Evelyn's curiosity surged, prompting her to sit up and lean in to read the article. Her eyes widened as she pointed out, "Oh! It's written by the professor! Look!"
Jane acknowledged with a smirk, though her sentiments toward the professor weren't particularly fond. "I noticed that. Well, according to this article, the effects are supposed to last only a few hours to a day at most. But you've been experiencing this for almost three days now, right?"
"Exactly," Evelyn's voice carried a tinge of concern. "So, it might not be the plant, right?"
Jane's expression remained thoughtful. "Let's not discard that possibility just yet. Think about it. The last time you had these dreams was right after you touched the plant and then returned home, correct?"
Evelyn's certainty returned as she affirmed, "Yes, that's right."
"And this time," Jane continued her line of questioning, "before you took the bath, did you eat anything?"
Evelyn pondered for a moment, her brow furrowing. Eventually, she shook her head. "No, I hadn't eaten anything since I got back from college."
Jane's eyes gleamed with realisation. "So, if you didn't ingest it, then it's likely that you might have burned the plant unknowingly. For example, lighting a..."
Before Jane could finish her sentence, Evelyn's eyes widened in sync with Jane's. In perfect unison, they exclaimed, "Candle!"
"Did you burn any candles?" Jane inquired, her eyes focused on Evelyn.
Evelyn nodded, her brow furrowing slightly. "Yeah, I found some scented ones in the cabinet. I didn't even know I had them, but I felt like burning them to create a relaxing atmosphere."
Jane's gaze sharpened with interest. "Go get me those candles," she instructed, her voice a mix of urgency and curiosity.
Evelyn wasted no time and swiftly dashed out of the room. She returned moments later, holding a half-burned jar with a colorful label.
Jane took the jar from Evelyn's hand and carefully read the intricate yet barely legible text on the glass surface. "Lavender-scented with subtle notes of Raven berry!" Jane exclaimed, her eyes widening with realization.
Evelyn's confusion deepened. "Raven berry? Is that connected to the Raven bud plant?"
Jane's expression turned serious as she handed the jar back to Evelyn. "It might be. If these candles indeed contain some essence or extract from the Raven bud, it could explain the heightened emotions and intense dreams you've been experiencing."
As Evelyn took the jar, her fingers brushing against the colorful label, her friend's words resonated deeply. "To elevate your experience in bed." Jane's incredulous tone as she read the label aloud added a layer of absurdity to the situation, and Evelyn found herself shuddering involuntarily.
Jane extended the jar towards Evelyn, her face mirroring her friend's discomfort. "This whole thing is just beyond bizarre."
Evelyn's brows furrowed as she took the jar, her thoughts whirling. "I know, right? It's like some strange combination of factors coming together to create this... mess."
Jane's fingers absentmindedly played with a strand of her own hair. "At least now we have some insight into what's been going on. And we can deal with it."
Evelyn's grip on the jar tightened. "Yeah, you're right. No more letting mysterious plants and weird candles mess with my head."
The sun peeked through the curtains, casting a warm glow on the room as Evelyn stirred, slowly emerging from the depths of slumber. Her eyes blinked open, and for a brief moment, she relished the comfort of her bed. But then, a jolt of realisation shot through her – she was late.
Evelyn sat up abruptly, her heart racing as she glanced at the clock. "Crap!" she exclaimed, throwing the covers aside. Her sudden movement roused her best friend, Jane, who groaned and buried her head under the pillow.
"Is it time for the apocalypse already?" Jane mumbled, her voice muffled.
Evelyn chuckled, her frantic energy a stark contrast to Jane's drowsiness. "No, just college, and we're running very, very late."
Jane finally emerged from her pillow fortress, her hair tousled. "College? Ugh, remind me why we're putting ourselves through this torture again?"
Evelyn's expression turned mischievous. "Because education is the key to unlocking a world of opportunities?"
Jane rolled her eyes, her sarcasm evident. "Right. I must've missed that memo."
Evelyn threw a pillow at her playfully. "Come on, we need to hurry!"
As they scrambled to get ready, Evelyn's enthusiasm waned. She had never been particularly motivated by academics, and today was no exception. However, she wasn't prepared for Jane's surprising announcement.
"By the way," Jane said casually, as if discussing the weather, "I have a job interview today."
Evelyn paused, a shirt half-draped over her. "Wait, what? Since when?"
Jane shrugged nonchalantly. "Decided to give the whole adulting thing a shot. Internship at a marketing and advertising company."
Evelyn's eyes widened, intrigued by the unexpected turn of events. "Internship? That sounds... interesting."
Jane smirked. "Thought you'd never say that about anything related to work."
Evelyn grinned. "Well, it's you we're talking about. I'm curious."
Jane's expression shifted, her eyes shining with excitement. "Actually, why don't you come with me?"
Evelyn raised an eyebrow, caught off guard. "Me? Why?"
Jane's grin turned mischievous. "Because you're my good luck charm, obviously. And who knows, maybe you'll find something interesting too."
Evelyn hesitated, torn between the allure of a spontaneous adventure and her usual aversion to anything remotely resembling responsibility. "I don't know..."
Jane's eyes pleaded with her. "Come on, Ev. We'll make it fun. You can pretend you're auditioning for a role in a corporate drama."
Evelyn chuckled, intrigued by the idea. "Fine, but I'm not going for the job. Just for the fun of it."
Jane fist-pumped the air. "Deal!"
With the pact sealed, the two friends raided Evelyn's wardrobe, pulling out clothes that struck the perfect balance between professional and fashionable. With their hastily chosen outfits and a sense of anticipation, they made their way to the car that Jane had "borrowed" from her father the previous night.