he walk back to the hostel was wrapped in soft laughter and the distant hiss of drying rain. The sky was a lazy grey, like it was tired from crying all afternoon. Vanessa's feet splashed through tiny puddles, but she didn't mind. She couldn't remember the last time she felt this light.
Joel walked beside her, hands occasionally brushing hers, sending sparks of awareness through her body. She wanted to freeze time right here—this moment where someone's presence didn't feel like a weight, but like wings.
They reached the front gate of her hostel, and she turned to him, not sure how to say goodbye. He rubbed the back of his neck, a sheepish grin playing on his lips.
"So…" he said, glancing down at her. "This was… nice."
She nodded, smiling. "Yeah. Really nice."
A pause. Just long enough for both of them to realize something was missing.
Vanessa's heart dipped. "Wait," she said, "we didn't exchange numbers."
Joel blinked, surprised. "We didn't?" He patted his pockets like he could will her number into existence. "Wow. That's crazy."
A little laugh slipped from her lips, but it was tinged with disappointment. The moment was breaking. Slipping through their fingers like raindrops on glass.
"It's fine," she said quickly, trying to save face. "It was still a good day."
Joel hesitated, looking like he wanted to say more. Then he gave her a soft smile. "Maybe the universe will bring us together again."
She nodded, though she didn't believe it. She turned and walked up the stairs, each step heavier than the last. By the time she got to her room, her chest was hollow.
The door creaked open to the familiar scent of cocoa butter and lavender. Her roommate's side of the room was as chaotic as ever—textbooks stacked like Jenga blocks, wigs hanging on mannequin heads, and a white tote bag slumped on the bed. Tayo wasn't around.
Vanessa peeled off her wet clothes, changed into dry leggings and a hoodie, and sat on her bed, staring at her phone. No messages. No unknown number. Nothing.
She should've asked. Just said it. Instead, she'd let the moment pass.
Why am I always like this?
She buried her face into her pillow, letting the silence swallow her. She didn't cry—she was tired of doing that. But her heart ached. A good thing had come and gone like rain on a tin roof.
An hour passed.
Then the door burst open with a loud thud. Vanessa sat up in alarm just as Tayo strolled in, makeup half-done and one heel dangling from her hand.
"Ugh! That test drained my soul," Tayo groaned. She kicked off her other shoe and plopped down dramatically on her bed. "Vanessa, if I don't make it through this semester, tell my mother I loved her."
Vanessa gave a half-laugh. "You're so dramatic."
Tayo turned her head, narrowed her eyes, and smirked. "Okay, okay. Enough about me. Let's talk about you." Her eyes twinkled with something mischievous. "Did you, by any chance, meet someone today… someone named Joel?"
Vanessa froze.
Tayo gasped theatrically. "You did!"
"Wait… how do you know Joel?"
Tayo rolled her eyes like it was obvious. "He's a class rep in Biochemistry, duh. And also the guy who's been acting like he saw an angel walking in human form since the rain started today."
Vanessa blinked. "What?"
"Oh, honey," Tayo said, crossing the room and flopping onto Vanessa's bed with glee. "The moment I walked out of class, this tall fine specimen pulls me aside and goes, 'You know that quiet girl in 100 level Microbiology—light-skinned, always writing, really calm energy?' I said, 'That sounds like my roommate.' And this boy's eyes lit up like he found water in the desert."
Vanessa's heart fluttered so loud she was sure Tayo could hear it.
"He asked for your number," Tayo continued with a smirk. "Said he didn't get the chance to ask, and he didn't want to leave it to fate. Girl, I've never seen a guy that pressed—but in a sweet way sha."
"Are you serious?" Vanessa whispered.
Tayo tossed her phone onto the bed. "Check your WhatsApp. He said he messaged you already."
With trembling fingers, Vanessa opened her phone. There it was.
Unknown Number:
Hi Vanessa. I'm really glad I met you today. It felt like sunshine in a storm. I'd really like to see you again. – Joel
She stared at the screen, a slow smile spreading across her face.
"Girl," Tayo said, rolling over dramatically. "He was blushing when he talked about you. I swear, if I didn't know better, I'd say man's already halfway in love."
Vanessa laughed, a soft, giddy sound that surprised even her.
She read the message again, this time slower. He didn't just want to talk—he wanted to see her again. Her. Not for help with assignments or to get something. But to see her. Like she mattered. Like she was someone worth finding again.
Her heart, which had felt like a crumpled note all evening, slowly began to unfold.
Tayo nudged her shoulder. "So… are you going to reply? Or should I write a love letter for you?"
Vanessa laughed again and typed slowly:
Vanessa:
Today was really special for me too. Let's not leave the next meeting to chance.
Seconds later, Joel replied:
Joel:
Then how about dinner this weekend? Somewhere quiet. Just you, me, and your famous journal.
Vanessa bit her lip, trying to stop the smile stretching her cheeks. She could barely contain the warmth in her chest.
Tayo squealed. "He asked you out, didn't he?"
Vanessa nodded slowly. "Yeah. He did."
She looked up at her roommate, eyes shining. For the first time in a long time, someone had noticed her. Not the pain, not the silence, not the shadows she curled into—but her. And just maybe, she was ready to step into the light again.