{Elira}
~**^**~
"Elira! You are fast," Nari said with a little laugh.
My chest heaved as I tried to catch my breath. "What happened? Why did you tell to co back quickly?"
She clapped her hands together dramatically. "Oh, that. Nothing happened."
I froze, the words sinking like stones. "...Nothing?"
Nari bit her lip, then burst into a giggle she couldn’t hold in anymore. "I just wanted to see how quickly you’d co running if I called you."
For a mont, I could only stare at her. My heart, which had been hamring out of sheer panic, now thundered for an entirely different reason.
"You—" My voice wavered between disbelief and frustration. "You pranked ?"
"Don’t look at like that." She tilted her head, still smiling wide. "It was a harmless test. You passed!"
"Passed?" I echoed, incredulous.
"Yeah," she said, swinging her legs. "It proves you’re a good friend. You didn’t hesitate, you ca right away. That’s loyalty."
I opened my mouth, shut it again, then finally pressed my palm against my forehead, torn between groaning and laughing. "Nari..."
From the bathroom, I could hear the faint voices of Cambria, Juniper, and Tamryn laughing and chatting, completely unaware of what had just happened.
Nari leaned closer, lowering her voice. "Don’t worry. I didn’t tell the others. They would probably scold for stressing you."
I exhaled, long and shaky, then sank onto my own bunk. "You nearly gave a heart attack."
She grinned wider, but softer this ti. "Maybe... but it reminded of sothing important. No matter what, I know you will co for us. And that ans the world."
Her words disard , lting the frustration still clinging to my chest. My lips curved despite myself, and I shook my head gently. "You’re impossible."
"And you love for it," she shot back cheekily.
I laughed under my breath as the tension finally eased away.
Though I wasn’t even sure if I felt Nari took this prank too far or not, because the brothers were still waiting to hear what the ergency situation was all about.
I put down my backpack and held my phone in one hand, letting my thumb hover the screen for longer than it should have. The thought of calling the brothers made my heart jump.
I already knew they must be worried and waiting to get a feedback from . But how was I going to tell them the ergency was all a prank?
A deep sigh escaped my lips as I went to my group chat with the brothers and tapped the group call button before I could change my mind.
The line rang once—then twice—before it connected.
"Elira?" Lennon’s voice ca through first, quick and eager, the slightest trace of worry in it.
I swallowed. "I’m okay," I said imdiately, forcing calm into my tone, the truth, already at the tip of my tongue. "Nothing happened. It was just Nari trying to play ."
There was a beat of silence, and then a mont later, a warm and relieved laughter burst through the line. "That call scared us for a second. Here I was, ready to storm your dorm if anything had happened."
I smiled faintly, even though he couldn’t see it. "I’m sorry. I didn’t an to worry you."
Rennon’s calm voice entered next. "Don’t apologize, Elira. It’s not your fault, you didn’t know it was a prank. Regardless, if you ever feel sothing is wrong, you should call us no matter what ti it is."
His gentleness sank deep, easing the last of the tension knotted inside . "Thank you," I murmured, my throat tight.
Then ca Zenon’s voice, clipped and asured, but carrying a weight I didn’t miss. "Tell your friend not to play such pranks in the future. It won’t be tolerated."
"Zenon..."
"Zenon..."
I heard both Lennon and Rennon’s voices in the background. I could already picture them giving their brother an eye, probably hinting that he had gone too far.
But I still straightened instinctively to respond to Zenon "Yes, Professor," I said softly.
"I’m serious, Elira," Zenon said again, making sure I took his words seriously.
Lennon’s chuckle returned, teasing this ti. "Listen to him, Elira, or he will start giving us all lectures about strategy and consequences."
Zenon didn’t rise to the bait, but I could almost feel the exasperated silence he gave in response.
I shook my head, a little laugh escaping at last. "I just wanted you to know I’m fine."
"That’s all that matters," Rennon said firmly. "Take care of yourself tonight."
