Something, Nothing

CHAPTER 13

CHAPTER 13 — MEMORY GLITCHES

Fuck.

That's the very first thing that jumps out in my mind as I wake. I clearly remember every single thing that transpired the previous night. It could have gone a lot worse, I know but still

the events that did happen were more than embarrassing for me.

At least I'm in-

Wait.

I blink once, twice, then open my eyes as wide as they would go and look around. This is not my room. Cursing under my breath to myself, I slowly glance to my left, and there he is. Ken is sleeping on the bed opposite to the one I'm currently lying in.

I think back to what happened before I effectively passed out. I was determined on not making a fool out of myself (and was only inches away of doing so anyways before Ken intervened), Ken offered to lead me back to my dorm, I agreed, we walked out, we walked, and-

My memory glitches after that. I must have fallen asleep while walking then. The best and obvious conclusion I can come to is that Ken must have led us back to his room.

I glance towards him again. He is fast asleep. As quietly as I can, I sit up and bite my tongue in an effort to not groan out as the effects of me drinking the previous night hits me. I tap my pockets and thankfully find my phone where I left it.

It's only 6. I don't think Ken is going to be waking anytime soon and I don't think I can go back to sleep, at least not here. And so, I stand up and quietly make my way to the door. I'll send him a message later.

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Fuck.

I curse inwardly once again as I'm on my way to my own room. I find Sri and Abby stumbling along, and it's no use hiding from them since Sri spots me instantly anyways.

Maybe I should have just stayed in Ken's room.

"Heyyy," Abby slurs, leaning more into Sri, causing him to stumble a little bit but thankfully he finds his footing before they fall, "We found you,"

They are still in the graps of the party it seems. I glance towards and he has a loppy smile which suggests that he might be as well. And I cannot be any more grateful for that. I can just slip away and who knows maybe they won't even remember we met now.

"You left early," Abby pouts, "We looked for you,"

I grimace, "Yeah. I was feeling a bit tired,"

"Why are you up so early then?" Sri asks and then looks up at the sky, before looking down back at me again, "It is early, right? What's the time?"

"Six," I reply, "I'm just going back to my room to-"

"Where were you last night?"

Maybe I was wrong. Although Sri looks drunk, I don't think he's that drunk unlike his partner who can barely stand straight and is wholly leaning against Sri.

"At my frien-"

"Ken?"

I nod.

Sri raises his eyebrows lightly and there's a small smile on his smile which I don't know why but instantly makes me defensive.

"We just slept,"

The smile on his lips just grows magnitudely. I want to smack my head against the wall or against the big tree right behind us, anything to make me pass out instantly. Why the fuck did I have to say that?

The only teeniest, tiniest bit of relief I can scrape up is that the fact Abby is drunk and pretty much has fallen asleep while standing. If not for Sri, they might have just as well just slept on the ground.

I know it would infinitely be better for me if I just bid my goodbye and left but still I find myself asking, "D- Do you need help with them?"

Abby has a few good few inches over Sri, and it's blatant that he's struggling to keep both of them upright. Sri actually looks surprised that I asked him that, that he quirks an eyebrow.

"You sure you want to help me?"

I narrow my eyes at him — what's that even supposed to mean?

Not knowing the best reply, I just scoff, walk towards the pair, grab one of Abby's arms and throw it over my own shoulder. No joke, they are heavier than they look.

Sri snorts from the other side, "I know," he says without me even saying anything, "And they're also stronger than they look, so just make sure to never get on their bad side,"

"Noted,"

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I let go of Abby as soon as we reach their bed, but Sri holds onto them and slowly lays them down. I turn away, slightly embarrassed but mostly feeling that pesky feeling I got the last time when I was with this couple as well.

"Ok, bye,"

"Wait a sec, Aarvin," Sri quickly comes to stand before me and hands me his phone.

I look at him in askance although it's pretty obvious what he's signalling for me to do.

"Your number,"

"Right," I take the phone from him, key in my number and hand it back to him.

This seals it then. We're going to be seeing each other again. Not that I don't want to see him or Abby, they do seem like good people. It's just when I'm with them, I feel-

I don't know what I feel. I don't want to know what I feel. It's something I'm not quite ready to face yet.

"I've given you a missed call. Feel free to reach out whenever you want, okay?"

I nod, checking my own phone and saving his number.

"Are you going to stay here for the whole break?" he suddenly asks me.

"No," I flick my eyes back to him, "I'm going home the day after tomorrow,"

He gives me a single nod, "Abby and I are leaving tonight," he informs me, "I guess I'll see you after break then,"

"Yeah,"

He looks like he wants to say something more, but at the end he just shakes his head, and takes a step back, bowing a little, "Okay, I should let you go. Thanks for the help. Bye"

"Bye," I wave, and walk out, heaving out a big sigh.

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