My Last And My Only
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    Chapter 126: The Next Chapter

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    The house was unusually quiet.
    For the first time in what felt like years, Aiah woke up without an alarm reminding her about a class, a deadline, or a project she had forgotten to export the night before.
    She opened her eyes.
    Silence.
    No rush.
    No notifications from classmates asking if she had already submitted something.
    No calendar reminding her about presentations.
    Just sunlight slipping through the curtains.
    She lay there for another minute.
    Then another.
    "...I'm really done."
    The words sounded strange even to her.
    She sat up slowly and looked toward the chair beside her bed.
    Her graduation gown had been neatly folded the night before.
    Resting on top of it was the small handwritten note Khae had given her.
    Aiah smiled.
    She reached for it, reading it once more despite already knowing every word by heart.
    You did it.
    I hope you always remember this version of yourself—the girl who worked hard, dreamed big, and never gave up.
    I'm excited to see where life takes you next.
    And wherever you go, I'll always be cheering for you.
    She laughed quietly.
    "I know."
    "...I still can't believe it."
    The smell of breakfast drifted through the apartment.
    When Aiah stepped out of her room, Lou was already setting plates on the dining table.
    Dean was folding the newspaper while Gwen wandered into the kitchen, still looking half asleep.
    "Good morning," Lou greeted.
    "Morning."
    Lou immediately looked at her daughter.
    "You slept well?"
    "I think so."
    "You think so?"
    "I woke up three times just to make sure yesterday actually happened."
    Dean chuckled behind his coffee.
    "I did the same."
    Aiah looked at him in surprise.
    "You did?"
    "I kept checking the photos."
    Gwen pulled out a chair.
    "Tito Dean has been looking at them since six this morning."
    Dean cleared his throat.
    "I was organizing them."
    "You made three folders."
    "They needed to be organized."
    Lou smiled to herself.
    She had long since learned that Dean expressed his emotions through small, practical things.
    Organizing photographs.
    Checking luggage twice.
    Making sure everyone had eaten.
    It was his way of saying he cared.
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