One Hundred and Thirty Four

As narrated by Dee:

“Why are you so smart?” I grumble.

“So I am right?” asks Amz, grinning.

“How did you even figure?” I ask, ignoring her question.

“Well you have chats with every one you usually do, except for Zee,” she points out.

“Sometimes I hate that you’re so smart,” I mutter, burying my face into my pillow.

“Right, now what were you two discussing?” demands Amz.

“Nothing that you should be worried about,” I say, keeping my face hidden.

“That doesn’t answer my question.”

“I can’t tell you,” I say sheepishly, after a while.

“Why not?”

“Because…”

“Because??”

“Dee!” she says, poking me. “You’ve sparked my curiosity. If you don’t tell me, I’ll phone Zee and ask him.”

“Don’t you dare!!” I yell, springing up, reaching for my phone.

Swiftly Amz moves her hand away, out of my reach.

Laughing, she eyes me curiously.

“What is going on?” she asks, giving me a ‘spill it’ look.

Just then, Amz’s phone rings.

She gets up quickly to fetch it from her room, returning a couple seconds later with it at her ear.

“Nope, not in bed yet,” she says to the caller, grinning at me mischievously. “In fact, I was just about to call you.”

I look at her in horror, scrambling off my bed to chase after her as she sticks out her tongue at me and runs out to her room.

“I was just going through Dee’s phone…” starts Amz.

She taps her screen and I hear Zee’s voice come through.

“Yeah??”

“And her chat with you is deleted,” says Amz. “Wanna tell me why? Dee sure doesn’t want to.”

I expect to hear him laugh next, and then proceed to tell Amz how I made a tragic typo which he took full opportunity to make me feel awkward about, but he doesn’t.

“Hmm.. are you sure you want me to tell you?” he asks.

Oh no, what is he playing at? 

“Yeah,” replies Amz, suddenly not sounding too sure.

“But you might get upset..”

“Why would I get upset?”

“Because it might not be something you want to hear..”

Amz raises her eyebrow at me inquiringly.

I shrug, trying to hide my grin.

“Just tell me, oh my gosh. You’re making me nervous!”

“But it might.. you know, like, ruin things between… us.”

“What?” asks Amz, totally confused.

I hide my face in the pillow, unable to contain my laughter.

“Amz, my battery is almost dead. I’ll call you from the landline,” he says, cutting the call.

Still looking stumped, Amz ends the call.

“Dee, -” she starts, looking up at me.

“Need to pee,” I lie, racing out of the room.

Closing the bathroom door, stifling my laughter, I text Zee.

ME: Are you doing what I think you doing?

ZEE: What do you think I’m doing?

ME: Pranking her?

ZEE: Aha!

ZEE: I’m calling her now

ZEE: Don’t sit by her coz you might ruin it

ME: I’m in my bathroom rn I couldn’t hold my laughter but I want to hear

ZEE: I’ll record

ZEE: Stay online in case I need help

I hear Amz’s phone ring again.

Not wanting to miss out on the fun, I quietly sneak out of my bathroom and tiptoe towards Amz’s room. I stop when I can hear her clearly, staying hidden in case she comes out.

Amz: I am so confused. Why would what you and Dee were talking about ruin our friendship??

Zee: I don’t know how to say it… (Pause) It’s been going on for some time now..

Amz: What is??

I grin.

Zee: Why don’t you just ask Dee..

Amz: (cutting him off) Dee won’t tell me!

Zee: (sighing heavily) Promise you won’t be mad?

Amz: I won’t be mad. Promise.

Zee: I.. (pause) urgh I can’t!!

Amz: (yelling) Oh for goodness sake, Zee! Just –

Zee: I love you.

Silence..

I bite my lip, willing myself not to start laughing.

Amz: What?

Zee: I.. I love you, Amz.

Silence.