Erica zipped her bag and glanced at Racheal with a teasing smile. "Alright, drama queen, I'm heading back to my apartment. Don't cry too much while I'm gone."
Racheal rolled her eyes but felt a small tug of sadness. "I'm not crying," she mumbled, even though the quiet apartment suddenly felt emptier without Erica.
Erica laughed softly. "Sure, sure. I'll see you tomorrow at school, but seriously...stop being so dramatic. You'll make everyone think something tragic happened while I was gone."
Racheal smirked faintly, hiding the little pang of loneliness. "Yeah, yeah. Bye, Erica."
"Bye, Racheal," Erica said, waving as she left, her voice carrying down the hallway.
Once the door clicked shut, Racheal sank onto her bed, letting out a long sigh. The apartment felt strangely silent now. She thought about the morning, the way Erica had watched her face when she'd recounted the encounter with Mr. Unknown, how her friend's curiosity had been both annoying and comforting. Despite the embarrassment she'd felt at the restaurant, sharing it with Erica had made it feel lighter, almost… human.
Racheal's fingers traced the edge of her blanket as her mind wandered. She wondered what Erica would think if she really knew the full story, not just the surface details of the car and the restaurant, but the tension, the stares, the strange mix of irritation and intrigue she felt around Mr. Unknown. Erica had a way of making her forget herself, even if only for a little while.
Her phone buzzed, breaking her thoughts. The screen lit up with Mia's name—the girl she had met the day before and exchanged numbers with.
"Hey, Racheal! It's me," Mia's voice chirped warmly.
"Hi, Mia! How are you?" Racheal asked, a smile tugging at her lips.
"I'm good! I just wanted to check on you," Mia said. "We talked yesterday, and I was thinking… are you free tomorrow after lectures? I'd love to grab coffee."
Racheal thought for a moment. "Hmm… I might have some things to do, but I'll let you know tomorrow, okay?"
"Sure! And I hope it's okay if I bring someone along," Mia added casually.
"Oh? Who?" Racheal asked, curious.
Mia laughed. "Just a friend! You'll like them, I promise. It'll be fun."
Racheal smiled, feeling a sense of warmth. "Alright, Mia. I'll check my schedule and get back to you."
"Perfect! Thanks, Racheal. You're so easy to talk to, you know?"
"You too, Mia," Racheal replied, her heart lightening.
After ending the call, Racheal leaned back on her bed, letting the quiet of the apartment envelop her. Today had been chaotic, unusual, and a little frightening, yet strangely exhilarating. She thought of Erica's laughter, Mia's cheerful voice, and even the unsettling presence of Mr. Unknown. Somehow, it all felt connected, as if the pieces of her life were beginning to shift in ways she couldn't predict.
A small smile lingered on her face. Tomorrow promised new encounters, laughter, and perhaps even a little adventure. For the first time in a while, Racheal felt a spark of excitement that wasn't tied to fear or embarrassment, but to something entirely her own.