Rachel closed the books before her and stretched. A tired Danish had already fallen asleep beside her with his head on the study table as she checked his classwork. She looked around to find Monica and Milan curled on Monica's red couch. Monica was determinedly explaining something whilst Milan yawned inanimately. Niam was sprawled on the floor, busy solving maths questions as Marisa peeped over his shoulder, taking notes.

Rachel glanced back at Danish's face. His long lashes, dimpled cheeks, and chiseled jaw tempted her to run her fingers over them. Her breath caught as she took in his luscious lips, and she bit down on her own. Heck! What was she even thinking? Rachel shook her head and forced herself to look away. She couldn't afford distractions in her life, not if she wished to get away from her terrifying father.

"Guys, I think it is late enough. Are you done?" she called to her friends.

Monica rolled her eyes, "I am done. I explained as much as I could to this idiot."

"No kidding," replied a dazed Milan. "I am going cross-eyed now."

"You can't get uglier than you already are," retorted Niam shutting his book. "Did you get all of that, Marisa?"

"Much of it went over my head, I'll review it tomorrow," admitted Marisa.

Rachel glanced at the large wall clock. "It's already 9 pm, let's order dinner here and eat together. With the exams beginning on Wednesday, today was our last study session. Thereafter you only need to revise the notes I gave you."

"Then let me order," piped up Monica. "What would all of you like to eat?"

"Spicy Thai green curry and rice," replied Milan smacking his lips.

"Ask them to make one bowl of curry mild. Danish can't eat spicy food," cautioned Niam.

Monica nodded as she walked away, phone in hand.

"Danish seems to be too tired, should we wake him up?" asked Marisa tentatively.

Niam shook his head. "He has been overworking the past few weeks. Studying for the exams and working on a new project for his dad."

Worried, Rachel bit her lip. "Can't he take leave from work till the exams are over?"

Niam shrugged, "I guess he plans to take leave from this Saturday. You can wake him up now."

Rachel smiled, "Let him be. He is sleeping so peacefully. We will wake him up when the food comes."

"So how were the debate competitions? Did you win any awards?" asked Milan.

Marisa perked up, "We won the Best Debater award five times and were placed second twice. Rache was literally on fire; she was awarded the Best Speaker thrice whilst Monks was the Best Speaker twice."

"Wow! Well done," congratulated Niam impressed.

"What about your lazy butt, didn't you win any awards?" drawled Milan.

Marisa pouted, "Don't blame me if Monks and Rache never give me a chance."

"Excuses," muttered Milan under his breath.

"Hey!" exclaimed Marisa hurt.

"Don't rag on her Milan," scolded Monica as she returned to her seat. "Not when you fail to secure the gold medal between Danish and Niam."

A full-blown argument broke out between the three. Niam observed a concerned Rachel covering Danish with a quilt she had fetched from Monica's bed.

Not bad, thought Niam. At least, Danish's feelings were reciprocated by Rachel even though she was far more guarded. Now all he had to do was watch these two stubborn fools stumble their way into each other's arms. Niam smiled; good thing he had deep reserves of patience.

................................................................................

"Woah, the exams are finally over," declared Milan happily. "I almost died studying this semester. Rachel is just as bad a taskmaster as our Danish."

Niam smacked Milan's head, "All you did was eat Monica's head."

"Like Marisa ate yours," retorted Milan wincing as he rubbed his head. "It's a wonder I still have a brain left with you hitting me on the head all the time."

Niam chuckled, "Half a brain if you ask me."

Danish laughed at Milan's affronted expression. "Come on. Let's head out for drinks today."

Milan's good mood returned instantly. "What are we planning to do this semester break?"

Niam shrugged, "Danish and I will probably continue with our internship. You can head home to Chiang Mai."

Milan pouted, "Aren't you going home too?"

Niam looked away, hurt mirrored in his eyes. "Not this time. Iris will probably be introducing her boyfriend to her parents. Since my parents live in the same tower and are friends with hers. No doubt they will badger me with never-ending questions."

Milan sighed, "Come on man. It's not your fault, she's the cheater here."

"My parents believe her over me. They think Iris is the best thing that has ever happened to me and that I am wasting my time taking part in swimming competitions and karate championships. No matter what I do, I will never be as good as Iris in their eyes. Besides I have no wish to see Iris parading her boyfriend around".

"When Milan goes home, Niam can stay with me in my apartment," offered Danish. "It would save me the effort of driving him to and fro from office."

"How about we have a mini vacation first? Let's head to Danish's beach house in Chonburi for a few days before I return to Chiang Mai. I miss swimming so badly," suggested Milan excitedly.

Danish laughed at his eagerness. "I'll ask Dad tomorrow. As for swimming, since the semester is over, the swimming club suspension is also over. We will be back to the swimming pool after the semester break."

"Yeah!" yelled Milan gleefully, ducking his head in time before Niam could smack him. Unfortunately, Danish was quicker this time, successfully bashing him on the head.

"Ow!" whined Milan.

Niam shook his head, "Such a drama queen".

........................................................................

Once Marisa had submitted her paper, she headed to the canteen instead of waiting for her friends. No doubt, they would join her in another 15 minutes, she estimated glancing at her watch. She got herself a hot chocolate and began scrolling through her Instagram. Exactly 15 minutes later, Marisa heard two sets of rapidly approaching footsteps.

"I already placed your order. Get your hot chocolate from the drinks stand," she said without looking up.

Monica frowned as she set down her bag and headed to collect the drinks. Rachel dropped down on the seat beside Marisa. "Mars, why are you out so early? Did you do badly?"

