OLIVIAThe morning sun spilled into the room, casting a warm glow on the tousled sheets that wrapped around Matteo and I."Morning, sleepyhead," Matteo's voice greeted me.As I turned, I noticed he was already wide awake, most likely watching me watching me while I was sleep."Good morning. We've turned into a puzzle, haven't we?"A playful smirk adorned Matteo's face, "Best way to wake up, in my opinion.""Yeah, not a bad way at all," I agreed, snuggling further into him.Matteo's eyes sparkled, "So, how'd you sleep?""I had a dream, I was solving mysteries in a chocolate factory. I had on the Sherlock Holmes hat and all.""Maybe your dreams are trying to tell you something."I raised an eyebrow, "Like what?""Maybe you need more chocolate in your life," He teased. "Speaking of, hungry?""Starving," I admitted."How about some waffles? I make a mean batch," Matteo suggested, untangling himself from the sheets."I'm definitely interested, now take me to the kitchen and feed your starv

DANTE.Sorting through paperwork, I felt the night's rhythm humming outside the building. I juggled with the increasing workload while still contending with my father's persistent efforts to force a collaboration I want no part in, I need him to grasp that he no longer owns me or this company. I've built it up through my own hard work, not his.My thoughts has also been consumed by a particular brunette – someone I shouldn't be dwelling on, someone who shouldn't even be on my mind. Perhaps it's her infuriating and irksome nature that leads me to think about her, and damn, it's getting on my nerves.The phone suddenly rang, and Izzy's name flashed on my screen. Answering, a mix of muffled voices and background noise spilled out."Dante! You won't believe it! No wait, first of all, I was thinking you'd be busy with some random chick," Izzy slurred over the phone."Where the fuck are you, Izzy?""Oh, I'm at this party with Izzy and Olivia—oops, I'm Izzy. I'm at a party with Emma and Oll

OLIVIAThanksgiving arrived swiftly, the days leading up to it blending into a blur of moments. I opted not to go home for Thanksgiving, but fortunately, I'm not spending it alone in my dorm. Matteo and Isabella insisted I join them, and though I initially thought it might be awkward, I eventually caved in. Emma had already left for Miami on Sunday, and things have felt different without her. Tyler seems pretty miserable, or so I heard from Matteo.I already called my dad earlier this morning , and now I'm getting dressed with Izzy to go to her parent's house. Opting for a maxi gown and cropped sweater paired with a black purse, I spent most of the night contemplating what would be appropriate to wear, especially since Isabella informed me last minute that I'd be accompanying her.I would be meeting Matteo's parents as his girlfriend for the first time, it has me on edge, and saying I'm nervous would be an understatement. The anticipation is heightened, particularly with the wary glan

OLIVIAThe air crackled with tension as finals week descended upon us. Our living room had transformed into a makeshift study hub, scattered with textbooks, notes, sticky notes, and empty coffee cups.Izzy, Emma, and I huddled together for a last-minute study session. Today marked the fourth day, and we'd barely gotten enough sleep since finals began. We had just wrapped up with Business Ethics and Microeconomics and were now in our rooms preparing for tomorrow's exams.In the midst of our study session, Izzy, wielding a colorful stack of highlighters, meticulously flipped through textbook pages, her brows furrowed in deep concentration. Emma was surrounded by an organized array of sticky notes.. As for me, armed with a pen, I frantically scribbled short notes in my notebook.Tomorrow's exam was no walk in the park. We were gearing up for Statistics and Accounting. Now, I won't say it's difficult, but it's the kind of subject that demands intense focus and thorough preparation if we i

OLIVIA "... It's like this lingering emptiness, you know? A heavy cloud that just won't dissipate," I confessed, my voice wavering as I fidgeted with my fingers.Leaning forward, Dr. Bennett's expression softened. "I can imagine. What's been on your mind today?"I sighed, struggling to find the right words to explain the messy situation I'm in. "I tried to stick to my usual routine, hanging out with friends, spending time with my boyfriend, but it feels like I'm carrying this invisible weight, and then the guilt sets in, as if I should be stronger, but I'm not at all."She nodded in understanding, "It's okay not to be okay, Olivia. Can you tell me what the guilt is about?""I don't know, maybe it stems from the fact that everyone expects me to be okay, to move on or act like it's just another day, but it's not. It's the day my mum died, and I can't shake that off," I confessed."Expectations, whether from others or ourselves, can be difficult. What do you feel when you think about he