Constellations

Chapter 5

Ara took her phone down, sighing. It's 9 pm already, and she wasn't sure whether what she did was right or wrong.

She overheard the conversation that was going on in the room next to hers, and a voice of a guy named Nathan; which, if she was not mistaken, was one of her classmates.

Might as well put the phone on goddamn speaker; that was so loud, she thought to herself, a little upset. Even when Timothy was trying to tone his voice down, she could still hear it; even though not as clear. Perhaps it's because he's used to being at home alone, with only his parents that won't mind loud conversations like that on the phone.

What she found hilarious, however, was the fact that they were talking about her; and she could hear nearly every word clearly.

"Stuck-up," she muttered to herself, scoffing. Of course she'd be making a fuss about it; she's currently studying somewhere far away from home, the last thing she would want is the person whose house she's staying in being a pervert who spied in girls' locker rooms. And she was just about to text Vikki about it, if not for the part where he said that Derek stuffed him inside the locker.

I knew it wouldn't make sense if he did it himself, he'd easily get caught; he should be smarter than that. She sighed. The clock next to her bed whirred quietly, and no more voice was heard from the next room, after he just asked Nathan whether he should talk to her again or not. Absentmindedly she unlocked her phone and stared blankly at the phone screen, unsure of what she should do. She didn't feel like sleeping at all. A weird feeling caught onto her, a mixture of guilt and confusion.

Screw this; I'll get myself a glass of water.

She switched on the table lamp near her bed, glowing gently with a warm shade of yellow. Yawning, she reached the door handle and walked towards the stairway, but she was stopped by the slightly opened door next to her room. Her foot was right in front of the door when she decided not to knock or push the door open. Talking to him the next day might be better, she thought to herself. She couldn't help herself to peek inside for a few seconds, however; even though she knew she'd feel guilty about it for months after, for violating someone's privacy when she's a staunch believer about the importance of privacy.

He wasn't in bed, and not asleep for sure; but he was seemingly too busy doing something to notice the slightly opened door (and the girl peering into his room). He was facing the other way so he couldn't see the door as well, and there was an item in front of him.

Is he... looking into a telescope? Curiously she leaned in a little more, before realizing what she's doing and quickly went back on her way, ashamed; and tiptoed downstairs to quietly get the glass of water she wanted so badly.

She wasn't sure what he was doing, but from the apparent silhouette of the item in front of him (and the fact that he was in front of an open window), he was using a telescope. I didn't know he likes stargazing, she thought to herself. Then again, she has never been into his room (not planning to do it at all, actually), and she has never really had any real conversation with him after the day she arrived here; now, she's seriously considering to do it. And perhaps apologizing as well. After all, it's not like he has been acting weird since the day she first arrived, she has no reason to see him as a creep anymore after what she (over)heard.

Setting the glass down after finishing it in several gulps, she got back upstairs, passing by the now closed bedroom door next to hers. The night has grown darker, and the light from the table lamp seemingly brighter; but the warm light only made her feel slightly more drowsy and tired, perhaps a sign for her to go to bed. Turning it off, she got into bed and just a moment before laying her head down on the pillow, suddenly realized something.

He called me cute.

Ara pulled the blanket over her head before falling asleep.