—

  —

  By the time I reached the door at the end of the corridor, it was just a few minutes after five. When I opened it, four other seated individuals in the room shifted their eyes to look at me. Clasping my hands together in a plea, I quickly moved to take a seat before anyone could say a thing.

  “Sorry for coming in late,” I said breathlessly.

  With a sigh, Nana, our club president, ran a hand through her unkempt hair, which only added to her usual dishevelled appearance. She began addressing us, her movements animated and expressive as always.

  “Alright, I know that usually we don't have meetings on Wednesdays, but this had to be addressed now rather than later,” Nana said, eager to get started. She almost tripped over her words.

  We could all see what the problem was. Whether we liked it or not, it was something that directly affected us.

  “Our classes have been experiencing growing tension recently, and it can be felt by everyone. Not only is everyone on edge because of the student council election, but Cohen's new policy has sullied what little middle ground we had.”

  Preventing students from his class from joining other classes' election groups was a very stupid move on Cohen's part. It was as if he acted on the first thought that occurred to his muscle brain without even considering the potential consequences.

  “Azumi and Alaina, I want to know if there will be issues interacting in the club because of this,” Nana remarked, pointing at them dramatically.

  Our attention turned to the two girls who exchanged looks with one another before Azumi spoke. She leaned forward, hands clasped together on the table, her movements deliberate and controlled, a stark contrast to Nana's.

  “We had a discussion with ourselves on what happens with clubs, and the consensus made was that we are free to participate as we should. However, there are some stipulations,” Azumi stated.

  “Stipulations?” Nana repeated, clearly curious. She tilted her head, causing a few loose strands of hair to fall into her face, which she blew away with a huff.

  “Yes. First, all Class 3 students must participate in the club, adhering to the time allocated. Meaning no hanging with club members outside of club hours,” Azumi continued.

  “Wait,” Yasuo swiftly chimed in, raising a hand as though he were in class. “Doesn’t that mean you have been here already, which violates that stipulation?” he questioned. His brows furrowed in confusion.

  This time, Alaina chose to respond, her demeanour composed. Arms crossed, she reclined back in her chair.

  “It does, but all these stipulations only work if everyone is willing to cooperate and report when there is a breach. As for us,” Alaina paused, and she and Azumi pinched their fingers together and moved them over their lips in a zipping motion. Their lips were sealed.

  “So with that, let's just forget about the stipulations, because we won't let all that class drama get in the way of having fun here,” Azumi added, which prompted a smile to spread across my face.

  “If you both are sure that it won't bring about any problems, then I would like to say that this matter has reached its conclusion,” Nana stated. I was ready to leave but noticed that Nana had not yet slammed the desk three times to signify the end of the meeting, meaning she probably still had more to say.

  “Next, I would like for us to choose our next book to read,” she said, almost springing out of her chair.

  “We aren't all here, so it won't be fair to make that decision now,” I remarked, attempting to bring a bit of logic to the situation.

  “I know, but right now, I am just feeling very excited to stick my hand in the box,” Nana said, her eyes sparkling with childlike glee as she reached for the selection box.

  Everyone in the room let out a loud sigh, and there was the sound of a palm slamming against something. I turned to find Yasuo with his palm on his face, a sentiment I could completely relate to.

  “I will just tell the others that they can pick next time, alright?” Nana added, her voice hopeful and slightly pleading.

  “I doubt that is the main issue here,” Azumi remarked, her voice tinged with concern, but Nana appeared to dismiss her concern.

  “I guess we'll just chalk this up to a Nana moment,” I said, and everyone in the room nodded in agreement. Nana’s whimsical decisions were part of our club’s charm.

  “Yippee! Thank you, Stella!” Nana cheered, grabbing my hand in a show of appreciation. Her enthusiasm was infectious, and despite our occasional frustrations, we couldn’t help but smile.

  We watched as she made her way to a cabinet; her movements were hurried and almost clumsy. She pulled out a box with a hole in it, covered by a piece of cloth so that no one could see what was inside. She dropped it on the table with a flourish.

