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Chapter 35 : Gone Girl
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Fragments of Elysium: Love on Campus Chapter 36 : Final Notice
*Lily*The Bronze Wing dormitory had always been a place of vibrant chatter and echoing laughter, but now it lay under a shroud of silence. The question on everyone's lips—what had happened to her?—seemed to float in the air, unanswered and increasingly ominous.I couldn't shake off the creeping sense of dread that snaked its way into my thoughts. The Order was involved; I could feel it in my bones. I just didn’t know how.It was a cold Friday morning, two days after Jenna's departure, that I found myself trailing Iris, Jenna's roommate. She was the key, the sole connection left to Jenna, and the only option I had to try and contact her."Excuse me, Iris?" I called out as I spotted her walking out of a classroom, catching up to her just before she could disappear into the throng of students milling around between classes. "Hi, Lily," Iris greeted me as I stopped by her side. She halted in her steps to look at me expectantly."Can we talk for a second?" I asked, hoping my voice
Fragments of Elysium: Love on Campus Chapter 37 : Shattered
*Lily*I tapped my pencil on the book consistently, breaking the profound silence that had settled over the weekend in my room. My phone kept buzzing with calls and texts from Adrian, but I ignored it, pretending to be deeply focused on the complicated biology stuff in the book, acting like I was really into it."Are you really going to ignore him all weekend?" Rachel's voice sliced through the quiet, her eyes curious orbs above the rim of her coffee mug. She sat cross-legged on her bed, knee-deep in her own books, yet undeniably attuned to the undercurrents swirling around us."Exams are breathing down my neck," I lied without looking up, my voice emotionless. "I don't have time." The words felt hollow, even as they left my lips.Rachel frowned, setting her mug down on her desk with a gentle clink. "Lily, he's called like twenty times. Something's up, isn't it? You never ignored him like this ever since you two started going out.""Nothing's up," I said, a little too quickly, s
Fragments of Elysium: Love on Campus Chapter 38 : Number One Suspect
*Lily*"Lily, what the hell happened?" Rachel's voice was close to me now and I could feel her gaze heavy on me, laced with an urgency I could scarcely address. "Just tell me, you're scaring me. Come, get up from the floor."Rachel helped me to get back on my feet and I stumbled forward, her hand gently guiding me to my bed. I tossed myself onto it, my fingers gripping the duvet as if anchoring myself to something tangible might alleviate the tempest inside me. But the tears continued anyway, unbidden and relentless, spilling hot and fast down my cheeks."Jesus, Lily," Rachel breathed, her shock palpable in the air. Her hand was tender upon my back, tracing small circles in a rhythm that seemed to echo the pounding in my chest."Adrian..." I managed to choke out the name between sobs, each syllable laden with sorrow and the bitter taste of farewell."Did you guys fight?" she probed gently, her voice trembling with worry. My heart ached to confide in her, to unravel the twisted s
Fragments of Elysium: Love on Campus Chapter 39 : Beer Confession
*Adrian*Lifting weights had become a hollow ritual for me whenever I needed to vent. The gym of my apartment building, usually a haven for releasing pent-up energies, now felt like a prison cell, confining me with my own reflections as I tried to focus on the burn in my biceps.Just one more set, I thought to myself. But even as I pushed through the motions, my concentration faltered, betraying me as it latched onto the image of Lily.Her smile, her laughter, her scent, her skin... I missed every single detail of hers. Since she'd walked away without a word of explanation as to why she was breaking up with me, my world had crumbled beneath me, leaving me grasping to return to how my life was before I had met her.I racked the weights with a clatter, rubbing the sweat from my brow as I leaned against the cool metal frame. Because of that, my documentary for the Festival Submission lay neglected for days now, since nothing I did seemed to satisfy me. Hours spent hunched over the
Fragments of Elysium: Love on Campus Chapter 40 : Karaoke Night
