"Shanayaaa, can you pass me the tissue pleaseee? Thank you!" I shouted from the kitchen, trying to juggle a bowl and a spatula with frosting smeared on my cheek. I was busy making a cake for my dearest friend Anna.
"Coming!" Shanaya yelled back. She's my best friend and dorm mate, the kind of person who laughs at my worst jokes and pushes me to keep going. And today, we were baking a surprise cake for Anna's birthday.
Anna, though? She's different. Abandoned at the age of 4, Anna doesn't talk much about her past. She's always been mysterious, a quiet person who somehow ended up as one of us. Matagal na rin kaming magkakakilala—6 or 7 years now. Same school, same course. We're all taking Psychology.
"Done! Shanaya, look! Isn't it gorgeous? What do you think?" I grinned, holding up the cake.
She eyed me with a serious look before cracking a smirk. "I think you should just open your own bakery, Mikaela. Quit Psychology."
I laughed, rolling my eyes. "Haha, funny! Fourth year na natin, and now you want me to give up? Not a bad idea, though." We laughed, getting ready for the drive to Anna's place. She lived a bit far, still hadn't found a dorm, and despite my offer to let her move in with us, she insisted on staying alone.
When we finally arrived, I knocked on the door, and Anna answered, looking like she'd just woken up. Her hair was tousled, and she had that half-asleep stare.
"Hala 'te? Kakagising lang? Hello? Happy birthday??" Shanaya nudged her.
She rolled her eyes, muttering, "Walang happy sa birthday kung walang papi." Shanaya laughed so hard she almost dropped the cake.
As we sat down, I couldn't help but notice how different Anna seemed. There was a chill about her today, a strange glint in her eyes. Trying to shake it off, I asked, "How are you these days, Anna? Found a dorm yet?"
She looked at me and smiled—a cold, almost empty smile that sent a shiver down my spine. "Not yet... but maybe I will... soon." She held that smile, and I felt a nervous laugh escape me.
"God, you have a creepy smile!" I blurted out. She laughed, but it didn't feel like her usual laugh.
"Oh, by the way, I'm going out with Mike on Monday." She said it so casually that I nearly choked.
"Wait... isn't that Shanaya's ex?" I looked at her, a bit stunned.
"So what?" Anna replied, shrugging. "We're not dating; we're just going out once. Stop being dramatic, Mikaela." She rolled her eyes, dismissing me.
Before I could respond, Shanaya came back from the kitchen, balancing plates of cake. "Going out with who?" she asked, smiling.
"Just Lucas," Anna said smoothly. I shot her a look, but she avoided my eyes.
"Right," I muttered. "I'm just going to the restroom."
As I walked down the hallway, I felt like something was watching me. Then, I heard Anna's voice behind me, her tone low. "You should keep quiet, Mikaela." I turned, startled, and she gave me a mocking smile, blowing me a kiss.
"What's your problem, Anna?" I whispered. She didn't respond, just kept that eerie smile.
When I returned, the mood had lightened, and Shanaya and Anna were joking around again. But even as we left, I couldn't shake that cold feeling from my bones. "Thank you for today, guys. I really appreciate it..." Anna called after us, watching as we walked to the car.
~~
The week passed slowly, but I couldn't forget that creepy smile. Monday came, the day Anna was supposed to meet Mike, but she hadn't messaged us all day. By lunchtime, I called her, and she answered on the first ring.
