Rosa's POV
I got home from the hospital and found Tania on my sofa, wrapped tightly in a blanket. Very tightly. Only her head was out.
"Oh, for goodness' sake… why are you always here?" I asked, dropping my bag.
"You're back," she said, smiling. "I missed you, boo."
I raised an eyebrow. "Tania, aren't you hot inside that thing?"
"Nope. I'm fine," she answered quickly, adjusting the blanket even closer around herself. She looked suspicious but I decided to let it go.
She cleared her throat. "Anyway, I had another fallout with my parents. Mostly my mom this time."
I sat down and began removing my shoes. "What did you do?"
"She was giving me one of her long lectures, and I told her her nagging sounded like squeaking." Tania laughed, shaking her head. "You can imagine how that went."
Her laughter made me laugh too. It always had that contagious effect.
"Tania," I said, "you're not a kid anymore. You can't keep fighting with your parents and running here every time. One day, I may have to start charging you rent."
She rolled her eyes and pretended to focus on the TV.
"So," I continued, "I have a surgery next week."
"That's new," she said sarcastically.
I ignored her tone. "Guess who the patient is."
She didn't look away from the TV. "Who?"
"Celeste Willy."
Her head snapped toward me so fast that the blanket slipped a little.
"You're joking."
"I'm not."
She stared at me for a second, then suddenly stood up in excitement, throwing off the blanket. And that was when I finally saw what she'd been hiding.
She was wearing my new pajamas.
I sighed. "Tania…"
She looked down at herself and made a guilty face. "I left the house in a rush. I didn't take clothes. I just borrowed these, I swear."
I rubbed my forehead. "I just bought these last week. I haven't even had the chance to wear them."
"I know. Sorry," she said quietly.
We both stood there in silence for a moment. Then she asked, "So Celeste is really your patient?"
"Yes."
Tania sat back down beside me, the excitement fading into worry. "Is she very sick?"
"It's a brain tumor so she needs surgery," I replied.
She nodded slowly. "I hope she'll be okay. I really like her."
"I know," I said. "I'll do my best."
Tania nudged me lightly with her shoulder. "You always do."
I didn't reply, but the reassurance was comforting.
After a moment, she stood up. "I ordered takeout," she said, heading to the kitchen. "Since I'm already wearing your clothes and using your house, I should at least do that."
I watched her disappear into the kitchen, shaking my head.
Even with her chaos, Tania was still the person who cared the most about me, and the person who always managed to make my life a little less heavy…sometimes.