The following evening, a gentle knock echoed on Racheal's door. She opened it to find Erica standing there, her face glowing with excitement, a small overnight bag slung over her shoulder.
"Finally!" Erica said with a playful grin. "After all this time, I get to see where my best friend lives."
Racheal laughed, stepping aside to let her in. "Well, don't expect anything fancy. It's just my little corner of the world."
Erica's eyes roamed the room with curiosity as she set her bag down. "Hmm… cozy. It feels like you. Simple but warm."
Racheal raised an eyebrow. "So that's your polite way of saying small?"
Erica giggled. "Maybe… but I like it."
They quickly settled into their evening plans. Deciding to cook together, the two moved into the small kitchen space. Erica insisted on chopping onions, though she kept complaining about her eyes watering.
"You're hopeless," Racheal teased, shaking her head as Erica wiped her tears dramatically with the back of her hand.
"Oh please, I'm contributing! At least I'm not just standing here like a supervisor," Erica shot back, making both of them laugh.
The aroma of food soon filled the air—spices, sizzling vegetables, and the comforting sound of bubbling stew. Between stirring pots and tasting spoons, they talked about everything: classes, annoying lecturers, mutual friends, and silly memories from back home.
After dinner, they curled up with bowls of popcorn and scrolled through Netflix until they settled on a lighthearted movie. The room lit up with the glow of the screen, their laughter bubbling up at the funniest scenes. At times they laughed so hard they had to pause the movie just to catch their breath.
In one of the quieter moments, Erica sighed deeply. "You know, Racheal, I really regret abandoning you when I did. I let stupid rumors and other people's words get between us. It wasn't fair to you."
Racheal glanced at her, surprised by the sudden seriousness. "Erica—"
"No, let me finish," Erica interrupted, her voice soft but firm. "I should have trusted you. You were always there for me, but when people started whispering, I chose to walk away instead of asking you directly. I hurt you, and I know I can't take it back… but I want to make things right."
Racheal's eyes softened. She reached for Erica's hand. "You're here now, aren't you? That's what matters. We can't change the past, but we can choose to move forward."
Erica's lips curved into a relieved smile. "You really don't hold grudges, do you?"
Racheal chuckled. "Not when it comes to people I care about."
The heaviness of the moment gave way to giggles again when Erica accidentally spilled popcorn all over the bed, earning another round of playful teasing. Their laughter carried through the apartment, warm and genuine, as though no shadow from the outside world could touch them.
For that night, it was just two friends rediscovering what they had almost lost.