JASMINE
The final bell echoed through the corridors like a distant sigh of relief, signaling the end of another long day.
I gathered my books and notes with deliberate care, the crisp pages whispering against one another as I slipped them into my bag.
The weight of the day pressed lightly on my shoulders, but a quiet satisfaction bloomed within me at the thought of heading home to fulfill my promise to Jaden.
As I rose from my seat, a gentle hand closed around my wrist, its touch warm and hesitant. I turned, meeting Mia's eyes wide, earnest pools that held a flicker of vulnerability she rarely showed.
She stood there, framed by the soft evening light filtering through the classroom windows, her posture straight yet tentative.
"Yeah… is there a problem?" I asked, my voice laced with genuine curiosity.
