Hello Ashley

Ash took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, trying with all her might to maintain the little patience left in her body. How could she not? This morning, she had to deal with Florence's drama of refusing to attend class. After a short argument and some whining from Florence, Ash finally managed to drag her friend into the classroom.

Luckily, they weren't late as Professor Vincent hadn't arrived yet. Looking around, Ash frowned when she noticed the seats in the front row were already taken, thanks to Florence's hesitation. The only seats left were at the back, far from the blackboard. Ash's nearsightedness would make it hard for her to see the board or projector from there, which was why she always preferred sitting up front or in the middle.

The black-haired girl sighed in resignation. She had no choice but to sit in the back. Reluctantly, she tugged on Florence, who had no intention of entering the class. But suddenly, someone called her name.

"Ashley!" Bianca waved her hand, signalling her to come over.

"Bianca?" Ash tilted her head in confusion. "Hey, morning."

"Morning, Ashley." The blonde girl smiled warmly at her. "Haven't found a seat yet?"

Ash exchanged a glance with Bianca. "Well, thanks to Flo, looks like we'll have to sit in the back."

Bianca followed Ash's gaze and frowned slightly. "I don't think you'd be able to focus sitting back there. Why don't you sit next to me? There are two empty seats."

"Huh? Is that okay?" Ash asked innocently, noticing there were things on the two empty chairs.

Seeing this, Bianca chuckled softly. "Of course it's okay. Who's going to stop you?" The blue-eyed girl noticed Ash's slight confusion and continued to explain. "I was saving the seats for Anya and Paula, but it looks like they're not coming to class. Rather than leaving them empty, why don't you sit here?"

Ash turned to Flo for approval. "I don't mind where we sit," Flo said, shrugging before Ash thanked Bianca.

Bianca smiled sweetly at Ash, her blue eyes gazing at her gently. Ash, unaccustomed to being looked at like that, quickly averted her gaze. She thought she would be used to being around pretty girls since Flo was always clinging to her, but something about Bianca made her nervous. She couldn't meet her eyes directly, and she didn't know why. Ash shook her head and tried to focus on Professor Vincent's lecture.

A few days after that encounter, something unexpected happened. After class, as they were leaving the lecture hall, Bianca approached Ash.

"Hey, Ashley, can I ask for your phone number?" Bianca smiled, tucking a strand of her blonde hair behind her ear. "I want to be friends, you know?"

Ash was caught off guard but nodded. "Uh, sure," she replied, pulling out her phone and exchanging numbers with Bianca.

The blonde-haired girl smiled. "Thanks. It is nice to be your friend."

The black-haired girl just smiled awkwardly. She didn't know how to react to that statement. All her life, she never cared about how others view her. Florence was the exception since they were best friends, and Samuel was a package deal with Florence, but she didn't actually pay attention to him either. Hearing Bianca say that makes her feel something weird, something like feeling wanted. It was a strange feeling, but she didn't mind either. 

From that moment on, they began texting regularly. Bianca would send her messages, checking in or sharing little details about her day. Getting closer to Bianca Geraldine was not a bad idea after all. She was outgoing, kind, and caring. Bianca was also very patient, and she would listen to what Ash said even though it was nothing important, like how Ash felt frustrated about the question that she couldn't answer in the class quiz or how she liked to binge-watch particular drama series. For Ash, it was not interesting, but Bianca was kind enough to engage in that conversation. She even gave tips and shared her interest with Ash. It wasn't long before Bianca started sitting next to Ash in every class, sometimes even studying together, much to Florence's irritation.

At first, Ash felt awkward, unsure how to navigate this new friendship. But slowly, she began to feel more at ease around Bianca. There was something comforting about her presence, and she realized she didn't mind spending time with her. In fact, she started to look forward to it.

Still, there was a lingering sense of unease. Why did Bianca's gaze always make her heart race?

