Touch me gently, break me slow

💞💞 The blanket was pulled all the way to her chest, her fingers curling against the soft fabric. Her lashes rested on her cheeks, breathing calm and steady, lips parted just slightly. She looked peaceful-almost too peaceful for someone who had class that morning.

"Mmm..." she stirred, frowning softly as the morning light slipped through the curtains and kissed her face. She turned over, wrapping herself tighter in the blanket as if it could protect her from the world.

Then-

📱 Riiing... riiing...

Her phone buzzed endlessly on the nightstand.

Eva groaned. "Ugh... who's calling this early?"

She reached out blindly, her hand tapping the table once... twice... thrice before she finally grabbed the phone.

"Hello..." she mumbled sleepily, her voice low and lazy.

A loud voice exploded through the speaker.

"Eva! Come open the damn door! I've been knocking for ten minutes!"

Her eyes flew open instantly. "Jasmine?!"

"Yes, Jasmine! Your best friend who's about to be late because you're still drooling in bed!"

Eva shot up, blanket falling around her. "Wait-wait! You're at the door?!"

"Where else do you think I am, the moon? Open up!"

Eva scrambled out of bed, nearly tripping over her slippers. Her messy hair bounced as she rushed to the small mirror near her bed. She winced at her reflection-puffy eyes, tangled hair, and a T-shirt that said Sleep is My Boyfriend.

"Great," she muttered, "just great."

She dashed toward the door and swung it open.

Jasmine stood there, arms crossed, a designer handbag hanging from her shoulder, her polished nails tapping impatiently against the strap. "You look like you wrestled with your pillow and lost," she said flatly.

Eva rolled her eyes. "Good morning to you too, sunshine."

"Morning? It's almost eight-thirty!" Jasmine shoved her playfully inside. "You're a final-year student, Eva. This is not the time to be dating your blanket."

Eva sighed, dragging herself toward her small bathroom. "Five minutes! I'll be ready in five minutes!"

"You said that yesterday," Jasmine called out. "And we still missed the first lecture!"

"Yeah, yeah..." Eva mumbled under the sound of running water. "This time I mean it."

As the steam filled the air, Jasmine shook her head with a small smile. "One day, girl, you'll be late to your own wedding."

From inside the bathroom came Eva's voice, half muffled, half laughing, "Then you better bring the cake!"

Steam rolled out as Eva stepped from the bathroom, a towel tied snugly over her chest. Her hair dripped water down her shoulders, tracing wet lines across her collarbone. She walked toward the mirror, wiping the fog from the glass with her palm.

Jasmine, sitting cross-legged on the bed, raised an eyebrow. Her gaze trailed from Eva's damp hair to her towel.

Eva caught the look immediately. "What?" she said, narrowing her eyes. "Why are you staring at me like that?"

Jasmine scoffed. "Like seriously, Eva... you're about to graduate, and you still act like a sleepy freshman. You need to grow up-change this routine!"

Eva grabbed her lotion and started applying it to her arms. "Working part-time at the coffee shop already feels like a full-time job," she muttered. "My legs ache every night, and some customers think smiles come for free."

"I've told you to quit that job," Jasmine said firmly. "You're overworking yourself. Classes in the morning, then straight to the café till closing time? That's insane."

Eva chuckled softly, walking over to the wardrobe. "And let my landlord throw me out? No thanks. Unless you're volunteering to pay my rent this month?"

Jasmine smirked, tossing her designer bag onto the chair. "Relax, I've already taken care of it. Rent's paid for the month. Consider it a little investment in keeping my favorite human alive and functional."

Eva blinked, half-amused, half-exasperated. "Seriously? You didn't have to..."

"I did," Jasmine interrupted, grinning. "Now stop whining and get dressed before we're late.... But seriously, girl-when are you going to get a boyfriend?"

Eva froze for a second, halfway through pulling on her jeans. "A what now?" she asked, voice dripping with disbelief.

Jasmine smirked. "A boyfriend, Miss Coffee Queen. Someone to distract you from those espresso machines and grumpy customers. Or are you planning to marry your job?"

Eva rolled her eyes, tugging on her white T-shirt. "I don't have time for love, Jas. Between work, school, and surviving-dating is a luxury."

Jasmine crossed her arms, grinning knowingly. "You say that now... but wait until some handsome stranger walks into that café and makes you spill a whole tray of coffee."

Eva laughed, grabbing her backpack. "If that ever happens, I'll make him pay for the mess."

Jasmine followed her toward the door, shaking her head. "One day, Eva... your world's going to flip upside down. I can feel it."

Eva smiled faintly, locking the door behind her. "Then I hope it flips gently-I can't afford another broken cup."

---

Outside, the morning sun poured gently over the narrow street as the girls stepped out of the apartment building. The air smelled faintly of baked bread from the shop nearby.

Eva's eyes widened as she spotted a sleek black car parked by the curb.

A chauffeur stood beside it, opening the back door with a polite nod.

"Please tell me that's not your new toy," Eva said, staring in disbelief.

Jasmine grinned proudly. "Dad finally gave in. Said it's safer than the convertible."

Eva groaned. "Safer, sure. But seriously, Jas, could you look less like you stepped out of a K-drama?"

Jasmine tossed her hair and slid into the car. "Sorry, darling. Some of us were born fabulous."

Eva rolled her eyes but couldn't hide her smile as she got in beside her.

As the car pulled onto the main road, Jasmine's words echoed playfully-

"One day, Eva... your ordinary world is going to collide with something extraordinary."