Jane slipped into the lecture hall just in time—just as the professor walked in.
The place was already buzzing. Laptops flipped open, pages turned, low voices filling the space with that familiar hum.
She barely made it past the doorway before—
"Well, look who finally showed up."
She spun around.
Mia, of course, with her dramatic pose—leaning back, arms crossed, eyes narrowed like she was starring in a very unserious detective movie.
Jane let out a quiet sigh.
"Good morning to you too."
Mia hopped up, circling around her. She was really committing.
Jane frowned. "What are you doing?"
"Observation," Mia replied, dead serious.
Jane stared. "About what?"
Mia leaned in close.
"You."
Jane just blinked.
"You look... happy."
Jane rolled her eyes and slid into a seat beside her.
"I always look happy."
Mia shot back, "Not like this," without missing a beat.
Jane flipped open her notebook. Calm, calm, calm.
"Like what?"
Mia's eyes narrowed further. "Like you just had the best night of your life."
Jane tried to keep her face blank.
Mia gasped—loudly. Heads turned.
"Oh my god."
Jane groaned, eyes to the ceiling. "Don't start."
Mia smacked the desk. "You DID."
Jane pinched the bridge of her nose. "Mia."
"You did it already!"
Now a few students were definitely interested.
Jane muttered, "I did not," barely above a whisper.
Mia leaned in, voice low and grave, "Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"Not even a little?"
"No."
Mia studied her hard, then leaned back.
"…Okay. I believe you."
Jane exhaled, relieved.
Of course, Mia grinned. "But soon."
Jane shut her notebook with a light thud.
"You're unbelievable."
Mia nudged her. "Hey, I'm just being supportive."
Jane gave her a look. "That is not support."
"It absolutely is."
Jane shook her head, but a smile started tugging at her lips anyway.
Mia pounced, eyes sharp. "There it is again."
Jane frowned. "What?"
"That smile."
Jane tried to hide it. "Stop analyzing my face."
Mia just leaned closer, chin on her hands. "So... you really like her."
Jane didn't answer right away.
But she didn't need to.
Mia's whole act faded, and her voice turned soft. "I'm happy for you, you know."
Jane glanced over, surprised. "Really?"
"Yeah." Mia shrugged. "You deserve someone good."
Jane's smile softened. "Thanks."
Mia nodded, but then—
"But."
Jane groaned, "There's always a but."
Mia got serious, leaning in close. "Since you said you haven't done it yet…"
Jane eyed her, suspicious. "What?"
Mia dropped her voice like they were discussing state secrets. "First rule."
Jane squinted. "…Rule?"
"Yes." Mia nodded like she was about to impart ancient wisdom.
Jane knew immediately this would be trouble. "What rule?"
Mia grabbed Jane's hand for inspection.
Jane yanked it back. "Seriously, what are you doing?"
"Checking."
"For…?"
"Your nails."
Jane gawked. "My nails?"
Mia nodded firmly. "Yes."
Jane looked at her nails. "They're normal?"
Mia tsk-tsked disapprovingly. "No. No. No."
Jane rubbed her forehead. "Mia…"
"You need to cut them."
Jane's eyes went wide as understanding hit.
"Why?" she demanded, but her ears were turning pink.
Mia's voice dropped to a whisper. "Trust me."
Jane just stared—her cheeks lit up now.
"Mia!"
Mia shrugged, looking smug. "Hey, I'm just helping."
Jane groaned, hiding her face with her hands.
"This conversation is over."
Mia leaned back, looking very satisfied. "You'll thank me later."
Jane muttered, "I absolutely will not."
Across the city, Sophia pushed through the hospital doors into another morning rush.
Nurses hustled by, doctors talked quietly, patients waited in lines of faded chairs. It was all busy, loud, and somehow routine.
Sophia walked down the corridor, tugging her sleeve into place.
"Good morning, Dr. Harris."
She nodded. "Morning."
Another person waved. "Morning, Doctor."
She kept responding, her voice easy, her steps relaxed—way less tense than last week.
Last week felt like a disaster. Tired, snappy at tiny mistakes, not a wink of proper sleep.
Today she looked lighter. She was actually here, not off in her head.
She reached the nurses' station—and Clara was there, leaned on the counter, looking far too pleased.
Sophia stopped. "…What?"
Clara raised her eyebrows. "You."
Sophia sighed. "Not you too."
Clara straightened, grinning. "You're cheerful."
Sophia went with, "I'm always cheerful."
Clara laughed. "Biggest lie I've heard in a month."
Sophia folded her arms. "I'm working today. That's normal."
Clara pointed. "You're supposed to be on sick leave."
Sophia hesitated. "…Technically."
Clara pounced on that. "Technically? You had a fever yesterday."
