It happened one night

chapter 16

Ching (POV)

When we reached the Mcleen University Entrance gate, I gave Cathy another buzz. I had been calling her since we entered the University lane and she had not answered yet.

She picked it this time and I gave a sigh of relief. "We are near the dorms.. would you meet us there Cathy?" I asked her.

"Yeah. Sure. Just ask Sam to park the car, I will be right there to help you guys haul the bags to our room." She replied from the other side of the line.

Soon I spotted Cathy. Her blue hair was wet and glinting in the sunlight. She wore a loose shirt and dark green trousers. Her face broke into a huge grin, denting her cheek and chin, as soon as she spotted us.

"Helllooo Ching!!" She sang running towards me and hugging me. Sam came out of the car and leaned against it while watching us.

"You annoying ass! Samuel! I have not forgotten the last prank you had pulled on me. You idiot!" And with that Cathy lunged at my brother almost straddling him while he shook with laughter trying to keep her claws away from his face.

"Well.. thats not a very polite greeting Cath." Sam replied between fits of laughter.

"Greetings my foot! You will regret that day.. I will make you regret. Just wait and watch!" Cathy replied pulling back and straightening her top.

I smiled at them.

Yes. They looked more close together than he and I did. Inspite of all their fights, I knew they cared for each other.

Cathy asked us to go ahead to the room and take rest or get freshened up. While she would talk to the warden and fix everything. My checking-in and the formalities involved.

Sam carried the heavier bag while I swung the smaller one behind me and we went towards the dorm she told us to go. It was beautiful. Star Dust. The name was engraved on the entrance archway. It had silver dust like little stars scattering downwards as if falling on our heads. I had stopped to crane my neck up and study the arch. Suddenly I realised Sam had left me and was walking away. I quickened my pace and tried to keep up with him.

The room was a little way down the hall. Cathy had handed me the keys before going to meet the Warden. I opened the door and we stepped into the room. It would have been a pleasant sight inside if Cathy wasnt so messy.

I sighed as I glanced over her unmade bed and some of her clothes which were bunched in the corner of the room like rags. Sam dropped his bag down and sat on the bed that was in the middle of the room. There were three beds, supposedly for Jen, Bess and Cathy.

I washed my face and laid down on the other bed. These long drives are tiresome. You practically sit for hours caged inside doing nothing and get exhausted.

After sometime Cathy returned. We decided to grab some food first at the food joint she mentioned and then head towards the villa. I was anxious to visit it again. This would be after ten years or more that I will step in my late Uncle's villa again.

The sandwich at the foodjoint was very delicious. And Sam had ordered hot dogs. I had managed to take a bite from that too. And they were as awesome. That took one of the worries off my mind. Atleast the food is great here. I hate eating tasteless or insipid food. It just makes me lose appetite.

The villa was really a long way even though we were going in our car. I wonder what Cathy has decided about the distance. Do we walk to college everyday or what?!

I asked her aloud, "Cath.. what about this distance? Are we going to walk everyday?"

She frowned before answering, "I dont know actually. I was thinking about skateboarding and I guess Jen would also do that. Maybe you and Bess could ride your bikes?"

"Hmm.. well I'll ask dad to send me my bike by next week then. We'll also have to inform Bess to bring hers along." I replied after thinking a bit.

"Yes. We'll tell her today at night when we video chat." Cathy said.

My excitement grew as time passed and our car raced along the empty road. There werent many houses on this side of the town. Everything seemed new and unfamiliar to me. It had been so many years since I had last come here that I couldnt recognise any of the house or landmarks that we passed.

Soon we could see the villa in the distance and there was forest beyond it. It looked enchanting and so much more different now.

Our car stopped at the iron gate and we stepped out. The gate was unmovable and stuck so we followed Cathy inside, copying her and sliding through the gap in between. Sam had a bit more trouble squeezing in given his body size as compared to ours.

I stood fixed on the gravel path and turned 360degrees slowly on the spot taking the whole place in. The garden was fresh but wild. Yet it looked lively. If there were less clouds I am sure the light would have given the place more energy.

Cathy had sent us pictures of the garden, its state before and after she had cleaned it herself. Yet looking at it with my own eyes felt much different.

They had already let themselves inside the villa and I walked towards the porch behind them.

I couldnt believe how much Cathy had done in the past few days to make this villa so comfortable and nice. And all that just to make me feel less agonised about my Uncle's death.

I bit my lips to push back the lump that had formed in my throat when I thought about him. It was so unexpected and devastating for us. For me, especially.

"Cathy.." I mumbled softly.

She turned to look at me and raised her eyebrow.

I took some shaky steps towards her before she rushed forward to hold me firmly with her arms on my either sides.

"Thanks.. " She tried to interrupt me but I shook my head and continued. "No really. Thank you for all this."

This time she didnt say anything. She just pulled me in and hugged me, rubbing my back gently.

I closed my eyes and leaned onto her before clearing my throat and walking upstairs hand in hand along with her.

Sam had already gone upstairs during our little emotional moment.

Cathy took me to the right end room and declared its going to be her room. I smiled and said, "Sure. I guess Jen would like to have the one in the left end. And that leaves me and Bess in between. I will ask Bess which one she wants and we can sort it out later."

"Right ho.. well we will paint the walls tomorrow and today it would be cool if we could fix the lights and some of the electrical appliances. I was thinking about calling somebody to help me with these.. " she said while pointing to some lights and four bedside lamps, they were small and pretty with similar designs on them. "But now that Sam is here, he could help me."

Sam on hearing his name stumbled into the room like a dog with its ears pricked up sensing all the sentences looming in the air suspiciously.

"What do I have to do eh?" He asked.

"Get your ass moving and do some work you jobless moron." Cathy retorted back.

"Woah. Spitfire!" He smirked. That was one name Cath hated.

"Moron!!" Cathy hissed through her gritted teeth.

"Yeah yeah.. spitfire!" Sam sang annoyingly teasing her.

"MORON!! SHUT UP BEFORE I WRING YOUR BLOODY NECK" Cathy screamed and I shot my hands up to protect my ears.

They were like cat and dog!

I had trouble imagining how they were going to work together today.