My Last And My Only

Chapter 73: Ordinary Again

By the middle of the week, the campus had settled into the rhythm it knew best.

The excitement of returning from the ten-day break had faded almost as quickly as it came. Bulletin boards were now crowded with announcements, classrooms echoed with lectures instead of vacation stories, and every student seemed to be carrying either a laptop, a thick stack of readings, or a cup of coffee that promised to keep them awake through another afternoon.

For Aiah, the busyness was welcome.

It gave her something to focus on.

Inside the Multimedia Arts laboratory, she sat in front of a high-resolution monitor, carefully adjusting the color grading of one of the photographs she intended to include in her graduation exhibit. Sir Lauren had always told them that editing wasn't about making a picture beautiful—it was about making it honest.

The reminder lingered in her mind as she zoomed in on the image for what felt like the tenth time.

She frowned.

Something still felt off.

Not technically.

Emotionally.

"You've been staring at that for so long," her classmate teased from the next computer. "At this point, the picture's probably staring back."

Aiah laughed, rubbing the bridge of her nose.

"I can't decide if I should brighten it."

Her classmate leaned closer to the monitor.

"It doesn't need brighter lighting."

She looked at Aiah with a knowing smile.

"It needs you to stop doubting yourself."

The words stayed with Aiah even after class ended.

Sometimes, she wondered if she had started seeing flaws simply because she had spent too much time looking for them.

On the other side of campus, Mikhaela Janna Lim stepped out of the BA Communication building with her iPad tucked under one arm.

Their morning lecture on media ethics had gone overtime, which meant she only had a few minutes before meeting Lindtsey for lunch.

As she crossed the College of Arts and Sciences courtyard, she spotted a familiar figure sitting on one of the stone benches.

Lindtsey was adjusting the ribbon tied around her ponytail while looking at her reflection in her phone.

"You're three minutes late." Lindtsey said without looking up.

Khae checked her watch.

"I'm one minute late."

"I counted walking time."

"You timed my walking?"

"I know how fast you walk."

Khae couldn't help but laugh.

"That's a little creepy."

Lindstey finally looked up, smiling faintly.

"I prefer observant."

Before Khae could answer, Christine emerged from the Journalism building carrying a voice recorder and a yellow legal pad.

She looked exhausted.

"I've interviewed six students today."

"No one answered my questions."