Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

This summer felt like it was cranking the heat up to eleven.

From Monday to Friday, I had my sweet escape in air-conditioned classrooms, labs, and the library.

Weekends? Just as awesome. My home's AC and chilled watermelon slices were the stuff of dreams.

Lounging in my cool haven, munching on watermelon while skimming through papers, it felt like a small slice of peace in a hectic world.

Leda dropped a message: "Hey, it's Saturday, no classes. Sure you don't want to hit the town?"

Roseanne sighed and said, "Leda, please, give me a break. With this heat... I can't even think about stepping outside."

"Not even for a little shopping, maybe to grab some cute outfits?!"

"I can just shop online."

gotta try those in-store to know

usual brands, no need

grab some snacks, maybe check out the fresh produce at the supermarket?! You gotta leave the house for that!" Leda's frustration was palpable through the screen. Roseanne whispered back, almost guiltily, "Actually... home

was silent

busy with work lately, feeling

from Leda. Roseanne always could

by

contacts like Kevin, David, and all those other

Leda would never think of dragging her out in this scorching summer heat. She hated the sun even more than Roseanne did. So when Leda brought it up today, something felt

even start..." Leda seemed

mentioning it seemed to cause her

had somehow gotten her phone's lock screen password and decided to browse some not-so-savory websites, infecting her phone with

swore he could

Mansion a place where indulgences like emperor-grade