<b>Chapter </b><b>41 </b>
After lunch, the group headed back to theb building, the air thick with awkwardness thanks to the forum drama<b>. </b>
Mia was practically glowing with smug satisfaction, but the others worked hard to lighten the mood. Briar was the youngest <b>in </b><b>their </b>crew, after all, and they felt a protective urge to look out for her.
Plus, the way the forum was piling on Briar felt like a jab at the entire Traditional Medicine Department.
Their department was small enough as it was–when push came to shove, they had to stick together and face the world as <b>a </b>unit.
Richard steered the conversation to safer ground. “Hey, Briar, have you checked in at the dorms yet?”
Briar blinked, caught off guard. She’d been whisked straight to theb by Marvin upon arrival<b>, </b>and if she hadn’t done <i>her </i>homework <b>on </b>Shoneport University beforehand, she’d have no clue where anything was. “I actually bought a ce off–campus. Wasn’t nning <b>on </b><b>staying </b>in the dorms.”
Richard wagged a finger at her, grinning. “Nuh–uh, doesn’t work like that. Even if you’re not living there, you still gotta register. Traditional Medicine students get their own little safes for storing rare herbs and stuff.”
That was news to Briar.
A dedicated safe for medicinal supplies? She hadn’te across that in her research.
Since it was a school requirement, she wasn’t about to make a fuss. “Alright, I’ll head over to register now.”
Mia seized the moment, her voice syrupy sweet. “Briar, do you even know where our department’s dorms are? Want me to show you the
way?”
Briar met Mia’s overly cheerful smile, catching the glint of mischief in her eyes. “Sure, that’d be great. Thanks.”
Frank was surprised Mia volunteered, but when he saw the way Briar seemedpletely unfazed–as if she could already see through whatever Mia was nning–he rxed. After all, Briar didn’t look like someone who would get taken advantage of. “Alright then. Let Mia
take you.”
As the two turned to leave, Frank called out, like he’d just remembered something. “Oh, hold up, Briar! Let’s swap contact info. We’re all in the sameb group, and I’ll add you to our chat.”
“Cool, add me.” Briar didn’t hesitate, pulling out her phone and letting Frank find her on WhatsApp.
Once she epted the friend request, Frank sent her a smiley emoji. Then he pulled her into theb group chat, tossing in a “Wee, new teammate!” sticker.
The group chat lit up with messages, everyone chiming in with warm wees.
Even Mia dropped a generic “Wee!” emoji, ying along.
The vibe loosened up,ughter and banter picking up steam. Briar gave a casual wave. “Alright<b>, </b>we’re heading out.”
The Traditional Medicine dorms were tucked at the very back of <b>the </b>campus housingplex, their building slightly
<b>than </b><b>the </b><b>others</b>.plete with a small extra room forb–rted storage.
Mia led Briar to the dorm office, where they picked up Briar’s room key and safe key before heading <b>to </b><b>her </b><b>assigned </b><b>floor</b>. Mia <b>stopped </b><b>in </b><b>→ </b><b>front </b><b>of </b>a door marked 2015, dangling the key with a sly grin. “Well, <b>isn’t </b>this <b>a </b>coincidence? Looks <b>like </b><b>we’re </b><b>roommates</b><b>, </b><b>Briar </b>
<b>Briar </b>arched an eyebrow, her <b>lips </b>curling faintly. “Small world<b>.</b>”
<b>With </b>Traditional Medicine being Shoneport’s smallest department–and female students in the program even <b>rarer</b>–it <b>wasn’t </b>exactly shocking that she and Mia, both in the sameb, would end up sharing a room.
Besides, considering how enthusiastic Mia had been just now, Briar had already guessed that.
She’d bet anything Mia had already seen the new roommate list at the dorm office that morning.
<b>AD </b>