UNTIL THE SEMESTER ENDS

HARPER?

Mia

I woke up earlier than usual on Monday.

For some reason, the note was the first thing that came to mind.

I reached into my pocket and pulled it out.

“Some things are better left forgotten.”

I stared at it for a few seconds before folding it again.

“Mia?”

I quickly slipped it beneath my pillow.

Valerie looked at me from her bed.

“You've been staring at that pillow for a while.”

“I was thinking.”

“Dangerous.”

I rolled my eyes.

“Get ready.”

She laughed and went back to fixing her hair.

I didn't tell her about the note.

I wasn't even sure why.

Maybe because I didn't know what it meant.

Maybe because I didn't want to make something small into something bigger.

Either way, I decided to leave it alone.

For now.

---

After classes, I headed to the library to meet Noah.

He was already there, sitting at one of the tables with our books open.

“You're late.”

I checked the time.

“I'm two minutes late.”

“Still late.”

“You survived.”

He smiled.

I sat down.

“Let's just finish this.”

We worked quietly for a while.

Surprisingly, we made good progress.

Noah reached for my notebook.

“What's this?”

I quickly pulled it away.

“Nothing.”

He looked at me.

“That was suspicious.”

“It wasn't.”

“Okay.”

He went back to the assignment without asking again.

I glanced at him.

I appreciated that.

Not everyone needed to know everything.

---

By the time we finished, I was relieved.

We packed our books and walked out together.

Near the entrance, we ran into Valerie and Paige.

Valerie looked between Noah and me.

“Together?”

I sighed.

“Assignment.”

She smiled.

“I didn't say anything.”

“You were going to.”

Noah laughed.

“She always does that?”

“Yes.”

“Interesting.”

I gave him a look.

“Don't encourage her.”

Valerie grinned.

“I like him.”

“No one asked.”

Noah laughed as we walked toward the hostel.

For a few minutes, everything felt normal again.

And I liked it that way.

---

That night, I was cleaning my desk when I remembered the note.

I pulled it out.

I stared at it.

Then I decided I was done with it.

I walked toward the bin and unfolded it one last time.

Something caught my attention.

There was writing on the back.

I turned it over.

One word.

HARPER.

I froze.

I read it again.

Harper.

The name sounded familiar.

Then I remembered the photograph from the hostel noticeboard.

Three years ago.

The old students.

Abby's reaction.

I looked toward her bed.

She was lying down with her back turned to me.

I looked back at the note.

HARPER?

Who was Harper?

And why did I have a feeling Abby already knew?