Aria smiled softly, placing the mug on the counter. "Good morning, Mom. You do so much for me already. I thought I'd let you sleep a little longer."
Her mom chuckled, brushing a strand of hair from Aria's face. "You're so thoughtful, my girl. But remember, I'm always here for you, no matter what."
After finishing her coffee, Aria placed the empty mug in the sink and made her way to her room. She was in no particular hurry, though the faint sound of her mother bustling around in the kitchen reminded her that she needed to get on with her day. Once inside her room, she shut the door behind her, leaned against it for a moment, and exhaled a deep sigh. Morning routines had never been her favorite part of the day, but today, they felt even more monotonous. She had other things on her mind—things that made her heart race and her thoughts spiral.
She slipped out of her pajamas and carefully chose a blue dress from her wardrobe. It was one of her favorites—simple, flattering, and comfortable. The dress reached just below her knees, and as she smoothed the fabric over her thighs, she caught her reflection in the mirror. The bright blue of the dress contrasted with her fair skin, and her loose waves cascaded down her shoulders. She decided to leave her hair as it was, a natural look that suited her better than the elaborate styles her mom often suggested.
With her morning routine done, Aria perched on the edge of her bed, her phone clutched tightly in her hand. She turned it on, and the screen lit up, but there were no new notifications. She refreshed her messages. Still nothing. Her chest tightened, and an irrational pang of disappointment washed over her.
Why hasn't Damien texted yet?
It was barely 24 hours since their last conversation, Aria perched on the edge of her bed, clutching her phone tightly in her hand. She kept checking her messages, refreshing the screen every few minutes. Her heart raced with anticipation as she waited for Damien's response to her proposal. She had poured her feelings into that message, and now the silence on his end was unbearable. Each passing second felt like an eternity, and though she tried to convince herself not to obsess, her fingers hovered over her phone, unwilling to put it down.
The minutes ticked by as Aria scrolled aimlessly through her apps, occasionally glancing at the clock. It was nearly 10 a.m., but she didn't feel the usual sense of urgency. Her mom, however, didn't seem to share that sentiment. A knock on her bedroom door snapped her out of her reverie.
"Coming, Mom!" Aria called, quickly tossing her phone onto the bed as though she had been caught doing something wrong. She opened the door to find her mother standing there with a puzzled expression.
"Yes, Mom?" Aria asked, stepping aside to let her mother enter.
Her mom looked her over, her gaze lingering on the blue dress. "Love, it's already 10," she said, her tone edged with concern.
Aria tilted her head slightly, unsure why her mom was making such an observation. "Yes, Mom. So what?" she replied, attempting to sound nonchalant as she grabbed her phone from the bed and unlocked it again.
Her mother's brow furrowed. "Don't you have classes today?"
Aria froze for a split second, her mind scrambling for a response. What made it all the more confusing for Aria was the strange reality she now found herself in. Five years ago, she had graduated, even completed her master's degree, and had been on the verge of starting her career. Yet, after her rebirth, she had been thrust back into her university days, reliving her final year. Despite the unmistakable evidence around her, a part of her still clung to the belief that she had already graduated. She often felt torn between the memories of her past life and the present reality, making it difficult to reconcile where she truly stood. And right now, none of it mattered—her world revolved solely around Damien's reply.
"Mom, I'm already grad—" Aria stopped herself mid-sentence, biting her tongue. Her eyes widened slightly as she realized what she'd almost said.
Her mother, oblivious to the slip, smiled. "Oh, you're already getting ready! Good, I was worried for nothing. Were you saying something?" she asked, her voice tinged with curiosity.
"No, Mom, I wasn't saying anything," Aria replied quickly. "Oh, yes, I mean, I was saying something. I was just… reminding you that classes start at 11 today," she lied, forcing a smile that she hoped looked convincing.
"You are looking beautiful, love," her mom said softly, placing a gentle kiss on her head. Her warm voice carried both affection and a hint of pride. Aria glanced up and smiled, her fingers nervously adjusting the hem of her blue dress. Compliments like this always made her feel a mix of gratitude and slight embarrassment.
"Thank you, Mom," she replied, her voice light but sincere.
Her mom's expression shifted slightly as she took a step back, hands on her hips. "But don't be late for breakfast! It's already past time," she scolded, her tone firm yet affectionate, as if it were part of her daily routine to remind Aria of mealtime.
"I'll be there, I promise," Aria assured her, giving a small nod. She hoped it would satisfy her mom enough to avoid further nagging.
Her mom started toward the door but hesitated halfway, turning back to face her.
Her mother nodded, seeming satisfied with the explanation. "Oh, okay. Is Victor coming to fetch you?"
"Who's Victor?" Aria blurted, the question spilling out before she could stop it. Her mother's face shifted from confusion to suspicion in a matter of seconds.
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