You can't hurry love...

***

CHAPTER 46:

INEVITABLE CONFRONTATION

Knock, knock, knock...

Someone was kicking from side to side inside my head.

Knock, knock, knock...

Wait, nope. It wasn't inside—it was from outside. Desperate to escape it, I tossed and turned. The darkness swirled and then stabilized, swallowing reality. My consciousness struggled to keep me asleep. I was in the middle of a dream. I couldn't remember it, but it was nice and peaceful—I wanted to return. I tried to.

Knock, knock, knock...

I threw off my blanket and shot up. The room spun a couple of times before it settled. As I brushed my chaotic hair back, the first thing that caught my eye was my mailbox. It was so stuffed with envelopes that its lid was half-open, with more letters spilled onto the floor. I closed my eyes, trying to figure out what I had missed. What was happening?

Knock, knock, knock...

My eyes slid to the door. I now realized what the sound was: an extremely persistent visitor. The noise must've bothered Trouble, too; he was sitting by the door, staring intently at the doorknob. When I opened the door, Ursa stared back at me with flushed cheeks. Then her eyes widened, and she was all over me the next second.

"Thank goodness, Olive. Thank goodness you're okay!"

What had I done to deserve this level of concern? Before I could ask, Ursa grabbed my arms and squeezed.

"Why aren't you answering your messages? I was about to go to the Principal. It's nearly evening, and you're nowhere to be found. You missed breakfast. No one I asked has seen you."

She must be the one who filled my mailbox. It looked like I'd overslept after an all-nighter.

"I... I'm sorry," I managed in my sweetest voice. "Guess I was exhausted."

Ursa huffed and hugged me again, then whispered, "I know you say there's no trouble, but I thought that girl did something to you, Olive. Diego's been searching every corner of the Dorm. Lark even unleashed Spook in the gardens to find you. Helene's been asking around. Even Tarben said he'd look around."

Oh no, not him, too. Thoughts of last night and Mars's absurd accusations made me feel the heat rise from my feet to my head. I apologized again, my voice less firm this time. Luckily, Ursa's anger flared and faded fast, driven by her affection for me.

"Okay, okay," she softened. "Don't look so glum. You're okay, and that's what matters. I just freaked out a bit. Let's let everyone know to call off the search."

"Right, I'll get dressed, and we can go find them," I said.

Ursa looked at me as if I'd lost my mind, and I was about to find out why. We could send messages directly to other souls, not just their mailboxes. All it required was a unique stamp; every soul had these stamps in their desk drawers. And just like that, I discovered WhatsApp in this realm.

I watched intently as Ursa penned messages to everyone and affixed stamps on each. We arranged to meet later in the hall for a trip to the lake. After giving me a quick peck on the cheek, she left. Having lounged in bed for most of the day, the evening was already drawing near. I shook off the sleepiness with a refreshing shower, then tidied up my overflowing mailbox. Finally, I picked up a plate from the always-open cafeteria buffet and, book in hand, headed out to the garden to unwind.

The rest of the day was calmer and less eventful than its start. Ursa had said she'd spend all day in her workshop anyway. With the carnival so close, she needed to work, aiming to create her most beautiful outfit yet. The others must have been busy with their stuff, as I didn't see any of my friends until we met in the hall that evening.

"I was sure you were dead this time," Diego said as soon as he saw me, grabbing my hands. His voice wasn't angry but teary, so I smiled sadly.

"I'm sorry."

Then, I had to apologize repeatedly, first to Ursa, then to Lark, and finally to Helene. Thankfully, they were used to my dramatic exits and returns. Before the topic dragged on, we headed to the lake, now the epicenter of the latest gossip—particularly about who would attend the upcoming carnival and with whom. Even Lark and Helene, whose partnerships were firmly established, were keen to catch up on the latest whispers.

Ursa was still hoping that Kyle hadn't asked anyone out yet, while Diego was convinced he had no chance against Blue. I urged them to be bold and approach the people they were interested in. Helene was supportive, but Lark was hesitant. Ultimately, our efforts seemed in vain; Diego confessed he could never muster the courage to approach Blue like that. As for Ursa, she was a hopeless romantic, convinced that Kyle had to be the one to make the first move.

I left my friends to their own devices as the evening hummed with more intriguing distractions. Compared to other weekends, my peers were exceptionally lively tonight. Everyone had put extra effort into their appearance, clearly still on the hunt for carnival dates. The crowd seemed poised for one last chance, eyes darting about, sizing each other up, with flirtatious smiles slicing through the air.

My friends were no exception. Ursa's makeup was more vivid than usual, and Diego had slicked his hair back with an extra dollop of gel. And then there was me, undoubtedly the most understated person, in my simple jeans and a plain T-shirt. But that was perfectly fine; I wasn't searching for a partner, as I had reassured others, myself, and even Mars. I decided to ignore the surrounding frenzy, indulge in the food and music, and enjoy the evening on my terms.