  “Last time we pulled out Wuthering Heights, which was Ezekiel's pick, right?” Nana spoke with delight glimmering in her eyes.

  “Yes, it was,” Azumi said in a cool, composed tone.

  “Alright then, I hope mine gets chosen next,” Nana responded, bouncing on her heels.

  It was an easy yet fun method to decide on our next book. Everyone wrote the names of two books they wanted the others to read and placed them in the box. Nana would shake the box and reach in whenever we wanted a new book. This time, she shook it vigorously, her whole body moving with the effort, and reached inside. With a smile, she turned to face me after taking out a slip of paper and reading what was written on it.

  “Congratulations, Stella! We are reading The Blazing World by Margaret Cavendish!” With enthusiasm in her voice, Nana announced. She made a kazoo-like sound with her mouth, something I never quite understood how she managed to do.

  There was a complimentary round of applause, though I didn’t see the big deal about my book being chosen. Nevertheless, knowing there was no cause for complaint, I nodded in acceptance.

  “I’ll tell the others to read the book ahead of time before the next meeting,” Nana added, with a glint in her eyes.

  “Uh?” Aliana’s voice was very audible and displeased. “The next meeting is on Saturday. You want us to read the entire book by then? How long is this book?” The second question was directed at me, so I answered.

  “From what I remember, it's about a hundred pages,” Aliana gave a resigned sigh, realising she had lost the argument.

  “Alright, remember to tell the others about this,” Yasuo said, his voice tinged with the acceptance of the inevitable. Nana cheerfully struck the table three times to conclude our unplanned gathering.

  Together with Azumi and Aliana, I stood up and we quickly said our goodbyes before exiting the club room. As we parted ways, I made my way to the library. I wanted to do some light reading for the book, knowing there was a copy there, so I wouldn't have to walk all the way back to my room.

  As I walked outside towards the library building, I spotted a familiar figure ahead. My heart began to race, and I couldn’t resist the urge to sneak up on him. I hurried to put my arm around his neck.

  “Surprise,” I said with a devilish smile, watching as Jaden’s eyes widened in genuine surprise.

  “Stella? What are you up to, sneaking up on people?” Jaden said, straightening up his body and expression, a nervous laugh escaping his lips.

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  “You know I only do that with you,” I nudge him playfully and taunt. He chuckled, shaking his head slightly, still adjusting to my sudden presence.

  “Anyways, where are you headed?” I asked, curiosity piqued.

  “The library,” he replied, his voice steady.

  I felt a wave of exhilaration come over me, and my heart skipped a beat. Biting my lip slightly to contain my enthusiasm, I replied, “Well, I was heading to the same place. I need to do some studying and read a book for our club. Come on, let's go.” I took hold of his hand and pulled him towards the library without waiting for his response, not bothering to look back at his undoubtedly taken-aback expression.

  Jaden staggered a little but quickly matched my pace, his shock melting into a pleasant smile.

  “You’re always so full of energy,” he remarked.

  As we walked, the campus was alive with the sounds of students winding down their day. Birds chirped from the treetops, and a gentle breeze rustled the leaves, making the walk to the library pleasant. I felt a sense of calm wash over me, despite the bustling surroundings.

  As we approached the library entrance, I stopped to allow Jaden to catch up. “Here we are,” I said.

  With a smile, Jaden held the door open for me. “After you,” he said.

  “Why, thank you, kind sir,” I replied before stepping inside. The familiar scent of old books and polished wood greeted us as we entered, and the quiet atmosphere of the library was a stark contrast to the lively campus outside.

  I checked the library directory for the book I was looking for, and after finding it, I took a seat in an empty spot. Jaden sat across from me, pulling out his own book. We exchanged a silent smile. As I opened The Blazing World, I glanced up at Jaden, who was already absorbed in his reading.

  We sat in comfortable silence for a while, the only sounds coming from the occasional quiet whisper from other people and the soft rustle of pages turning. I found myself occasionally stealing glances at Jaden, his focused expression making my heart flutter.

  Jaden caught me in the act when he looked up after a while. “What?” he asked.

