The golden hour bathed the sprawling campus in warm, honeyed light, long shadows stretching across the manicured lawns as students meandered between buildings. The murmurs of scattered conversation and occasional bursts of laughter merged into a steady, lively hum. The air carried the crisp edge of autumn, with dry leaves scuttling along the pavement with each passing breeze, rustling against discarded coffee cups and crumpled notebook paper.

A few stragglers lounged on the library steps, some with textbooks balanced on their knees, others scrolling through phones with absentminded taps. In the distance, the faint squeak of sneakers on hardwood echoed from the gymnasium, accompanied by the rhythmic bounce of a basketball—someone getting in extra practice before evening classes.

It was that fleeting, tranquil pocket of time where the urgency of the school day had faded, but the buzz of nighttime social energy hadn't yet begun. A moment suspended, ripe with possibility, or for some, the quiet before chaos.

---

The bell rang, signaling the end of the final class of the day. You gathered your books, the weight of the past month pressing on your shoulders like an invisible burden. The memory of that party still lingered—the sounds, the sight, the betrayal—but these days, it was tempered by newer, warmer memories: movie nights with Clodia, basketball games with Hayden, study sessions with Aisha.

You stepped into the hallway, adjusting your backpack strap, when you noticed them—all six of them—waiting by the exit. Clodia stood with one hip cocked, a small smile playing on her lips. Hayden leaned against the wall, arms crossed but her eyes softening when she saw you. Eden winked dramatically, while Monica bounced on her toes, practically vibrating with excitement. Jin-Ae gave a rare small wave, and Aisha peeked out from behind Clodia, offering a shy smile.

They'd become your lifeline these past weeks, turning your world from gray back to color. But lately, there was something different in their looks, a new intensity in their touches, a hesitation in their words that suggested they wanted more than friendship.

As you approached, Monica bounded forward first, throwing her arms around you in a tight hug that smelled like citrus shampoo. "You're here! We were starting to worry your professor was keeping you hostage!"

"We brought snacks," Aisha whispered, holding up a paper bag that rustled enticingly.

Clodia stepped closer, her hand brushing yours as she took your backpack. "We thought maybe... a movie night? At my place?"

Hayden pushed off the wall, her shoulder bumping yours playfully. "Unless you've got better plans, mate."

Eden slid an arm through yours, her perfume filling your senses. "Oh, we know you don't have better plans."

Jin-Ae simply nodded. "Your favorite movies. Your favorite foods."

Six pairs of eyes, each filled with warmth and something more—something hopeful and eager—as they waited for your answer.