Something, Nothing

CHAPTER 20

a/n: first weekend of 2025! how's 2025 so far for everyone!!! 

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CHAPTER 20 — TALK TO HIM

I ignore my phone like the plague for the next day. I even purposely left it back at home and was more than eager to go to the workshop. Keeping myself busy ought to stop the constant whirring of my brain.

"Your friend's been calling you since this morning," my mother informs me once we return home from the workshop.

I just nod.

"He told you to call him back onc-"

"You answered?" I exclaim, shocked.

She regards me inquisitively, "Yes. Anything wrong?"

"N- No," I force a smile onto my lips, shaking my head lightly, "Just asking. What did he say?"

"Just for you to call him back,"

"Okay,"

"Who is this friend?" Aarnav butts in.

"Non-" I start to say but my mother has answered him by then.

"Someone named Ken, from his college I think," and then turning to me, she comments, "He has a very weird last name, Fr-"

"I'm hungry," I exclaim, talking over her, "What's for dinner? Do you need any help?"

"I've already cooked. Sit. I'll serve you,"

My mother sits with me at the dining table but thankfully she is distracted by her own phone. I practically swallow the food in one go and dash up to my room. My phone is not in the drawers where I left it but on the nightstand. My mother doesn't know the passcode to my phone but still my heart thuds in my chest when I think there's a chance that she might've gone through my phone.

I really should stop using the notes app in my phone as a journal. I pick it up and sit on my bed, taking a deep breath before unlocking the device.

Four missed calls. All from Ken.

He's sent a few texts along as well but I do not wish to torture myself anymore and tap on his name, calling him. Better to just get it over with altogether.

"Aarvin!" he picks up within a few rings. It's loud wherever he is, and he has to yell, "Give me a minute okay,"

There's some static and the noise from his side relatively fades out when Ken speaks again, "Hey. Can you hear me now?"

"Yeah," I clear my throat — he's only speaking to me via the phone, there's absolutely no need for me to be so flustered, "Hi,"

He doesn't waste any time and dives right in, "You were here yesterday?"

"Yes?"

"Sunny told me and I almost didn't believe her. Why did you leave so early?"

"Had work,"

He lets out a little breath of laughter, "Of course, you work during the break," he says as if he knows me really well and this is something that he'll very much expect out of me.

The hair at the back of my neck rises. He does not know me.

"I'm just helping out my father,"

"What does he do?"

"He has an auto repair shop,"

"Oh, that's cool. Anyways, when are you coming back here again?" Ken asks as if that's a given.