???? ???? ???? (EN- REVERSE HAREM)

The soft glow of my study lamp illuminated the open notebook in front of me, casting long shadows over the laptop and loose sheets scattered across my desk. The rest of my room was dim, except for the faint light seeping in through the curtains from the streetlights outside. The world beyond my window felt distant, almost non-existent. Right now, there was only me, my notes, and the quiet rustle of pages turning as I sifted through them, highlighting key points and jotting down quick summaries in the margins.

Returning from the trip had been refreshing, but it also meant I had a mountain of coursework to catch up on. Every subject felt like it had doubled in complexity while I was away, and the thought of upcoming exams only fueled my determination to absorb as much as possible. The scent of ink and paper filled the air, mingling with the faint aroma of the coffee sitting beside me, now gone cold from being untouched for too long.

I sighed, stretching my fingers before picking up my pen again. My laptop screen displayed the university folderl, where I had several PDFs open—lecture notes, reference books, and assignments. My phone buzzed beside me, lighting up with a new message. Without breaking focus, I reached for it, already knowing who it would be.

My babe👻: How's the studying going? Need help with anything?

I smiled a little and quickly typed back.

Me: Dying. I don't remember anything from last week's classes.

My babe👻: Told you to check at least once during your trip! But nooo, Miss K-pop Fangirl was too busy.

I rolled my eyes but chuckled. Before I could reply, another notification popped up—this time from Aryan.

Aryan: Sent you all the notes from last week. Hope it helps.

A soft warmth bloomed in my chest. Aryan had been casually helping me with studies ever since we became...friends, but the fact that he always remembered things like this never failed to make me smile.

Me: You're a lifesaver. Seriously.

Aryan: Just don't stress over them, or I'll take my notes back.

I let out a quiet laugh, shaking my head before switching back to my notes. The pages in front of me blurred for a moment, but I forced myself to refocus.

The hours stretched on, my hand moving almost mechanically as I wrote down key points, underlining important formulas, and summarizing concepts I knew would come in handy. Occasionally, I flipped through Aryan's notes, highlighting parts I hadn't fully grasped yet.

The silence in my room was comforting, broken only by the soft scratching of my pen and the occasional flickering of my study lamp. My back ached from leaning forward too long, my fingers felt stiff from writing, but the satisfaction of completing each page kept me going.

For now, there was no K-pop, no scrolling through updates, no daydreaming about idols or concerts. Just me and my laptop, and the silent promise to myself that I would do well.

....*....

My phone buzzed, breaking the peaceful silence of my room. I lazily reached for it, rubbing the sleep from my eyes as I unlocked the screen.

My Babe👻: Listen, I just woke up, so I'm not coming to your house to help you pick an outfit. I was watching a movie last night.

I rolled my eyes. Typical Roshni.

My Babe👻: I'll meet you directly at Maidan Metro Station, okay?

I sighed, already expecting this, but before I could even type a reply, another message popped up.