Chapter 83
I felt my eyes blaze with fury as the boy's fingers wrapped tighter around my arm, his grip like a vice. "Let me go now!" I snapped, my voice low and deadly.
The boy's smile wavered, his lips twitching before he regained his composure. "What if I don't?" he taunted, his eyes sparkling with mischief.
I could feel the air thicken as the students around us froze, their faces a blur of curiosity and concern. No one intervened, and my anger simmered, ready to erupt.
In a flash of inspiration, I leaned forward, my teeth sinking deep into the boy's hand. He released my arm instantly, his eyes widening in shock as his face drained of color. "Ah!" he yelped, yanking his hand back in surprise.
I sprinted out of the building, my bag slung over my shoulder, the afternoon sun beating down on me. The clock read 12 pm, and I had one more class left – chemistry – but my mind was elsewhere. I needed to escape, to clear my head.
I bursted into my room, slamming the door shut behind me. My phone rang, shrill in the sudden silence. I hesitated, my eyes locking onto the screen. Unknown number. My heart skipped a beat. I answered, my voice cautious.
"Hey, girlie!" Racy's bubbly voice chimed in, and my tension dissipated.
"Oh, Racy!" I exclaimed, relief washing over me.
"Where are you?" she asked, her tone playful, teasing.
"In my room," I replied, curiosity piqued.
"What number?" Her voice was crisp, urgent.
"205," I told her, my brow furrowing. Why did she need to know that?
The line went dead. I stared at my phone, confusion etched on my face. The silence in my room seemed oppressive, heavy. "Gosh, why would she end the call like that?" I muttered, my mind racing with questions.
********
I emerged from the shower, the cool air enveloping me like a soothing balm. I wore a baggy T-shirt and shorts, my chemistry class was by 1pm.. As I began to blow-dry my hair, the hum of the dryer and the gentle warmth on my scalp lulled me into a sense of calm.
But the sudden knock on the door shattered the tranquility. I froze, my heart skipping a beat. "Who's that?" I called out, my voice laced with a hint of wariness.
The knocking persisted, and I raised my voice, "Who's that?" The silence that followed was oppressive, punctuated only by the sound of my own ragged breathing.
Another knock, louder this time, jolted me out of my momentary panic. "Who's that?" I demanded, my voice firm.
The response was immediate. "Open up... it's me, Racy," a familiar voice replied, muffled by the door.
I pushed open the door, and Racy's radiant smile illuminated the space between us. She held up a transparent nylon bag filled with vibrant fruit drinks, her eyes shining with an infectious enthusiasm.
"Hey, come on in!" I said, stepping aside to let her enter. She swept past me, and I closed the door behind her, the soft click of the latch punctuating our private moment.
Racy settled onto my bed, the mattress creaking softly beneath her weight. She extended the bag of drinks toward me, her face alight with excitement.
"So, what's the occasion?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.
"I thought it would be awesome to grab some drinks together," she said, her voice bubbly and carefree. "And I picked out the most amazing fruit drinks – they're literally bursting with flavor!"
I raised an eyebrow, a hint of skepticism creeping into my expression. "All of a sudden?"
Racy's grin broadened, her eyes sparkling with mirth. "I wanted to celebrate our first day as friends in style! We're basically BFFs now, and I needed to mark the occasion."
I shook my head, a small, amused smile tugging at the corners of my lips. I sank onto the bed beside Racy, and she handed me a chilled can drink, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.
The cool condensation on the can seeped into my skin as I took it, sending a tiny shiver down my spine. I popped the tab, and a satisfying "Tssssh" sound punctuated the air, followed by the sweet, fruity aroma of the drink wafting up to greet me.
The scent was intoxicating, and my curiosity was piqued. I raised the can to my lips, the chilled metal against my mouth a pleasant contrast to the warmth of the room. I paused for a moment, savoring the anticipation, before taking a sip.
Racy's piercing gaze locked onto mine, her eyes gleaming with an unmistakable curiosity. "So, let me get this straight – you're interested in cooking Korean cuisine... Who's the lucky recipient of your culinary skills?" she asked, her voice laced with a subtle intrigue that piqued my interest.
I met her gaze, my thoughts momentarily suspended as I carefully considered my response. "Honestly, I just want to cook it as a thank you to someone," I replied, my voice measured, though my mind was racing with possibilities.
Racy's expression was thoughtful, her eyes never leaving mine. "Okay, that sounds sweet... Should we hit the supermarket today to grab the ingredients?" she asked, her tone light and casual, but her eyes betraying a deeper curiosity.
I hesitated, glancing at her before responding. "Maybe tomorrow would be better – the person is pretty busy right now," I said, my words hanging in the air like a challenge.
Racy's eyes narrowed slightly, her gaze intensifying as she regarded me with a mix of suspicion and playful accusation. "Okay, spill the beans – who is this mysterious person?" she asked, her tone tinged with curiosity and a hint of teasing.
"A friend," I said nonchalantly, but Racy's eyebrow arched inquisitively. "A male friend, I presume?" she asked, her tone infused with subtle curiosity.
I chuckled, a warm flush spreading across my cheeks. "Yes, exactly. I asked him to tutor me in maths. He's an absolute genius when it comes to equations," I explained, a soft smile playing on my lips as I thought about him.
Racy's eyes sparkled with intrigue. "The maths guru, huh?" she said,her voice laced with fascination.
I nodded, my smile growing wider. "The same. And, well... he's also rather handsome," I whispered, my voice barely above a whisper.
Racy's eyes lit up with amusement, and she leaned in, her voice taking on a conspiratorial tone. "Now this is getting really interesting," she said, her words dripping with anticipation.
Just then, her stomach growled loudly, the sound echoing through the room.
A loud, unmistakable fart echoed through the room, and I felt my eyes widen in surprise. "Racy!!" I exclaimed, my voice a mix of shock, amusement, and a dash of mock horror.
Racy's face turned bright red as she jumped up, her eyes darting wildly around the room. "The toilet... where is it?" she asked, her voice tight with urgency.
I pointed at a door at the conner of my room,and she sprinted towards it with a speed that belied her earlier languor. I couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of the situation, the sound bubbling up from deep within me.
As Racy vanished into the bathroom, I grabbed an air freshener and began spraying it liberally around the room. The smell was pungent,and my room suddenly felt like a barnyard. "Good grief," I muttered to myself, chuckling. "It's like I am rearing a goat in here." The air freshener helped a little, but the memory of the sound – and the smell – lingered, refusing to be erased.