I walked along the familiar tree-lined path, feeling as if I had stepped back into my carefree university days.


    L''s office was in the Faculty of Arts. I knew my way around well and found it without any trouble. I knocked on the door.


    "Come in!"


    I pushed the door open, only to see L buried under a pile of documents. Hearing the door, she looked up, and the moment she saw me, her eyes lit up.


    "Serena! What are you doing here? This is a rare surprise!" She stood up excitedly and gave me a big hug.


    "I missed you," I said with a smile while taking a seat across from her desk.


    "Yeah, right. Are you sure you''re not here because you need something?" she teased while pouring me a ss of water.


    "Well, actually, I do have something to talk to you about." I took the ss and took a sip. "I quit my job at Hastings Group."


    She froze for a moment and then looked at me with concern. "What happened? Weren''t things going well there?"


    I briefly exined the situation, skipping over the more unpleasant details.


    "What are your ns now?" she asked.


    "I haven''t figured that out yet, but I''ll be around campus more often," I said. "By the way, do you remember that senior we used to coborate with? The one who started his own studio?"


    She thought for a moment. "You mean Lawrence? Of course, I remember him. Why?"


    "I want to reach out and see if there''s any chance to work together, but I lost his contact information," I said with a hint of frustration. "Do you still have it?"


    She scrolled through her phone. "Sorry, I don''t. We lost touch after graduation. But I can ask around. Maybe one of our ssmates has it."


    "That would be great. Thanks," I said with gratitude.


    "No need to thank me." She smiled. "Let''s have dinner together tonight-my treat."


    I agreed without hesitation.


    "What do you feel like eating? It''s my treat. Consider it an early celebration for me finding a new job."


    L waved her hand. "I''m the one treating you, remember? You''re my special guest today."


    She nced at the time. "It''s still early. Want to do some shopping first? There''s a new mall nearby which is really nice."


    The new mall was massive, filled with endless shops and dazzling disys that made my head spin.


    L picked out a cream-colored knit sweater for me, saying itplemented my skin tone.


    Looking at myself in the mirror, I did


    seem more put together than


    before. Ever since everything


    et nei?


    happened, I had let myself go. It had been a long time since I had properly dressed up.


    "Serena, have you lost a lot of weight recently?" L asked with concern.


    I forced a smile. "Maybe I just haven''t been sleeping well."


    She sighed. "Don''t put too much pressure on yourself. Everything will get better."


    Looping her arm through mine, she said softly, "No matter what happens, I''ll


    always be here for you."


    Hearing those words, my nose tingled, and I nearly teared up. I had been carrying so much stress and pain with no one to confide in.


    We bought some clothes and


    makeup, then found a quiet, elegant restaurant for dinner. L ordered a few of my favorite dishes and even ordered a bottle of red wine.


    "To new beginnings! Cheers!" she said while raising her ss.


    I clinked my ss against hers and downed my drink in one go. The warmth of


    the alcohol spread through me, making me feel slightly tipsy.


    As the night went on, I finally let my guard down and started pouring out everything that had happened recently. L listened intently,


    offeringfort and reassurance


    whenever I needed it.