(Michelle Lui's POV)
By the time I stepped out of my last class for the day, my brain had melted into a human soup of supply and demand curves, consumer choice theory, and the soft dread of an upcoming Thursday.
Thursday:
PhysicsMicroeconomicsWith Steven
I pretended I wasn't thinking about it.
My heartbeat pretended otherwise.
I walked toward the main courtyard, where students streamed past under the golden afternoon light. The campus buzzed — laughter, sneakers on pavement, the low hum of engines from luxury cars pulling into the parking loop.
Suddenly, my phone buzzed.
Group Chat — "We Survived Country A"
Vince: MICHELLE WHERE ARE YOU
Jeff: He's dramatic today
Vince: IM LONELY
Kate: You saw her yesterday.
Vince: LONELY.
Anthony: We're heading to UA grounds.
Jasmine: We're picking up milk tea. Anyone want?
Lara: I'll pay for a wintermelon.
Jasmine: No need. On me.
I smiled.
They hadn't fallen apart after the trip.
We weren't tiptoeing around each other anymore.