*Lily*"Another night burning the midnight oil, huh?" Rachel's voice threaded through the silence of our dorm room, pulling me back from the precipice of self-pity.My fingers fumbled through stacks of notes on genetic mutations, but each word seemed to blur into an indistinct hum, much like the ache throbbing through my skull. It wasn't just the relentless study sessions for the upcoming exams that were to blame; it was Adrian's absence. No matter how hard I tried to keep my brain busy, I couldn't stop thinking about him.I glanced up at Rachel, forcing a smile that didn't reach my eyes. "Just trying to guarantee good grades," I replied, my voice betraying a hint of the fatigue that had become my constant companion.Rachel arched an eyebrow as she collected the laundry scattered across her bed. "You're drowning yourself in those textbooks." Concern softened her features, and she approached me, resting a comforting hand on my shoulder. "Getting sick won't help you ace your exam
Fragments of Elysium: Love on Campus Chapter 41 : I Miss You
*Adrian*Seated at the bar, my fingers traced the rim of my half-empty glass, the liquid sloshing gently as I contemplated why on earth I had agreed to come here. When I accepted Chris' invitation, I definitely did not expect to see Lily here too.But then again, that was just one more thing about her that I hadn't seen coming. Just like I wasn't expecting our break up either.I was taken aback when I turned around to scan the crowd and spotted her sitting at the far end of the bar. I thought I was imagining things, maybe the alcohol was having a quicker effect on me now that I was heartbroken.Who knew?But there she was, the source of my torment, in bone and flesh, drinking and laughing with her friends as if she hadn't just dumped my ass a few days ago. I took a sip of my drink, trying to calm the uneasy feeling that had settled in my chest. I hadn't seen or spoken to Lily since we split up, and I wasn't sure if I was ready to see her now. Was she really okay with all of
Fragments of Elysium: Love on Campus Chapter 42 : Holiday Break
*Lily*The karaoke night had taken a turn I would never have expected in a million years. Before I could wrap my mind around what was happening, I was pinned to a wall outside of the bar, Adrian lavishing me with his kisses and intoxicating touch.Feeling the heat of his body pressed against me made me temporarily lethargic, as if I couldn't think properly. His touch sparked a rebellion in my flesh, demanding indulgence, but my mind screamed for me to stop, to pull him away. My scholarship—my future—depended on keeping my distance from him. Yet, when agony swam in his eyes and he confessed his misery, a pang of guilt twisted inside me like a knife. I was the one responsible for it, and for some reason beyond myself, I couldn't push him away."I miss you so much," Adrian had confessed. "How can you do this to us, huh? How can you pretend this is not real?"That shattered my resolve, and I let him kiss me, the taste of him bittersweet and intoxicating. My hands found their way to
Fragments of Elysium: Love on Campus Chapter 43 : Spotting Her
*Adrian*"Are you going home for the holiday this time?" Chris asked curiously from beside me as we prepared to watch a game in the living room of my apartment.I should have planned something for the break, but due to everything happening lately, I wasn't in the mood for anything. I had a lot to work on with filming and editing anyway, so I decided to stay within campus and focus on that instead.It had been seven days since the karaoke bar—seven days since Lily had allowed herself a moment of vulnerability and surrendered to me. If I tried really hard, I could still feel the aftertaste of her kiss lingering in my mouth, intoxicating and addicting. But then, she vanished again, leaving me with nothing but the memories of her.I glanced at Chris while he scrolled through the channels on my TV. "I guess I'm just not in the holiday spirit this year, so I'll stay here.""Is it because of Lily?" he prodded gently, his brows furrowing slightly. "Or your dad?" "Both," I admitted,
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Fragments of Elysium: Love on Campus Chapter 56 : Glimpse of Future
