The morning light felt unnecessarily cheerful for someone who had barely slept. Amara blinked at the ceiling, one hand brushing the faint sting on her cheek. Though the pain had dulled, last night's events still sat heavy on her chest—the shouting, the slap, the way Kieran had looked at her as she cried.
The more pressing issue was her scholarship. If she lost that, she wouldn't just lose the university—she'd lose her only way out.
Across the room, Nia groaned dramatically and rolled over in her blanket cocoon.
"Ugh, I dreamt of poetry and fries fighting for my attention," she mumbled, voice muffled.
"You're weird," Amara said with a tired smile.
Later that day, they found their usual spot in the cafeteria. The scent of freshly fried snacks and spicy noodles wafted through the air. Amara's tray was piled with food, but her mind was elsewhere—figures, deadlines, and letters she hadn't dared to open.
The cafeteria buzzed with laughter and loud chatter, trays clattering and the scent of fries hanging in the air. Amara and Nia sat at their usual corner table, tucked near the window. Sunlight filtered in, warm against the linoleum floor.
Nia chewed on a fry. "Okay, this is the best thing in this place. I might marry these fries."
Amara managed a weak smile but was mostly pushing her rice around her plate. Her mind was elsewhere. Scholarship deadlines, tuition reminders, her part-time job application—everything piling into a cloud of stress.
"You okay?" Nia asked, nudging her leg under the table.
"Yeah," Amara muttered. "Just thinking."
"You're always thinking. Try chewing in between."
Before Amara could respond, a group of girls walked over to their table—three of them, all radiant smiles and faux-casual energy.
"Hey, you're Amara, right?" one of them asked.
Amara looked up. "Yeah?"
You're in Photography Club… right?"
Another girl leaned forward, her tone overly casual. "So, um… you and Kieran Hale—are you two… close?"
Amara blinked. "Define close."
The girls giggled like they were in on a secret. "Well, you've been spotted together a lot. The library… the park… even the restaurant!"
"Oh wow, I didn't know we had campus paparazzi," Nia muttered around a fry.
Amara put her chopsticks down and gave the group a polite but flat smile. "We just bumped into each other. Not that deep."
The disappointment in the girls' faces was visible, but they tried to recover with forced laughter. "Ohhh, right. But he did help you carry your books, and rumor is he never even talks to girls."
"Maybe I'm just terrifying," Amara said dryly, going back to her food.
The girls exchanged glances and quickly mumbled goodbyes, their excitement visibly deflated.
Nia burst out laughing as soon as they walked away. "You really are terrifying."
Amara shrugged. "I'm too tired for fan club politics."
"Still, you gotta admit—it's kinda fun watching everyone lose their minds over your 'maybe' fake boyfriend."
Amara gave her a look. "You're enjoying this too much."
"I'm living for the chaos," Nia replied, popping another fry in her mouth.
Later that afternoon, Nia was speed-walking through the hallway, late for her literature elective. She rounded a corner too fast—only to nearly collide into someone again.
This time, no bike. Just a tall figure holding a stack of papers.
"Oh—sorry!" she blurted, stepping back.
Professor Carter looked up from the folder in his hand, raising an eyebrow. "We meet again."
Nia felt her face heat. "Right. Sorry. I wasn't looking."
"Clearly," he said dryly, but the hint of a smile softened the words. He shifted the papers to one arm. "Running late?"
"Not anymore," she muttered. "I think time stopped just now."
He blinked at that. "That's… quite the excuse."
Nia groaned internally. Why did I say that out loud?
Before she could spiral further, Professor Carter gave a slight nod toward the classroom door. "We've got three minutes left before lecture starts. That's enough time for a calm entry."
"Thanks, Professor," she said, brushing past him quickly.
As she entered the classroom, she could still feel his amused gaze lingering for a second too long.
Meanwhile Amara sat on a bench near the library, engrossed in her notes, when her phone buzzed.
A message from her father flashed on the screen: "Come to the hospital. Urgent."
Her heart skipped a beat. Without a second thought, she gathered her belongings and rushed to the campus gate. She tried hailing a cab, but none stopped. Frustration mounting, she glanced around desperately.
Across the street, she spotted Kieran with a group of his friends, laughing beside a sleek black car. Without hesitation, she sprinted towards them.
"Kieran!" she called out, breathless.
The group turned, surprised.
blinked in confusion, brain trying to process her words.
"What happened?" Keiran asked.
Behind him, his friends erupted into chuckle. Daniel clapped Kieran on the shoulder with a teasing grin. "Whoa, Kieran's got a girl emergency! Girlfriend crisis, huh?" Jenna chimed in, eyes twinkling. "Didn't even know you had someone, man!" Their voices blended into a wave of amused curiosity, teasing lines that felt oddly cruel against the tension hanging in the air.
"I need a ride to the hospital. It's my dad," she said urgently.
Amara's urgent plea cut through the teasing. Keiran slammed a hand down on Daniel's shoulder to ward off another rib. Daniel's laughter died abruptly under the seriousness of Keiran's gestures.
Without another word, Kieran yanked open the car door. He nodded immediately. "Get in."
The others watched in stunned silence as Amara climbed into the passenger seat.
The drive was silent, tension thick in the air. Kieran glanced at her occasionally, concern evident in his eyes, but he said nothing.
Upon reaching the hospital, Amara jumped out before the car had fully stopped. She rushed inside, leaving Kieran parked at the curb.
Inside, she found her father lying on a hospital bed, looking frail and worn. Her stepmother stood nearby, arms crossed.
"What happened?" Amara asked, approaching the bed.
"He collapsed at home," her stepmother replied curtly.
Her father opened his eyes, reaching out weakly. "Amara... the loan sharks came again."
Amara's stomach churned. She clenched her fists, fighting back tears.
Ater ensuring her father was stable, she stepped outside to get some air. To her surprise, Kieran was still there, leaning against his car.
"You're still here?" she asked, approaching him.
.