The situation was already a done deal.
There was nothing I could do.
The only option left was to help my roommate refund the money—but I had no intention of doing that.
And even if I wanted to…
I didn't have the money.
So that was it.
The girls moved in officially.
And just like that, I had to adjust.
Whether I liked it or not.
We couldn't have been more different.
There was Hannah.
A bit boyish.
Calm.
Easygoing.
I actually liked her.
She played football, which I found interesting, and she wasn't overly loud or intrusive.
Being around her didn't feel like a burden.
Then there was Victoria.
And with her…
Everything was a problem.
We didn't get along.
At all.
She picked fights over the smallest things.
Things that didn't even matter.
And somehow, she always had people around.
It felt like she knew everyone in the world.
Because of her, the house was never quiet.
I used to think Maria—my first roommate—was a lot.
But Victoria?
She was worse.
Much worse.
The room was big enough to accommodate all of us.
But space had never really been the issue.
Noise was.
Presence was.
Too many people in one place.
Too many voices.
Too much happening at once.
Sometimes her friends would come over and stay for days.
Other times, weeks.
No notice.
No warning.
Just… presence.
And it was exhausting.
I complained a few times.
Not aggressively.
Just enough to make my discomfort known.
But the others didn't see a problem with it.
So in the end…
I had to adjust.
Or at least pretend to.
We stayed on the ground floor.
And not long after, some guys moved into the room above us.
They were energetic.
Very energetic.
So now, I had to deal with noise during the day—
And even more noise at night.
It never really stopped.
It was tiring.
Overwhelming.
But strangely…
It helped.
Because for once, I didn't always have time to think about my mom.
And thinking about her…
Was complicated.
Sometimes, it made me sad.
Other times, it made me regret things.
Things I said.
Things I didn't say.
Moments I could have handled better.
I found myself replaying them over and over again.
Wishing I had been kinder.
More patient.
More present.
But it was too late for all of that.
I knew that.
Yet…
I couldn't stop thinking about it.
So maybe the noise helped.
It distracted me.
Even if it came at a cost.
Sometimes, I'd go over to my friend's place.
Stay there for a few days.
Deep down, I knew I was inconveniencing them.
But I chose to ignore that.
I needed peace.
And they gave me that.
The circle kept growing.
Each of them had their own friends.
And they kept introducing them to each other.
And somehow…
I became part of that circle too.
I made new friends.
More people.
More connections.
But none of them felt like my friends.
They were friends because of my friends.
Not because of me.
And I noticed that.
Even if I didn't say it out loud.
The semester went by faster than I expected.
And before long, it was time for another break.
My roommates traveled.
All of them.
And for the first time in a while…
I had the room to myself.
I didn't realize how much I needed that until I had it.
The quiet.
The stillness.
The absence of voices.
It felt like I could finally breathe again.
Even if it was temporary.
I couldn't go home for the break.
I wasn't done with my exams yet.
Our schedules were different.
By the time I finished mine, I'd barely have a week before resumption.
So there was no point.
I stayed back.
Alone.
Eventually, I ran out of foodstuff.
So I texted my dad, informing him of what I'd need for the next semester.
Not long after, my eldest sister called to check up on me.
I told her everything.
And she suggested I come over.
To restock what I needed before my dad sent the money.
It didn't sound like a bad idea.
I missed her.
I missed my nieces and nephews.
So I went.
Spent a few days with her.
Then came back.
The room was still empty.
Still quiet.
Still mine.
And I planned to enjoy it for as long as I could.
I stayed indoors most of the time.
Only stepping out when I needed something.
I fell into a routine.
Sleep.
Cook.
Eat.
Read.
Sleep again.
It was simple.
Peaceful.
And for once…
I didn't feel overwhelmed.
That routine continued—
Until one day, I heard movement outside.
People moving things.
Voices.
Footsteps.
Someone was moving into the vacant room.
I didn't pay much attention to it.
Anyone could move in.
It wasn't my concern.
After a while, everything became quiet again.
I assumed they were done.
And for a moment…
I was relieved.
At least it was quiet.
But that relief didn't last long.
Because not long after—
It became loud again.
Louder than before.
And this time…
Something felt different.
I heard a voice.
Familiar.
Too familiar.
I tried to ignore it.
Told myself it could be anyone.
But curiosity got the best of me.
So I stepped outside to check.
And there they were.
My friends.
Moving in.
Right upstairs.
To say I was surprised…
Would be an understatement.
Because no one said anything.
Not a word.
Not even a hint.
And now…
They were here.