Monday morning crept in with soft sunlight bleeding through the old blinds of the girls' small, slightly crammed hostel room. Talia and Rina were already up, bustling about in their usual chaos ,trying to find matching socks, rushing their makeup, and arguing over whose turn it was to iron.
Melanie, however, lay sprawled out on her narrow bed, lazily blinking at the ceiling as the fan whirred rhythmically above her. The light was steady, and for once, the power hadn't blinked out. It was one of those slow, humid mornings that made even breathing feel like a chore.
Talia, tossing on her bag, glanced at her. "Mel, are you not coming?"
Melanie rolled over, dragging the blanket closer. "Too early. I'll go for my second class if I feel like it."
Rina chuckled. "Lazy girl. Don't forget we have a quiz in Stats."
Melanie yawned, already half-asleep again. "I'll survive."
The door slammed behind them, and silence returned. The peace, the stillness… perfect.
A hour later, Melanie was now fully awake. She reached for her phone on the cluttered stool beside her bed and unlocked it. She'd grown used to chatting with Justin recently. Nothing too serious, just light banter, jokes, and school stuff. But she felt the moment had finally come to level up.
Her fingers danced over the screen.
"Hey Justin… are you free to meet up later today? Maybe after your class?
She waited.
A few minutes passed before the typing bubble appeared.
Justin:
Yeah, I should be free after class. What's up?
Nothing serious. Just thought we could chill. There's that quiet garden spot behind the Social Sciences faculty. It's peaceful.
Justin:
Cool. That works. See you there after class then.
Melanie grinned to herself, tossing the blanket off. The fan breezed over her warm skin as she padded to the tiny corner bathroom to freshen up. The excitement bubbled in her chest this wasn't just a hangout. This was the moment.
She took her time picking an outfit , casual but cute. Something that said "i didn't try too hard" even though she clearly did. Light makeup. Gloss. That perfume that always turned heads.
Minutes later, Just as she was adjusting her hair in the small mirror, the door opened and Talia and Rina stepped in, dusty and tired from class.
"Ah-ah! Who turned our room into a salon?" Talia joked, eyeing Melanie's transformation.
"Where are you going looking like that?" Rina added, dropping her bag with a thud.
Melanie smirked. "I have a date."
"With who?" they asked in unison.
"Justin," she replied smoothly, checking her reflection one more time.
Talia blinked. "Justin? Bella's Justin?"
"He's not Bella's anything," Melanie said flatly, picking up her purse. "And besides, y'all know we've been talking lately. He agreed to meet me today. That garden behind Social Sciences."
Rina let out a low whistle. "Girl… you're bold."
"Be careful," Talia added, though she looked mildly impressed.
Melanie slung her bag over her shoulder. "Please. Watch and learn. Just make sure you're around to celebrate when I make him mine."
"Melanie the baddie!" Rina teased.
"Go and represent us!" Talia called as Melanie walked out, confidence in her step, hair bouncing with each stride.
She smiled to herself.
Not quite long after she finished dressing, a soft gloss on her lips, lashes brushed up, and her outfit just the right balance of casual and flirty, her phone beeped again.
Justin:
"Hey, change of plans. Garden might be too far and hot rn. Let's just chill at the café near my department?"
Melanie stared at the message for a second, lips slightly pressed. The garden had privacy. This… didn't. People would be around. Noise, distractions.
She sighed and replied:
Melanie:
"Sure, no problem. Just let me know when you're there."
Talia noticed the change in her mood.
"Cafeteria?" she guessed, plopping onto the bed.
Melanie nodded, slipping her phone into her bag.
"Yeah. Public place. Not my ideal, but it's something. At least we'll talk."
Rina chimed in, "Girl, play it smooth. Cafeteria or garden, just get close. This is your moment."
Melanie gave a small smirk, checked herself once more in the mirror, and headed out.
"Wish me luck."
"Go steal that boy's attention," Talia called after her with a snicker.
****
Bella sat in her parked car, engine off, windows slightly wound down to let in some air. The soft hum of campus noise echoed around, but inside her car, it was still. Peaceful.
