SWEET SPOT

Hot Sauce 13

Nyla

The cafeteria was buzzing with the usual Monday chaos — students laughing, trays clattering, and the smell of fries and coffee filling the air. Susie and I had managed to snag our favorite corner table by the window, the one with the good view of the courtyard that we always fought other people for on busy days.

I was halfway through my sandwich when I pulled out my phone, my thumb hovering over Ezekiel’s profile.

“I think it’s time I follow him back,” I said, still chewing.

“No!” Susie said quickly, reaching across the table and grabbing my wrist before I could tap anything. “Do not follow him yet.”

I blinked at her. “Why?” My finger was still frozen over the follow button, waiting.

“I mean, I unfollowed him that day because I thought he was dating Aida,” I explained, lowering my voice slightly even though nobody around us was paying attention. “Things are different now. We’re actually talking.”

“I know, I know,” Susie said, holding up a hand. “But don’t follow him just yet. Trust me on this one.”

“You want to tell me why though?” I asked, setting my phone face down on the table and giving her my full attention.

She shrugged, reaching for her soda and taking a long, unbothered sip like she hadn’t just stopped me mid-action. “I genuinely have no logical reason. My gut is just saying not yet.”

I stared at her. “Your gut.”

“My gut,” she confirmed, nodding seriously.

“So when exactly does your gut give me the green light?” I asked, half-amused, half-frustrated.

“When it tells me it’s fine, I’ll let you know.”

“For how long am I supposed to wait for this gut feeling of yours?” I frowned.

“Just wait,” she said simply.

I rolled my eyes and picked up my sandwich again. “Fine. Your gut has exactly twenty four hours.”

Susie chuckled, and we continued eating. The conversation shifted easily, like it always did with her.

“By the way, we are supposed to go to cheerleading today after classes,” she reminded me. “You know Aida said we would be cheerleading this weekend in the field.”

I grunted, poking at my fries. “Gosh, after that day, I hope we won’t cheerlead anymore?”

“Yeah, we are just helping them for that day,” Susie replied.

“Okay then. I should actually be thankful that I was cleared off my shift this week.”

Susie smiled. “That’s actually good for you.”

“I know, right?” I chuckled, taking a sip of my soda. The cold fizz felt refreshing after the long morning.

“But does your mom know yet?” Susie asked, lowering her voice a little.

“Know about what?”

“About you, you know, working at Subway?”

“Oh hell no,” I said, shaking my head. “If she knows, she would definitely kill me. It’s a secret between us. All of us.”

Susie nodded, understanding. We continued eating in comfortable silence for a moment before she perked up again.

“Are you watching the new season of Love Place? That reality dating show?”

“Not yet. How is it?” I asked, genuinely curious.

“It’s so fire,” Susie replied, eyes lighting up. “Girl, the guys are so hot.”

I laughed softly, shaking my head. “They can never be hotter than Ezekiel anyway.”

The words slipped out before I could stop them. Susie grinned like she had won the lottery.

After eating, Susie and I headed back to our classes. It was the last lecture of the day. When it ended, we made our way to the gymnasium where the cheerleading rehearsal was supposed to take place.

The moment we stepped inside, the sound of chatter and stretching filled the air. Dozens of girls were already there, some doing splits, others warming up their arms and legs. I scanned the room.

“Aida isn’t here yet,” Susie whispered, leaning closer to me.

I looked around and nodded. Of course she wasn’t. She was the captain of the cheerleading team — nothing started without her.

We joined the others and started stretching, preparing our bodies for whatever Aida had planned. The gym floor was cool beneath my palms as I reached for my toes, but my mind was elsewhere. I kept thinking about Ezekiel, the kiss, the necklace, and the confusion that seemed to follow me everywhere.

Just then, the door opened.

Everyone’s eyes turned toward it. Aida walked in with two of her closest friends, looking as confident and put-together as always. She smiled brightly at the group.

“Welcome, ladies,” she said, clapping her hands. “And thank you for showing up. We have a long week of cheerleading ahead of us, so let’s put in the work. Please stay in a straight line so I can organize you into your rows and columns.”

I let out a small sigh of relief. Finally. We could start and get this over with.

But as Aida moved closer, something on her neck caught my eye.

A necklace.

My heart dropped.

It was the necklace. The exact one Ezekiel had given me. The one I had thrown away in anger. It glittered under the gym lights, delicate and unmistakable.

“I thought he said he lost the necklace,” I whispered to myself, staring at it.

Why would he lie to me?

The hurt hit me like a wave. Disappointment settled heavy in my chest. Maybe my brother had been wrong. Maybe Aida wasn’t just a girl with a crush on Ezekiel. Maybe there was something more between them.

“Hey, are you alright?” Susie asked, gently holding my hand.

I turned to her, my eyes already watering. I shook my head and pulled my hand away, grabbing my bag.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t think I can do this,” I said, my voice barely steady.

Susie looked surprised. “What? Why not?”

I just shook my head again. “Also, thank your guts. It was right for me not to follow him.”

I turned and started walking toward the exit. Aida called after me, sounding confused. “Nyla? Where are you going? Is everything okay?”

I didn’t answer. I didn’t even look back. I pushed open the door and left the gym, my heart aching with every step.

The fresh air outside did nothing to ease the tightness in my chest. I kept walking, faster and faster, trying to outrun the image of that necklace around Aida’s neck.

Why did it hurt so much?

I didn’t even know anymore.