Mercury

5°C

2 missed call(s) from Mila.

I look away from my phone. I cannot be distracted. I need to focus. Focus, August. My fingers play around with my earphones, which are now bundled into a ball after being brutally stuffed into my pocket.

To untangle this mess is even tougher than solving a freaking rubrics cube.

Mila: August, this is important. Pick up your damned phone.

I will myself not to succumb to Mila's words. I bet her definition of 'important' would be, "August, I wanted to wear my denim shorts today to impress that cute guy at the supermarket, but it's being washed! What do I do?" There's a reason why we're best friends, we know each other too well.

3 missed call(s) from Mila.

Mila: Like, really important, August.

I throw my earphones on my bedroom floor out of rage.

August: Just wear your freaking checkered skirt, Mila. You'll impress the guy for sure.

Mila: What are you talking about? I didn't call you for that, but thanks for the advice. I'll heed it ;)

I roll my eyes jokingly as I put my phone away and pick up my earphones. I have made 0% progress so far.

I huff as determination overwhelms me. That's it, I'm untangling this shit. "Okay, I'm pretty sure this one goes here," I mumble as I attempt again.

My phone rings again, signalling that I have received another text from Mila. I would have gladly ignored it, but I wouldn't want to risk getting my head cut off the next time I meet Mila. She goes all out sometimes.

I sigh as I open the text message.

Mila: It's about Kayla.

If it were the previous me about one and a half months ago, I would have jumped up immediately at the mention of Kayla and rush to help her, but I'm not so enthusiastic now. Who knows what she would do to me this time round? And although I know that going to find Kayla would be to my own disadvantage, I also know that I cannot shrug off my responsibility of taking care of Kayla and Johanna.

"What's the matter?" I ask when I call Mila.

"Wow, you are really a materialistic asshole. You wouldn't pick up my phone if I had said I needed help with my dress code, but you would call me to ask about Kayla. I'm impressed, August," Mila says sarcastically.

"Sorry. I got too engrossed in something. So this is all a hoax?" I ask, silently laughing at the jealous Mila.

"No," Mila says, "I saw Kayla at the pub near school. It wasn't a pretty sight, and I figured you'd wanna know that."

"Mila," I say in my I'm-touched voice over-dramatically, "I love you sometimes."

"Shut up. Anyway, she was super drunk. If you don't get her out of there, I think some guy will take advantage of her in the cold, lonely, and dangerous night," she mocks my dramatic voice.

I chuckle slightly and thank Mila before hanging up. I get up and throw my earphones at the side, mouthing some indecent words. Sticking my arm outside my window, I shudder at the coldness outside. I grab a coat as I exit my room. 

"Mum," I call, "I'm heading out for a while!"

When I reach the pub, I get this sick feeling in my chest, and I guess it's called nostalgia. Sam and I used to visit this place countless of times, because Kayla always gets into trouble at the pub, and we would have to cancel our date just to ensure that Kayla returns home safe. I pull my coat a little tighter. I'm not really sure if I'm ready for this.