Mia has already stopped counting her college days because it brings her nothing but regret and shame. She wakes up every day and walks into this class full of people that she is jealous of over one aspect or the other. The feeling of having so little on her plate as compared to these people makes her dizzy. Right now, she is halfway through her mission, she knows when Carys comes to the class and even where Carys is on the weekends, the bar that Carys goes to and also the place where Carys eats his dinner. Weirdly, she still wants to dig deeper into Carys' world.
"It is important to complete your projects before the mid-terms," Sam spoke in front of the class. Studying at a business school was definitely the toughest part of Mia's mission. She couldn't just fail classes, she had to be here until Carys is killed somehow.
She looked at the front where the professor stood with some sheets in his hands. He was talking about the project that would make up at least 50 per cent of their midterms score. For this project, the students were to work in a group of four. Now was the time for Sam to announce all the teams.
"I'll take your names and you need to collect your topic with your teammates here." He said and pointed at the desk in front of him. Sam can be termed as the coolest professor here in this business school. A person who genuinely enjoyed teaching.
After what seemed like ages, finally, Sam spits out Mia's name. Mia was never really interested in knowing the names of her teammates but she also kept an ear open for Carys' name. The fact that neither Carys nor her own name was yet called out by the professor made her heart pound. A few days back when Carys and Mia had a little brawl at that party, she returned home with sweat dripping off her forehead. She headed straight to her room and she is ashamed to admit that she cried after a long time.
The more she thinks about her crying, the more she hates herself. Maybe it is not the fact that she cried that makes her hate herself. Maybe it is the reason for which she cried that she loathes herself.
"Mia Ricca." Sam finally says and Mia walks down the classroom's stairs to reach the desk.
"Lily Thomas." Sam takes another name. Mia looks up only to find the girl with glasses getting up from her seat and walking towards Mia. She recognises her as the girl who started this all, the girl who invited her to the damn party. Mia sighed and looked down.
"Tony," Sam says and a wave of relief is known to Mia immediately but she doesn't look up. Tony slowly walks towards the front and stands right next to Lily. They exchange some words which are left unheard by Mia.
With just one name left, Mia offers a silent prayer to some God out there. Mia is not religious but right now, she will do anything to just stop Sam from saying that one name.
"Carys Jones." And just like that, Mia remembers why she is an atheist after all.
Carys was all this time sitting right in front of Mia. He has seen Mia walking right past him and standing by Sam's desk waiting for the names of her teammates. He also saw panic rolling into Mia's eyes when his name rolled out of Sam's tongue.
Carys stands up and picks the sheet that Sam points at. He exchanges words with the other two teammates and then walks toward Mia. "Hello, teammate." He whispers as he leans into Mia.
Mia looks up and puts on a cold expression like she always does.
"Woah, it's gonna be epic," Lily says shifting towards Mia and Carys. "Let's kill this project." She continues as she flips over the sheet that Carys has passed her.
Tony seemed to notice the coldness in Mia's behaviour. They had a word earlier this morning when Tony showed up at Mia's apartment to discuss the next step of the mission. Mia never really elaborated on the words that were exchanged between her and Carys that night of the party and Tony knew better than to force the words out of Mia's mouth.
"Well, those are the teams for now," Sam says after he is done announcing the rest of the names. The bell rings at the right time and Sam leaves the classroom after a minute.
Mia is not having any of it. She was the one who decided to go undercover as a student but now she has had enough. She can't work with Carys and there is no way that she is accepting things as they are. She makes her way out of the classroom shoving Carys to a side with her left hand and follows Sam out of the room.
Carys definitely knows that there is no way that Mia will work with him so he follows Mia out of the room too. He just wants to witness the little protest that Mia will put up against Sam. He is just curious.
Tony and Lily stay where they are witnessing the collapse of their project before it even started. "They both really don't get along," Lily whispers to Tony. "That's what I fear the most." Tony replies and Lily let out a chuckle.
"I know right, if they don't get along then our project is screwed," Lily says but that is definitely not what Tony fears however he just nods in agreement.
"Sam," Mia calls out to the professor and the man in question turns his head back.
"Oh, Mia." He says and walks towards her. "I need you to change my team," Mia says and Carys stands frozen behind Mia.
Sam first looks at Mia and then looks at Carys who just smiles at the professor like he doesn't know why Mia is requesting a team change. He acts oblivious.
"And why is that, lady?" Sam questions Mia and also questions Carys but Carys is quick enough to shrug and drop out of the enquiry.
"I don't want to work in that team." Mia simply says however Sam is not someone who works without reason.
"You can't change your team without a legitimate reason," Sam informs Mia.
"I don't-"
"And if your only reason is that you don't get along with your teammates then I might force you all to work together even more."