*Lily*Two months had flown by since the exposé went viral and Elysium turned into a scenario of apocalyptic chaos. Each day that passed ever since pulled Adrian and me even closer together.So much changed ever since that it was hard to keep track of everything. The more important thing was that the Order of Elysium was now part of a dark past, no longer active thanks to Adrian, Chris, Jenna, and everyone else who accepted to risk their lives to end that madness.I was so proud of everyone that it was hard to put into other without shedding a tear.I felt proud of myself too, although I hadn't done the dirty work of gathering evidence and exposing anyone. But knowing I had encouraged Adrian to start this, somehow was enough for me.Lots of students were expelled and many people--parents, professors, members of the board, staff--were arrested for several crimes such as corruption, defamation, harassment, forgery, to name a few.Adrian didn't win the Festival with the exposé, bu
Fragments of Elysium: Love on Campus Chapter 55 : Safest Place
*Lily*As soon as the bedroom door closed behind us, Adrian's arms wrapped tightly around me, instantly melting away any remaining tears and igniting a wave of longing within me. His kiss was fervent while his hands roamed with purposeful intent, cupping my ass and solidifying his hold on me. He moved with a blind confidence toward the bed, each step he took resonating with an unspoken urgency.My arms were tightly entwined around his strong, broad neck as I leaned into him for support. His muscles flexed and rippled beneath my touch, providing a solid foundation for me to lean on.With a fluid motion, Adrian tossed me onto my back on his bed, and I bounced slightly upon the mattress. My eyes drank in the sight of him as he hovered above me, his presence commanding every ounce of my attention. He pressed his face against my neck, his warm lips tracing a scorching path along my throat, igniting fire with every touch and nibble of flesh. I squirmed beneath him in an instinctive
Fragments of Elysium: Love on Campus Chapter 54 : My Best Work
*Lily*As we settled into his car, the seatbelt clicking into place, anxiety crept up on me. Normally, I would have been exhilarated by the rush toward the unknown, but today, apprehension constricted around my heart like ivy.With the impact of the news, I had forgotten to let Rachel know I was going back to the city to try and find Adrian. Retrieving my phone from the depths of my bag, my thumb hovered over the screen before pressing call. "Hey, girl," she answered after a few rings. It didn't escape me the way her voice was strained and cautious."I'm going to the city to find Adrian," I told her. "Please let me know if you see him," I pleaded into the phone, my voice a thread fraying at the edges.Rachel's voice crackled through the speaker, her tone a mix of reassurance and surprise. "Yeah, I got you, girl. I haven't seen his face around campus today, but... Oh, wait—" A pause snagged the conversation, and I tensed."What? What happened?" The question shot out of me, shar
Fragments of Elysium: Love on Campus Chapter 53 : Detonating the Bomb
*Adrian*The semester's end was so near, I could almost hear the collective sigh of relief from the entire campus. But for me, it was a race against time, the final stretch in a marathon that had tested every fiber of my being. As I sat at my desk, fingers poised over the keyboard, I was reminded of how everything had changed since that fateful day when Rachel, bless her, had been the bridge between Lily and me.And through that storm, finding Lily again had felt like grasping a lifeline in turbulent seas. She'd been wary, understandably, but as the days warmed into something resembling trust, I promised her that I would not let her down. Not again.After guaranteeing Lily wouldn't run away from me again, I felt more encouraged than ever to put my plan into action.Perched within the confines of my apartment, away from the incessant chaos of campus, I clicked the button with a finality that seemed to echo in the suddenly quiet room. The screen flickered as the documentary began t
Fragments of Elysium: Love on Campus Chapter 52 : Unexpected Encounter
*Lily*When Rachel left on Sunday morning to return to the city, I felt a sense of loss as she walked away. And there I was again, in the kitchen of the coffee shop, back to my routine, scrubbing away at the espresso machine, lost in a rhythm that didn't require thought. My movements were mechanical; wipe here, rinse there, all while my heart wrestled with a puzzle that refused to be solved.The distance between Adrian and me was more than just miles—it was this gaping rift filled with uncertainty. Could we go back to what we were once? Would he be mad at me for ghosting him for so long?The whirring grinder and the hiss of steam from the milk frother became the soundtrack to my internal debate. Long distance wasn't something I believed in, or so I'd convinced myself. Yet, as I stood there, the possibility of not fighting for what Adrian and I once had was even more unbearable.The day faded, and with it, the bustle of customers slowed to a trickle before the doors closed behind
