Kismet | ENGLOT

Chapter 13

Days had slipped by since the exhilarating events unfolded in Charlotte's room, leaving an electric tension hanging in the air. Each afternoon, Engfa found herself eagerly awaiting their rehearsals, where they would painstakingly practice their lines together, the weight of unspoken words lingering between them. With every meeting, Engfa's confidence blossomed, her delivery sharpening and her expressions becoming more nuanced. Yet, despite the growing ease in their interactions, the kiss remained an unacknowledged secret, a silent shadow hovering over their budding friendship. Both girls seemed caught in a delicate dance of hesitation, too bashful to broach the subject, as if they were testing the waters; each one secretly hoping that the other would muster the courage to break the silence.

To add more complications to their already tense situation, Charlotte made the bold decision to conduct their rehearsals in the living room—a choice that stripped them of the much-needed privacy to confront the delicate issue that loomed between them. The constant, intrusive presence of Charlotte's father filled the space with an unease that seemed to suffocate Engfa, leaving her struggling to summon the courage to speak to Charlotte about the profound kiss they had shared just days prior.

As the week dragged on, frustration bubbled beneath the surface for Engfa. Deep down, she was acutely aware that the kiss held significance beyond a fleeting moment; it was a pivotal flash of connection that echoed in both their hearts. Yet, she couldn't shake the nagging doubt: why did Charlotte appear to be going out of her way to ensure they avoided the kind of intimacy they had experienced that day? Did Charlotte not feel the same weight of that moment? Engfa's mind raced with questions, each one more tormenting than the last.

Her thoughts floated aimlessly, lost in a sea of distractions when a sudden voice jolted her back to reality. "Earth to Engfa! Hello????" Nessa waved her hands animatedly in front of Engfa's face, her bright eyes wide with concern.

Engfa slowly turned her head, the remnants of her daydream lingering in her expression. She blinked rapidly, as if trying to shake off the fog that had enveloped her. "Sorry, what did you say?" she finally asked, her tone a mix of confusion and embarrassment.

Nessa's furrowed brows revealed her worry, and her voice carried both frustration and care. "What's wrong with you? I was literally talking to you for a few minutes now, and you didn't hear a word I said? Is something bothering you? You've been like this for days! It's as if your mind is on another planet. Are you okay?"

Engfa took a deep breath, desperately searching for a way to shift the focus away from herself. She straightened her posture, plastering a cheerful smile on her face, hoping to deflect Nessa's growing concern. "What are you talking about? Everything's good! I was just really bored with class, that's all. I guess I zoned out," she replied, her tone light but her heart heavy, praying Nessa would buy her excuse.

Nessa regarded her with a sceptical expression, weighing her options carefully. Should she press further to uncover what truly troubled her friend, or should she respect Engfa's apparent desire to keep things light? After a moment of indecision, she let out a resigned sigh, deciding to back off—for now, at least.

"Patcha, do you remember her?" Nessa asked, her eyes lighting up with excitement. "She just returned to town and mentioned that she's planning to stay for good. It's been years since we last saw her, so I thought we should all get together and catch up soon."

Engfa's expression shifted to one of surprise as she blinked in disbelief. "She's back? That's so unexpected! I thought she was supposed to finish high school in Thailand with her mom or something." Patcha, a cherished childhood friend of both Nessa and Engfa, had been a significant part of their lives before they met Heidi and the rest of the gang. After all, she had moved to Thailand with her parents, who were busy running their family business there. The news stirred a mix of nostalgia and curiosity within Engfa.