𝙸𝚗𝚍𝚒𝚊

𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚃𝚠𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚢𝙵𝚘𝚞𝚛

University of Technology| Papine|
Monday| March 27|

I had returned to my classes at last.

After the sleeping pills finally took effect and granted me several hours of much-needed rest, I felt significantly better. Zaire accompanied me to campus this morning and intends to remain there throughout the day, despite having only online classes. Over the past two weeks, I focused on rebuilding myself, spending time with my friends, and catching up on the schoolwork I had missed. Regrettably, I ended up losing grades for the two practical classes I had skipped.

"Hey, India. Are you okay? I heard about what happened." I turned to see who it was talking to me.

Jailen.

Internally, I couldn't help but feel a sense of displeasure. Although Jailen was a close friend of Zaire, my instincts didn't resonate well with him. Furthermore, the fact that he was the sibling of the person who constantly caused trouble only worsened the situation. However, considering his friendship with my boyfriend, I made a conscious effort to maintain a polite attitude.

I glanced around, feeling perplexed as I hadn't realized that Jailen was in my Entrepreneurship lecture. It was quite surprising considering the large number of students enrolled in the module, and some students often attended different lectures throughout the semester. "Oh, I'm fine, thank you," I responded with a tight-lipped smile, before redirecting my attention to the front of the classroom, waiting for the teacher to begin the lecture.

"Can I sit here?" Jailen asked, gesturing to the vacant seat next to me. Reluctantly, I agreed, allowing him to take the seat.

As the lecture commenced, I hoped for a focused and productive session. However, to my dismay, Jailen continued to engage in constant conversation, causing a continuous stream of distractions. With each passing minute, my frustration grew, and I realized that I needed to take action. Unable to bear the ongoing disruption any longer, I mustered the courage to speak up, politely but firmly requesting him to be quiet so that I could concentrate on taking notes. From that point onward, a hushed silence enveloped our surroundings, allowing me to fully engage with the lecture material for the remainder of the class.

"Hey India," Jesus fucking Christ, can't this guy read the room? Doesn't he realize I'm not in the mood for small talk? I thought to myself, growing increasingly irritated by his lack of awareness. Nevertheless, I maintained my composure and responded with a forced smile. "I'm sorry again about what happened to you. I hope better days are ahead," he said with a smile on his face. His attempt at a side hug caught me off guard, and I instinctively stepped away, creating a physical distance between us. I hoped that my signature fake smile would be enough to convey my desire to avoid any further escalation of the situation.

"I appreciate it, thank you once again," I responded, with a subtle undertone of dismissal in my voice. It seemed that he finally grasped the hint, as he waved and walked away. A sense of relief washed over me, knowing that I wouldn't have to endure any further interaction with him. As my class ended, I made my way towards Burger King, where Asia had suggested we meet up for a meal. I couldn't help but wonder if she had ulterior motives, as I had lost a few pounds over the past few weeks. Perhaps she was trying to help me regain some weight.