As soon as the door closed, Maria's instincts kicked in.
'Is that really what he came to ask?' she wondered. 'He's hiding something. I'm sure of it.'
She laid back on the bed, eyes staring at the ceiling, thoughts swirling, until sleep finally took her...
---
The next morning, Maria arrived at college early, as always. Bernard was absent again—he hadn't shown up for days.
Not long after, Cassandra and Laura arrived, brightening the morning with their chatter. They all checked the schedule and realized there was no lecture until 10 a.m.
"Let's go to the garden!" Laura suggested, and they all agreed.
The college garden was serene. Flowers bloomed, birds chirped, and a soft breeze added calm to the air. They laughed and made jokes as they strolled under the trees.
But then, Cassandra threw a curveball.
"Have you ever thought about giving James a chance to be your man?" she asked casually.
Maria froze. Her mind went blank.