"And dream about us," Lennon added shalessly, laughter bubbling under his words.
Heat flared across my cheeks instantly. "Lennon!"
Their combined laughter filled the call, and though my embarrassnt burned, it also wrapped in sothing safe.
"Goodnight, Elira," Rennon’s voice softened at the end, an anchor pulling back from Lennon’s teasing.
"Goodnight," I whispered back before ending the call.
The screen dimd, but the warmth of their voices lingered in my chest.
I let out a slow breath, glancing across the room to where Nari was humming to herself with her headset on, blissfully unaware of what her prank had stirred up in and the brothers.
Shaking my head, I put my phone down on the bed and walked to my wardrobe to grab a fresh towel and a new set of clean clothes before making my way towards the bathroom.
Cambria, Tamryn and Juniper were stepping out as I was walking into the bathroom.
"When did you get back?" Cambria asked with a towel wrapped around her chest and a blown-dried hair.
"A few minutes ago," I replied and let out a sigh.
"Shower quickly so we can head out for dinner together," Juniper reminded as she stepped past .
I humd a response. "Mmm... I will be quick." And with that, I shut the door and headed for the shower.
---
After freshening up, we made our way to the cafeteria together. The hum of voices and the clatter of trays filled the air, familiar and oddly comforting after such a long day.
We picked our food, fried egg and tomato rice, grilled pork, and thick vegetable sauce and carried our trays to our usual table.
Nari set her tray down with a flourish, her eyes sparkling. "Guess what? My blog just got hundred more new followers!" She announced, making sure to et out gazes one after the other.
Her grin was so wide it made laugh before I could help myself. Cambria gasped softly in delight, while Juniper raised her brows in approval. Even Tamryn cracked a small smile.
"That’s amazing," I said, lifting my glass of juice. "We should celebrate."
The others followed suit, glasses clinking together in a small toast as the sound rang out.
"Thank you, thank you," Nari said dramatically, placing her hand over her chest like she had just won an award. T
hen she was already pulling out her phone. "Now listen to this. So of the latest comnts are just gold."
We leaned in instinctively as she scrolled through her phone and began to read aloud.
"One person says..." She cleared her throat theatrically, "’I really wish this was a gossip blog. I’d co here every evening to read, especially after study hours.’"
Cambria giggled, covering her mouth. "That sounds like sothing a first-year would write."
Juniper smirked, sipping her juice. "Or maybe soone desperate for entertainnt."
"There are more," Nari said quickly, excitent bubbling in her voice. She flicked through her screen. "Here—’ESA is more fascinating than I imagined. I’m glad I stumbled on this blog.’ And another—’I’m really enjoying the posts so far. Keep it up!’"
Then Nari’s eyes glittered as she held her phone up. "So, ladies... since I’m apparently so loved and adored by my readers—"
"Loved and adored?" Juniper cut in dryly, one brow raised.
"Yes," Nari said without missing a beat, her grin widening. "Loved and adored. Anyway, since they are craving more, what do you think I should write next?"
Cambria tilted her head, thoughtful. "Maybe about the professors?" she added quickly when Nari’s smile turned mischievous. "But sothing light, like their teaching styles. It could help new students know what to expect."
"That’s actually not a bad idea," Juniper agreed. "It’s practical."
Nari humd, typing quickly on her screen as though making notes. "Okay, Professors and their terrifying teaching styles. Got it."
Tamryn finally spoke, her tone calm but firm. "What about places on campus people don’t know about yet? Like the greenhouse. People would love to read about that."
Nari’s mouth dropped open. "Tamryn. That’s... genius." She tapped her phone with extra force, as if locking the idea in permanently. "You’ve been holding out on this whole ti?"
Tamryn just shrugged, sipping her soup. "You asked for suggestions. I gave one."
Warm laughter bubbled around the table. But just then, Juniper let out a deep sigh and said, "I suddenly have a feeling that there will be a breaking news here in ESA."
Instantly, we turned our gazes to her. "Juniper!" We chorused.
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