  “Nothing,” I said quickly, feeling a blush creep up my cheeks. “Just... enjoying the company.”

  He smiled warmly and we returned to our books.

  —

  —

  I heard a book suddenly close, which prompted me to turn to Jaden, who stretched his body after being in the same posture for quite a while. The stretch turned into a lazy yawn, his eyes squinting in the soft library light.

  “Shit, I am beat,” he murmured. His hand fluttered through his hair, tousling it even more than usual.

  “Same here,” I said as I sighed and closed my book. I felt a twinge of disappointment as I watched him prepare to go. Was I ready to let that happen?

  “Hey, how about we both go get some dinner?” I made the proposal, sounding hopeful. Jaden looked like he was about to agree when his phone, which was placed on the table, began to ring. He glanced at the caller ID and answered.

  “Hey hey,” he said, with a light-hearted and playful tone, which made me guess who it most likely was. “You actually caught me at a good time… oh really? I'll be there then,” he said, his voice tinged with excitement. As he hung up, his expression turned apologetic.

  “Sorry, I’ll have to decline your request for dinner,” he said, his hands already moving to gather his books and slide them into his bag.

  I forced a smile, trying to mask my dismay. “It’s fine. Besides, we could always catch up later,” I uttered, but even I found the words to be hollow.

  Jaden rose from the table, slinging his bag over his shoulder. “I’ll see you around,” he said with a genuine smile before turning to leave.

  I watched him walk away, the soft thud of his footsteps fading into the background hum of the library. Once he was out of sight, I sighed deeply and pressed my forehead against the cool surface of the table in frustration and disappointment. What was I even trying to accomplish here?

  I thought it was time to pack up my belongings as well, after shaking off the melancholy. Standing up and stretching out the stiffness in my limbs, I slung my bag over my shoulder and returned the book to the shelf. The library was quieter now, with the evening light casting long shadows through the windows.

  My footsteps seemed heavier than normal as I left the library. With the sky tinted in shades of pink and orange, the campus was enveloped in the warm glow of the setting sun. Despite the beauty around me, my thoughts were preoccupied with Jaden and the missed opportunity for dinner. As I walked along the path back to my dorm, I let my mind wander, replaying the conversation.

  —

  —

  “Yahō,” the girl said in the national language, seated with her back against my door.

  “Nana? What are you doing here?” I asked, startled to find her waiting outside my room.

  “Waiting for you,” she replied, stretching her legs out casually.

  “Then why didn’t you call me or anything like that?” I asked, trying to understand why she’d opted for this method.

  “I did,” she said, a hint of exasperation in her voice.

  That made no sense. I reached for my phone in my pocket to check, and a hissing sound escaped my lips as I realised my mistake. “Sorry, it was on DND,” I admitted.

  “Humph,” she shot back, clearly miffed at the lack of compensation for her wait. In any case, what could be so urgent that she had to call me nine times and wait outside my room for me?

  “Come in,” I said, opening the door. She got up, brushing off imaginary dust from her jeans, and followed me inside. I placed my bag on my desk while she plopped into the chair by my desk, spinning around once before facing me.

  “So, what is so important?” I sat down on my bed and asked. I still didn't understand what this was about, but since this was Nana, it would fall under two categories. One being that this was urgent and serious, as most would assume, and the other being that…

  “I need to borrow your copy of The Blazing World,” she said.

  …Nana being Nana. Since it wasn't something serious; I was actually relieved, but I couldn't help but sigh because this did seem predictable.

  “You always do this,” I said, standing up and walking towards my desk. Above it was a shelf with my book collection, and I began searching for the aforementioned book. Nana watched me with a sheepish grin.

  “Didn’t you buy all the books in the catalog?” I enquired, referring to us having already purchased every book listed in order to prevent situations like this from happening.

  “I did, but I can’t find my copy,” she admitted with her carefree and aloof personality.

  “Did you clean your room and check?” I questioned, arching my brow.

  “Urghh, no?” She responded, and I smacked my face with my palm, finally pulling out the book and handing it to her.

