Chapter 2
952 Words
Kathy stared at her phone, a small smile tugging at her lips.
Another message from Nelson.
“How’s the study going? Don’t forget to eat something before you collapse. Miss you.”
Her heart softened instantly.
She typed back, “I’m fine. Not collapsing yet. You?”
Her phone buzzed almost immediately.
“Still working. Wish I was there to drag you away from your books.”
Kathy let out a quiet laugh, shaking her head.
That was Nelson.
Always busy. Always trying. Always there… in his own way.
And she loved him for it.
*Lecture Hall*
The lecture hall buzzed with low chatter as students settled in. Kathy sat between Jordan Brooks and Elena Cruz, while Ryan Cole lounged behind them, clearly uninterested in the lecture already.
“You haven’t written anything for the past ten minutes,” Jordan muttered, glancing at her notebook.
Elena leaned closer. “Are you okay? You seem distracted.”
“I’m fine,” Kathy replied quickly, eyes still on her blank page.
Ryan chuckled from behind. “She’s not fine. That’s the face of someone thinking about a man.”
Kathy turned sharply. “Can you not?”
Jordan smirked. “Which one?”
Elena blinked. “Which one??”
Kathy groaned softly. “You people are so annoying.”
Ryan leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand. “Is it the boyfriend… or the tall, fine one you’ve been walking with lately?”
Kathy froze.
Jordan raised an eyebrow. “That answers it.”
Elena’s expression softened. “Kathy… just be careful. Feelings can get complicated when you don’t deal with them early.”
Kathy looked away, her chest tightening slightly.
Ryan added jokingly, “All I’m saying is… if you break one heart, make sure it’s not mine.”
Elena smacked his arm lightly. “You’re so unserious.”
But Kathy didn’t laugh.
Because for the first time… it didn’t feel like a joke.
*Hostel room*
The moment Kathy pushed the door open, she knew she had walked into something.
Melissa Carter was sitting cross-legged on her bed, while Vanessa King and Priya Nair were deep in conversation.
The second Melissa saw her, her face lit up.
“Oh look who finally decided to come back from her night strolls.”
Kathy dropped her bag. “Don’t start.”
Vanessa gasped dramatically. “Start what? Talking about Xavier?”
Priya crossed her arms, studying Kathy like a case file. “You’ve been spending a lot of time with him.”
“There’s nothing going on,” Kathy said, a bit too quickly.
“Mhmm,” Melissa smirked. “Nothing… but you’re always together.”
“And the way he looks at you?” Vanessa added. “Girl, that is not friendship.”
Kathy rolled her eyes, though she could feel the heat creeping up her neck. “You people are overthinking it.”
Melissa leaned forward. “Do you like him?”
Silence.
Just for a second.
But it was enough.
Vanessa screamed softly. “I knew it!”
“Oh my God!”
“Kathy!”
“Shut up!” Kathy snapped, laughing nervously. “I have a boyfriend.”
Priya tilted her head slightly. “Exactly. So why does it feel like you’re confused?”
That hit.
Hard.
Kathy looked away. “I’m not confused.”
Melissa raised an eyebrow. “Then why didn’t you answer the question?”
Kathy had no reply.
And that silence said everything.
*Later that evening*
Kathy sat on her bed, her phone in her hand.
A message from Xavier Reid.
“Did you get back safely?”
Simple.
Normal.
Harmless.
Yet her fingers hovered over the screen.
Why did replying feel like crossing a line?
She typed:
“Yeah, I’m back.”
Then paused.
Deleted it.
Typed again:
“Yes, I did.”
Deleted.
She exhaled sharply.
Why was this so hard?
Another message popped in.
“You were quiet today. Everything okay?”
Her heart skipped.
He noticed.
Of course he did.
That was the problem.
Kathy locked her phone and dropped it beside her.
For once, she didn’t trust herself to respond.
Her phone rang suddenly, breaking through her thoughts.
Nelson.
She picked up immediately.
“Hey,” his voice came through, warm and familiar.
Kathy smiled softly. “Hi.”
“How was your day?”
“Stressful… but manageable.”
“You’ve eaten?”
She laughed lightly. “You always ask that.”
“Answer the question.”
“Yes, I have.”
“Good,” he said. “I don’t want you falling sick because of books.”
There was a pause.
A comfortable one.
Then, softer—
“I miss you.”
Her chest tightened.
“I miss you too,” she whispered.
And she meant it.
They talked for a while — about his work, her classes, random things that felt simple and easy.
With Nelson, everything felt steady.
Safe.
Real.
But even as she listened to his voice…
her mind drifted.
To Xavier.
To the walk.
To that moment.
Kathy shut her eyes tightly.
She wasn’t a cheat.
She wouldn’t be.
“Hey,” Nelson said. “You there?”
“Yeah… I’m here.”
“Good. Don’t disappear on me.”
Her heart clenched.
“I won’t.”
But for the first time…
She wasn’t completely sure.
That night, Kathy lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling.
Her mind was loud.
Her heart… louder.
Two different feelings pulling her in opposite directions.
One steady.
One uncertain.
One familiar.
One dangerously new.
And somewhere in between…
Kathy was starting to lose control.
Then her mind flashed back to a month ago when everything was alright..
- Writer
