We're Still Human

Chapter 44: Uni Bound

The night air is cool and crisp as I lean against the railing, looking out over the sprawling plaza. From up here, on the rooftop of the tallest building in the mall, the world feels quiet. Peaceful. The shops below are starting to close one by one, their lights flickering off and plunging the streets into shadow. Only the glow of the moon and the distant hum of the city remain.

This has always been our place, Kendall's and mine. Somewhere we can escape to when everything feels too big, too loud, too much. It's here that we've had some of our most honest conversations, the kind that leave you feeling raw but also healed.

Tonight, though, feels different. There's a weight in the air, but it's not heavy—it's full of possibility.

I glance down at the envelope in my hands, my fingers running over the embossed logo of Monash University. I haven't opened it yet, not officially, but I know what it says. I know what this means.

"Hey."

Kennie's voice pulls me out of my thoughts, and I turn to see her walking toward me. Her hands are shoved into the pockets of her jacket, and her dark curls are pulled back into a loose ponytail. The moonlight catches on her face, making her look even more beautiful than usual.

She stops next to me, resting her elbows on the railing and looking out over the plaza. For a moment, neither of us speaks. We just take it in—the view, the stillness, the quiet understanding between us.

"You're thinking hard again," she says finally, her lips curving into a small smile.

"I'm always thinking hard," I reply, nudging her playfully.

She laughs, leaning closer so our shoulders touch. "What's on your mind, Yas?"

I take a deep breath, my fingers tightening around the envelope. "Everything. The future. Us."

Her smile softens, and she turns to face me fully. "Okay. Tell me."

I hesitate, the words catching in my throat. But then I remind myself that this is Kendall. My Kennie. The person who's seen me at my worst and still chooses me, every single time.

"I got in," I say, holding up the envelope.

Her eyebrows lift, a grin spreading across her face. "To Monash?"

I nod, my heart pounding as I continue. "I've decided to stay. I'm going to start my Bachelor of Arts and focus on my basketball career. This... this is the life I want, Kennie. Here, with you. Sydney isn't mine anymore. It hasn't been for a long time." I grin at her. "I felt like shit when I first got here; scared, hurt, angry. But you gave me a chance, you showed me what it means when someone says that they will stay, and now it's my turn to show you the same."

Her expression softens, and for a moment, I think she might cry. But instead, she reaches out, taking my hand in hers. "You're really staying?"

"I'm really staying," I say, my voice steady. "This is my new start. For me. For us."

Kendall squeezes my hand, her smile widening. "Well, I guess it's a good thing I'm staying too."

My eyes widen. "What?"

She pulls out her own envelope, identical to mine, and holds it up. "I got into Monash too. Bachelor of Science."

For a moment, all I can do is stare at her. Then I'm laughing, a sound so full of joy it feels like my chest might burst. "You're serious?"

"Dead serious," she says, laughing with me.

"Does this mean we're going to be roommates again?" I ask, grinning.

"Obviously," she replies, rolling her eyes. "We make the best roommates, remember? Fake dating and all."

I laugh, shaking my head. "God, that feels like a lifetime ago."

"It kind of was," she says, her voice softening. "But look at us now. We're not faking anything anymore."

I meet her gaze, my chest tightening. "No, we're not."

For a moment, the world fades away, leaving just the two of us. I reach out, tucking a loose curl behind her ear. "I love you, Kendall. You know that, right?"

"I know," she whispers, leaning into my touch. "And I love you too."

Her words are a balm to my soul, grounding me in a way nothing else can.

We sit side by side, watching the last of the lights below flicker out, I find myself reflecting on the past few years. The girl I was when I first arrived at that boarding school feels like a stranger now. She was angry, scared, and so unsure of herself. But she was also brave, even when she didn't feel like it.

And now? Now I'm a woman who knows what she wants. A woman who isn't afraid to chase her dreams, to love openly, to embrace the future with open arms.

"This year has been a lot," I say, breaking the silence.

Kennie nods. "It really has. But you made it through, Yas. We made it through."

I smile, leaning my head against her shoulder. "Yeah, we did."

For the first time in a long time, I feel at peace.

***

We don't leave the rooftop until the moon is high in the sky, casting everything in its silver glow. Back in Kennie's room, the air feels different—charged, electric.

She pulls me close, her hands resting on my waist as she looks up at me. "You're not going to run away, are you?"

"Never," I say, cupping her face in my hands.

The kiss starts slow, a gentle press of lips that quickly deepens. My fingers tangle in her hair, and her hands slide up my back, pulling me closer. Every touch, every breath, feels like a promise—a reminder that this is ours.

As the world fades to black, all I can think is how lucky I am to have found her, to have found this.

At first, my future looked bleak, a road filled with uncertainty and fear. But as I stand here, holding the person I love, I realize something: it's not bleak anymore.

It's pretty clear now.