Chapter 17: Sleepless Consequences

The events of the previous night had taken their toll. With barely any sleep, the group trudged out of their dorms, dark circles forming beneath their eyes.

As Aella stood in front of the mirror, rubbing her temples, Mary Julieth approached with a curious frown.

"What happened to you?" Mary Julieth asked.

Aella glanced at her reflection and sighed. "I am never doing that again," she muttered under her breath.

Mary Julieth raised an eyebrow but didn't press further, assuming Aella had just had a rough morning.

Meanwhile, Winter stepped out of her room at the same time as Rey Vien. Their eyes met briefly before Winter suddenly became aware of how exhausted she must look.

Without thinking, she quickly lifted her book, using it as a makeshift shield to hide her face. She hurried past him, but as she did, she caught the sound of a soft chuckle.

Rey Vien was amused.

Winter's cheeks heated, but she didn't slow down—opting instead to escape before he could say anything.

A few doors down, Keisha was making her way to class when she nearly bumped into Theodore Janssen at the hallway corner.

"Whoa—careful there," Theodore said, steadying himself. He blinked, then smirked. "Rough night?"

Keisha crossed her arms, annoyed. "What makes you say that?"

"The dark circles... and the fact that you look like you're about to pass out."

Keisha rolled her eyes. "Thanks for the observation, Professor Janssen."

Theodore chuckled. "Just looking out for you."

Keisha scoffed but felt the corner of her lips twitch in amusement. "Whatever. I need Milk."

"Make that two," Theodore said, matching her pace as they headed to class.

The aftermath of the previous night clung to them like a curse. With barely any sleep, the group sluggishly made their way to class, dark circles under their eyes as proof of their exhaustion.

Aella yawned as she stepped into the common area, rubbing her eyes. Before she could even sit, Chrisha Van Dele gasped dramatically.

"Oh no! What happened to your face?" Chrisha teased, eyes twinkling with mischief.

Aella groaned, shoving her away. "Shut up, Chrisha. I'm too tired for this."

Chrisha smirked. "Seriously, those dark circles? You look like you fought a demon in your sleep and lost."

Aella shot her a glare. "I did fight something last night—exhaustion, bad decisions, and regret."

Chrisha cackled, throwing an arm over Aella's shoulder. "Well, don't worry. You're still kinda cute… in a 'haunted doll' kind of way."

Aella shoved her off. "I hate you."

"Love you too!" Chrisha grinned, skipping ahead.

---

Down the hall, Jeremy and Khierra walked side by side, both sluggish and barely holding themselves together.

Jeremy blinked at Khierra's face and suddenly burst out laughing.

Khierra frowned. "What's so funny?"

Jeremy pointed at her. "You look awful."

Khierra scoffed. "Look who's talking! You look like a ghost who hasn't slept in a century."

Jeremy grinned. "At least I'm a handsome ghost."

Khierra rolled her eyes. "More like a sleep-deprived raccoon."

They both laughed, only to groan immediately afterward, realizing laughing took too much energy.

Jeremy sighed. "Let's just survive today."

Khierra nodded. "Barely."

---

Winter still felt embarrassed about the morning encounter with Rey Vien. To make things worse, as she hurried through the hall, face hidden behind a book, Micko Lee spotted her.

"Why are you hiding?" Micko asked, amused.

Winter kept walking. "None of your business."

Micko raised an eyebrow, stepping alongside her. "Oh? That means it is my business now."

Winter groaned. "Go away, Micko."

Micko smirked. "Nope. Now I need to know what happened. Did you trip? Embarrass yourself? Oh! Did you confess to someone and get rejected?"

Winter snapped her book shut and glared at him. "I did not! And stop assuming things!"

Micko grinned. "Then tell me what happened."

Winter huffed. "I saw Rey Vien, okay?"

Micko's smirk faltered for a fraction of a second. His grip on his sketchbook tightened slightly, but he quickly masked it with an easy chuckle.

"Rey Vien, huh?" His tone was light, but there was something unreadable in his gaze.

Winter didn't notice. "Yeah, and I looked terrible, so I just hid. But then he chuckled at me, and now I feel even more embarrassed!"

Micko clicked his tongue. "Tch. That guy, huh? What's so funny about you hiding?"

Winter sighed. "I don't know! But now I have to live with the shame!"

Micko rolled his eyes. "I don't see the big deal. You always look fine, dark circles or not."

Winter blinked, caught off guard. "What?"

Micko looked away, flipping a page in his sketchbook. "Nothing. Just don't be stupid next time and hide like that."

Winter narrowed her eyes. "Are you… jealous?"

Micko scoffed. "Of Rey Vien? Please."

Winter tilted her head, studying him. "You totally are."

Micko smirked but didn't answer, walking ahead of her.

Winter watched him go, a small smile forming on her lips.

Maybe teasing Micko wasn't such a bad idea after all.