Katy took a deep sigh and leaned her back on the chair as she rubbed her forehead with her hand. It was six in the evening, and she couldn't help but feel exhausted after studying for two hours.
To have a change of pace, she put her phone out of aeroplane mode, and several notifications started popping up on her device.
Victor no longer called her, but instead he had sent her a text which Katy had yet to open. She glanced at it.
Victor: Let's talk once again tomorrow at the agency. It's going to be our first day, so let's do our best 😊
A scowl appeared on Katy's face when she read that message and saw the smiling emoji.
"At least I was reminded of something important thanks to him," Katy muttered and quickly opened up the email application on her phone and composed an email directed to Terence's branch office in her city.
After writing a hundred-word-long flowery email stating that she doesn't want to join the agency, she sent the email.
The next moment, a call came to her phone and she picked it up.
"Katy, I'm tiredddd!" Samantha's whining voice entered her ears, which brought a smile to her face.
"I am tired as well, but it's something we have to do," Katy advised.
"I know, and that's what makes me even more tired," Samantha sighed and asked, "How about you come to my house and we'll study together?"
"I can't. I need to help mom with the dinner later," Katy rejected her request.
"Then make more food. I'm coming to your place to pull off an all-nighter instead. I'm sick of studying all by myself," Samantha said in a frustrated manner.
"Alright, by what time will you be coming?" Katy asked, looking at the wall clock.
"It's 6:20 PM right now, so I'll be there by eight," Samantha said after a thought.
"I'll be waiting then. Ride safely," Katy told her, and soon left her room to make two cups of tea.
She then woke her mother up and shared a cup of tea with her, along with some snacks, while chatting with her for a while before finally telling her about Samantha's visit tonight.
"Why are you telling me this just now? I must go and prepare something nice for her," Katy's mother scolded her when she got the news and immediately went to the kitchen.
"Mom, there's no need to do too much. It's not like it's Samantha's first time coming to our place," Katy placated her, but her reasoning didn't work.
"So what? She's your only good friend in the acting school, so I must treat her well. You should also cherish her more, and instead of just standing there, come and help me with the dinner preparation," Her mother rebuked and immediately assigned some tasks to Katy.
Katy could only readily accept her words in a bittersweet manner and helped her with the dinner preparation.
Fifteen minutes after eight, Katy opened the apartment's door and welcomed Samantha, who was wearing comfortable clothing and had a bag on her back. It was clear that she was all prepared for the night study.
"You're late," Katy said with narrowed eyes.
"I know," Samantha grinned and, not minding Katy's presence, entered the apartment.
"Good evening, Aunty! You look even more beautiful today," Samantha wished Katy's mother the moment she saw her setting the meal on the dining table.
"Good evening, Samantha. How are your parents doing?" Katy's mother asked with a kind smile on her face.
"They are all well, Aunty. When I told them that I'm coming to your place, they even readily agreed. Samantha giggled and said, "I'll go and wash my hands then."
With that said, Samantha soon returned from the washroom and despite the incessant refusal from Katy's mother, she managed to help her in setting the dishes on the table.
"They all taste as delicious as ever," Samantha complimented when she tasted the dish.
"Thank you, eat more as there's plenty." Katy's mother smiled at the praise and gestured for her to eat more.
Seeing such a lively scene at her home Katy who was sitting at the side didn't feel left out but instead felt very satisfied.
"Aunty, but why does your dinner look so bland compared to mine?" Samantha couldn't help but ask all of a sudden when she saw the dishes on the plate of Katy's mother.
"Well, that…" Katy's mother readily told everything that had happened today to Samantha, as an expression of shock and relief successively appeared on Samantha's face.
"Why didn't you tell me about it earlier?" Samantha asked Katy, who was sitting beside her.
"I just got to know about it today, as you know. And I did mention on the call that I'll be helping my mother with dinner preparation," Katy defended herself.
"You could have at least told me properly," Samantha argued, but Katy's mother prevented the situation from escalating.
"Samantha, it's alright. The doctor said that there was nothing to worry about as long as I follow a good lifestyle."
With that the situation was brought under control, and the three of them enjoyed the dinner.
After the dinner, Katy helped her mother with the medicines that she needed to take after dinner before finally accompanying Samantha to her room.
"Today must have been tough for you," Samantha commented when they were alone. "I would be worried like crazy all day if I got to know that my mother had a problem in her heart,"
"I was worried too, but the doctors' advice calmed me down. I recommend that you, too, tell your parents to get a medical checkup as without that I would have never known," Katy suggested.
"Yes, I sure will," Samantha seriously nodded.
Katy then glanced at the time and declared, "It's 10 PM right now. Let's study till 3 AM. The one who falls asleep before that will have their hair pulled,"
"Fine by me," Samantha accepted the challenge and took out her study materials from the bag.
Katy, too, did the same, and the atmosphere in Katy's bedroom soon turned to a studious one.