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