Echoes of a Silent Beat

Chapter 12: Angelic Whirlwinds

The next morning, everything seemed perfect. Angel was thrilled about the concert she was about to attend, and I was happy for her. I helped her pick out her outfit, prepared her things, and even sent her off, eagerly waiting for her return. That night, we stayed up chatting about her concert experience, her face glowing with excitement as she recounted every detail. As we drifted off to sleep, it felt like all was well.

But the following day, things took an unexpected turn. Angel, who had been this bubbly ball of energy just yesterday, turned into a stone-cold enigma. It was as if she had swapped personalities overnight. We followed our usual routine: waking up at 5 a.m., she showered while I packed our lunch, and then I ate breakfast. Yet, Angel's silence was deafening. I mean, she wasn't just quiet; she was like a walking, talking iceberg. I couldn't figure out what was wrong, and it was driving me crazy.

"What did Lexie use in her hair? Can Zonrox remove it?" she suddenly asked as she went out from the bathroom.

I nearly choked on my cereal. Zonrox? On Lexie's hair? I was having a mini heart attack right there!

"Our bathroom's a mess" Angel continued, her tone as frosty as her demeanor.

"Oh, really? Sorry, I'll clean it up later," I said, trying to sound nonchalant but feeling like I was in the middle of a disaster movie. Her gaze was piercing, making me wonder if there was more behind her words.

And then, as we were about to leave, Angel dropped another bombshell. "Don't pack me lunch, I don't want to eat."

Well, there went my appetite too! Who was I going to share my lunch with if not her? Naturally, I decided not to bring mine either.

I was in full-on panic mode. Was it something about the bathroom? I couldn't think of anything else-I hadn't done anything to upset her. I mean, sure, the bathroom was a bit of a mess, but was it worth this dramatic turn?

On the way to our internship, which takes about an hour, Angel was silent the entire hour, marching ahead with a pace that was practically a marathon speed. I was trailing behind, trying not to stumble while my mind raced through a million "what did I do?" scenarios. Usually, we link arms while we walk, but today, I let her walk ahead, leaving me to follow like a lost puppy.

In my frantic state, I messaged Lexie for a rescue mission, even though I knew she was probably still snoring away.

"Noelle! You won't believe this. Angel's mood swings are like a roller coaster ride!"

"Girl, I am NERVOUS! This is some next-level stuff!"

"She's walking in front of me like we're in a spy movie or something."

"I think she's mad at you. Why didn't you clean the bathroom? HAHAHA"

Finally, during our break, I gathered every ounce of courage I had and confronted Angel. "Are you mad at me?" I asked, my voice high-pitched and squeaky, practically begging for reassurance.

"No, I'm just tired from yesterday's concert. I think I'll stay at the dorm this weekend," she said, her exhaustion written all over her face.

Relieved that she wasn't actually mad, but I remembered that this weekend was supposed to be our sleepover with Lexie and Nicole. This was bound to be a little chaotic.

"Are you sure? Can I help with anything?" I asked, trying to be as helpful as possible.

"I just need to rest," Angel said, her eyes clearly showing her fatigue.

Looks like this weekend is going to be a bit of a mess...

As soon as I walked into the dorm, my phone buzzed with a message from Lexie inviting me to a café. I jumped at the chance, eager for a break from the tension with Angel.