CHAPTER 52: MY PATHETIC REASON

{Elira}

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"And Elira," she paused and met my gaze, "make sure to do them. Even small projects carry marks, and those marks add up at the end of the semester."

I nodded quickly. "I will."

The nearer we got to the cafeteria, the noisier it became. I felt my stomach curl a bit from nerves, but also from hunger that had begun to gnaw again.

That protein bar from Cambria had expired.

Cambria glanced at the big clock near the entrance. "We’re about six minutes late," she said, her tone amused rather than scolding.

Inside, the cafeteria bustled with life—rows of tables, bright hanging lamps, and students in casual clothes chatting over steaming plates.

I blinked, surprised by how almost full it was despite being just for first-years.

"There are four cafeterias," Cambria explained, weaving us through the small crowd. "One for each year, and one just for the professors and staff."

My eyes widened. That explained why the halls hadn’t been packed solid.

We reached the area where students queued to pick up trays and cutlery. The clinking of utensils against plates felt oddly comforting.

I copied Cambria, grabbing a tray, plate, and fork and spoon.

"Here, pick what you like," she gestured as we stepped into the serving section.

I reached for a small rolled omelette, placing it on my plate carefully, while Cambria added a few things to hers with practiced ease.

As we moved along, I felt eyes turning toward me. Whispered words passed between a few students, and I could almost feel their gaze brushing against my skin, prying and curious.

My throat tightened, and I inched closer to Cambria’s side, as if her presence could shield me.

At the dessert table, Cambria’s eyes sparkled. "You have to try this red velvet cake," she urged, placing a generous slice on my tray.

The soft red layers did look beautiful. "Thank you," I murmured, meaning it.

I hesitated, then reached into the freezer and added a small pint of ice cream to my tray, hoping it wouldn’t be too much.

Cambria, completely unfazed, stacked more dessert on her tray until it looked nearly overflowing.

I found myself smiling faintly at her enthusiasm, but also feeling that quiet ache: to eat freely like her, without guilt, fear, or the memory of counting every crumb.

We picked up bottles of water at the end of the line. Then, Cambria scanned the room and led me to a table with six empty chairs near the windows, where afternoon light spilled in soft golden streaks.

We set our trays down. I sat next to her, breathing out a little as my muscles relaxed.

Just then, footsteps approached. I turned my head—and there were Tamryn, Nari, and Juniper, each balancing trays of food, coming to join us.

Juniper reached the table first and set her tray down across from me and Cambria.

"I see you’ve adopted the new girl into your ridiculous red velvet traditions," she drawled, a faint curl of amusement in her voice.

Cambria just smiled and didn’t reply, as if used to Juniper’s dry remarks.

Nari slid into the chair on Juniper’s left, her wavy hair bouncing behind her as she did so.

Tamryn, her face mostly blank except for a faint frown of concentration. She sat on Juniper’s right.

I watched them, feeling my own surprise flutter somewhere deep in my chest. For people who had seemed to hate my mere existence, they didn’t hesitate to join the same table.

Maybe Cambria was right about them being more interesting than they seemed. But I refused to hope too quickly.

Tamryn picked up her fork and, without looking up, spoke flatly to Cambria, "Be careful of weight gain. Don’t come crying to us like Nari when your waist adds around one inch."

Nari glared sideways at her but didn’t look truly offended.

"If not for my low blood sugar," she snapped back, "I wouldn’t have to eat carbs and sugar once in a while. I actually like my slim figure and tiny waist, thank you very much."

Cambria made a small, exasperated noise, rolling her eyes. "You two never get it. Dessert isn’t just food—it’s like an extra source of life."

They kept talking, teasing each other, and while they did, I quietly focused on my own tray.

I tasted the soft roll of omelette, the tang of the red velvet cake Cambria had picked for me, and let their conversation become background noise.

It was oddly comforting, this chatter, even if none of it included me. I would rather listen quietly than draw their attention again.

Just then, Cambria turned to me, her eyes bright. "By the way, Elira, what elective course did you choose?"

The question caught me off guard, and I paused, mid-chew. Four pairs of eyes pinned me in place, waiting. My chest tightened, but I forced myself to answer softly, "Economics of the Wild."

Nari’s brows shot up, then she scowled, turning to Tamryn. "That’s the same elective you picked."

Hearing that, a strange discomfort prickled inside me.

I couldn’t picture Tamryn, the quiet and intensely focused girl, even acknowledging me during a shared class.

Cambria saved me from lingering too long on the thought. She said what elective she had chosen, and then gestured to Nari and Juniper as well, telling me which electives they picked.

But then Juniper leaned forward, curiosity in her pale eyes. "And why did you choose that course?"

For a second, I hesitated. But honesty felt easier than pretending. "I thought... learning about trade, negotiations, and standing my ground might help me know my worth better," I said, my voice small but steady.

A breath of silence followed, just long enough to feel crushing.

Then, Nari tipped her head back and let out a sharp, mocking laugh. Heads from nearby tables turned to look, curiosity sharpening the air.

She pointed at me with her spoon, her grin vicious. "Only an Omega like you could say something so pathetically naive."

Juniper’s mouth twisted into something cold. "That really is a pathetic reason, you know," she said.

Their words pricked like little needles under my skin, lodging deeper than I wanted to admit.

Cambria tried to cut in, her voice gently scolding, but Nari wasn’t done.