My Dear Annabelle

Chapter - 14 The Light In The Dark

(In Lian's College)

As the final exams approached, the pressure at Lian's college had noticeably increased. With stacks of notes and textbooks scattered across tables, students were hunched over, frantically trying to absorb as much information as they could.

Among them, Lian and his close-knit group of friends, Mai, Jade, and Yi had claimed their usual corner of the library. The sun outside was slowly sinking, but inside, the atmosphere was quiet and focused.

Each of them was immersed in their respective subjects, scribbling notes and flipping through pages, occasionally glancing up to share a comment or exchange a quick glance of solidarity.

Lian's mind, however, wasn't entirely in his studies. Though he appeared concentrated in his economics textbook, a familiar face kept sneaking into his thoughts... Kuea.

The stillness of the library was suddenly broken by the familiar sound of a phone vibrating against the wooden table.

Lian blinked, momentarily startled out of his thoughts. He reached for his phone and saw "Riya Mom" flash on the screen. The call caught him off guard.

"Hello, Mom?" Lian answered softly, not wanting to disturb others in the library.

"Lian," Riya's voice came through, slightly anxious but steady, "Kuea's teacher just called me. He said Kuea wasn't feeling well, so he canceled the special class today. Can you go pick him up from school?"

"Of course, Mom," Lian replied, his tone firm. "I'll head over right now."

"Thank you, Lian. Just make sure he's okay, alright?" Riya's voice softened with concern.

"Don't worry mom, I will," Lian assured her before ending the call.

Placing his phone back on the table, Lian looked up at his friends, who had paused their studying to glance at him with curious eyes. They could sense that something was up.

"I need to go pick up Kuea from school," Lian explained as he packed his books into his bag. "He's not feeling well, so his special class got canceled."

Yi, who had been listening quietly, immediately perked up. "I'll come with you," he offered, standing up and gathering his things.

Mai and Jade exchanged knowing glances, smirking at each other. "Oh, is it really Kuea you want to check on, Yi? Or are you just hoping to run into Diao while you're at it?" Mai teased with a mischievous grin.

Yi's face turned a light shade of pink, but he rolled his eyes in mock annoyance. "I'm just being a good friend, alright? And if Diao happens to be there, well... that's just a bonus."

Jade chuckled, nudging Mai. "Good save, Yi. But we all know what your real motives are."

Lian couldn't help but smile at their banter, feeling some of his tension ease. His friends always had a way of lightening the mood, no matter the situation. "Alright, alright, let's get going," he said, gesturing to Yi. "The sooner we pick up Kuea, the sooner you can 'accidentally' bump into Diao."

With that, the two of them left the library, waving a quick goodbye to Mai and Jade as they headed toward the parking lot.

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The drive to Kuea's school was relatively quick, though a nagging sense of unease gnawed at Lian's chest. He knew that Kuea's usual spot in front of the school might be empty since he wasn't feeling well.

When they arrived at the school parking lot, Lian parked the car in the visitor's space, and both he and Yi stepped out, making their way towards the entrance.