Lahat ng Kabanata ng More Than a Campus Fling: Kabanata 121 - Kabanata 128

AVAOne Week LaterThe Glass Penthouse— 8AMI stood frozen in front of the expansive bathroom mirror, my hands gripping the cool porcelain edge of the marble sink as I stared at my own reflection.I was completely dressed.The light makeup on my face was blended so seamlessly into my skin tone that it looked practically nonexistent, a subtle cover hiding the exhaustion underneath.The baggy blue button-down shirt I wore felt light against my skin, fitting my frame perfectly but doing little to comfort me.My eyes flickered downward to my wrist.The hands of my watch showed a few minutes past eight o’clock.I still had time.My first class wasn't until nine.Yet, a tightening ache seized me deep in my lower belly, one that had nothing to do with the time.It had been over three weeks since my car had been stolen from the library lot. Three weeks of absolute silence. And now, I had begun to completely lose hope of ever recovering it.But what truly paralyzed me was him.Tony.For twenty

Moments later, the sedan glided smoothly through the busier roads of the main campus. Outside my window, the university was teeming with life— staff members in sharp blazers and students with backpacks slung over their shoulders and backs hurrying along the concrete walkways, entirely absorbed in their own daily routines. The driver made a crisp right turn, the tires humming against the asphalt. A minute later, the familiar modern glass-and-brick facade of my faculty buildings materialized in the distance. The car slowed to a halt directly in front of the main entrance where my lecture was scheduled. My phone rested in my palms, which were locked over my lap. My thumbs danced across the screen, pulling up the ride-share app to settle the fare. Within seconds, a satisfying green verification checkmark flashed across the display, confirming that Apple Pay had successfully processed the transaction. "I’ve made the payment," I said, raising my eyes from the screen to address the driver

Mary looked at me for a long, silent second. She took another bite of her food, her sharp eyes never leaving mine as she chewed. The moment she swallowed, she spoke again, her words slow and etched with heavy skepticism. "I don't want what has happened to weigh you too far down." "I'm fine," I repeated, my voice steady. But she didn't stop watching me, her eyes searching the micro-expressions on my face for the truth. I smiled again, giving her a firm, reassuring nod. "I'm fine." The words were meant to convince her, but deep down, they were a desperate attempt to reassure myself that I would be. After a few more tense seconds, Mary finally lowered her gaze and continued eating. I did the same. With the tension broken, the conversation slowly drifted away from the stolen vehicle, shifting into lighter topics about schoolwork and upcoming projects. Shortly after, we finished our meals. I rose from my seat first, and Mary followed, both of us carrying our bags back toward the

I rose back up to my feet, walking the short distance back to the crib. His rhythmic, warm breaths felt incredibly gentle against the skin of my neck. I lowered him carefully onto the mattress, laying him flat on his back, my movements painfully slow to ensure I didn't wake him. Once he settled, I turned to my own bed. I slid the heavy tote bag off my shoulders, letting it drop onto the surface of the nightstand with a dull thud before I finally settled onto the edge of the mattress. The moment the room fell perfectly still, the memory from the restaurant flooded back into my mind like a tidal wave. My card getting declined. The sharp, negative beeps of the payment terminal. The cashier looking at me across the counter and telling me there were insufficient funds. How is that even possible? The question hit me with a physical force, making my chest tighten. The card has a daily limit of five hundred dollars, and I know for a fact there were thousands left in the account. So how?