Kervin's tone was already laced with impatience.
"At a time like this you're still putting on an act? I knew it—you're never reliable. Can't handle anything, and now you're just going to blame me, say it's all my fault..."
"Kervin, don't be so harsh on Danna."
Rosalie tugged lightly at his sleeve before turning to me with a gentle look.
"Danna, if you really can't figure something out, my roommate has an apartment off campus. I can give you the key..."
She tapped a few times on her phone, then turned the screen toward me.
A hastily snapped photo filled the display: a cramped little room with damp stains blooming across the walls, unopened delivery boxes piled haphazardly on the floor, takeout bags spilling over, and a shaky desk with a half-eaten instant noodle cup still sitting on it.
I studied the picture of the dingy, nearly unlivable space.
"No need." I declined again, the corners of my lips curling slightly as my gaze slid over the two of them.
"My way home is... a little faster than the train."
Kervin clearly didn't believe me, assuming I was just being stubborn for the sake of pride. He waved a hand dismissively.
"Fine, fine. Do whatever you want. Just don't blame me if you can't make it home."
"Tomorrow morning Rosalie and I are leaving early. Don't forget about the library seats, that's all that matters."
With that, he dragged Rosalie off without another glance.
...
The day of departure dawned bright and clear.
I rolled my small suitcase out of the dorm building, but hadn't made it far before the last voices I wanted to hear reached me from behind.
"Danna, even without a ticket you're heading out?"
Rosalie hurried closer, curiosity flickering in her eyes.
"Does that mean... you found a place to stay after all?"
Kervin frowned at me, his expression was filled with annoyance, as though I were a child causing unnecessary trouble.
"Didn't you say you didn't get a ticket? Then why are you dragging a suitcase around? Don't tell me you're planning to take one of those long-distance buses..."
Disgust dripped from his voice.
"Those things are awful—cramped, packed with who-knows-what kind of people. One of my roommates tried it once, and his clothes reeked of cheap gasoline and sweat when he got back. The stench gave me a headache."
Crossing his arms, he even stepped back deliberately, like I'd already contaminated myself with that same foul odor.
"If you're really taking that kind of bus, then don't bother meeting me anytime soon. It's embarrassing."
His expression carried the same disdain as if I were doing something shameful that would tarnish his image.
"Kervin, don't be so mean..." Rosalie gave me a sympathetic look, her tone was laced with false kindness.
"Danna must be desperate. That little apartment I mentioned—it may be small and a bit old, but it's fine as a temporary place to crash. Better than squeezing onto some awful bus. I'll give you the key now if you want."
Her words made it sound like I had sunk so low I needed her to graciously offer me a kennel to crawl into.
Kervin, hearing this, only grew more self-righteous. "See how kindhearted Rosalie is? Don't be ungrateful."
"Just take the key and stay there. Better than wandering around pointlessly—and it'll make it easier for you to save us those library seats."
Watching the two of them sing their little duet, whatever faint trace of hope I still held for him finally went cold.
I forced a thin smile. "No need. I have somewhere to go."
"Somewhere to go?" Kervin's brows furrowed even tighter, disbelief etched across his face.
"Where could you possibly go? You don't have any relatives or friends around here."
"Home," I answered evenly.
"Home?" He let out a short, incredulous laugh. "You didn't get a ticket. How are you going home—flying?"
Maybe his words were meant as nothing more than angry sarcasm.
But I nodded seriously.
"Mm. I'm flying back on a private jet."
At that instant, the air froze.
The fake kindness on Rosalie's face stiffened, like someone had pressed pause button.
Kervin stood there, stunned, until a few seconds later when fury rushed up, burning away his shock.
"Danna!"
"Are you insane? Do you even hear yourself? A private jet? Why don't you just say you're taking a rocket home?!"
His voice rose with every word, brimming with contempt.
"You didn't get a ticket, that's fine. But to spin such an obvious lie just to save face? You only make yourself look pathetic!"
Rosalie finally found her voice and gave his sleeve a soft tug, her tone all gentle and sympathetic. "Kervin, don't be angry... Danna must be too upset, and desperate, that's why she said something like that. Let's... try to understand her."
"Understand?" Kervin sneered, eyes filled with disappointment and disgust.
"How am I supposed to understand this? Danna, how did I never realize you were this vain, this irrational?"
"A private jet? Do you even know what you're talking about? You can't even buy a single business-class ticket without struggling for three days, and now you expect me to believe this nonsense?"
I looked at his furious face, then at Rosalie's expression—barely hiding her gloating amusement.
Suddenly, it all felt meaningless.
Arguing with them was like playing music to a cow—just pointless.
I couldn't be bothered to explain.
