"Sorry, your door was a little bit open, and I didn't mean to peek or anything," Ellie said carefully.
Before Ellie could finish her words, Bella immediately responded with an expression that was once again strong, even though she had just been crying a few seconds ago.
"Yeah, I know," Bella said shortly, walking toward her room and slowly closing the door.
Ellie froze.
"So cold, I'm scared of this woman," Ellie muttered.
However, she tried to ignore it and not overthink the current situation between them.
________________________
After the shower, the cold water washed over Ellie's pale, soft, and smooth skin. Once finished, Ellie went back to her room and prepared to sleep. She lay down on her bed and suddenly thought about Bella.
"She seems like a tough person with her cold vibes, but I think she's just a crybaby," Ellie wondered.
"But who cares?" Ellie snapped, remembering Bella's cold attitude toward her.
Kring… Kring… (Ellie's phone rang)
It was a call from her friend, Gaby, who was in Beijing. Ellie grabbed her phone and picked it up.
"Ellie, why did it take you so long to pick up?" Gaby asked, sounding slightly frustrated.
Ellie answered without directly addressing Gaby's question.
"I just arrived, Gaby. I'm so tired today. Not only because of the summer heat, but also because someone scammed me, and there's also…" , Ellie didn't even finish her words when Gaby interrupted her.
"What are you talking about? Someone scammed you?" , Gaby asked with concern.
"The house I found in the newspaper wasn't like I expected, and now I have to live with another girl," Ellie replied.
"Oh, I thought something serious happened to you" , Gaby responded casually.
"So you think it's not serious?" Ellie replied.
"Just go back to your parents' house if you don't want to live with her!! At least you wouldn't have to pay rent if you stay with your parents. Anyway I really surprised you back because I thought you wouldn't like your hometown, that's why you left there" , Gaby said.
Ellie took a deep breath.
"Yeah I know, what a suprised life is and I'am not sure I can live with my parents" , Ellie replied while her mind drifting to what happened two months ago.
Two months ago _______________
When Ellie was still working as a manager at her company in Beijing, her mom had called her.
"El, do you think you want to come back to Jinan and continue running the shop?" her mom asked over the phone.
"You know I'm not interested in business, Mom. I have a job here. Why don't you just close the business?" Ellie replied.
"Your dad doesn't want to close the business. But he can't run the restaurant anymore. He's old, and I'm worried about him," her mom said.
Ellie heard her father's voice in the background.
"Chennn, don't ask her. She doesn't care" her father said.
"Is that Dad's voice?" Ellie asked.
Her mom spoke again, "Don't mind him, just let me know if you change your mind."
Then, she hung up the phone.
Ellie had only been living in Beijing for three years. She hadn't even fully lived the life she wanted yet, but now she had to think about her family again.
Back to the present_________________
"What did you say?" Gaby replied.
"Never mind, don't worry," Ellie replied.
"I know it's not my business where you want to stay and live, but if you don't want to go back to your parents' house, just try to be friends with that girl" , Gaby replied.
"Be friends with her?" Ellie responded not sure, especially after all the awkwardness between them.
"Yes, be friends with her! Okay, talk to you later. I have something else to do" Gaby replied before hanging up the phone.
After what Gaby said, Ellie had a thought:
"Be friends? With her?" And the she's falling asleep.