Chapter 17 | PoV: Sanya
Sanya walked behind Barakat, along with Mai and Zahira. They passed, like five doorways on either side. The rooms must not have been large, because the doors were only a couple meters between each other. The dorm tunnels—or rather, the girls’ dorm tunnel, because Sanya had only been in this one—was slightly smaller than the other tunnels. Instead of comfortably fitting a covered wagon, the tunnel might have fit a wagon a bit too-snug. As expected, llumifruits provided a quiet, warm glow and lit up the hallway.
Some doors were closed, others were ajar or left completely open. Each room fitted up to three people—a bunk bed and then a single on the opposite side of the room. A long stone desk lined the back of the room, between the beds, offering a night stand and a place to study all in one. Except, it only had room for two chairs. A couple girls stopped their chatting with each other to glance out of their rooms and watched Sanya and the others walk by. Some waved to Barakat. Fewer attempted to wave to Zahira, Mai, or Sanya.
When they stopped—which didn't take long—there were still rows of doors beyond them. The chains of llumifruits continued. Unlike the surface, where they eventually died out and needed to be replaced, the plants flourished here. As a result, the academy could afford waste like this, where fruits lit up places no one had the need to go.
Barakat gestured to the door on the left. The one on the right was occupied by two students already. “Here's your room! Your! All three or you!”
Mai happily stepped into the room. Zahira and Sanya followed. Barakat really did hate the idea of Sanya and Mai sleeping in the same room, huh. He probably wanted to fill the rooms to maximum capacity, as well. . . . Also the thing about Sanya and Mai being in the same room. Hmph! And the thing about Sanya and Mai—why did he not want them there?
“I hope you like it! I've been acting as a tour guide for too long. I need to go. Find me if you need anything!” Barakat said, peeking into the room. He swiftly left. Why did he leave so suddenly? He had been glued to them for, like, ever, and has been keeping a close eye and thought on Sanya and Mai. Now he took off?
Mai's eyes sparkled as she leaned slightly forward and took everything in. “I call the top bunk! Wow! A large tub of water. Is that soap!? Oh my Heliux, a bath!”
She examined the stone bathtub like a . . . a cat wasn't the right word, because they hated water. Maybe, like, an amphibian that spent far too long out of water? Was that how amphibians behaved? They were a hundred and seventy years extinct. No—wait, maybe they still lived in caves and aquifers.
Towels lay folded in a stack off to the side of the bathtub.
Zahira sighed. “I can't believe I've been assigned as a chaperone.”
She walked over to the bed on the right—the non-bunk, and sat down. She fell back into a sleeping position. The mattress made her bounce slightly for a moment.
“Eek!” Mai cried out. “You'll get your sheets all dirty! And also your new clothes—that you have decided to sleep on!
Each bed had a fluffy pillow. Thin sheets covered a mattress on a stone frame. Clothes had been folded and set neatly on each bed—two pairs of dark gray robes each, and even new underclothes. Would the sizes of the clothes match the person?
“Okay you two,” Zahira said, still laying down. “Until I talk to Barakat to change rooms, tell me whenever you want me to leave, and I will.”
Sanya knew what she was implying. That was crazy.
“You will?” Mai's eyes went wide, and a sly smile crept up her face.
“W-we won't do anything weird, don't worry!” Sanya crossed her arms, looking off to the side, and definitely not blushing.
Maybe she should have joined the dorm of the secret third option. Sanya did not want to have this conversation. She liked Mai, sure, but not like that.
Mai frowned. She opened her mouth, then closed it, then opened it again. In the end, she said nothing.
She definitely wanted to do something.
“I'm proud of you, Sanya!” Mai suddenly said after a long silence. “You eventually didn't whisper, back there. That's great! I hope hearing your voice becomes a daily norm!”
“Yep,” Sanya mumbled. “I should have chosen the third option.”
Mai looked like she was just stabbed. Argh, Sanya's poor heart. Mai was right to be hurt though. Sanya's words were mean, especially to a very-close-friend so soon—and after wanting to be roommates.
Wait. Had Mai pressured Sanya into that choice? M-maybe Sanya should take accountability for that action and stop thinking like that.
“W-who's bathing first?” Mai asked.
Zahira scoffed. “‘First?’ Do they want us to share the water? Not happening.”
“It's all soapy and stuff. It'll be fine!”
“Not happening.”
“Sanya?”
Sanya blinked. She hated this already. She glanced towards the door. Maybe she could still leave. Sanya suddenly realized what Mai was implying, and it was weird. Did she want to bathe in someone else's water? Ack! No! Sanya, get out of there!
“I'll take your silence as a no.”
Sanya looked back at the wrong time. Mai began taking off her dress.
“Like Heliux,” Zahira shot up from the bed and quickly left the room, slamming the door behind her.
Sanya turned and stared at the door.
“Ooh,” Mai said, purring. “We're alone in the room. With the door closed.”
No. No. No. No. Where was this going? This situation was completely out of control. Sanya swallowed. “I can't. I said earlier, I can't.”
“W-why not?”
Sanya headed for the door, her hand paused at the doorknob. She stared at the door, not risking turning around and looking. The door! Focus on the door! The doorknob was a cold metal in her hand. Smooth. It squeaked when she turned it. There was a little knob to lock it from the inside. Though, no keyhole.
“If you can't, then there's no reason to leave, it can't get weird and we’re at no risk of the thing.”
What? How did that make any sense? Maybe Mai was just floundering around words to get Sanya to stay. Anyway, things were already weird!
“Hey . . . With such a nice opportunity to get cleaned up after . . . Um . . . Now would be nice.”
Seriously, what a freak. It was the middle of the day! Sanya rolled her eyes. She heard Mai's dress gather on the floor.
“I can't,” Sanya said. “Go enjoy yourself or something.”
“Can't? Or won't? It's fine if you don't want to—” Mai took a step forward, boot tapped against the stone.
Sanya swallowed, then blurted something stupid. “I can't . . . Though—if you need help, I guess I can offer . . . it.”
A pause, then, an excited voice. “Y-you will!?”
“W-wait. I did not just say that,” Sanya groaned.
Mai's voice quivered. “I-I need help right now.”
Sanya wondered if Mai winked or had pleading eyes. Sanya's head twitched to turn around. She held inspiring levels of restraint.
The door! Look at the door! It was, um, a very nice door. Stone . . . A big slab of stone. On hinges! No windows. Just a vertical slab of earth-meat.
. . . What?
“Your nails are a bit too long,” Mai remembered. “That's fine for now! Maybe we can cut them later.”
Sanya's heart pounded in her chest, threatening to break free from its cage of bones and flesh. Her face flushed with heat. Her mouth watered . . .
“Nope-sorry-bye,” Sanya opened the door and went into the hallway, shutting it behind her.
She stood there, trying to gather her breath and calm herself. Why was she being a freak too? She didn't have . . .
Whatever.
The door creaked open a smidgen. Mai's face poked out, face red like a blood moon.
“Um,” she said. “You should take your bath first, because I think I'm gonna—”
“I don't want . . . my body to be seen,” Sanya shook her head. Not even by her.
“There's probably a washroom nearby. I can go there.”
Sanya paused. “I'll go ask Barakat for a change of water for when you're done.”
“Oh. Okay.” Disappointment oozed from Mai's words, until she suddenly glowed. “Hey! You haven't been whispering!”
Mai shut the door.
Sanya sighed in relief . . . and, her own disappointment? She took a deep breath, and then a second, and a third. Many deep breaths later, she headed down the hallway to find Barakat.