<h4>Chapter 91: Pretending to be Okay</h4>


    <strong><i>{Elira}</i></strong>


    ~**^**~


    Everyone was full from dinner, rxed, and in a good mood as we walked back to the dorm.


    I nced at Tamryn walking beside me, her steps steady and quiet, as always.


    "Tamryn?" I called softly.


    She looked at me, eyebrows raised in silent attention.


    "Would you mind helping me with mathematics? I... don’t understand most of what the professor’s been teaching, and I know I missed a lot when I resumedte."


    Tamryn didn’t hesitate. "Sure," she said. "We could start with the one hour before dinner tomorrow. It’s part of siesta, but it’s quiet and perfect for focus."


    I nodded, grateful. "Thank you. Saturday evenings too... before clean-up time?"


    "Of course," she replied simply. "We will cover a lot that way."


    Though that siesta break was meant for rest, I didn’t care. Understanding mathematics — no, surviving it — felt more important than a nap.


    The conversation trailed into silence again, but it was afortable one. As we entered the dorm building and rode the elevator up, I opened the group chat with the triplet brothers.


    Still there was nothing from Rennon.


    I frowned slightly, my thumb hovering over the keyboard.


    He usually sent at least one message — a check-in or a question about my day. But it had been silent from him since this afternoon.


    Was it because of the missing yearbook? Had he found something... or maybe nothing at all?


    The urge to private message him pulled at me, but I resisted. If something was worth telling, he’d let me know.


    Then suddenly my phone chimed with a notification sound, and my heart jumped along with it as I unlocked my phone, hoping to see Rennon’s name, but—


    It was Zenon.


    <strong>Zenon: </strong><i>[I don’t want to believe this youngdy read my message and ignored it.]</i>


    I stared at it in disbelief. The tone was so him — cold, clipped, precise.


    I groaned, a small sound of panic escaping my lips. Actually, I hadn’t known he expected a written reply. I thought... just showing up after ss tomorrow would be enough.


    Before I could type anything, another message popped up.


    <strong>Lennon: [</strong><i>What were you expecting after you scared her because she had a good dinner spread?]</i>


    A puff of air escaped my nose. Of course, Lennon would jump in — yful, always stirring the pot.


    I slumped slightly as we entered the room.


    Honestly, I preferred it when Zenon ignored me like I didn’t exist. When he stayed distant, buried in papers and silence.


    Now that he was... involved? It felt like walking around with a ticking timer strapped to my chest.


    I regretted worrying about hisck of attention in the past because now, I wish I could ask him not to give me any.


    Regardless of my emotions, I quickly typed out a response:


    <i>[I’m sorry, I didn’t ignore it on purpose. I wille to your office after ss tomorrow.]</i>


    As soon as I sent it, I tossed my phone onto the bed, resisting the urge to groan again.


    If I survived this semester without Zenon shortening my lifespan, it would be a miracle.


    ---


    Study hour was... surprisingly smooth.


    My brain actually cooperated. I understood everything I read from my notes, and even the assignments didn’t feel like climbing a mountain.


    Maybe it was Tamryn’s promise of help, or maybe my mind just needed structure — but for once, it felt good.


    Later that evening, we were back in our dorm room. The cozy air inside smelled faintly ofvender — someone had sprayed one of the room fresheners again.


    I showered quickly, changed into my soft navy nightgown, and padded barefoot to my bed.


    As I lifted the duvet and sat down, Juniper’s voice reached me. "Cambria just got back from next door with some bananas."


    Tamryn turned to me. "Want one?"


    I shook my head gently. "No, thanks. Just want sleep." But I still smiled at them. "Thank you."


    "Sleep is important," Cambria said, her tone almost motherly as she peeped from the door leading to our balcony.


    I pulled the duvet over my body and settled in. My pillow was cool. The faint murmur of my roommates chatting in the background was oddly soothing.


    Then... everything drifted. My limbs grew heavy and my thoughts quieted.


    ***


    As I stepped out of the cafeteria, still clutching the warm sweetness of breakfast on my tongue, my phone chimed in my hand.


    I looked down and saw it was a private message from Rennon.


    Finally.


    A flicker of hope sparked in my chest as I tapped the notification — maybe he had news, maybe the yearbook had been found, maybe... anything.


    But the message opened to a picture.


    A gift bag. Smaller than thest one he and Lennon had given me. Tied with a gold ribbon.


    The caption read:


    <i>[Hi, Elira, I got you something you will love. I will hand it over when you go to meet Zenon in his office. Enjoy your day.]</i>


    I stopped walking.


    That tiny me of hope? Snuffed out. Completely.


    Was this a joke? Was everyone just trying to distract me with sweets and smiles and thoughtful gestures — when all I wanted was answers?


    I didn’t need any more macarons. I needed that yearbook. I needed to know who my mother had been here, what had been hidden, and why.


    I blinked down at the photo again, jaw tightening. This wasn’t what I asked for.


    And worse — he didn’t mention the yearbook at all. Not a single word. Just a carefully packaged gift, like I was still five and easily cated by sugar.


    For a moment, I didn’t know what to say. But the ache in my chest demanded I at least pretend to be okay.


    So I typed:


    <i>[Thanks, Rennon. You didn’t have to. I appreciate it. I’ll see youter.]</i>


    I hit send just as I reached my locker. Guilt gnawed at me, calling out my little ungratefulness, but I simply ignored it.


    Then I nced up at my locker door, half-expecting another red envelope to be stered to it like a curse. But there was nothing.


    I exhaled a sigh of relief. No summons. No smug invitation.


    Good. Because today, I honestly didn’t give a cent about that Council. Let them n their next power trip without me.


    Right now, I had bigger things to worry about and zero energy to deal with their nonsense.