Marisa continued to scroll on her phone, "No, the exam was good. I answered all the questions I could. I just see no point in checking the answers over and over again like you and Monks do."

Rachel smiled greatly relieved. "So, let's doll up and head out to an expensive restaurant to celebrate the end of the semester."

Marisa shrugged, "Sure, let's go. I have been craving Chinese for a while now."

"Chinese," repeated Monica as she put down two mugs of hot chocolate on the table. "Only if Marisa's exam went well".

"Lose the frown, mother hen. My exam went extremely well."

"Then let's go eat Chinese at Shangri-La," agreed Monica with a smile. "So, what are you checking on your Instagram?"

Marisa quickly closed Niam's profile and put her phone down. "Nothing. Our classmates have been posting about the mentorship. The university admission list will be out today."

"Mentorship?" asked Rachel confused.

"We are getting promoted to the third year," prompted Monica as she carefully wrapped her hands around the mug.

"Obviously. So?"

"So, it will be our turn to mentor the freshmen. On Awards Day, after they give out the awards for the academic year, they will announce the student mentor for each mentee," explained Monica.

Rachel was flummoxed. "Don't we get to choose who we want to mentor?"

"Nope, that was done previously till the allegations of nepotism began. Now the professors decide randomly and announce it publicly. Heaven forbids if someone rejects their assigned mentee," replied Marisa with a shudder.

"You can refuse? Then, what's the point?"

"Once the list for your department is concluded and before they proceed to the next department, technically you can raise objections. Even the mentee can do the same if they wish. Adjustments are then worked out later, but it is humiliating to be rejected so publicly. That's why it happens very rarely." Monica took a sip of her hot chocolate.

"How do you not know about all of this?" asked Marisa rolling her eyes. "Rache, you should keep track of the world around you instead of being so single-minded."

Rachel blew on her mug lightly. "I usually leave after receiving my award, so I have no idea what happens later."

"So typical," muttered Marisa.

Monica grinned. "It will be a good experience, Rache. We were lucky to have kind mentors in our time. We should return the favor. Inspire our mentees to be better."

Rachel took a sip of hot chocolate, wondering how to respond without upsetting her friends. "Guys, I think I will abstain from the mentorship program. As a School Council member, I am exempted. P' Lily didn't take on any mentees in her time."

"Why?" groaned Marisa. "It's an essential part of our university life."

"I have too much on my plate already. P' Day has been elected the new Student Council President after P' Lily and he is way more demanding than her. If I hope to stand for the Student Council elections at the end of the next academic year, I have to take on more responsibilities. Additionally, I plan to apply for an internship. It will make my resume look better if I gain some work experience before applying to Singapore's System Infotech."

Monica reached out and held her hand. "We know you badly want to leave Thailand, but can't you take a breather once in a while?"

"I can't afford to fail. I am too scared to even find out what Dad has planned for me after graduation."

Marisa placed her hand on their hand, joining them together. "What about the debate club?"

"I intend to nominate Monica as the captain if it gets too much for me. But basically, we will be training our juniors to go for the debate competitions instead of us."

"God no," shuddered Monica. "Please don't do that to me."

"Come on, Monks. It's not that bad," consoled Rachel with barely concealed amusement as Marisa shook with laughter.

"No, it completely is!" declared Monica unabashedly.

"So, are we taking a trip this semester break?" Marisa casually flipped her hair, causing several male students to stop and gawk at her.

"I was hoping we could go to Singapore and check out the work scenario there," murmured Rachel.

Marisa leaned forward. "Okay, Monks can talk to Mr T and ask him to make the arrangements. I don't think Rachel's dad will even care as long as we get out of his hair."

"Hey, why can't you talk to your dad? Why do I have to be the sacrificial lamb?" protested Monica.

Marisa frowned heavily. "The less my dad and I converse, the better it is."

"Fine. I'll ask my dad to make the arrangements."

.........................................................................

Amused, Jay observed his daughter Sarah pacing around his bedroom; his wife Salena serenely seated beside him.

"It's 4 pm, Sarah. You can check now," he coaxed gently.

Sarah exhaled loudly and dramatically plonked herself into an armchair. Squeezing her eyes shut, she silently prayed before unlocking her phone and pressing enter. Immediately the web page of the admissions list was uploaded to the official website of Charnock Beadon University of Technology. Squinting she scrolled through the extensive list till it came to her favoured department.

A loud screech followed. Jay and Salena cringed, covering their ears in defense.

"I got selected! I got selected!"

"Congratulations baby," said Salena as her daughter rushed in for a quick embrace.

Jay ruffled her hair fondly. "Won't you let your brother know?"

"I haven't told Hia!" realized Sarah. Dialing her brother's number, she rushed out of her parent's room.

Jay chuckled as he heard her screeching into the phone. Good, if they had to go deaf, they would go deaf together as a family.

Salena sighed, "Now our youngest will also leave".

Jay smiled "Don't worry. Sarah's apartment in Vivera Tower is ready to move in. You can furnish it for her".

"Yes, but this house will feel so empty."

Jay pulled his wife into his arms before nuzzling her neck and placing a kiss on her cheek. "I shall have you to myself. Finally, after all these years we can spend time with each other."

Salena closed her eyes and relaxed against her husband's chest. "You better keep your word as you always have".

Jay felt his conscious prick. Salena must never know of all the times he had failed to keep his word behind her back.

Hi guys! Do vote and comment. Let me know if you like this chapter.