Red Complex

Chapter 10

Heart lay on her bed in the dark. Staring at the stars adhered on her ceiling, its glowing feature already tempered by time. She should replace them soon, or perhaps remove them altogether. Her stars weren't so helpful these past few days. She was certain that whatever was written in them, wouldn't favor her at all.

She was contemplating. Recounting the activities earlier. It had been the greatest afternoon with her mother. Ultimately verifying she was the coolest mother to exist. Elise dragged her to every clothing store, fitting every dress and shirt, poorly matching them with jewelry and other accessories. They gorged themselves at restaurants. And filled almost three carts at the supermarket.

But at this moment it felt like a hoax. As if Heart had fallen asleep somewhere and the entire afternoon was merely a dream. An illusion she created to ease her mind, even just a little. Their laughs and smiles were vivid in her head; their antics against other patrons, their snarky comments. However, it had been hours since they'd arrived home. Most of the neighborhood had already retired for the day. So did her mother, aiming to have a long good rest before another early shift at the hospital. The joy she felt earlier, the listlessness, was slowly slipping off her body. Now bombarded yet again by worries, arcane thoughts, and Esmé.

It was the perfect distraction. But it's all over now.

She reached for her phone, tucked under one of her many pillows. Earlier, she swore she wouldn't check on it—getting annoyed at her impatient self—and wait until her best friend would send a response. But fighting the urge while drowning in worries and hypothetical worst-case scenarios wasn't an easy feat. She wanted to talk to Esmé now, to send another message or ring her phone again. She'd lost count of how many times she'd repeated the routine. Perhaps going to her in this late hour would do the trick and finally ease her mind.

Then, as if the gods heard her desperate pleas, her phone finally evoked its silence. A message popped on the screen. It was from Esmé.

Sorry for responding late, Heart. Had some things to do.

Heart didn't waste another second after reading the message. She clicked the call button so they could talk. Sadly, after the first ring, Esmé declined the call. Then came another message.

I'm tired. See you tomorrow. Heart found herself frowning, heartbroken and disappointed at the message. At Esmé. At herself. She's starting to think she'd swamped her best friend with too many of her calls and messages that she'd come to hate her already. Esmé never sent a message so plain and short. Her texts would either come with emoticons or with a summary of the hottest gossip circulating the campus.

Okay. I'll see you tomorrow, E. Miss you. Heart waited for a reply, but nothing came.

Esmé was distant now, too far alone to reach. She'd completely isolated herself from everyone. From Heart. Sat too far at the corner during class. Quick to pull away from the crowd. Sneak towards somewhere she only knew.

Others might have noticed nothing, or maybe they didn't care at all. But Heart spent most of her years with Esmé. And she was a lot of things—all wonderful and at times, morally questionable—but this was not her.

Relax, Heart. You'll see your best friend tomorrow. She said so. You guys will talk. And you'll find out there's nothing to worry about. Right? Right. She repeated this to herself for a long while. Until it made her comfortable; until she was certain of it. But a little spark of doubt was emerging from the depths of her mind. Heart tried to whiff it out.

With her index finger, she connected the dwindling glow stars on her ceiling. Wishfully thinking. Willing that her stars—fate, destiny, whatever it is—would make sense soon.