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Hey Everyone!!

So over the past few weeks, I've noticed that many of you are reading my book, but not leaving votes or comments. Honestly, it feels a little demotivating at times. You don't have to write long paragraphs-just a vote and a few words means a lot to me. It keeps me motivated to keep writing and sharing this story with you.

So please, take a moment to vote and drop a quick comment-whether it's your thoughts, a short review, or even just a "yes, I'm reading." Small gestures like these make this journey so much more special.

Happy Reading🌻

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A A R O H I

Life lately has been... boring.

And honestly, that's the last word I ever thought I'd use for New York. Before coming here, I imagined my life would be nothing less than an adventure - exploring new streets every weekend, tasting food from every little café, shopping at different stores, visiting Central Park whenever I felt like it, and just... feeling free.

And, to be fair, it was like that for the first few weeks. Everything felt shiny and new. The streets buzzed with energy, the lights at night looked like they were made just to dazzle me, and I felt like I was living inside one of those dreamy travel vlogs. Sam and I would just walk aimlessly, laughing, eating ice cream even in the cold, sometimes getting lost and then feeling proud when we found our way back.

But now? Now it feels like I'm stuck in a cycle that goes-university to dorm and dorm to university. That's it. Rinse and repeat.

Assignments are piling up like never-ending mountains. Classes feel endless. And don't even get me started on the group project we've been given. As if juggling lectures, notes, and submissions wasn't enough, now we're supposed to manage schedules for group meetings too? Seriously, professors act like students have all the free time in the world, when in reality, we're just trying to survive without turning into zombies. Couldn't they at least cancel one or two periods in a week for group project work? But nope.

I sighed to myself, remembering how messy this project already felt. Sam and I are first-year students - babies compared to the seniors. Half the time we don't even fully understand what's going on in meetings. But thankfully, most of the seniors are patient with us. They guide us, explain things again and again, and sometimes even crack jokes to ease our nervousness. They make us feel included, and I really do appreciate that.

Well... maybe except one. I can never tell what he means with all that silence.

Before I could drift too far into my thoughts, a voice snapped me back to the present.

"Come back to the earth, Ash!" Sam said, sitting beside me with her laptop open, typing away.

I groaned and threw my head back dramatically. "Samieee, it's so boring!" I whined, sliding down in my chair until I almost melted into it. Then, for extra effect, I plopped my head onto her shoulder and pretended to cry. "If I look at another word document today, I swear my brain will explode."