdy headboard, and begin munching on the raw cornflakes.

Cooking feels like too much effort, and the kitchen is still a mess, so I don't bother tidying up to use it.

And it also seems like Kelly isn't exactly the domestic type, so I'll likely be the one doing the cleaning.

I devour packet after packet of cornflakes - three, then four - before deciding to take a cold, refreshing shower to recharge.

I lay out a simple bum short and a large black top, then head to the bathroom with my toiletries, ready to wash away my lethargy.

As I reach the bathroom door, I shed my clothes outside and step in for a refreshing shower.

I turn on the shower and let the invigorating coldness of the water wash over me, then lather up my sponge with my Eva soap, unleashing its soothing scent.

And after a rejuvenating shower, I place my bathing equipment on the cabinet beside Kelly's enormous pink box, which is surprisingly large - like five bricks stacked together.

I wonder what could be inside, but resist the temptation to snoop, respecting her privacy.

I grab my grey, warm towel from the iron rack, wrap it around me, and step into the room's warmth.

Then, I make my way to my bed to get dressed, savoring the towel's comforting warmth.

That's when I notice Kelly's phone still lying on my bed, so I pick it up and move it to her desk. It's strange that she would leave without her phone - it's almost as if she was in a hurry or distracted.

I wonder where she had gone for the so called party.

This is literally our first day in the university, and she's already going out for parties? Woah!

Despite my concern for Kelly's whereabouts, I refocus on my routine, applying body lotion that sends a refreshing chill through my skin.

I put on the clothes I had set aside, dust my sheets, and sink into bed, ready to surrender to a well-deserved rest and let my weary body recover.

I'm exhausted, feeling like I've cleaned the entire world. My body aches all over, so I decide to sleep it off.

But then the image of my phone flashes in my mind, jolting me awake.

I haven't had a chance to spend time on it after I read Kendrick's message, and I'll do that now, till I feel extremely sleepy and finally give in.

With a sigh, I start searching for it, my hands patting the bed somewhat frantically.

Finally, I find it and don't bother switching it on - I just unlock it with my fingerprint, and my eyes instantly widen at the screen.

I hadn't left our chat since then, and now this...

I check the sender, and my heart skips a beat as I confirm it's him.

The message takes my breath away, leaving my chest heaving with a mix of emotions:

"I miss you."

Those three simple words evoke a whirlwind of feelings, leaving me breathless and my mind racing.

I stutter, barely able to form his name: "K-Kend-rick?"