2026-02-07 21:52:58
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CHAPTER 183
The second day began with an actual plan—Daniel had convinced everyone that the sunset sailing trip he'd researched was worth disrupting their determined lack of structure. They'd agreed during breakfast, Maria arranging the booking while they finished coffee.The boat departed at four p.m., giving them the morning to continue leisurely. Charlie worked through emails briefly, finding only routine corporate updates that required no response. Emily had sent a single message: *Everything's fine. Stop checking. Enjoy your vacation.*He closed his laptop, accepting the implicit instruction.Jacy had ventured into town with Cindy, both wanting to explore local markets and shops. They returned around noon with bags of purchases—handmade jewelry, local art, ingredients for cocktails they wanted to try making."We found this amazing pottery studio," Cindy said, showing off a set of handmade mugs. "The artist was incredible. He's been doing this for forty years, still experimenting with new tec
CHAPTER 182
The first full day in Cabo began with no alarms, no schedules, and the unfamiliar luxury of waking naturally. Charlie opened his eyes to sunlight streaming through gauze curtains, the sound of waves providing background rhythm that felt worlds away from campus stress.He found Daniel already at the pool, floating on an inflatable lounger with a book he wasn't reading."This is what wealthy people do all the time?" Daniel asked without opening his eyes. "Just exist in beautiful places without anything demanding their attention?""Some of them. Though most wealthy people I've met are worse at relaxing than regular people—they're constantly checking emails, taking calls, managing crises remotely." Charlie settled into a lounge chair. "Actual rest requires discipline they haven't developed.""That's depressing. What's the point of having money if you never enjoy it?""Control, probably. Fear that stepping away means losing everything they've built."Daniel finally opened his eyes, looking
CHAPTER 181
The week before spring break passed in a blur of final assignments and logistical preparations. Charlie submitted his political philosophy essay, completed Dr. Voss's problem set, and finished his business law midterm with enough time to actually pack for the trip.Rashford noticed the luggage appearing in their dorm room. "Going somewhere fancy?""Mexico with friends. Week-long break before the semester's final push.""Nice. Private resort or touristy chaos?""Private villa. We wanted actual rest rather than spring break party atmosphere."Rashford grinned. "That's very mature of you. Also very wealthy-person coded, but I'm not judging."Charlie laughed. "Fair assessment."Daniel had packed three days early, his enthusiasm manifesting in excessive preparation. He'd researched every restaurant in Cabo, identified hiking trails, mapped out snorkeling locations, and created an entire spreadsheet of potential activities."We're not doing all of this," Cindy said when Daniel shared his pl
CHAPTER 180
The suggestion came from Daniel during a particularly brutal week of midterm preparations. They were gathered at Cindy's apartment, surrounded by textbooks and coffee cups, when he suddenly closed his laptop with decisive finality."We need a break," Daniel announced. "Not a weekend break. A real one. Spring break is coming up, let's actually go somewhere."Charlie looked up from his business law notes. "Go where?""Anywhere that isn't here. Beach, mountains, different country—I don't care. Somewhere we can be normal people on vacation instead of stressed students or corporate executives or whatever else we're pretending to be."Cindy considered this, setting aside her graduate psychology textbook. "That's not a terrible idea. My professors have been emphasizing the importance of rest and recovery for mental health. I should probably practice what I'll eventually preach to clients.""Jacy?" Daniel prompted. "You in?"“Definitely,” Jacy replied. Daniel pulled out his phone, already se
CHAPTER 179
Charlie spent the next few days at his grandfather’s estate, where quiet felt intentional rather than empty. The silence didn’t loom or press in; it held. The halls were wide enough to swallow footsteps, the ceilings high enough to let thoughts finish themselves. Nothing here demanded immediacy. No alarms. No vibrating phones. No dashboards blinking red. It was a deliberate stillness, curated over decades, the kind that suggested life could be lived without constant proof of usefulness. It stood in direct opposition to campus urgency—and an even sharper contrast to corporate life, where silence usually meant something had broken.Here, mornings unfolded without violence. Light crept through tall windows instead of sirens or schedules. Coffee appeared when he wanted it, not when a meeting required it. Evenings arrived gently, without briefings or contingency plans. For the first time in months, his body stopped bracing for impact. The tension he hadn’t realized he carried began to loos
CHAPTER 178
Finals week arrived like an unavoidable storm, the kind students could sense days before it broke. The library shifted into a twenty-four-hour organism, lights burning through the night as bodies rotated in and out, eyes glassy, hands shaking slightly from caffeine and lack of sleep. Across campus, students moved like survivors, fueled by energy drinks, instant noodles, and the stubborn belief that endurance alone could carry them through. Charlie felt it too, that collective pressure humming beneath everything, binding strangers into brief alliances of stress.He studied alongside Rashford, Daniel, and a loose orbit of classmates whose names blurred together between flashcards and half-finished notes. Anxiety flattened hierarchy. Everyone was equally uncertain. That shared vulnerability created an odd camaraderie, a sense that they were all temporarily equalized by the weight of expectations.“I can’t believe I’m actually worried about economics finals,” Charlie muttered during a lat
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