At least, that was the plan until the fifth passerby eyed me from head to toe and smirked meaningfully. It felt like being appraised like produce at a market stall. So much for a relaxing night; I felt more like a dartboard, evading arrows left and right. The invitations were relentless. Whether at the table, in the burger line, waiting for the restroom, grabbing a drink, dancing, singing along, or chatting with friends, I was constantly approached by various people, regardless of gender or age, all conversations inevitably ending with the carnival.

Thanks, Mars... This mess was his doing. I doubt I'd attract any attention if it weren't for my overly popular soulmate. Or perhaps I was searching for a scapegoat, and Mars was the most sinful goat I knew. Either way, I felt swamped and desperate to escape. I was ready to head back to my room, and it wasn't even midnight yet.

For a brief moment, I considered staying to see if Mars and Blue would perform their new song. Then, I convinced myself that Mars wouldn't spoil the surprise before the carnival. With that, no force could keep me at this party.

Almost no force...

After finally persuading my friends to let me return to my room, I walked away from the lake with pride, feeling the weight of the evening's pressures gradually lift with each step. Then, I suddenly locked eyes with Tarben, casually leaning against a tree, puffing on a cigarette. Great! Out of the frying pan and into the fire. The ridiculous notions my friends instilled in me made it impossible to act normal around him. Now, with the night's events already straining my nerves, the prospect of being alone with him intensified my anxiety.

Tarben, ever the picture of serenity, flicked his cigarette to the ground and crushed it underfoot before strolling over with his hands casually tucked in his pockets. Despite wearing plain jeans and a t-shirt like me, his stylish jacket, distinctive accessories, and hair cascading to his shoulders lent him an effortlessly cool air. I held my breath, bracing for him to mention the carnival and potentially corner me into an uncomfortable conversation.

"Running away?" he asked instead.

He probably meant leaving the party early, but my on-edge brain took it wrong, thinking he implied I was running away from him. After a moment of shock, I recovered, twisting my lips guiltily. "I'm just tired. I was heading to my room."

He hadn't noticed my awkwardness. I hoped... He smiled and said, "You were up all night yesterday. It's normal to be tired."

"Yeah..." I said, inadvertently averting my eyes. It was silly, yes, but entirely out of my control. "I should go then. Good night," I managed to say.

As I took a step, Tarben moved in front of me, stopping me. I looked at him, surprised, yet he was still smiling.

"Can we talk for a bit?" he suggested.

No, no, no. This was precisely what I feared. "Ta... talk," I stammered.

Tarben studied my face intently and asked, "Did I do something to make you uncomfortable, Olive?"

I was so taken aback that my mouth fell open. "Why?" I tried to smile.

"You don't seem as relaxed around me anymore. I think you don't want to spend time either. I must have made a mistake without realizing it."

Oh no... How was I supposed to explain my ridiculous thoughts and irrational behaviors now?

"No, no!" I blurted out quickly. "You didn't do anything wrong."

Then what was the problem? That part I hadn't managed to articulate. Tarben watched me struggle to find the right words for a while. Then, his lips curved into a sad smile.

"Olive, I won't lie to you. You're different. I've known that since the moment we met. I feel good around you. Better than I have in a long time. Your presence makes me happy. I enjoy talking to you, being surprised by your comments, and how effortlessly you make me laugh," he paused, taking a deep breath. "Maybe I've been too forward and caused you to misunderstand. But believe me, you don't need to be afraid. I'm aware of my boundaries, and I never cross them. I know why and for whom you want to leave. I'm not trying to take his place."

Tarben had been the most honest and genuine soul I had encountered since I arrived at the Dorm. Tonight was no exception. I just looked at him with my mouth still hanging open, unsure what to say.

"I promise," he continued. "I'll be more careful from now on. I won't let others bother you with their comments because of me."

While I pondered what he meant, my eyebrows furrowed. It wasn't hard to guess. "Last night..." I started. "You weren't asleep. You heard Mars."

He smiled guiltily. "I wasn't asleep, but I knew there was a problem before I heard anything. I don't want it to be like this, Olive. I don't want you to feel bad around me. If you ever don't want to talk again..."

"No!" I exclaimed suddenly.

My voice and reaction surprised both Tarben and myself. The turmoil and anger swelling in my chest were out of my control. I hated myself for allowing all the harmful ideas I had entertained and listening to those who planted them. If Tarben hadn't talked to me so openly and bravely, I might have lost one of my most valuable friends. Stupid Olive! Stupid!

I exhaled in frustration. "No," I said more calmly. "Of course, I want to talk to you. You're probably the person I trust the most here in the Dorm, Tarben. I'm happy around you, too. I..." My face soured. I tugged at my hair. "I've been acting stupid. I'm sorry."

As Tarben surprised me, I had surprised him, too. It was clear he hadn't expected such an honest answer from me. His face brightened. His eyes lit up. But the real surprise for both of us was in my following words.

"Is your offer for a night walk with Lys still on?"

***

I know it's hard not to love Tarben. A gentleman, understanding, honest... May the universe give us all such a lovely soul. 

Next week, we have a new character joining the story. Expect chaos and drama. Exciting episodes are coming. Jealousy, anger, passion, everything you want... 

Until then, kisses and love... EC.