Daylight [Breakable Heaven #2]

6. In Sentinelese, you idiot!

Out of all the surreal situations I have found myself in over the past year, having Rory and Jean sitting at the same table for dinner is probably the one that blows my mind the most. Honestly, I would have never thought it could actually happen, and yet there they are - my girlfriend and my roommate and best friend - sharing a meal and chatting away as if they hadn't spent the best part of three years ignoring each other on good days and hating each other on bad ones. And they are actually getting along! Sure, they already spent time together at the pride, but that was different. The festive mood and overall excitement would lead anyone to call a truce, and besides, it's not like there are a lot of chances to talk during the parade. Now, instead, they're in my apartment, sitting one in front of the other, with Jean complimenting Rory on the excellent eggplant parmigiana she has made, and they look perfectly at ease with each other, almost friendly. What a pleasant, unexpected turn of events!

The conversation inevitably ends up focusing on work, which might be a safe topic, since Rory and Jean have very little in common, but at the same time worries me, because I know what my roommate thinks of Rory professionally, and I wouldn't like for tonight to end in a huge argument. Luckily, both women seem to be keeping a civil tone, and at some point, they actually start bonding over how frustrating some students can be. I guess no matter how much animosity there used to be between them, two teachers always find a common ground in talking about students' stupidity. Or their love for the same person, in this case, me.

The thought of Rory loving me makes me grin like an idiot, and I have to hide my face in the napkin to prevent my girlfriend or my best friend from noticing.

"The problem is not even the language," Rory complains. "I'm a teacher, so it's my job to help you if you have difficulties with the language, and I'm glad to do so. No, the problem, for some people, is just plain stupidity or ignorance. The other day Rafael Armas had to come up with the question for the answer 'I saw the movie at the cinema', and it took me twenty minutes to make him understand that he had to use the question word 'where'. First, he used 'who', so I asked him if cinema was a person, and luckily he said no. Then he used 'what', and when I asked if cinema was an object, he replied yes. I mean, come on!"

"That's not even the worst one," Jean adds. "I had a lesson with Felipe Cabrera this morning, and he didn't have any clue when it came to geography! I showed him a picture of a guy holding a Chinese flag, and he said he was from Scotland! And he didn't know where Dublin is."

I snort. "This is nothing. I asked Isadora Ramos to spell 'apple' and she asked me 'in English?'. No, in Sentinelese, you idiot!"

We all laugh, and I feel warmth spreading through my body. After everything that we have been through over the last year - all the secrecy, the arguments, the doubts - being all three together at the same table, laughing and chatting as if we were old friends is a very welcome change.

We have just finished Jean's delicious cheesecake when my phone rings. I don't recognize the number and I'm this close not to picking up, but then, for some reason, I do.

It takes me two seconds to regret it.

"Sash?"

Lilian's voice reaches my ears, and I sigh. Note to self: never answer the phone when I don't know who's calling.

"What do you want?"

"Well, hello to you, too. I'm fine, thanks. How are you?" she mumbles.

I roll my eyes, and I can feel both Rory's and Jean's stares on me. I shake my head, excuse myself from the table, and I go upstairs to my room, so I can tell Lilian not to bother me without making a scene in front of my girlfriend and my roommate.

"I was fine until you called. What do you want?" I repeat.

"I've finally activated a new Spanish SIM card," she says.