Three months had flown by faster than Maya could believe. The city's rhythm had taken over her life once again — long days at the café, endless assignments, and late-night study sessions with Chloe. Blake Simpson had drifted out of her thoughts, buried under the weight of deadlines, lectures, and normal life.
Or at least, she thought she had forgotten him.
Maya was sorting through her closet one Sunday afternoon, trying to find something to wear to a small gathering Chloe had insisted on. As she pulled on her favorite jeans, she froze.
These… don't fit.
She tugged at the waistband again, frustration creeping in. "Chloe! Seriously, tell me the truth. Am I… fat?" she asked, holding the jeans up to her waist.
Chloe, lounging on the bed with her sketchpad, raised an eyebrow. "Fat? Maya, come on. You're graduating next week, stressed out, and juggling school and work. Your body's just… changing. Relax."
Maya huffed, sitting on the edge of the bed. "I don't know. It's like my clothes are… shrinking, or I'm growing or something. It's weird." She frowned, glancing at her reflection in the mirror. Something was definitely different.
Chloe set her sketchpad aside, walking over to examine her friend. "Maya, you're fine. Seriously. But if it's really bothering you, maybe check your routine or diet. Or just embrace it — it's normal for bodies to fluctuate."
Maya sighed, running a hand through her hair. "I guess. It's just… weird. I feel… different."
Chloe tilted her head, concern softening her usual teasing tone. "Different how? You're worried… about something?"
Maya shook her head quickly. "No, no. Nothing. Just… graduation next week. And everything is moving so fast. It feels like my life is just… slipping away."
Chloe smiled gently. "You've worked so hard, Maya. You're graduating, and soon you'll be done with this chapter of your life. You should feel proud."
Maya let herself smile faintly. "I am proud. Just… nervous too. I mean, three months ago, I wouldn't have imagined all this. Classes, late nights, working at the café… it's exhausting but… kind of normal now."
Chloe laughed softly. "See? That's the thing about life. You get used to the chaos. But hey, speaking of chaos, have you thought about… him?"
Maya froze. Her heart skipped a beat despite herself. "Don't. I've… moved on. He's Blake Simpson. A celebrity. My life doesn't even overlap with his. I'm busy, I'm graduating… I have other things to think about."
Chloe smirked knowingly. "Sure, sure. But you'll always remember that night, won't you?"
Maya bit her lip, looking away. "Maybe. But it's in the past."
Chloe shrugged, but didn't press. She knew her best friend well enough to give her space, at least for now.
---
The next day, Maya was juggling a mountain of textbooks, her sketchpad, and a heavy backpack as she navigated the campus hallways. Graduation felt so close she could almost taste it. Her mind wandered to her changing body again — the clothes, the subtle tightness in her tops, and a growing awareness that something wasn't just about stress or school.
She paused at a mirror in the hallway, examining herself carefully. Could it be…? No, she shook her head. No. That's impossible. Right?
Chloe's voice snapped her out of her thoughts. "Maya! You spacing out again?"
Maya turned, forcing a smile. "Yeah… just… thinking about graduation. And… clothes."
Chloe giggled. "You really are stressing over that. You're fine, Maya. Seriously. But… if you want, I'll help you figure out a plan for your wardrobe. Maybe loosen it up a bit."
Maya laughed softly, appreciating her friend's support. "Thanks, Chloe. I guess I just… feel different. Like something's… changing."
Chloe raised an eyebrow. "Different how? You're being mysterious now. Spill."
Maya shook her head, hiding a small pang of worry. "Nothing serious. Just… life moving fast. That's all."
---
Later that evening, Maya returned home, exhausted from the day's lectures and last-minute graduation preparations. She sank onto her bed, stretching her arms and letting out a long sigh.
Her phone buzzed — a message from Chloe: "Don't forget your photoshoot tomorrow for graduation! And stop stressing over your jeans, girl. You're glowing."
Maya smiled faintly but couldn't shake the nagging feeling inside her. Something had changed — physically, emotionally, even in the way her thoughts kept drifting back to that one night, to Blake Simpson. She pushed the thought away, trying to focus on the things she could control.
Work, school, graduation… and maybe, just maybe, a little more attention to her wardrobe.
But deep down, she knew this chapter of her life wasn't over — not yet. Something was quietly brewing, something that would force her to confront the past, her choices, and the consequences she hadn't even imagined three months ago.
And as the city lights flickered outside her window, Maya hugged her pillow tightly, unaware that the next twist of her life was closer than she thought.