"Its her matriculation. You traveled all the way here to with ness your daughter's happiness, don't you? If makeup would make her feel happy, why don't you let her be when she's comfortable going out like this?"

"Benny! You and your lectures again…"

Mum rolled her eyes upwards and sighed. 

"I'll just give you 5 years. Just 5 years more, and you'll see how she'll do this in public. Do you think Kate stay under you forever. After 5 years, she would do more of these things and there's nothing would do about it because you wouldn't be able to complain. You should cheer up instead. I remember when my husband was still alive. He used to dress Alexia up. Be would style her hair in a ponytail and wear her makeup. I used to complain then because she was only ten. He would say: how would a boy look at our daughter if she isn't looking like an angel. Whether young or old. Alexia, naturally, didn't like makeup till now but I used to force her at times but your daughter likes it. I think its a good thing. Please, let her go and get ready, they're ten minutes late."

"Kate. I'll leave you today with the hope that I'll come up with a better excuse for your dad."

"Awwwn! Thanks a lot mum!" Kate hugs her mother firmly, wiping away her tears. "You're the best!" 

"Okay, hurry now…" Mrs. Kapoor smiled as we took a taxi and zoomed off to school.

The distance between our school gate and the auditorium is about three miles away. I was in a hurry but she was holding me back. Kate's shoe was rather higher, she could barely walk in it. She pleaded I wear it instead since we both use the same shoe size (39). 

"You're lucky to have me as a roommate, indeed. I wouldn't have accepted if it were someone else!" I spat to her face and quickly put on her 5-inch black heels.

Finally, we rushed into the auditorium almost filled with students. Just searching for a seat, halfway, my eyes caught Bella. She waved at us, signalling that we should come and join her at the front roll. 

Praise God! She left seats for us. What a good friend? We greeted each other and took our seat, respectively. We were taking selfies when the school's counsellors and other staffs and scholars walked in. 

The programme started exactly 8:30 a.m, as we were asked to all stand on our feet. After they've walked  in, we recited the National anthem and then the National pledge which followed the school anthem before everyone finally take their seats. The first speaker advised on how to be a good and successful student. After that, the school's counsellor promised that any student with the highest G.P.S  would gain scholarship next year. Everyone was happy. It seems it was then our mums arrived the school. They took their seats somewhere within the auditorium along with other parents. We signed a certificate as we were now bona fide members of the great college.

After the programme, we introduced Isabella to our mums. I saw Adeline and I asked her about others but she said she haven't seen them as they didnt pick up their calks or reply her message. She looked so sad and confused but we told her not to worry and introduced her to our mummys as well. We were about about five thousand students wearing the matriculation gown. Some was just doing their thing while others seemed lost. Minutes later, Laura and Jasmine joined us. We took lovely pictures together and we later went home. The school management later organized an after party in a classic hotel. Located just meters away from our school but unfortunately, we couldn't attend. This was because of our strict mums. 

At last, we got home, tired and hungry since we didn't take breakfast before leaving that morning. Our mums had prepared our favorite dishes before our arrival.  Lunch was served with chilled chocolate and whipped vanilla ice cream from the fridge. 

We took some to Luna and her sweet bestie, Lily. They thanked us grateful and later came to say 'hello' to both our mums. 

Later that evening, Mrs. Kapoor and my mum talked to Kate and I about associating ourselves with only good friends or no friends at all. My mum told me personally to try and get a high G.P.S in order to get scholarship next year. Nothing would make her prouder. But, I promised to try my best.

'It was a remarkable day indeed but what pained Kate and I the most was the after party. It would have been our first partying, ever. Too bad, but one thing for sure. Angel and his friends would attend. I spent all night imagining I attended the party and what if; what if Lucas saw me? What I we danced together? Aww!' I hit my head so hard, trying to erase the foolish thought away. Anyways, I had a great day.

***

Again like every other day, the sun rise from the east. It looked beautiful, like the yellow sun flowers growing outside our compound 

Promptly at 9:30  on Sunday morning, our mothers packed their luggage. It was time to go back home to attend to their usual, daily activities. We accompanied both of them to the airport. Our mothers were almost teary when we said our final goodbyes. But to Kate and I, it was a happy and a sad farewell. We were happy about our freedom once again but saying goodbyes isn't easy.

***

A Week Later

It was just 12:00 a.m, I woke up at the middle of the night, with so much pain. Immediately, I knew something was wrong. I could feel my body temperature getting higher by the seconds. Yet, I was cold, shaking and squeamish. I mean… every part if me ached from head to toe. I pulled my body away from the bed, lazily as I gently stumbled into the bathroom to find the thermometer and wait….

What I saw that moment was what I thought. 