"I'm fine now."
Clara dropped her voice. "Did something happen?"
"What?" Sophia blinked.
Clara leaned in, studying her face. "You look suspiciously happy."
Sophia tried to play it cool.
But Clara's expression changed as realization dawned. "…Wait. No way."
Sophia slid away, but Clara followed.
"You went on a date."
Sophia shook her head. Clara gasped, grinning like a maniac.
"You DID!"
Sophia put a hand to her temple. "Clara…"
"You're glowing!"
"I am not glowing."
Clara laughed. "Oh my god, you're in love."
Sophia actually stopped. She looked at Clara.
"It's been one day."
Clara just folded her arms. "That's not a no."
Sophia sighed again.
Clara leaned in, all sly. "So… officially now ?"
Sophia just walked off. "You're impossible."
Clara trailed after her, smug. "But I'm right."
Sophia moved through the hospital with her usual confidence.
Charts reviewed. Orders given. She went over scans with the junior doctors—questions answered, decisions made. Work felt like something she could handle today.
A nurse caught up, tablet in hand. "Dr. Harris, the lab results for room 302."
Sophia scanned the report. "Potassium's still low. Increase the IV, repeat labs in four hours."
"Yes, doctor."
Another doctor passed her. "Dr. Harris, the CT for Mr. Delgado?"
Sophia looked at the images. "Minor bleed, but it's stable. Get neurology and keep monitoring."
"Understood."
Clara hung back, watching the whole thing with her arms folded and a crooked grin.
Sophia handed back the report and moved on.
Clara caught up. "You're moving like a machine today."
Sophia didn't stop. "Efficiency is good for patients."
Clara snorted. "That's not what I meant."
Sophia glanced at her. "What did you mean?"
Clara leaned closer, grinning. "You're in a suspiciously good mood."
Sophia stopped beside the nurses' station, signed another document.
"I'm working."
Clara nodded, "Yeah, but last week you looked like you wanted to fire half the hospital."
Sophia shut the file. "That was different."
"Oh, really?"
Sophia started off down the hall.
Clara tagged along. "So… what time's your date tonight?"
Sophia faltered for half a second.
Clara's grin got impossibly wide. "I KNEW it."
Sophia sighed, "It's just dinner."
Clara held up her hands like she was presenting a show. "Dinner is a date."
Sophia stared at her. "You are very invested in this."
Clara pointed at her. "You've been single for years. I deserve this."
Sophia just shook her head, but she couldn't hide her smile.
Clara caught it instantly. "There it is again!"
Sophia ducked into her office.
Clara leaned in the doorway, relentless. "So what's she like about it?"
Sophia settled at her desk, flipping open a patient chart. "She's… bold."
Clara's eyes sparkled. "Oh, I like her already."
Sophia muttered, "That makes one of us."
Clara laughed. "Don't pretend you're not enjoying it."
Sophia didn't answer, but a little smile stuck around anyway.
Back at college, the lecture dragged on longer than usual. Finally, students packed up, sleepily shuffling out.
Jane closed her notebook with a sigh and stretched.
Before she could even stand, Mia snagged her wrist.
"Come on."
Jane looked confused. "Where?"
"Important mission," Mia said, already pulling her toward the hallway.
Jane frowned. "What mission?"
Mia didn't answer until they reached a tiny beauty store near campus.
Jane saw the sign and stopped. "…No."
Mia nodded. "Yes."
Jane crossed her arms. "I'm not going in there."
Mia put her hands on Jane's shoulders, determined. "Remember what we talked about."
Jane's ears turned pink. "Mia…"
"Your nails," Mia said.
Jane checked them again. "They're fine."
Mia shook her head like a disappointed coach. "They are NOT fine."
Jane tried to back away. "I have another class."
Mia stepped in front of the door. "This takes five minutes."
Jane sighed. "You're way too invested in my love life."
Mia opened the door. "Because I care about your future."
Jane rolled her eyes. "You're ridiculous."
Inside, a technician looked up, smiling. "Hello."
Mia pointed to Jane like she'd brought her in for a makeover show. "She needs help."
Jane mumbled, "I really don't."
The tech smiled kindly. "Just a trim?"
Mia answered before Jane could. "Yes."
Jane let out a long sigh and sat down. "This is humiliating."
Mia sat beside her, grinning. "No, this is preparation."
Jane shot her a look. "For something that hasn't even happened."
Mia leaned in and whispered, "It will."
Jane just shook her head, but couldn't hide the tiny smile creeping in.
The technician started trimming her nails. Mia nodded, satisfied.
Jane eyed her suspiciously. "You're way too happy about this."
Mia grinned. "Oh, I'm just getting started."
Jane groaned. "I regret telling you anything."