As I turned to leave Angel's room, a knot of anxiety twisted in my stomach, tightening with every step I took. "Actually, I tried to wake you up several times, but you keep rejecting me, or you won’t even budge," I had confided to Angel earlier, my tone a mixture of frustration and concern. With those words still echoing in my mind, I was now on a mission to haul her luggage down to the car—an errand I approached with equal parts dread and determination.
This trip wasn’t just another field trip; it was a golden chance for me to finally impress Rachel with my culinary skills—the special fried rice I had been perfecting for weeks. Each grain of rice was carefully seasoned, each vegetable sautéed to the ideal crispness, and I envisioned the look of delight on Rachel's face as she took her fi
