Shimmer Between Us

Chapter 6: Gist, Popcorn & Late-Night Pings

The second I walked into the hostel room, I was ambushed.

“Zoraaaa!”

Clara and Becky jumped up from the bed like I was a celebrity returning from a world tour. Clara rushed to take my bag, and Becky clapped like she’d just seen a miracle.

“Wait first!” I laughed, confused. “What’s going on?”

Becky grinned and pointed to my bed perfectly laid, two throw pillows puffed and fluffed, and a tray of popcorn, biscuits, and bottled drinks placed right in the center.

“You people planned a party or what?”

“It’s not a party,” Clara said, eyes shining. “It’s the Gist Reception Lounge. For one person only. Madam, sit down and give us the full gist abeg!”

I laughed so hard, I nearly cried. “You girls are not well.”

Tina was already sitting cross-legged on the floor, ready to listen.

So, I took a quick bath, changed into my oversized tee and shorts, and curled up with the popcorn.

And I told them everything.

How I met him again at the field. How he asked me to join him for lunch. The restaurant. The way he ordered food like a low-key boss. The call he took business-like, focused. And how he asked for my number in that smooth, playboy-but-not-quite way.

Every detail.

They gasped. Screamed. Laughed. Rolled off the bed.

Clara slapped my leg at one point. “Zora! This your love story go sweet o!”

I threw a pillow at her. “Calm down! Nobody said anything about love yet.”

Becky, already on her laptop, raised a brow. “So you’re saying you don’t like him?”

“I didn’t say that either,” I muttered, grinning to myself. “I’m just... checking him out.”

“Ohhh,” they chorused. “She’s checking him out.”

We talked and laughed till the popcorn was gone. Eventually, Becky went back to her assignment, Clara dozed off, and Tina had already curled up in her blanket like a burrito.

I plugged in my earphones and played my favorite K-drama. The blue light from the screen painted soft shadows across the room.

Then my phone buzzed.

Him.

>📩 Made it back safe, I hope?

I smiled. I wasn’t expecting him to text tonight. But I wasn’t mad at it.

📨 Yes. You?

>📩 I’m good. Still thinking about that laugh of yours. It’s... dangerous.

I blushed.

> 📨Don’t start.

>📩Just being honest. You know, there’s something refreshing about you, Zora. Like you’re not trying too hard to impress anyone.

>📩 Maybe I’m just tired of people who expect me to be something I’m not.

>📩 Then keep being this version. It's the one I like.

I didn’t know what to reply to that.

>📩 Goodnight, Zora.

>📨 Goodnight... I paused. Then added: Mr. Final Year.

>📩 Touché.

I locked my phone and lay back, heart doing that annoying thing it does when it’s not sure what to feel but feels everything anyway.

This wasn’t supposed to happen.

But it was happening anyway.