NEVER LET THE HAIR DOWN 🌸 🌸 🌸 Chapter Twelve (At Last...)

Thanks, Holy.

"I'm unstoppable!

"I'm a parachute with no brakes.

"I'm invincible.

"I win every single game.

"I'm so powerful!

"I don't need batteries to play.

"I'm so confident... I'm unstoppable today!"

My phone beeped. I had been expecting it. I quickly scooped the last of my cereal and dropped my plate.

"Off I go," I muttered and tried to recall if I had forgotten anything. After a satisfactory check, I announced to my roomies, "Okay, darlings. I'm off. See you on the flip side."

"Hadum."

"Yeah?" I turned and looked at three pairs of inquisitive eyes that had, only a moment ago, been focused on their phones. I returned their stares and they looked at each other. "What?" I asked.

Mma simply held up her mirror. I stared at my reflection. I looked great in my jeans and dark blue shirt with white stripes. My eyes danced with delight from my clothes to my hair which was packed in a ponytail behind me.

"Did anyone see a pig fly by?" Eniola asked with an astonished tone.

"Who's the guy?" Chy asked and gave me a mischievous smile.

"What?" I retorted without looking into her eyes.

"Hadum, you look beautiful! And for once..." Mma exclaimed.

"No hoodie!" the three exclaimed together. Then they burst into singing and dancing. Chy banged a pot cover with a spoon and sang, "Testimony, eh!" Mma and Eniola echoed her. Before I knew it, a chorus of "No hoodie!" was being chanted.

"You guys are embarrassing!" I exclaimed and laughed uncontrollably. My cheeks hurt from too much blushing and my face was a brilliant pink.

"Roomies! To celebrate this once-in-a-life-time record breaking event, I propose we escort our triumphant roommate to her department. If you agree, can I get a "Hear, hear!"" Chy announced dramatically.

"Hear, hear!" Eniola and Mma cried.

"Stop it. No!" I laughed and rushed downstairs before they could follow me. They waited for me at the window and cheered loudly when they saw me passing. Chy banged her pot wildly and I held my mouth in embarrassment.

At the junction up ahead, Fumnanya was staring at the drama. I walked up to her and gave her a friendly greeting. "Heya," I said.

"Hello. Was that...?" She pointed at my window.

"Don't ask. Let's go," I said and began walking so she wouldn't see my embarrassed smile.

"They're nice," she said after a moment of silence.

"Thanks. You should come by and visit sometime. I'm sure you'll like them. Although, I have to warn you. They can be a bit embarrassing," I said and we laughed.

"I'd love to," Fumnanya said quietly and I smiled.

"By the way, what do you think?" I asked and shook my ponytail. I knew she wouldn't speak of it. She still remembered my confession at the quadrangle.

"Beautiful," she complimented. I waited and just as expected, she added, "I love the way it curls as it falls. It's as if it's screaming, freedom!" We laughed.

"Hey, Fumzy," Christabel, a classmate of ours said as she joined us.

"Hey, Christabel."

"Hello," I said and waved at her. She seemed a little surprised but she replied my greeting jovially.

"Hi, Marahadum. How are you?"

Great was my response. Great turned out to be the password, because my entire day was... Great. Two classes were cancelled. I did very well in one of my tests. Could it get any better?

"Hey, Marahadum!" three of my classmates greeted me as I walked by.

"Hi, y'all. Sup?"

"Ka-ni."

"Kelly," I replied and walked up to where she and the K-girls were seated.

"What's up? I hardly see you," Kelly asked.

"Yeah, me neither. Everything is so choked up. I finally get the thing about this school being after our lives," I joked and overlooked the glare in Kelly's eyes.

"I swear. How was your score for HIS 111?" Kelly asked and for sometime, we talked. The other K-girls warmed up to me when we hit topics like the upcoming departmental election.

"I know who I'm going to vote for," Kamsi said.

"We'll give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar," Katherine said and I smiled.

"That reminds me. I'm supposed to meet a certain politician now. Do you guys care to follow?" Kamsi said and stood up.

"David!" Katherine cheered and bounced off her seat. Kosi and Kelly followed suit.

"See you," I said and went the opposite direction.

"Ka-ni, won't you come?" Kelly asked with surprise. The others looked unconcerned and even glared at Kelly for her reaction.

"No, sorry," was my response. Normally, I would have given an excuse but the only excuse I had then was that I didn't want to go with them.

Kelly turned without a word and left with the others. As they walked, they talked and laughed loudly but I wasn't worried they were talking about me. In fact, I didn't care.

"Hey," Fumnanya said when I sat beside her at our favourite spot in the quadrangle.

"What's wrong?" I asked when I noticed the cross expression on her face.

"Oh. I just watched the last episode of Uncontrollably Fond. Kim Woo-Bin still died," Fumnanya said and sniffled.

"You're ridiculous," I said and laughed. She smiled a little.

"I have something for you," I said. Fumnanya looked at me expectantly as I gave her my phone. "You see, my sister sent a reply to our last video."

"She did? Is this her?"

I nodded and watched. In the video, my sister waved and said, "Hi, Chanok. Awwn. Is that your friend? She's so pretty! Tell her I'm fly."

We laughed as Wanida folded her hands and made an impression of a gangster.

"You're sister is gorgeous."

"Thanks."

"And tall!"

"You see what I've been telling you? She literally took all the height and left me looking up," I said and we laughed.

"Oh, look. Here's the picture we took last week. What did you save it as?" Fumnanya asked.

I looked at the lovely picture with curly writing on top. I replied, "That's เพื่อนของฉัน. It's Thai for friend."

Fumnanya looked at me and then gave me a hug. I chuckled and accepted the embrace. As she pulled away, she stroke my ponytail a little. Then she said, "I won't judge you or betray you, or say bad things about you. I'll be a good friend. I promise."

I tried to think of a reply but my eyes told her everything. I gave her a hug to show just how grateful I was. Chris' voice interrupted our friendly moment. We turned and saw him hold up the camera of his phone to us. "Gotcha. And that's going to the class group chat. You two sure are going to make it to the next anonymous."

"Chris!" I exclaimed.

"Don't just sit there, Marahadum. Catch him!" Fumnanya said and jumped to her feet. Without thinking, I obeyed and soon, we were chasing Chris around the quadrangle.

"It's supposed to be the other way!" Chris shouted as he raised his phone out of reach when we surrounded him.

"Give it here!" Fumnanya cried with glee.

"Should we tickle him?" I suggested.

"Why on Earth would you suggest that, Chanok?" Chris exclaimed and pulled his hands down. We laughed.

"Alright. I won't post it. But I can keep it, right?" said Chris.

"Whatever. Phew. I haven't run this much in a long time," Fumnanya said, panting hard.

"Me neither! It's been ages. We just need some water and this is a Thai New Year celebration," I said joyfully. They stared at me inquisitively and I laughed. "A picture would do though," I said and held up my phone.

"I'm in," said Fumnanya.

"Who's holding the camera?" Chris asked in a bid to make fun of my height.

"Haha. Very funny," I said and produced my selfie stick from my bag.

"That's nice," Chris said.

"Thanks. A friend gave it to me." I smiled at Fumnanya. "Okay, guys. Say friends."

"Friends!"

Click!

THE END 🌹

PS: Mum called. She's in Nigeria. I can't wait!