"Oh my god! Kayra, you scared me." I didn't budge from the dining table, even after hearing Ruby's squeal. I didn't have to look at her to see the horrific expressions on her face, I felt them from her high-pitched squawk. She must be back just now.

"Why are you like that?" She placed her hand on her chest and drew in a breath, calming herself down. She dragged her feet closer to the dining table.

"I made a mess of myself," I looked at her finally, my state in utter disarray. I just knew that my hair was awfully tangled and disheveled, my face was a mess due to the smudged makeup. And don't even ask me about my internal functioning, it was awry. But I couldn't care about those things at all, I had a bigger concern to deal with.

"What do I do now?" I asked, my voice broke in a whine and I slumped on the table. Ruby sat on the chair beside me and poured herself a glass of water, ignoring me. Why doesn't this ground split and swallow me? I couldn't face him now. I could bet, he must be thinking of ways to make fun of me or worse, use this against me.

"Arghhh!" I clutched my head with both hands. My sudden groan took Ruby by surprise as she spilled the water from her glass. This time, she patted my back. "Don't worry. You were already a mess to begin with." I nodded at her, unable to retort something at the supposed insult or mockery.

"By the way, where's Amy?" I asked, suddenly remembering our missing friend. She was nowhere to be seen and as far as I remember we were together at the club before I made the mess.

"At Jake's. Where else she'd be?" Ruby replied with a hearty smile and a shrug. "She must've had sex with him finally! Good lord!" She sighed with a dreamy look and placed her hand on her cheek.

Now that I remember, Amy kissed Jake yesterday. It was such a sight and I remember being happy for her too. Then it figures, why she must've left with him. I really hope Ruby is right and Amy is doing what she always wanted to do. They suffered a lot by themselves, it was time they got together.

I was preparing breakfast while Ruby was in the shower. The hangover from last night had my head splitting in half, so I just decided to go ahead with a simple meal. Now I understood why people complained after drinking and most importantly, refrained from getting wasted. The memory of last night was still making me all red due to embarrassment.

Seriously, why the fuck did I do that? I made a guy unzip my dress and the said guy was none other than Nolan fucking Gray. I must've lost it. Why was I still alive? Breathing? Let's just strangle yourself, Kayra.

I wrapped my braided hair around my neck and  lightly tugged on it as if I was really going to strangle myself. Well, I really wanted to. This is so humiliating. God, kill me already.

"Need help?" I heard Ruby, when she came out of the bathroom drying her hair with a towel. I didn't understand what she was referring to by ‘help’. Cooking or strangling me? But I was in too much agony to care about her words.

"Why are you having random flashes of distress?" She asked, coming closer to the kitchen counter. She looked fresh like a freshly picked strawberry, with no hint of hangover. Whereas, I looked like stale bread even after freshening up. I let go of my hair and sighed heavily. "Seems pretty serious. What is it?" She narrowed her eyes.

"You know, yesterday…” I hesitated but she patiently listened. “Hmm.”

“Yesterday, when I was drunk and, and got home with Nolan. I…I did something to him," I told her with my frantic gestures and awkward expressions while she watched me with keen eyes.

"You puked on him?" Ruby's voice was serious. Oh, how great would it have been, if only I had vomited in front of him or even on him but-

"No. Actually, I… I had to pee so I asked him to unzip my dress,” I hurriedly finished that sentence in a breath. Saying it myself made me even more embarrassed. I was sure as hell that I turned into a tomato once again.

"Wait? What? So you, yourself asked him, a guy to undress you." Her current amused expressions soon changed into full blown laughter, when I nodded. "Wow, Kayra. Your drunk self is a freak."

She was laughing with all her heart and also while clutching her stomach. I grumbled again. I expected her to laugh about this situation but when she was actually laughing, it kind of irritated me. "It's not that. I'm beyond embarrassed to see him now."

Ruby tried to compose herself and rested her hand on my shoulder, "It's fine. You guys have done much worse stuff than this.” She was right, we've done more embarrassing things in front of each other. So, I shouldn't feel too distressed. Shaking off these thoughts, I tried to get over the humiliation.

"I'm back."

Ruby and I both looked towards the door, where stood Amy with her heels dangling in her hand. She had a big smile plastered on her face. Seeing her smile, Ruby and I both hurriedly went towards her with our own mischievous gazes after I turned off the flame.

"Spill everything," Ruby's eyes twinkled and she linked her arm with Amy's. "Don't leave anything out,” I said, while holding her other arm. I couldn't contain the excitement either.

We both dragged her to the couch as she continued chuckling and refusing to answer. Her efforts to not answer were half hearted and they didn't last long before she gave in. "Okay. Fine. I'll tell you. We're dating now. Exclusive." A sheepish grin bloomed on Amy's beaming face.

"That's great, Amy. Congratulations!” I said genuinely happy for her. She nodded in response. She couldn't even control her expressions, her smile was growing wider with each second.

Ruby huffed out a laugh. "I figured that much. Tell us about the other stuff related to that hickey,” she pointed at Amy's neck. I also noticed it earlier but didn't say anything. The purple mark was too visible and dark to not notice. Amy gasped and hurriedly reached her hand to hide it.

"No use. We already saw it. Looks like someone had a steamy night.” Amy smacked Ruby on her arm and got up flustered. Her full face became the brightest shade of red.

