Chapter 22: Excitement
Chloe’s life remained simple, revolving around two places: her apartment and the library. Occasionally, she’d reward herself with a nice meal for her hard work and if she happened to run into her neighbor, they’d sometimes share food. Well, it was more of a one–sided sharing, as Chloe would always offer her
dishes.
Although her living conditions in the apartment couldn’t compare to the luxury of a villa, and her quality of life had dropped considerably, this lifestyle made her feel freer than ever before. There was nothing tying her down, and she was more satisfied than she had been in a long time.
Mia, being one of Chloe’s closest friends, called daily to check in on her. inis time, she called to arrange a dinner outing.
“Don’t even think about saying no. This is the third time I’m asking, and even if you were a machine, you’d need to wind down a bit!” Mia, knowing Chloe might decline, made sure to block off any possibility of
refusal.
In the end, they met at a Japanese restaurant. Their tastes differed–Mia loved sashimi, while Chloe preferred sushi and ramen. Sitting across from each other, they enjoyed their meals and caught up on life.
“You always order the same two things. Can’t you try something different for once?” Mia teased.
“I’ve gotten used to it over the years. Anything else just wouldn’t feel right,” Chloe said with a soft smile.
Mia paused for a moment. Chloe was indeed someone who was steadfast in her preferences. She loved what she loved and stuck with it, just like her feelings for Julian in the past. She had held on to that relationship for so long, despite everything.
Not wanting to dwell on that, Mia changed the subject to her own life. “You have no idea, my parents have been bugging me to go on blind dates lately. They’re practically scheming against me! It’s not like we’re struggling financially, and I have a job. Why are they acting like this? Especially when my older brother hasn’t even settled down. He’s way more accomplished than me, but they keep picking on me.”
Mia’s complaints flowed freely, and Chloe listened, unable to help much. Their current situations were so different. When Mia mentioned her brother, Chloe’s mind drifted to her neighbor, Wyatt. They hadn’t seen each other in a few days.
Then Mia remembered something. “Oh! You never told me what happened when you and my brother
visited Professor Lauren. How did it go?”
A bright smile spread across Chloe’s face. “I apologized to the professor, and she didn’t hold a grudge. In fact, she’s reserved a spot for me in her graduate program. I have to pass the exam this year–I can’t let
her down.”
Mia’s eyes lit up with excitement, practically glowing with happiness for her friend. If it hadn’t been a public place, she might’ve jumped up and cheered. “That’s amazing! I love seeing you so confident like this.”
Mia was genuinely thrilled for Chloe and felt her friend deserved a reward. “You have to keep this weekend free for me. I have a huge surprise planned for you.”
Surprised, Chloe paused for a moment. “A surprise?” she asked, intrigued.
After their meal, Chloe returned to the library. It was still early, and she had time to finish a couple of practice exams. She sat by the window, basking in the warm sunlight, feeling content as she stretched and packed up her things just as the library announced it was closing.
Chapter 22. Excitement
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Having accomplished more than she had planned, she walked home, pondering what to have for dinner. Lost in thought, she suddenly ran into Wyatt, her neighbor, whom she hadn’t seen for a few days.
Wyatt, it seemed, had been pulling long hours at the lab due to some errors in his experiments. His dark circles were a clear sign that he hadn’t been getting much sleep. Next to him was a middle–aged man, both of them looking equally worn out.
Chloe stood a bit away, noticing they were deep in conversation. Their expressions were tense, as if things weren’t going well.
“I think we’ve been stuck on this problem for too long,” the man said. “Maybe we should change our approach and focus our time on something more productive?”
Wyatt’s face darkened. “Physics has never been about quick fixes. If you’re ready to give up after one setback, what does that say about your commitment? Or is this more about your personal gains?”
The middle–aged man’s face tightened at Wyatt’s remark, and the two soon parted ways, clearly displeased with each other.
Chloe approached Wyatt after their conversation ended. “Looks like you’ve been busy lately. Those dark circles are no joke,” she said with a lighthearted smile.
“Yeah, it’s been rough. How about you? How’s your studying going? Have you visited the professor recently?” Wyatt asked, steering the conversation away from his own troubles.
Chloe beamed. “It’s going well, thanks to your help with the physics problems. I’ve been making good progress. I haven’t had time to visit the professor in person, but we’ve spoken a few times. She mentioned she’ll be back teaching in a couple of days.”
Wyatt wasn’t surprised by this. Professor Lauren was dedicated, and even taking time off had been rare for her. They walked side by side, continuing their conversation until Chloe accidentally tripped over a
stone.
She began to fall, but Wyatt quickly grabbed her wrist, pulling her back upright. His warm hand lingered on her wrist, and for a brief moment, Chloe’s heart skipped a beat.
“Thanks,” she muttered, flustered by the sudden closeness.
Wyatt, sensing the awkwardness, let go and stepped back. They walked the rest of the way in silence, both a little more aware of each other’s presence.
Once they reached their respective doors, they exchanged quick goodbyes and went inside. As Chloe closed her door, she glanced down at her wrist, still feeling the warmth of Wyatt’s touch lingering there.
Chapter 23 A Subtle Feeling