Fragments of Elysium: Love on Campus Chapter 51 : Friendly Visit
*Lily*When the final chime of my shift sang out, I untied my apron with a sense of finality, the fabric heavy with the scent of roasted beans and sweet syrups. As I stepped into the brisk evening air, a shiver chased up my spine from the chill and I wrapped my coat tighter around me to prevent the wind from cutting through.Before I turned the corner, I felt the familiar buzz of my phone in the pocket of my jacket. Rachel's name flashed across the screen, piercing the veil of avoidance I'd carefully crafted around myself. Perhaps I was finally starting to let the grief for losing my dreams behind me, or maybe I just really missed her, but I swiped the answer icon before doubt could reclaim me."Hello?""Li-Lily?" The voice on the other end trembled. "You answered," she breathed, relief coating her tone."Hi, Rachel..." My heart constricted, guilt taking hold of me as I heard how desolated she sounded. "I'm sorry. I just—""No, don't... I understand." Her words hitched, and I p
Fragments of Elysium: Love on Campus Chapter 50 : Changing Plans
*Adrian*After hearing that Louise was behind Lily's expulsion, I felt a hatred take over me in a way that I could barely control, threatening to erupt in an uncontrolled deluge of fury whenever I thought of it. I envisioned myself storming towards her, demanding she revoke the injustice she committed. But every time my mind was consumed by that idea, I clenched my fists, swallowing the acidic bile rising in my throat until I could think clearly. I couldn't do anything hasty. This wasn't anything small, a mere girl confrontation within college life.If this was it, I'd have wasted no time to run after Louise and demand she did something, anything to fix what she had done. But I had no such luck.This felt like climbing a mountain with no summit in sight.Now, more than ever, I understood Lily's fears. How could someone live like that, constantly watching over their shoulders? She had been right to be afraid. I blamed myself for not seeing it sooner, not taking this more serious
Fragments of Elysium: Love on Campus Chapter 49 : Home
*Lily*The world outside had continued its relentless spin, but within the walls of my father's house, time seemed to have slowed to a gentle crawl. Two weeks since the expulsion had reshaped my existence into something unrecognizable. I'd traded classrooms and libraries for the comforting monotony of domestic life, finding solace in the simple rhythm of household chores.I could tell my father wanted to say so much to me, but after I returned home carrying my luggage, my cheeks stained with tears, I knew he was trying to respect my space. He offered me words of comfort, of course, but I could see it in his eyes how upset he was for my situation.He didn't doubt me for a second; he knew I was innocent. In my opinion, he shared my frustration with the injustice I suffered, but we both understood that, as mere pawns in the chessboard of wealthy and influential people, we were powerless to fight the system.That's what probably bothered him the most.Whenever Dad wasn't working, my
Fragments of Elysium: Love on Campus Chapter 48 : Putting the Pieces Together
*Adrian*The world seemed dull and lifeless since I heard Lily had gotten expelled from Elysium. Chris had been the bearer of ill news, saying he heard someone saying they saw Lily walk into an Uber with her luggage. I didn't believe it at first, but when I tried to find her and couldn't, realization hit me like tons of bricks.I called and texted her countless times, but she never answered me, and that's when I knew things were indeed true. The realization settled like lead in my stomach; she was truly gone.Days had gone by ever since, and I couldn't come up with a plan. I didn't know what happened, other than that the Order was behind her expulsion. But that's all I had, and even though I had told Lily that I'd figure out a way to take them out of her tail, I hadn't had the time to think it through before they made their next move.When I realized, she was already out.The door to the editing room creaked open, pulling me away from my tumultuous thoughts. Chris’s voice cut th
