Young Adults

CHAPTER 12

Saturday had finally arrived, bringing with it a mix of anxious excitement that (Y/n) could barely contain. Tonight, her friends Mikasa and Ymir were coming over for a sleepover—her first real sleepover. She still couldn't believe her parents had agreed, let alone gone out of their way to help set everything up. The two cots they'd stored away for safekeeping had been dusted off and brought in, standing proudly in her room like heralds of the momentous occasion.

Despite her bubbling excitement, (Y/n) couldn't help but feel a tiny pang of embarrassment. At seventeen, wasn't it a bit late for her first sleepover? Most people her age had already had countless nights filled with late-night movies, junk food, and gossip. She had no idea what teenagers were even supposed to do during a sleepover. And then there was the nagging worry—would Mikasa and Ymir be impressed with her house? With her room? She bit her lip at the thought, glancing around.

Her room was her oasis—a space she both loved and felt slightly self-conscious about. Looking at her bed from the foot of it, her gaze drifted to the far left corner of the room, where her desk sat snugly in a small nook. The desk was modest, housing her laptop and a small, non-tech fish tank that added a peaceful charm. Two guppies swam lazily inside, their bright tails flicking through the water. Above the desk, decorative shelves displayed personal items she'd collected over the years—a mix of trinkets, framed photos, and small figurines that added a touch of her personality to the space.

She turned around, checking the rest of her room. Against the opposite wall, her TV shelf stood proudly, her small flat-screen TV perched on top. She'd made sure to dust every inch of the shelf, along with the console and other items neatly arranged beneath it. The faint scent of lemon-scented cleaner lingered in the air—a subtle reassurance that everything was in order.

Her closet, however, was what always caught people's attention. Unlike a typical closet, it didn't have a door. Instead, it opened directly into the adjacent bathroom. The layout allowed her to walk through the bathroom and back into her room, creating a literal roundabout that both fascinated and confused guests. It wasn't the most conventional design, but she had grown to love the unique feature.

And then there was her bed—the pièce de résistance of the room. It was a pull-out bed, cleverly disguised as a shelf during the day. While she rarely tucked it away, its intricate design always impressed visitors. She'd learned early on that the key to keeping it functional was to tuck the blankets snugly under the mattress; otherwise, the bedding would tumble out when the bed was folded up.

Her room was simple but cozy, filled with little details that reflected her personality. Still, she couldn't help but worry if it would measure up. "What if they think my room's boring?" she muttered, fiddling with the edge of her sweater.

It wasn't like she didn't have reason to feel proud of her home. Her family's two-story house was cozy yet spacious, with four bedrooms, three bathrooms, and plush carpeting in the living room and bedrooms. The backyard was another highlight, complete with a decently sized swimming pool surrounded by well-maintained grass. A dwarf magnolia tree stood proudly near a picnic table, and just a few feet away sat a charming green-painted plant workshop table. It was one of her favorite places to spend time, especially in warmer weather. But with the cold creeping in, her room had become her sanctuary.

She glanced at the clock on her nightstand. Mikasa and Ymir wouldn't arrive for another couple of hours, but she found herself pacing the room anyway, her mind racing with endless what-ifs.

What do people even do during sleepovers? she wondered for the hundredth time. Movies? Games? Talking until dawn? She sighed, flopping onto her bed and staring at the ceiling. Whatever it was, she hoped Mikasa and Ymir wouldn't be disappointed. If nothing else, she was determined to make this night memorable.