Pearl's eyes fluttered open to the sound of laughter — light, feminine, and maddeningly familiar. Sheila.
She let out a groan, dragging a pillow over her face before tossing it aside and forcing herself up. Her head was still heavy from the thoughts that haunted her through the night. She opened her door, and there she was — Sheila, standing by the kitchen entrance like she owned the whole damn apartment, fingers lazily twirling through her freshly flat-ironed hair, giggling into her phone like some teenage romcom lead.
Pearl's stomach twisted.
She walked past her roommate without a word, heading into the kitchen to fix breakfast — or whatever counted as food at this point. Noodles. Again. Broke girl meals.
But her hand froze halfway to the kettle.
The voice on the phone.
That voice.
Jason.
She didn't need to hear the full sentence. She didn't need to ask. She *knew*. Her entire body went rigid. Her heart wasn't just breaking anymore — it was mocking her for ever hoping.
All night, she had tried to justify it. Maybe Jason was just pretending to be Sheila's boyfriend. Maybe it was some kind of weird sugar-baby-for-hire setup. Maybe he was doing this for a bet. A dare. *Anything* but what it actually was.
But now? Hearing his voice, soft and low and clearly smiling for someone else?
It shattered her.
Pearl didn't say a word. She just turned back to the counter, hands trembling slightly as she boiled water.
Her heart throbbed in confusion. Nothing made sense anymore.
*Maybe he kissed me because he was drawn to me… right? That's what it felt like. It wasn't empty… was it?*
But doubt clung to her chest like a weight.
After scarfing down her noodles — the cheapest survival meal she could muster — Pearl got ready for class. She stepped out of her room, adjusting the strap of her bag when she saw Sheila still on the phone, still laughing, still glowing. The sound grated against her nerves like nails on glass.
Pearl hesitated for a second. A thousand questions sat on her tongue like fire: *When did you and Jason start dating? How long has this sugar crush been going on?* But she didn't ask. What was the point?
Sheila looked so genuinely happy. Blissfully unaware.
Pearl's eyes lingered on her. *Would she still be smiling like that if she knew her sugar crush had kissed another girl? Her roommate?*
Probably not.
But Pearl didn't have the heart to crush that illusion — not today. So she simply forced a wave, plastered on a neutral smile, and walked out.
The morning air hit her face as she made her way to class, but it did nothing to clear her mind. Her thoughts spiraled.
*Why did Jason kiss me?*
*Was it sympathy? Pity?*
*If he had a girlfriend, why would he do that?*
*Did I misread his intentions?*
*He looked sincere… or was I just desperate for something real?*
While Pearl was still swimming in her own thoughts, a deep, confident voice snapped her back to reality.
"Pearl, right?"
She blinked, startled. Turning to face the voice, she found herself staring at a ridiculously good-looking guy. There was something familiar about him, but she couldn't place it.
He tilted his head, amusement dancing in his eyes as if he already knew what was going on in her head. "You don't remember me, do you?" he asked, brow arched.
Pearl scratched the back of her neck, embarrassed. "Um… have we met before?"
His jaw dropped slightly in mock offense, like she had just insulted his entire lineage. "Wow. That's cold. But okay. Heading to class?"
She nodded. "Yeah."
"Then shall we?" he said, gesturing forward like some charming prince in a campus fairytale.
She walked beside him quietly until they reached her faculty building. With an awkward half-smile, she said, "This is my stop. Bye."
But he wasn't done.
He smirked and said smoothly,
"I'm Armstrong. We met at the festival last night," he said, his grin confident. "I gotta say, it's kinda wild you don't remember me. This is a first."
He stepped closer, striking a playful pose. "But don't worry—you won't forget me again." He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. "This face is unforgettable."
Pearl raised a brow, lips twitching into a reluctant smile. "I'll remember that," she muttered.
Something about his energy—bold, cocky, a little ridiculous—reminded her of Bryan. The smirk, the way he talked like he knew the world owed him attention. It made her smile without realizing.
A small chuckle slipped out.
Armstrong caught it. "Am I that funny?"
Pearl blinked. "Huh? No, I just—"
He waved it off with a wink. "Don't worry, girls tend to laugh around me. I'm kind of used to it. Must be a gift."
Pearl rolled her eyes and turned to leave, not ready to fuel his ego further.
As she walked off, she heard him call after her, "Remember my name—Armstrong!"
She didn't turn back, but her smirk said she heard him loud and clear.