***

As days turned into weeks, Ash grew more comfortable with Bianca, and their friendship blossomed. Ash started to forget about the mysterious letter and her unknown attacker since there was nothing that threatened her at the moment. So she chose not to pay attention to that and to enjoy her life. Ash and Bianca spent more time together, whether it was studying for exams or simply chatting in the campus cafe. Florence, however, didn't share Ash's enthusiasm for this growing bond. She often threw Ash pointed looks or made sarcastic comments whenever Bianca joined them. Even Samuel and Joshua were aware of Florence's lousy attitude towards the Geraldine girl. 

One afternoon, Ash and Bianca were seated in the library, reviewing notes for an upcoming exam. Bianca had leaned closer to show Ash something on her laptop, her shoulder brushing lightly against Ash's. The contact made Ash's heart skip a beat, though she tried to ignore it.

"You're really good at this," Bianca remarked, glancing up at Ash. "I'm so glad we started studying together. I'd probably be failing without you."

Ash smiled, feeling a warmth rise in her chest. "What are you talking about? You are already smart, Bianca. I'm just glad I can help. You've been great company."

Bianca's gaze lingered on Ash for a moment longer than usual, her expression softening. "I really like spending time with you, Ash. You're different from other people."

Ash felt a flutter of confusion mixed with something else, something she couldn't quite name. She brushed it off with a small laugh. "I'm just a regular person, nothing special."

Bianca shook her head. "No, you're more than that. You're kind, smart, and—" She hesitated, biting her lip as if debating whether to continue. "You make me feel comfortable. Safe."

Ash's cheeks flushed at the sincerity in Bianca's words. "I... I feel the same way," she admitted, her voice quieter than usual. She wasn't sure where this conversation was going, but there was an undeniable shift in the air between them.

Just then, Florence walked into the library, her eyes immediately narrowing when she spotted the two of them sitting so close. She approached, dropping her bag loudly on the table to announce her presence.

"Wow, you two are inseparable these days," Florence said, her voice laced with sarcasm. "What's next? Matching outfits?"

Ash rolled her eyes, trying to play off Florence's irritation. "We're just studying, Flo. You can join us if you want."

"No thanks," Florence replied sharply. "I wouldn't want to intrude. Beside studying together is not my style."

Bianca gave Florence a polite smile, but there was a subtle tension in the air now. Ash could feel it. She knew Florence didn't like Bianca, though she could never entirely understand why.

After a few awkward moments, Florence sat down across from them, clearly unwilling to leave. Ash shifted uncomfortably, feeling caught in the middle of the brewing tension.

As the minutes passed, Florence kept her eyes on her phone, occasionally glancing up at Ash and Bianca. Meanwhile, Bianca continued to focus on their study session, but Ash's attention was divided. She felt torn between her two friends, and a growing unease gnawed at her.

That night, after returning to her dorm, Ash's phone buzzed with a message from Bianca.

Bianca: "Hey, is everything okay? Florence seemed upset earlier."

Ash stared at the message for a few seconds, unsure how to respond. Florence had been acting distant and irritable lately, and Ash couldn't figure out why. Maybe it was just jealousy. Or maybe something deeper was at play.

Ash: "Yeah, she's just… complicated. Don't worry about it."

There was a brief pause before Bianca replied.

Bianca: "I hope I'm not causing any problems between you two."

Ash felt a pang of guilt. Florence had been her best friend for years, and now Bianca was this new, exciting presence in her life. She didn't want to hurt either of them, but lately, it felt like she was stuck in a tug-of-war she hadn't asked for.

Ash: "No, it's not you. It's just… I don't know. I think she's feeling left out."

Bianca's following message came quickly.

Bianca: "Maybe we could all hang out together? I don't want her to feel like I'm taking you away."

Ash smiled at the thought. Bianca was genuinely kind, and the offer made her realize just how much she valued this new friendship.

Ash: "Yeah, that sounds like a good idea. I'll talk to her."

But as she put her phone down, a strange feeling settled in her chest. As much as she cared about Florence, her feelings toward Bianca were starting to shift. Spending time with her was no longer just about friendship—it was something more. Something she wasn't sure she was ready to confront.

As the days passed, Ash couldn't deny the growing connection she felt with Bianca. Every time they studied together or even exchanged a smile, it stirred something deep inside her, something Florence couldn't reach.

And Florence, ever observant, wasn't blind to it either.

***