You Do Know This Is The Men's Room Right?

It's been a few days now since the incident on the rooftop. 2 days to be exact. It's Sunday now so we don't have classes, this is good cause my head is still in shambles from what Emma had done for me that day.

On that day, after calming ourselves down, she had dragged me to the men's restroom on the 5th floor, just under the roof floor. She didn't mind the men's room—her only concern was getting me presentable for my next class. It felt like she knew that no matter how horrible I'd look, I'd still go to classes. Maybe she'd seen my looks degrading recently and decided to take action in her own way. Then she opens her mouth and says in a firm tone.

"Wash your face."

So, I did as I was told. As I was washing my face, I heard the other faucet running and the sound of water being cupped and splashed, I guessed she was washing her face too. She then looked at me as I stared at her.

"What? I can't wash my face too? Since you're done, wet your hair a little as well, it looks like a bird would nest on top of you with how you look right now." She said in a playful tone.

As I was doing as she told me to, she grabbed a brush from her backpack, and as soon as I was done, she proceeds to brush my hair for me. The bristles of the brush were soft against my scalp, the motion surprisingly gentle, as if she were trying to put the broken pieces of me back together.

I closed my eyes for a moment, just focusing on the quiet rhythm of the brush, her presence grounding me in the stillness. There was just silence during this moment, it was a nice and warm moment, until we heard the sound of a flushing toilet with someone wondering in askance.

"Uhh… is it okay for me to come out now? I need to get to my next class…"

The guy in the stall asks. I looked at Emma's face, trying to probe her thoughts at that moment, but all I saw on her face was confusion.

"Why do you need to ask to get out? Just go to your class?"

You're missing his point, Emma. Is what I'd like to say, but I didn't want to speak in fear of my voice cracking again from dryness. As I was contemplating speaking, the guy walks out of the stall and says to Emma

"You do know this is the men's room right? I mean, I do get that some students like to take risks but at least get in a stall instead of be in the open like this. It just makes other guys jealous you know?"

I wanted to refute the guy's words but Emma had beaten me to it.

"You're really such a pervert if that's all you think that guys and girls are capable of when they're alone. We're friends. I'm just helping him look presentable, isn't that okay? I know it's the men's room, I came here fully knowing what I was doing. I'm not stupid. I can't be taking him to the women's room, can I? That would cause more problems instead. So, I steeled myself to enter the men's room to help my friend out because he needs me, is that so bad?"

I was speechless, even more than I already was at that moment. The words she spoke felt almost foreign to me—no one had ever defended me before. People only ever mocked or ignored me.

I took a deep breath, trying not to let the emotions show. Such words, I wouldn't normally hear from others. Yet I heard them clearly this day. Words of care and love. I had felt like crying again upon hearing what she said, but steeled myself not to. I didn't want to cry in front of this random guy and I didn't want her to worry about me more than she already was.

So, I did the only thing I could think of doing. I smiled. As I smiled, she looked at me again, she smiled as well upon seeing me. Who knew a smile would be so refreshing. Her smile is still etched in my head. The smile of someone who shows a lot of empathy like hers, is a smile worth seeing.

I found myself upset at myself at that moment, how could I have ignored such a smile when seeing her smile like that makes me feel warmth? It was a genuine question I had for myself; it was also genuine regret I had from taking it for granted for the past 3 weeks.

As we were smiling at each other, we heard someone clearing their throat. It was the guy, we forgot about him, well, at least I did.

"That's sweet and all, I get that. I want to say more but I really am late for my class. So I'll leave you two lovebirds alone."

The guy said as he stormed out, not looking back.

"Hey! What lovebirds! I just said we're friends, you pervert!"

Of course, it wasn't I who was yelling, but Emma. I never knew that Bus Girl would have such a feisty character to her personality. I can't deny that at the time, it was a relief listening to her, despite the yelling.

"Now that you look better, let's go to class. At least you smiled for once. Did you know, that's the first time I've ever seen you smile. You have a rather cute smile, you should smile more! Maybe you'll find yourself a girlfriend with that smile of yours."

She playfully said as she nudged my arm with her elbow. What a rowdy girl. I'm not interested in that right now. Why would I think of getting a girlfriend when I never even thought of having friends? I want to at least be able to feel content with myself first.

"I never thought of getting a girlfriend."

I said.

"Oh, sorry, I didn't think you were gay. Well, I'm sure you'd be able to snag some hunks with that smile too!"

At that moment, I wondered if she was dropped as a baby, maybe that's why she didn't think too deeply about what I said and instead interpreted it as she wanted. I sighed and corrected her to not create misunderstandings.

"No, Emma. I'm not gay. I'm just not in the state to look for a partner. My mind is already bad as it is. What if I got a girlfriend that ends up breaking me more than I already am?"

She showed a solemn expression as I finished what I said. I guessed that she had finally understood what I meant before but I was wrong.

"I know, Noah. You didn't come off as the gay type anyway. I just wanted to lighten up your mood. Did it work?" She said with a gentle smile on her face.

"Kinda."

I said while looking away as I felt my face reddening.

"That's good enough for me. Come on, let's go. To class!"

She said dramatically as she grabbed my hand to get me moving to our classes. What a weird girl, but I think this is good for me. That's what I thought that time, but now it's a Sunday. I hadn't been able to sleep well for the past 2 nights.

Reliving the Friday I had spent with her. It still feels so surreal to me, yet I can still feel her warmth for caring about me. Am I possibly broken even more already without going through anything?