If the first week had been about finding classrooms and remembering schedules, the second was about settling into them.
By now, everyone had accepted one unavoidable truth.
Fourth year was busy.
Not impossibly busy.
Just... full.
Full of lectures, consultations, meetings, and professors who seemed determined to make sure no one forgot they were seniors.
And because their courses were scattered across different buildings and even different college departments, seeing each other on campus had become a small miracle.
Most days, they only managed it if they planned it on purpose.
The girls were still talking every day.
Just not all at once.
The group chat, once flooded with memes, random pictures, and Christine's dramatic announcements, had grown noticeably quieter.
Sometimes an entire morning passed without a single notification.
Then, around ten-thirty...
Christine:
I just passed Gwen.
She looked like she was in a legal dispute with gravity.
Gwen:
I was carrying two textbooks.
Gravity picked a fight first.
Nica:
😂
Then...
Nothing.
Just before noon, Khae stepped out of her last morning class and checked the time.
12:02 p.m.
Right on schedule.
She adjusted the strap of her bag before making her way toward the cafeteria.
The lunchtime crowd had already begun filling every table.
Students wandered around carrying trays, searching for somewhere to sit.
"Khae!"
She looked toward the corner of the cafeteria.
Lindtsey raised a hand.
"I claimed a table."
Khae smiled as she walked over.
"I'm impressed."
"I got here early."
"You fought for it?"
"I gave people my best intimidating stare."
Khae set her tray down.
"And?"
Lindtsey deadpanned, "Apparently I'm more threatening in my head."
Khae laughed as she pulled out the chair.
"So you lied."
"I prefer 'preemptive seating management'."
For the first few minutes, they simply ate.
The cafeteria buzzed with overlapping conversations.
Some students hurried through lunch before their next class.
Others lingered over unfinished meals, grateful for the short break.
For once, neither of them had to rush off to another building immediately, so they could actually sit together without checking the clock every few seconds.
