10 Sins of Being Single

Chapter 4

I'm here at the library again, a quiet escape from the usual noise on campus. GSU— Golden State University's library is a mix of the classic and modern—long wooden tables fill the main area, surrounded by towering shelves stacked with books that have seen better days.

But they've updated it with sleek study pods and plenty of charging stations, making it a popular spot for study groups like ours.

Today, I'm with my groupmates for a research project. It's the research that I was stressing about last week.

Wendy and Alexis are seated across from me, and next to them are Ella, Shawn, and Christian. We're all neck-deep in our notes, laptops open, piles of reference books scattered around us.

Wendy nudges me, whispering, "Grabe, another day, another battle with thesis research, huh? I feel like these books are starting to haunt my dreams."

She shudders dramatically.

I laugh, shaking my head. "Same, Wendy. Honestly, I could recite some of these journal articles by heart at this point."

Alexis looks up from her laptop and gives me a sympathetic smile.

"At least we're all suffering together. Misery loves company, diba?"

"Exactly!" I reply with a grin. "If I have to read one more article about environmental impacts on architectural design, I might actually cry."

Christian leans over, flipping through a thick book on urban design.

"By the way, guys, have we decided on which case study to analyze for the comparison? 'Cause we really need to finalize that."

Christian is the epitome of seriousness in our group. With his neatly combed hair and tailored shirts, he carries an air of professionalism that sometimes makes me feel like I'm slacking off.

He's always prepared, armed with a planner filled with deadlines and a laptop that seems to have every resource imaginable. His attention to detail is impressive, and he has this knack for analyzing projects in a way that leaves no stone unturned.

"Guys, we can't just pick something off the top of our heads," he continues, adjusting his glasses and looking around the table, making sure everyone is engaged.

"We need a project that challenges us and allows us to showcase our skills."

His practicality sometimes makes him sound like a professor rather than a classmate.

Ella nods, pulling up a document on her tablet.

"Yeah, I'm thinking we could go with either the coastal towns study or the metro urban one. What do you guys think?"

Alexis taps her pen thoughtfully. "I say metro urban. There's more research on it, and it ties in better with our main theme."

I nod in agreement.

"I agree. The coastal one is interesting, pero ang hirap makahanap ng related studies na mas in-depth. Metro urban has more sources to work with."

Wendy sighs, jotting down notes in her planner. "So it's settled then—metro urban it is."

She glances at Alexis and me with a smirk. "Good thing you guys are here, or else we'd be arguing about this forever."

Alexis grins. "What can I say? I'm just a natural-born peacekeeper."

Shawn snorts. "Right. I'll believe that the day I see it."

Everyone chuckles, and the lighthearted moment lifts the tension of our study session.
Then, Ella clears her throat.