  “You really are a strange one,” I remarked, shaking my head.

  “Thank you,” she said with a broad smile, taking the book from me and standing up from the chair. She headed towards the door, turning back to me as she opened it. “I’ll be out of your hair now.”

  “Please remember to read the book,” I reminded her as she stepped out.

  “Of course,” she answered, with a certainty in her voice that I found hard to believe. With that, she left.

  I took a long breath and fell back into my bed. I could feel the fatigue seeping into my bones after the long day. I needed to sleep, and I wasn’t about to let anything else get in the way.

  —

  —

  Club day. I was here earlier than usual, watching as everyone filed in one by one. The book club boasted a total of nineteen members spanning both the junior and senior years, and today, everyone was gathered for our usual meeting. The room buzzed with low chatter and the shuffling of chairs as people settled into their usual spots.

  Despite Nana’s unconventional decision to pick a book without everyone present and her insistence that we read it before today, it seemed most had complied with her request. Nana had that effect on people. In part due to curiosity and in part to the sheer force of her personality, they were prepared to follow her lead.

  I took out my copy of The Blazing World, ready to make notes, while Nana stood up. The room fell silent as she cleared her throat, drawing everyone's attention to her.

  “Hey everyone,” she began. “I have a little confession to make.” She paused, scratching the top of her head with a guilty smile on her face. “I forgot to read the book.”

  The room erupted in murmurs of disbelief and exasperation. Some members leaned back in their chairs, shaking their heads, while others exchanged glances, bemused. I couldn’t help but sigh, placing my hand over my face. This was so typical of Nana.

  “You’ve got to be kidding me,” Yasuao murmured, with a dramatic eye roll. His reaction was echoed by a few others, who grumbled under their breath.

  “Seriously, Nana?” Azumi said, crossing her arms. “You’re the one who picked the book!”

  Nana held up her hands in a placating gesture. “I know, I know. I’m really sorry, guys. I just... lost track of time, and then I couldn’t find my copy, and—”

  “You lost your copy?” Aliana interrupted, raising an eyebrow. “Did you even look for it?”

  Nana seemed hesitant. “Well, not exactly. I borrowed Stella’s copy but, uh, didn’t get around to reading it.”

  “Classic Nana,” someone muttered from the back of the room.

  “Alright, alright,” she said, clapping her hands together to regain everyone's attention. “How about this? Since I clearly dropped the ball, how about we start with a summary and some thoughts from those who did read the book? Then we can have a discussion based on that.”

  After a moment, the room nodded gently in accord.

  “Stella, could you start us off?” She asked, looking at me with hopeful eyes.

  Sighing, I couldn't help but give her a smile in return. “Sure, Nana. I’d be happy to.”

  I got to my feet and picked up my copy of The Blazing World. I started out by highlighting the main ideas and concepts of the book in my summary. As I spoke, the room gradually grew more engaged, the initial frustration melting away.

  Other people started to add their perspectives and ideas. Azumi brought up the feminist undertones in the novel, and Aliana talked about how Cavendish's ideas on science and philosophy were reflected in the magical aspects. Even Yasuao, despite his earlier irritation, contributed a thoughtful analysis of the characters.

  Nana listened intently, nodding now and then as she took notes. Despite her initial blunder, she was fully present now, encouraging others to speak and asking insightful questions. It was moments like these that reminded me why she was the club president. Her genuine enthusiasm and ability to bring people together were unparalleled.

  Everyone was enthusiastically participating, and the discussion flowed smoothly. By the time the meeting ended, it seemed like we had not only discussed the book in great detail but also bonded over the shared experience of Nana’s unorthodox leadership.

  Nana rose again as the meeting came to an end. “Thank you all for being so understanding. I promise I’ll read the next book ahead of time.” She gave us a sheepish smile, and we all started laughing.

  I felt satisfied as I packed up my things. Despite the hiccups, the meeting had turned out well. As I walked out of the room, I realised that being part of this club, with all its quirks and unpredictability, was something I genuinely cherished. Nana being Nana was just a part of the charm that made it all so special.