I had fever. 

No wonder I feel so weak and sick. 

'Why now? It's just a week since mum left. She would have taken care of me properly if this had happened earlier. And despite the fact that I took those terrible herbs from India, I'm still sick.' Like I was going to fall soon, my poor head spin. I felt dizzy while standing and suddenly stared at the little numbers that popped up on the thermometer.

'Well, its probably stress. I've been through a lot recently, especially since I met that devil of a guy, Lucas. And this creepy witch of a roommate. Or is it something I ate? Maybe its those strange Indian delicacies that seemed to be too delicious to be called food.' I thought.

Unpleasantly shivering, I consoled myself as I walked back into the room. Watching Kate sleeping like a frustrated cat. I son ire filled the room like something undescribable. Silenced thunderstorm. 

Well, Kate could be so annoying sometimes but there was still something special about her, that I love. With this thought playing through my mind, I gently curled myself on bed, trying to catch some sleep. But Kate's terrible snore wouldn't let me. I closed my ears with both palms, keeping my eyes tight and trying to think about something else or picturing myself in the midst of my friends.

No!

Instead, I felt the weakness rushing through my whole body. The cold night breeze blew through me and I started shivering even more. I buried myself into my thick, white blank but it only got better a little. I was like this for hours until sleep engulfed me.

***

I opened my eyes and it was already morning. Kate was awake, scrolling through her phone but I was pretty sure she was reading another novel on her usual reading app.

We were having a test that morning on Research Methodology, but all I felt was pain. Kate didn't look interested. In fact, it wasn't looking as if she'd attend the lecture let alone write any test that morning.

"Aren't you going to school today?" I asked.

"Not sure, dearie. I'm so not in the mood for test this morning. What about you?" 

"I don't know too but I'll try and go. I think I'm having fever. I need to visit the school clinic today; I couldn't even sleep throughout the night." Looking at her again, it seems Kate wasn't paying attention after all.

She was just into her stupid online stories. To say the truth, I feel so frustrated and I hate it when Kate is like this. She's just so off minded most of the time and it's annoying. Only someone who has withnessed this would understand. 

With so much pain, I stood up and walked into the bathroom to take my bath.

Naughty Kate was busy with her phone when I put on my cloth. It was a simple jean jumpsuit, just like the one Khole Kardashian usually wears. Well, except for the fact that mine was a bit faded and rough. I put on my white sneakers on it to fit. Wasn't really in the mood for makeup as I wasn't so into fashion, unlike most teenage my age were. I just put on a light powder on my caramel, leathery face to brighten it up a bit and applied a bit of lipgloss to look good. I just brushed through my hair and put on my tiny black hand bag and rushed out of the house. It was almost 8:00 a.m. Just along the road, I met Vivian Michael. A new seatmate of mine. She was very friendly and witty, just like Kate was but she was also a shy person, just like me.

"You're looking so down, sweetheart. What's wrong?"

I look startled to the fact that she noticed me from just the first look. 

"I'm having fever." I muttered.

"So sorry about that. Have you visit the clinic?"

"No, I would go after lectures." I smiled.

"Okay, good. Let's walk faster so we won't miss the test. It's already eight."

Luckily, we got there just in time. The lecturer, Mr. Don Baker, had almost started when we got in. Immediately, we joined the class and the test was how I imagined. 

Difficult.

I couldn't even thing well or ponder over the question, hardly. I just wrote what I understood and submitted my script. Every single turn I take added more pain. My whole body was shivering and Vivian noticed. Immediately after or test, she held my hands as we went to the school clinic but it was locked. 

I was thoroughly discombobulated. I wonder how I'll survive this alone. Going to the hospital was something else, only if Kate would take me there.

Vivian helped me back home afterwards. Kate was still busy with her phone. She was giggling over something as we entered. Vivian noticed and wonder why she acted this way.

"You missed the test, Kate. Hope no problem?"

"No, I was just busy with something."

"Okay. But you would have helped your sister to school. You know she isn't feeling well." Vivian explained.

"Really?" She looked at me firmly for a second. "Well, I'm also ill as well. I'll get a drug from the pharmacist later in the evening, thank you."

"Okay, bye." Vivian muttered and left.

It was like the sound from an old machine, my tommy grumbled. I was feeling famished from all of it. Kate didn't get it. All her concentration was on her phone throughout and, I don't think she prepared anything. 

She helped me to the doorstep and I thanked her afterwards.  

She was putting on a white long sleeve and a black miniskirt. 

 
***
Do you think Kate is a good friend? Have you ever been rejected by your roomie? Share the gist with me.

Don't forget to like, comment and share. Stay blessed.❣️❣️❣️