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    ANNA’S POV

    For the next few daysb, /bI waspletely lost in thought. It was like my brain refused to focus on anything else but my phone. bI /bkept staring at the screen, at the message I had sent to Ryan two days ago, the one that still sat there, marked as delivered but not replied to, and every time I looked at it I felt my chest tighten anger and hurt. Two days, and not even a single word from him. My head was so far gone that I didn’t even realize the lecturer had called my name until Sasha tapped me on the arm. “Huh?” I blinked and looked up quickly, feeling the heat rush into my cheeks as the whole ss stared at me.

    The lecturer, a stern woman with sharp eyes, repeated the question, her tone clipped. “Miss Rivers, if apany’s equity increases, what does that say about the assets of the business?

    I froze for a second but thankfully, I had read ahead the night before. I cleared my throat and forced myself to answer. b“/bIt means the business is expanding its value, ma’am, because the assets will increase alongside equity.”

    Her expression softened, and she gave a small nod. “Correct.” She turned to the rest of the ss, and I nearly copsed from relief.

    me

    pping echoed behind me, and I turned still embarrassed.

    Sasha leaned in, whispering. “Okay, what’s

    I just sighed and shook my head. “It’s nothing.”

    on with you? You’ve been spacing out all morning. That’s not like you.”

    “Nothing? Please.” She raised her brows. “You didn’t even hear the lecturer call you. And you always hear everything. What’s distracting you like this?”

    I didn’t answer. Instead, I nced down at my phone againb, /bat that stupid message still sitting there, unread and unanswered, and while my heart stung, before I could stop myself, I turned the phone face down on the desk with a little more force than necessary.

    Sasha stared at me. “Anna, you’re worrying me.”

    “It’s fine, really.” My voice cracked a little, betraying me. I wanted to scream, to ask why Ryan was ignoring me, why he hadn’t said a single word. But I just bit the inside of my cheek and stayed quiet.

    By Wednesday, he still hadn’t replied. Not a single word. I was going insane, so I finally broke and sent another message.

    ‘Do you still want to be my date for the Freshers‘ Night G?‘

    I watched the little tick mark show that it was delivered. I waited. Minutes. Hours. But nothing.

    With tears stinging my eyes, I threw my phone onto my bed and pressed my palms over my face, trying to force the thoughts

    away.

    Sasha, who was sprawled out on her own bedb, /bgroaned loudly. “bUgh/b, I swear, I still can’t find the perfect dress for tonight! Everything I’ve seen online either looks too old–fashioned or too cheap. This is supposed to be a g, not a dorm party.”

    I peeked at her through my fingers, my voice weak. “Then maybe we should just go look for one.”

    She sat up so fast, her eyes wide. “Wait–you mean shopping? As in dress shopping?”

    “Yeah.” I didn’t even know when I had said what I said. The word just slipped out. Maybe because I wanted to do anything that was making me stop from staring at that phone again.

    “Finally!” Sasha jumped to her feet, grabbing her purse. “Let’s go. Maybe if we find something nice for you too, you’ll stop

    blooking /bblike /bbsomeone /bstole your puppy,

    bI rolled /bbmy /bbeyes /bbut followed her out anyway.

    415 bBONUS /b

    We left the dormb, /bcalled a taxi, and slid into the backseat. The driver asked where we were headed, and Sasha quickly gave bhim /bthe address of a boutique she had heard about, the kind of ce that sold expensive gowns fit for a gold. I leaned against the windowb, /bbarely listening, my mind still drowning in thoughts of Ryan. I couldn’t stop wondering what I had done wrong. Why he was ignoring me like this.

    When the car pulled up in front of the boutique, Sasha handed the river the cash while I stepped out, stretching my legs. bI /badjusted the strap of my bag on my shoulder, waiting for her to join me.

    And thenb, /bjust as Sasha was finishing up with the driver, I froze.

    Because across the street, a sleek ck car had just pulled up. A couple stepped out. The man looked tall, serious, young, his shoulders broad and confident as he walked beside the beautiful woman at his side. She was smiling up at him, her arm hooked through his as if they belonged together.

    Something in my stomach twisted painfully, because the way he moved… the way his head tilted slightly… it was familiar. Too familiar. My chest was already tightening before he even turned.

    And then he did.

    He turned his face just enough, and my heart stopped.

    It was Ryan.

    I gasped, stumbling back a little as the world around me blurred. My throat went dry, my pulse hammering so loud I could hear it in my ears. The phone in my hand slipped, almost falling, as I stared in shock at the man I had been waiting on for days, the man who hadn’t replied to me even once, walking into a restaurant with another woman on his arm.