Nora stares.

Her reflection wasn’t any different as any other day she looks at herself in the mirror. But the new cargo shorts and clean long sleeve shirt elevate the foreign impression on her outfit. Like it wasn’t her she’s looking at.

“Maybe it’s the lip-tint,” she says to herself and puckers her lips. Her hair was already brushed, her bangs tidied by the little amount of hair cream used. Nora also raised her arms over her head, sniffing the deodorant she was generous in applying and the opens her mouth to check on her teeth.

Should she bring breath mints?

“You’re nervous,” Lily points out the obvious and closes her textbook as she faces Nora.

“Kinda, maybe I am,” Nora answers hastily, “I don’t know. I don’t want to mess this up.”

“You’re going to be fine,” Lily reassures her and stood up. The distance between them shortens, leaving only a few feet before Nora could hit her chin on Lily’s head. So, she stayed still with her head slightly raised, wanting Lily to have the space needed to unfold the creases resulted by her fussing.

“Besides, she’ll love the place you’re taking her… wherever that may be,” Lily adds with uncertainty, brows furrowed on the secrecy Nora has on the venue.

“It’s actually the food park. Julia loves Korean food and so I thought I’d bring her there,” Nora admits with a shrug.

“Oh.” Lily’s voice deepens, a contrast to the usual soft and breathy tone.

The air became tense. Lily clutches to her shirt, albeit with a loose grip that didn’t leave much trace as Nora pried Lily’s fingers away.

“Lily?” Nora calls out to her friend, noting the blank expression from Lily. The glistened eyes and the stutters that came along as Lily walks away. Her back facing Nora, her shoulders shake and her steps wobbly – moving along the room with a balance of a newborn calf.

She didn’t know what was going on, but Nora stayed put. Breathless, worried. She wanted to extend beyond her space but she couldn’t. It’s selfish for her to glance at the time, clicking her tongue at the minutes eaten away from the situation and knows that traffic could lengthen her commute to almost an hour.

And yet, she calls again, “Lily?” Nora just observes her best friend through the distance, frowning at the back she’s facing, the posture folded. Lily resigned herself to lie down on her bed, quiet and uncooperative.

“Are you okay?” Nora asks, curling her toes. She moves without a thought, shuffling closer to the door and grips the doorknob with a tight grip.

“Yeah… I’m currently on the first day of my period and I don’t feel like standing for too long.” Finally, an answer. A reply she should’ve expected in the first place. Lily has been sleeping a lot for the past few days and have been worried if her sanitary pad can be seen through the backside of her skirt.

She also increased her sugar intake.

Relief. Nora should’ve been subsided by the reason why Lily’s behavior changes in an instant. But it didn’t – instead, it mutated. Sprouted in a different direction and all she could think about was the stock of feminine products they have left.

She was sure she brought a hot compress for this reason and knows Lily has been using it from time to time.

The time ticks loudly, a white noise that conflicts with her divided attention. Julia was probably on her way to the food park and Nora has yet to take a step outside her room.

Nora bits her lip, sighing down the frustration and tries to elevate the situation. “Well, well… you know where the hot compress is, the convenience store won’t close until one in the morning but if you need anything else just call me and I’ll give it to you.

“Also, call Janice. She’s probably in her place right now. She might come here if you call here,” Nora adds, persistent and breathes out. The silence she receives was unbearable to hear but she shouldn’t prod for an answer.

Lily has yet to implode on her and Nora wasn’t going to be the first time to try and find out.

The door opens, loudly, and after a long while of staring. Nora leaves.