chapter 4

ZARA. Surprise.

"Okay, so we’ve consented that the three of you will be housemates until a solution is found," the housing admin said, packing up his files and rising from his seat.

"Thank you, sir," I replied politely, standing as well. My eyes darted toward him. I could already tell he was irritated about having us here, but it wasn’t like we wanted this either. Jace and I didn’t ask to be stuck with a rude stranger.

The housing admin gave us one last sympathetic nod before stepping out of the apartment. The moment the door clicked shut, he shot up from the couch.

"Hey dude, I’m Ja—" Jace started, reaching out his hand for a friendly shake, but Noah brushed past him and strode straight into his room. His door slammed a second later.

I exhaled.

"Ugh, that rude jerk," Jace muttered, throwing his hands in the air like he was ready to fight him. I couldn’t help but laugh softly.

"What’s wrong with him? He’s so rude."

"Don’t mind him much, Zee," Jace said, his lips curling into that familiar grin. "He’ll enjoy his stay with us obviously."

"Zee!" he called again, turning to me with a bright smile before cupping my cheeks like he always did when we were kids. I wasn’t a baby anymore, but he never stopped doing that.

Then he pinched both sides of my face, holding it in place while staring directly into my eyes. His hazel eyes. God, I hope I don’t melt.

"We’ve only been apart for a few hours, but I missed you already," he said with a small laugh, pulling me into a hug.

I smiled, sinking into his warmth. I knew his scent so well clean soap mixed with cedar and a hint of vanilla cologne. The kind that lingered long after he was gone.

He pulled away eventually. I wished he hadn’t.

Jace reached for a nylon bag beside him, his grin widening.

"Tada! I got you the burritos I promised."

I rolled my eyes, pretending not to care. "I told you I don’t eat burritos anymore. You’re so stubborn."

"Should I trash it then?" he teased, waving the bag in front of me.

I snatched it from his hand before I could stop myself.

He burst out laughing, settling onto the couch. I joined him, peeling open the burrito wrapper with mock irritation.

"By the way, Zee," he said between chuckles, "there’s this girl I met today. She’s hot. I’m thinking of asking her out at the freshman party night. Come and see."

My mood dropped instantly. Just like that. I let out a quiet breath, forcing a small smile so he wouldn’t notice the twist in my chest.

I sat beside Jace and looked into his phone. It was the girl at the beach with him.

“The girl from earlier?” I asked, with the burrito still in my mouth.

“Yeah, she’s cute, right? I want to get down with her already,” he winked.

I raised my brows slightly and shrugged. I won’t deny the fact that she’s hot.

“She is indeed hot. When is the freshman party?” I asked, not like I would attend, not after what happened at prom night. I didn't even tell Jace about that till date. I haven’t forgotten. College would be different, I told myself. I don’t want to be known by anyone. Despite being Jace’s best friend, I’d still keep my profile low. I wouldn’t follow him everywhere like in high school.

“Tomorrow night,” he said, and I choked on my burrito.

“What! That early?”

“Zee, we resumed late, have you forgotten? Which is why we’re even having housing issues.”

“Wow…” I shook my head and continued eating my burrito.

“You’ll attend, right?” he asked, and I vigorously shook my head. The memories of the last party flashed through my mind. I have no friends apart from Jace, and he’d be busy with other girls anyway. Jace has been attending parties since then, not me though.

“Why not, Zee? It’ll be fun. I’ll find a decent guy for you. Let me have a bite from that…” Without any warning, he dipped his mouth into my burrito and took a huge bite.

“Jace!” I hit him on the shoulder without meaning to, and we both burst out laughing.

The day passes in a blur after Jace and I spent some time together, laughing at our own dumb jokes and teasing each other like always. I love being around him, it feels easy, safe, like home. But every time he diverts his attention to another girl, something in my chest cracks a little. It's that heavy ache of being easily replaceable to someone who means too much to you.

He left later to hang out with the new girl he’s currently obsessed with, so I retired to my room. Since we resumed late, I had a lot to catch up on assignments, projects, class schemes and probably also doing Jace’s own because I know he’d never bother to.

Jace was majoring in modelling and media communications while I majored in English and Literature.

Somewhere between flipping through my notes and scrolling halfheartedly through my phone, I fell asleep without realizing it. When I woke up the next morning, sunlight was already sneaking through the curtains, and my phone screen blinked with a message from Jace.

‘ Lectures won’t start till after the freshman party, Zee’ I don't think he came back.

I hissed under my breath and sent a quick message to Mom to keep her updated, assuring her that everything was fine. Then I climbed out of bed, brushed my teeth, and shuffled into the kitchen to make breakfast.

The apartment was too quiet. Our other housemate was nowhere in sight. Yeah we probably irritate him so he is keeping his distance.

By evening, the sun dipped low and the silence grew heavier. I curled up on the couch in the living room, a bowl of popcorn in my lap, flipping channels without really watching anything. My eyes kept darting back to my phone.

When I finally opened I*******m, Jace’s story popped up first. I tapped it, my heart already knowing better.

There he was grinning ear to ear, arm slung around the said girl he liked. They were at the freshman party. He looked happy. Happier than he’d been all week.

I let out a small, humorless laugh and tossed my phone onto the couch cushion beside me

Why did I even check that? I grabbed a handful of unsweetened popcorn and stuffed it into my mouth as if that could fix all my problems.

Just then, the apartment door swung open. My eyes widened when a group of people started trooping in, laughing, talking loudly, music blaring faintly from someone’s phone.

I froze, popcorn still in my mouth. What in the world was happening?

One after another, strangers filled the living room like it was some kind of public lounge. I furrowed my brows, sitting still and watching as they dropped their bags, bottles, and jackets all over the place.

Then Jace walked in last, with that same girl wrapped around his arm like she owned him..

“Zee!” he grinned, spreading his arms wide like this was good news.

“Surprise! The party continues. We’re throwing an after-party here!”

I blinked, mouth half-open as a few pieces of popcorn tumbled out of my mouth.

“Jace, what!”