I just turned the shower off when the footsteps sounded inside the public bathroom, and the door to the cubicle next to mine opens. I disregarded the seemingly rushed footsteps as I used the towel to dry my wet nakedness.
The door slammed and the lock rattled. Startled, I tensed holding my chest. That nearly gave me a mini heart-attack. I ignored the distraction and silently hung the towel to the rack.
There was one bathroom inside the dorm, but it was long and enormous enough to cater to twelve shower rooms which were divided by tiled walls. I was surprised that someone other than me was using the bathroom at this hour since the students boarding in the exclusive girl's dorm went home to prepare for tomorrow's event—Harvey University's graduation.
I stayed in the dorm since no one would congratulate me at home. My mother died when I was ten and I was an only child. What was left on me was a drunkard of a father who never did his responsibilities.
The caretaker wasn't out for a date too. That makes me alone today. But unlike my initial thought, the footsteps confirmed I have company. At least I wasn't totally alone. I thought cheerfully.
The uncomfortable sounds coming from the cubicle next to mine captured my attention. On my temples, a frown emerged. I walked on the corridors a while ago and the rooms I passed were locked. The hallways too were empty—no sign that someone was there. The boarding house was all deserted and lonely.
The shower starts running. I shrugged my shoulders ignoring the noise, it was probably one of the girls unexpectedly early.
"I love you, Eros." A woman whispers.
The voice was as soft and sweet as a rose's petals. It was almost music to my ears if I weren't inside the shower, and putting my underwear on.
I froze after recognizing the voice. I couldn't be mistaken, I have been with that voice for almost all my life to not recognize it. It belongs to Valerie, my childhood best friend, my classroom rival, and my roommate.
The realization splashed me with ice-cold water. I was now trembling with fear and alarm. The confession shook my world, up to now I'm still stunned.
No! It can't be. When it was too difficult to accept the truth, I resorted to denial. That's what I did when mom died. I was exactly doing that now.
It's not happening! No! Not inside this exclusive girl's dorm! Definitely not inside this bathroom! This is not Val—the sweet, intelligent, modest, obedient, religious, prim, and proper girl I know. Even the adjectives I described her now are not enough to justify her seemingly perfect personality.
Between the two of us, I was the wild, undisciplined one, and Val was as meek as sheep. At night when I was out partying, holding a red wine into my painted red fingers, Val was left alone at the dorm, chanting the holy rosary out of habit or burying her nose deep into her books, studying for exams—it's just either the two.
How could this be possible! This might be my imagination. I couldn't just accept when the results were announced, and Val achieved the highest honours—Summa Cum Laude—while on the other hand, I landed on the second spot.
Not that I was questioning the results, Val worked hard too but I got all my exams perfect despite studying at the last minute. I submitted all my projects. I couldn't just accept that some professors were biased when I was involved knowing I was a rebel and they couldn't just accept that I was capable of achievements too.
"I love you, Eros." The voice whispered playfully, confirming my greatest fear. It was Valerie breaking the number one rule, and bringing a man not just inside the dorm but inside the shower cubicle.
The man just groaned, ignoring the confession of love. Clothes were hastily discarded, and I heard as they landed on the tiled floor.
No! I screamed inwardly, still denying the truth. It was too painful for me to accept. It was ripping my heart into two. It never occurred to me Valerie will keep a secret from me.
She was my best friend! Almost like a sister to me. She wouldn't lie! She wouldn't keep anything from me. No! Or is it my illusion that she trusted me? Her illicit affair with the campus playboy, 'Eros the panty ripper was probably proof that she doesn't really treat me as a best friend and confidante.
I leaned on the wall for support as I quietly listened to the soft, muffled groans of the couples kissing just next to my cubicle while an imaginary knife stabbed my heart painfully.
My knees turned to Jell-O. I slumped to the floor, hugged my knees. Then right there on the crevice on the bottom of the shower room, I saw the woman's leg. When I caught the tattoo of a dreamcatcher on her legs, I almost died. It's no denying. Confirmed, it was indeed Valerie.
A man's leg was so close to hers that no air could even pass between them.
"I want you." Whispered a man, his voice thick with desire.
"I want you too." She replied in a sexy, sultry voice that could make a man wild with desire.
I saw her left foot being lifted off the floor. A deep groan then emerged from her lips as he positioned himself into her. When he finally entered her she screamed in pleasure.
Pounding flesh, soft ecstatic whimpers, and water from the shower running—it's all that I could hear. It was making me numb from pain.
I covered my lips with my fingers, suppressing the sob from erupting. My shoulders shook uncontrollably while tears were already racing down my flushed cheeks.
I know I should not feel betrayed but it was only Valerie who knew I was secretly infatuated by Eros Abraham. She has known the truth since our first year in the dorm.
But why…. But why…. Why did my best friend choose to lose her virginity to the man she clearly knew I'm in love with and without knowing she was doing the thing within my earshot.
I closed my eyes. Tears continued to flow down my flushed cheeks. I listened to the torturous sound until I was numb from all the pain and it hurts no more.