After Jason guided me through the campus, fatigue washed over me, and all I longed for was to indulge in a restful beauty slumber. Jason had a few tasks to attend to, so he is not here. I find a certain joy in his absence, yet simultaneously, I feel a deep sense of disdain for it.
I made my way directly to the bathroom, where I indulged in a refreshing shower. Once I emerged, I proceeded to brush my teeth, ensuring they were thoroughly cleaned. I returned to my room. At this moment, I find myself disliking my pajamas, so I choose to slip into a long t-shirt instead. A gentle tap resonates on the door, yet I find myself too lethargic to discover the identity of the visitor. Jason remains out of sight, so it seems I will have to take the initiative and answer the door myself.
I open the door to reveal a captivating girl with warm brown eyes, her smile radiating joy as she looks back at me. "Oh, Kate!" I respond with a smile in return.
I opened the door to her, curiosity piqued. "What brings you here?"
"I'm here to see Jason," she says.
"Oh, um, actually," before I could complete my sentence, the door swung open, revealing Jason. The instant he laid eyes on Kate, his face radiated with joy. Great, now she was bound to whisper his name all night. I shook my mind free of that thought.
In an instant, I find myself being gently nudged aside as she envelops him in her embrace. Oh wonderful, now they wish to be all affectionate and cozy in my dorm too. "Oh, um, I will be in my room," I announced, retreating before any of them could reply.
From my room, I could hear the soft sounds of chuckling, suggesting they were truly enjoying themselves. A wave of jealousy washes over me, leaving me unsure of its origin. I must gather my thoughts and regain my composure before these emotions overwhelm me. There was something undeniably peculiar about Jason, not in a negative sense, but rather in the way my heart races in his presence.
The silence envelops me, and I can not help but imagine the myriad of possibilities of what they might be sharing in this moment, stirring a sense of unease within me. Should I sneak a glance and discover what they might be up to in there? I find myself wide awake, so I could easily spend my time observing their activities instead.
With a heavy sigh, I pull myself from the comfort of the bed and find myself positioned before Jason's room. Oh my, why am I even here?
Regret washes over me as I find myself in this moment, stealthily maneuvering to catch a glimpse of their activities behind closed doors. Silence envelops the space, the absence of shuffling suggesting a deep, tranquil slumber. I inch closer, positioning my right ear against the door, my hands resting firmly on its surface.
"Are you eavesdropping?" Without much contemplation on the words, I pivot to my left side from the dining area, only to behold a figure standing there. I push aside the notion that it might be Jason, and I carry on with my previous task.
"Hold on a second," I whisper softly, bringing a hand to my mouth, hoping that the figure just a few steps away from me is not Jason.
"Are you attempting to listen in?" he laughs softly.
I startle at the sound of his voice, and a wave of embarrassment washes over me.
His laughter resonates more powerfully than it did previously.
I swiftly begin to feign an interest in the floor, as if I'm searching for something of importance. But let's be honest, Jason is well aware that this charade is nothing more than a facade; he must have been observing me for quite a while now.
I summon my strength and pivot to confront him, bare-chested and radiating beauty as always.
"I-I um, I believe I may have accidentally dropped something on the floor," I stammer, my voice trembling slightly.
"Are you certain you dropped something?" he said, folding his arms across his chest.
"Y-yes," I respond, my voice trembling slightly.
"To me, it seemed less like you dropped something and more like you were attempting to eavesdrop," he chuckled, a playful glint in his eye.
"It seems your eyes may have played tricks on you," I say.
"If you have concerns about Kate, she has already departed. I suppose that is the only reason you would be sneaking around, attempting to eavesdrop. is it not?" He wears a sly smile.
He looks at me with a devilish smirk. I hate it, especially when he gets that look.
I let out a heavy sigh and roll my eyes at him, a gesture filled with exasperation.
"Did you believe I would be completely engrossed in her?"
In a whirlwind of activity, I start to look around, my voice rising in exasperation, "Oh, please, as if I care!"
"Oh, indeed," he comments, drawing nearer with a deliberate stride.
I take a few steps back.
He saunters by, stepping into his room with a soft, amused laugh. A soothing wave of relief envelops me; I am grateful that he refrained from contemplating any reckless actions. A deep breath escaped my lips.
I found myself surrounded by the most chaotic scene I have ever encountered. How could I ever find myself eavesdropping on that conversation? Currently, the idea of facing him is daunting, and I cannot help but hope he stays in his room a little longer. "Oh, my goodness!" Marie, gather your thoughts; I shut my eyes and let out a deep sigh.
Exhaustion envelops me, a heavy shroud that drains my energy, rendering me incapable of even fetching a simple glass of water. The unsettling thought of choking and ending up in the ICU looms in my mind like a dark cloud. With a slow, measured gait, I make my way back to my room, gently closing the door behind me. I turn off the lights and slide into bed, my hand reaching for my phone on the nightstand. My mom's missed calls and a few unread messages greet me on the home screen.
Tapping on her messages, ready to reply, my phone suddenly rings, startling me with the recognizable sound of my ringtone. It is she. "Hey, mom." A radiant smile spreads across my face at the sound of her voice.
"Hey, darling," I could sense the warmth of her smile as well. I would have loved to be there when she grinned. One of the most delightful sights in this world is the radiant smile of my mom.
I called because I missed you, my darling." She speaks on the line, and I can sense the depth of her longing for me; I feel the same way about her.
"I miss you, Mom. Where is Dad?
"Well, he's on a business trip, honey," she says.
At times, I find myself puzzled by the nature of my dad's business, to be truthful. I recall those nights when he would venture out into the darkness, while my mom made every effort to keep his destination a secret from me. His business remains a mystery to me, and I still can not grasp the nature of what my dad does to this day.
"Back to earth, honey, what's wrong?" The sound of my mom's voice breaks through the haze of my daydream, pulling me back to the present moment. "I am sorry, mom, what was it that you were saying?"
Just as she was about to respond, a gentle knock echoed softly against the door. "Mom, I will return your call shortly. I ended the call, turned on the light, and dragged my feet as I walked towards the door.