I signaled to Alex that he could leave and then gently knocked on the door of the student affairs office.

The door stood ajar, revealing Dr. Martin seated at her desk, adorned with golden-rimmed glasses, wholly engrossed in her computer screen. She occasionally adjusted her glasses, so focused that my knock went unheard.

Entering the room, I called out to her once more. This time, she looked up, visibly taken aback as she saw me at the door.

"Oh, ...