On her way back to the hostel, Racheal couldn't stop smiling. She didn't even know if she should cry or laugh at the same time. What had happened in the washroom hallway still tugged at her heart. And now another worry nagged at her,what would Mia think if she realized Racheal already knew her brother? Should she tell her the truth, that Declan was the one who had once denied her? Or should she confess how she had wrongly blamed him for things she now regretted?
By the time she reached the hostel, she found her roommate standing at the door. Racheal greeted her casually, not expecting much. But to her surprise, the girl responded politely. That nearly unsettled her more than anything else, because for months her roommate had only given her cold shoulders and attitude. Why was she suddenly acting calm today? Racheal wasn't ready to question it, so she simply went inside, went straight to her room, and sat on her bed.
She pulled her laptop close and began scrolling through some movies. One finally caught her attention, and she dived into it, completely absorbed, forgetting the world outside her room. By the time she glanced at the clock, it was already 8 p.m. With a sigh, she set the laptop aside and went to the washroom for a quick shower, humming softly as the water poured over her.
Less than ten minutes later, she came out wrapped in a towel, another neatly holding her damp hair. Her face glowed, pale and fresh, with a faint citrus scent trailing from her skin. She sat in front of her dressing mirror, taking a moment to admire herself before starting her evening skincare routine. Slowly and carefully, she worked through it step by step, almost like a ritual to calm her thoughts.
When she was done, she stood back to assess her reflection. Everything looked in place. With a relieved exhale, she moved back to her bed, pulled out her diary, and began to write. She poured everything onto the page,Margaret's confession, the dinner with Mia, and the unforgettable encounter in the washroom hallway.
After finishing, she picked up her phone and sent a quick message to Erica: "I came back long ago. Let's meet tomorrow."
Still lost in her thoughts, Racheal lay down, the day's weight pressing gently on her mind. And before she realized it, sleep claimed her.