Girls' Day, Old Wounds, New Feelings
(Michelle POV, shifting into Lara and Kate as they speak)
Saturday arrived with the strange, floating quiet of a long weekend.
No classes.
No deadlines.
No library sessions where Michelle and Steven "accidentally" sat too close and pretended they weren't thinking about kissing again.
Just… breathing space.
Michelle woke late, sunlight brushing her curtains, and stretched happily.
It was the first Lunar New Year she'd spend as Steven's girlfriend.
Her heart fluttered.
Ridiculous.
Adolescent.
Wonderful.
She had just padded into the kitchen for tea when her phone pinged.
A specific ping.
The one used only by four dangerous young ladies with shared trauma and shared shopping carts.
--
Group Chat: Inner Nine — GIRLS ONLY
(Lara, Michelle, Kate, Jasmine)
JASMINE: Girls. Emergency meet. Today. 2PM. Café Aurore.
JASMINE: Bring brains. And emotional support tools.
JASMINE: And don't be late.
Michelle blinked.
