When I woke up the next morning, Ella was already gone.
At first I just laid there confused, staring at the empty side of the room. Her bag was gone too, which meant she didn't just step out for something small.
I picked up my phone immediately.
No messages.
That was weird.
Ella normally woke me up before leaving anywhere, even if it was just to say bye or complain dramatically about her feet hurting. I sat up slowly, rubbing my eyes.
"Why did she rush off like that?" I murmured to myself.
Then I shrugged lightly.
Maybe she had somewhere important to be.
I didn't think too deeply about it after that because I had tutorials that morning and if I kept lying there, I was definitely going to be late.
So I dragged myself out of bed and started getting ready.
I ended up wearing boot cut jeans and a fitted top because it was one of those mornings where I wanted to look good without stressing too much. My mirror almost tempted me into changing outfits twice, but for once I behaved myself.
Progress.
While packing my bag, I caught myself smiling at absolutely nothing.
That alone annoyed me a little.
Because somehow, without even trying, my mood had been suspiciously good lately.
And I already knew why.
Jay.
Just thinking about him made me pause for a second before shaking my head at myself.
This was exactly how nonsense starts.
Still, I couldn't even deny it anymore. Things felt easy with him recently. Easier than I was used to. Easier than I trusted.
By the time I got to tutorials, the hall was already half full. People were talking too loudly for that early in the morning and somebody behind me was laughing like they got paid for it.
Normally that would irritate me.
Today it didn't.
The tutorial dragged on for what felt like years, but surprisingly I was actually paying attention. Like fully paying attention. I even answered a question at some point and immediately regretted it because everybody turned to look at me like I had unlocked a new personality trait.
I blamed Jay for that too.
Because before all this, my brain was always somewhere else. Overthinking. Stressing. Carrying things around mentally even when I didn't want to.
But lately things felt… lighter.
Not perfect.
Just lighter.
And honestly, it was funny how much boy problems affected my life without me even realizing it.
When things were bad emotionally, everything around me felt exhausting too.
And now that things with Jay felt good, even sitting through tutorials didn't feel like punishment anymore.
That probably wasn't healthy.
After tutorials ended, I went straight back to my room and threw my bag on the bed dramatically like I had just survived war. My phone buzzed almost immediately.
Jay.
How many people died in that tutorial?
I laughed while typing back.
"At least five mentally.'
His reply came instantly.
Damn. Should I start planning your memorial?
"Please do. Make sure there's good food.
You're so unserious".
I smiled to myself while changing out of my jeans. Talking to him had started feeling weirdly natural lately. Like somewhere along the line, he stopped feeling like somebody I had to figure out carefully. Now he just felt familiar. Comfortable.
I flopped onto my bed and continued texting him while scrolling through random pictures from the party.
Jay: Send me another picture since you refused yesterday.
Anna: You survived without it, and besides I sent you some yesterday.
Jay: yh but they were only half, I want full pictures of my princess.
I blushed hard.
Anna: Drama king.
Jay: Your boyfriend is suffering.
I laughed softly, shaking my head.
Jay: What are you doing right now?
Anna: Lying down and regretting education.
Jay: Cute.
Anna: That wasn't supposed to be cute.
Jay: Everything you do is cute unfortunately.
I actually felt my face getting warm. Annoying.
Anna: Unfortunately?
Jay: It's hard being in love with you sometimes.
That made me pause for a second. Not in a bad way, just one of those soft pauses where your chest reacts before your brain does.
I smiled at my phone before replying.
Anna: Have you had something to eat yet.
Jay: yh but I'm still hungry, for you😏
I was still smiling when another notification appeared at the top of my screen.
Ella.
Had to run sorry. Emergency
I frowned slightly at the message. That was random. Ella usually added extra explanation even when nobody asked her to.
I typed back quickly.
Okay.
For a few seconds I considered calling her, but if it was serious she'd probably tell me herself later, so I let it go.
My phone buzzed again immediately after.
Jay: Are you ignoring me now?
I laughed softly.
Anna: No I'm not, can't possibly do that🌝
Jay: oh really😏
Anna: stop blushing 😂
Jay: Say something nice to me.
I rolled onto my stomach smiling like an idiot.
Anna: You're very irritating but slightly cute sometimes.
Jay: Slightly???
Anna: Don't push it.
Jay: Too late. I'm telling my future children their mother bullied me.
I laughed so hard at that, the kind that escapes before you can stop it. And for a second everything felt ridiculously light again. Easy.
My fingers moved back toward his chat to reply when another message entered my screen.
Hey.
I frowned slightly.
That wasn't Jay. Obviously. I was literally inside Jay's chat already.
At first I thought it was probably a wrong number. Then I clicked the message properly.
The moment I saw the name attached to it, my breath caught in my throat.
"Stephen".