I Hate My Roommate

CHAPTER 4

Song: Your Power - Billie Eilish

The phone on the oval glass table started ringing. A girl on the sofa rolled, bothered by the loud sound, and fell on the open-mouthed one sleeping on the carpet.

"Fuck!" Michelle exclaimed the pain. "What the fuck, Sage!"

She pushed Sage to the side brutally, her hands ran to her stomach, hit by Sage's elbow.

"Ah... We fell asleep?"

"And why did you set an alarm?" Sage, with her little hands on her back, got up, remembering they were going to the supermarket that morning. "Oh..." Michelle looked down at the clothes she was wearing. "I'm ready, then."

The coffee machine was immediately surrounded by the girl's thirst. After she placed the hot dark blue cup on the counter, she went to meet Sage who was in the bathroom brushing her teeth.

"Good morning, Sage."

"Hm... Hello, Michelle. It seems like you are in a good mood today."

Amusement or excitement was the last emotion one could visualize in Michelle's behavior. Her eyes hadn't caught anything of her interest and everything appeared dull and flat. Whereas she was on the sacred coffee moment, Sage was in her room struggling about what she should wear and the answer seemed to be a green olive large t-shirt plus a white pleat mini skirt. On top of the kitchen counter, next to the coffee machine, Michelle, holding a mug, coughed once her eyes caught Sage.

"Wait... I thought we were going to the supermarket."

"We are."

Is all of this just to go to the supermarket? What a bore. Sage filled a cup with water from a beverage dispenser and seated in one of the dark blue cushioned chairs around the table. On a blank paper that was on it, she started writing a list.

"Add coffee, please," Michelle said as jumping off of the counter and collected a chopping board. "Oh, and toothpaste"

The day had started well, so far. Sage was excited to meet her friends and have a good time in the group. That made her realize the importance of being around people, people who care for her and appreciate her. It wasn't news for anyone that one day the good fortune to meet someone and end up trusting them, supporting them, and being supported by them would come, so later, in weeks or years, they could judge the other for their own sake, crush them with their feet to make them feel better. It is hard to understand the human mind and harder the define the human being. That doesn't mean that faith in humanity must be lost. Because, just like Gandhi said, humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean doesn't become filthy.

Michelle placed a plate with a variety of cubed fruits in front of Sage, making sure she had a good breakfast - and forgetting of her own since having a proper alimentation wasn't part of her disarranged lifestyle.

Outward, a hot breeze had taken the environment, the smell of suntan lotion and the freshly mown lawns were mixed, tasting like ice cream and lemonade. The girls were heading to the supermarket one block away from their house, their fingers intertwined, Sage releasing her positive, adventure, and shiny mood like a radioactive source that emits ionizing radiation, contrasting with the tired, dark, and dead-looking Michelle holding a dull emptiness, glancing at people with some form of fearful or angry eyes.

"When was the last time you left the building?"

"Hm... Bueno, ayer?!"

"Yes... To take out the garbage."

"Sage, stop!" Michelle appealed.

"Stop what?"

Michelle didn't answer, avoiding any fight that day. They stay in silence for a moment, their hands still crashing into each other, translating something like 'We are on the same page, wanting to develop or continue a strong connection'. No matter what they'd still be together, hating-loving each other. Once they arrived at the store, Sage grabbed two baskets and gave Michelle one along with a small piece of paper, which contained a part of the list, ordering her to find those items. "Are you okay?" She asked, knowing Michelle's 'fear of people'.