Unraveling Hearts

Chapter Twenty-Four.

♡ M I L A ♡

Dropping my pen on the open textbook, I lean back in my chair and look around the library brimming with action; the frenzied scene fuels the breakneck pace of studying. Around me, students huddle over laptops, their eyes darting across screens, fingers flying across keyboards. Some whisper fervently. Either way, each person is trying to revise the concepts or mugging up for the upcoming test.

I glance back at my own table, a precarious stack of textbooks, notes, and half-empty coffee cups sprawled all over. That's right. It's the midterm season, looming like storm clouds, and the authorities seem twisted enough to schedule back-to-back exams until the end of the week, leaving no breathing room for us – Jennie's words, not mine.

Savoring the quiet chaos, I stretch my fingers. Outside, the autumn leaves rustle, and I wonder if they, too, are preparing for their own transformation.

To add to everything else, there's a Halloween game that awaits us this weekend.

"That's it. I can't do it anymore." Jennie's voice breaks through the silence at our table, and I turn to look at her. Rubbing her tired eyes with faint circles under them, she grumbles, "These days are so truly excruciatingly painful. There are too many media laws to study about. Ugh, why do universities conduct exams? It's torture..." Her voice trails as she lets out a frustrated groan.

Well... "I don't know what to say to you. Otherwise, you might accuse me of condescension again," I reply.

"That's correct," she says as she attempts what appears to be a grin, but drops it, admitting defeat. "I'm too tired even to smile. So, I'm going to head out."

Jen stands up with a screech of her chair.

"But where are you going?" I blurt out, earning a scathing snort from her. "... back to the room, where else? I don't think I can sit here for two more hours, and I really need a caffeinated drink to wake me up."

"Oh."

She turns to leave when she abruptly halts to glance over at me, her gaze meeting mine. "Are you coming with me, Mila?" she asks, raising her eyebrow.

"No, I think I'll stay here. I still have some theories to revise."

"Ah, don't you just love to rub it in, sweetie?" she scoffs sarcastically, then adds, "I feel even more behind. It's not like I don't know I'm behind on my syllabus, barely even halfway through it. But I guess you're just too good at staying on top of things." With an exasperated expression on her face, she rolls her eyes and lets out a heavy sigh. "Ugh, whatever! I'm going now," she mutters under her breath before looking back at me again. "One more thing, do you need anything then?" She might seem irritated and stressed out, but I can tell she's trying to be helpful.

Feeling a little embarrassed, I hesitate for a moment before suggesting, "Uh, snacks?"

She gives me a comforting nod, then turns around and walks away. As soon as she disappears from my view, my phone suddenly grabs my attention. I reach for it, but the sound and movement earn me glares from other people in the room. I pass them an apologetic smile and turn the silent mode on before twisting the pen between my fingers and scribbling down more notes, acutely aware of the tense surroundings around me. Do you ever experience that feeling when you put in a lot of effort to study, but once you close the book or try to move on to the next topic, all the information you just learned disappears from your mind? The feeling of not being able to retain information is incredibly frustrating. It's a feeling I despise, making me want to go through my notes repeatedly until the words are embedded in my brain. Even the slightest distraction can be a hindrance to my concentration. Like now, for instance, I find myself propped up on my elbow and biting my lower lip anxiously as I eye my phone, wondering if I received a text from him. I want to check so badly when I know I'm supposed to be focusing on my revision.