She picked up her phone and sent a quick text to Kathy:
"Hey love, let me know when your class ends. I'll come pick you. Don't want to wait at the café, just chilling in the car."
She tossed her phone into the passenger seat and leaned her head back, staring through the front windshield, watching students walk past, laughing, stressed, tired, alive.
Her eyes lazily scanned the walkway near the Computer Science building, and then paused.
A familiar figure.
Melanie.
Bella straightened in her seat slightly.
That bitch? she thought, narrowing her eyes.
It had been a while since their paths even crossed. Melanie had stayed in her corner. Why now… here? Right in front of the computer science building ?
Bella watched closely.
Melanie was sitting alone on the stone bench just beside the building's entrance. She kept glancing at her phone, adjusting her hair, checking her reflection in the front camera. Then… she looked up quickly and stood.
Bella's stomach twisted.
A figure walked out of the department building.
Tall. Confident steps. Gray hoodie. Familiar jawline. Head down, phone in hand.
Justin.
What…
Bella blinked twice, sitting upright fully now.
And then, as if someone had punched her in the gut, Melanie hugged him.
A real hug. Not those awkward one-arm ones. It was quick but close enough to burn into Bella's mind.
Her heart started to pound. She didn't realize how hard she was gripping the steering wheel until her knuckles turned white.
Justin? With Melanie?
She felt her throat go dry.
She hadn't seen them together. Not ever. Not like this. Not even during all the silent distance between her and Justin.
And now, this?
Bella couldn't hear them, but she didn't need to. The way Melanie touched her hair and laughed, the way Justin leaned a bit closer when she spoke, it was clear.
They were comfortable.
Too comfortable.
Maybe she was the only one holding on.
Her phone buzzed on the seat beside her.
It was Kathy:
"Class just ended. You still around?"
Bella took one last look at Justin and Melanie, turned her key in the ignition, blinked back something that felt like heat behind her eyes, and replied:
"Yeah. On my way."
She reversed quietly, and as she drove away, her reflection in the rearview mirror wasn't angry.
Just… tired.
Bella didn't say a word as she pulled up in front of Kathy's department. She parked, leaned slightly back, and waited. Her fingers tapped anxiously against the wheel, but her face remained composed, too composed.
Kathy emerged moments later, smiling as she jogged to the car and got in.
"Hey babe," she said, buckling up. "Sorry I took time, that lecturer didn't want to stop talking."
Bella forced a small smile. "It's okay."
Kathy glanced sideways. "You good?"
Bella paused, started the engine. "Let's just go home first."
They drove in silence for a bit, the tension thick. Bella didn't blast music like she usually would. No laughter. No small talk. Just the quiet hum of the road.
Kathy finally broke the silence. "What happened?"
Bella didn't answer immediately. She kept her eyes on the road, but the words came out colder than she intended. "I saw Justin. With Melanie."
Kathy sat upright. "Melanie? That Melanie?"
Bella nodded.
"They hugged," she added, her tone flat.
Kathy's eyes widened. "Are you serious?"
"I watched it happen." She let out a dry chuckle. "Right in front of the Computer Science department."
"Melanie didn't even show up for class today, guess her plan all along was to see Justin... that bitch. What the hell is she doing with him?"
"Apparently, maybe… friends now?" Bella replied, her voice laced with disbelief.
Kathy was quiet for a few seconds. "Did he see you?"
"No. And I don't think I cared enough to be seen." Bella finally turned to look at her. "Kathy, it's like everything just keeps proving me right. The message. His silence. Now Melanie? It's laughable."
Kathy sighed. "That's low. Even for her."
Bella nodded, gripping the wheel tighter. "And to think I was still trying to convince myself I made a mistake pulling away."
They turned into the street leading to their apartment.
"Are you okay?" Kathy asked softly.
"I don't know," Bella whispered. "I just… I didn't expect to feel this empty about it. I should be angry, but I'm just… numb."
They pulled into the compound, parked, and both got out.
Inside their apartment, Kathy dropped her bag and pulled Bella into a hug.