Amy ran away from us to her room as Ruby and I chuckled at her behavior. “Oh, ho, hoe!" Ruby mimicked Santa's voice and I couldn't contain my laughter anymore. “At least enlighten us before you go.” Ruby continued teasing her and I couldn't help but laugh my ass out.

“You know everything even without me telling you," saying Amy slammed the door and we knew from her voice that she, indeed had a wonderful night.

“Ah, how cute!”

•°•°•°•°•°•°•

I served the hot broccoli-cheese soup in three bowls and placed them on the dining table. Ruby and I were waiting for Amy, who was currently in the bathroom for the second time. The first time she came out, Ruby pointed out the hickey on her neck that was still there, so Amy rushed back inside and hadn't come out since.

But speak of the devil, Amy came out rushing from the bathroom, her hair still dripping wet. "Let's dig in.” She grabbed a seat across from us.

"Oh, there's still a mark left,” Ruby joked and Amy panicked. She started touching her neck to trace it. "Where? Where is it?"

Ruby bit her lip to contain her laugh. "Oh, it's a mole. My bad.” I tried to conceal my chuckle by clearing my throat as Amy glared at us both. Everyone knew she was going to get teased a lot about this. "Ha ha ha, very funny," Amy retorted and rolled her eyes.

"By the way, How are you feeling, Kayra? You were hella drunk yesterday,” Amy asked me, concerned. My eyes widened and before I could say anything, a loud laughter rumbled through the whole room.

My head snapped towards Ruby, who was bursting in laughter. "Drunk? Wasted would be an appropriate term to describe her yesterday's state."

"Don't you think you're having too much fun?" I glared at her as she composed herself and then looked at Amy. “I'm fine. Just a headache.” Amy nodded and we all continued eating our soups.

Just then someone's phone dinged and Amy quickly checked her phone  and put it back down, disappointed. A smile tugged on our lips while watching Amy. She looked like a teenage girl in her first relationship, experiencing love for the first time.

"It's mine," I said while checking my phone. A text. It was from an unknown number. I hesitated to view it but I opened it in the end.

Hey, it's Ved.
Your father gave me your number.
Happy new year.

As soon as I read that message, my heart sank. It felt like the happy bubble I was in had suddenly burst, throwing me down on the hard ground again. I won't lie, I had almost forgotten about my problem, family and future. This text was just like a reminder that I will have to eventually return back to reality. That, this life here was all momentary.

Maybe Amy noticed my colorless face as she stared at me with a worried expression and then glanced at my phone.

"Who is it?" She finally asked after much contemplation. I stayed silent, unable to put out words while Ruby also threw a serious look at me. They weren't backing down, so I exhaled, putting my phone down. "It's Ved. The guy I am supposed to marry.”

Hearing me, they were taken aback at first but then composed themselves. The worry lines on Amy's forehead unveiled and Ruby's tensed brows didn't go unnoticed by me.

"What did he say?" Amy asked. "Block him,” Ruby said with a straight face. The atmosphere had suddenly turned from playful to serious.

"You can't just block anyone, Ruby. At least know what he said first,” Amy explained Ruby. I agree, Ruby's ways were a bit extreme but she only wanted to look after me.

"He wished me a new year,” I said, continuing to drink my soup. They both looked at me perplexed, probably wondering how was I so calm, when they both were bothered by this situation.

But I was starting to understand that the more I let the future affect me, the more my present will be affected as well. I couldn't let the future control me anymore. All I had was the present and I had to make the most of it.

"You said there was a guy who you wanted to set me up with?" I asked Ruby.

"Uh yeah, it's Nick,” she answered, baffled by my sudden question.

"Can I meet him tonight?" I had exactly two months left here now. I'll make sure these become my best days.

"Of course, I'll let him know," she said, smiling and the earlier tension dissipating from her face.

“I'm glad you're being strong," Amy said, squeezing my hand softly and smiling. I reciprocated her smile and nodded lightly.

Of course, I have to be strong. There's no other choice.

"Then you'll probably have sex too?" Ruby asked all of a sudden, with a smirk dancing on her lips.

"That's right!" Amy clapped enthusiastically. The tension seemed to had vanished switching with the initial playfulness and light atmosphere.

But I didn't like that I was the victim now. "Uhh what-"

"What's the condition down there?" Ruby pointed with her eyes under the table. I didn't get what she meant at first but when I did, my eyes widened and face flushed. Before I could say anything, Amy asked, worried, "You really want to do it right?"

"Wait-" I tried to interrupt them but they kept on going, without a pause.

"You have to start with foreplay and be at ease-" Ruby continued. "Use protection. Buy condoms yourself if need be-", this was escalating way too fast and in the wrong direction at that.

I tried to wave my hands in front of their faces to stop them, only to fail. "Guys, listen to me-" they weren't stopping.

"You have matching lingerie right or not? I can lend you mine, if not,” Ruby looked more serious about this than she does while giving an exam.

"No, I have more cute ones and they'll suit-" Amy said. Why are they even fighting for this?

"Stop it," I slammed my hands on the table. I had to stop them before they tear each other over my lingerie. The whole place hushed down, while Ruby and Amy suddenly turned into docile puppies.

"I will take care of it myself,” I said sternly, eyeing both of them. "But-"

"No!" I said, making myself clear. Their faces fell and I swear to god they looked like puppies, refused to be given their treats. I felt a little guilty for lashing out like that, so I cleared my throat. “Finish the soup first, we'll talk about that later.”

I smiled when both their faces lit up like a lantern and they both giggled.