"I'm sorry," she murmured. "People will disappoint you in ways you never imagined. But I need you to remember who you are."
Bella nodded against her shoulder. "I'm trying."
They sat on the couch in silence for a moment before Kathy stood.
"Wait here. I'm ordering that pizza and getting that leftover red velvet cake from yesterday."
Bella let out a breath of relief. "You know me too well."
"Of course," Kathy said, walking toward the kitchen. "Now let's spend the rest of the day like that Melanie hug never happened."
Bella smiled faintly.
"Bet."
Pizza boxes were now open on the table. Bella sat curled up on the couch, a glass of juice in her hand. Kathy sat cross-legged opposite her.
The TV played something neither of them was watching.
Bella finally spoke.
"I know it sounds silly," she began softly, "but seeing them… Melanie and Justin, that hug… it felt like a confirmation of everything I'd been trying not to believe."
Kathy looked up, concerned. "You never even told him what was wrong."
"I couldn't," Bella replied. "It would've made it seem like I cared too much. Like I was dragging drama into something that wasn't even official. We were never… dating, dating."
"But you liked him. A lot," Kathy said gently.
Bella nodded. "I did. And maybe a small part of me still does. But he never reached out. Never asked what changed. He just moved on like nothing happened."
Kathy sighed, brushing hair out of her face. "And now it's Melanie"
"I thought Justin was close to Chloe… now he's all buddy-buddy with Melanie? It's like he's always around someone new. Maybe he really is just a player."
Kathy sighed, arms folded. "The dots are connecting, Bella. First Chloe, you saw that text on his phone back then. Then the anonymous message even mentioned her. Now Melanie? That girl didn't even attend class today, she came just to see him. I'm sorry, but that's not coincidence."
Bella gave a tired chuckle, her voice soft. "A part of me still likes Justin… as stupid as that sounds."
"It's not stupid," Kathy said gently. "You liked him for real. But maybe it's time to accept that he's not who you thought he was."
Bella nodded slowly, eyes stinging but not crying. "I guess we have to stay strangers now."
Kathy reached over and squeezed her hand. "Let it go. You've got someone new now. Austin is kind, respectful, and he sees you. Focus on your peace, on what makes you smile."
Bella managed a faint smile. "You're right. I'll give him a real chance."
****
Justin and Melanie walked side by side toward the cafeteria, the late afternoon sun casting long shadows across the pavement. The air buzzed with student chatter, and laughter drifted from different corners of the campus. When they got to the cafeteria, they grabbed a quiet spot by the window and sat down.
Melanie crossed her legs and leaned slightly toward Justin, giving a small smile. "This place isn't bad. I hardly come here."
Justin gave a shrug, glancing around. "Yeah, it's decent. Not too loud."
They chatted casually, classes, food, random school stuff, before Melanie, with a soft laugh, tilted her head. "So… I haven't seen you and Bella together lately. You guys used to be inseparable."
Justin sighed, resting his elbows on the table. "Yeah. Things kinda… fell apart a few weeks ago."
Melanie nodded like she didn't already know. "Oh. I'm sorry to hear that."
He gave a dry chuckle. "It's fine. People change. Situations shift. And I guess we weren't on the same page anymore."
There was a pause. They both knew the school had noticed. The whispers, the stares, everyone had been talking about the sudden silence between him and Bella.
"But that's life, right?" Justin added with a slight smirk. "Things happen."
Melanie sipped her drink, hiding a satisfied expression behind the rim of her cup. "Yeah. Things do" Melanie softened her tone, reaching out just a little.
"Hey, I know it's tough, but sometimes letting go is the best thing. You don't have to carry all that weight alone."
She smiled gently, hoping he'd see she was on his side.
"Besides, new chapters bring new chances. You deserve someone who's all in, not just half there."
Her words were calm but real, like a quiet lifeline in the middle of the chaos.
Justin smiled and replied , "Thank you Mel, I never expected you to be this calm. You're known in school for causing trouble and being the mean girl lol."
Melanie laughed, replying, "You don't know people till you get close to them."
Their laughter broke the tension, a small moment of ease between them amid everything.