Shelly woke to the soft hum of Bangkok outside her dorm window. The city never truly slept, and even in the early morning hours, the distant sound of scooters and chatter seeped through the glass. She stretched, her muscles still sore from the previous day's fanmeet energy, and glanced at her desk. The pile of assignments waiting for her seemed taller somehow, a silent reminder that life didn't pause for fangirls.
She opened her laptop, scanning through the notifications. Messages from fans, brand collaborations, and the System blinked insistently on the screen. One in particular caught her eye: "Upcoming assessment: Accounting Midterm. Difficulty: High. Reward: 2,000 THB + Skill Point in Analytical Thinking."
Shelly's chest tightened. Accounting. She had struggled before, and the memory of that 66% midterm loomed in her mind. She had hoped to focus on subjects she enjoyed, but the System had made it clear—she couldn't avoid her weaknesses. This was the challenge she had to face.
Grabbing her backpack, she met Aisha and Hana at the campus gates. "Morning," Hana greeted, a bright smile on her face. "Ready for the grind?"
"As ready as I'll ever be," Shelly muttered. "I've got Accounting today, and I'm already panicking."
Aisha laughed. "You survived the fanmeet, Shelly. You can survive anything. But maybe review those notes first?"
They walked together toward the lecture hall, the sun climbing higher, casting a warm glow over the bustling campus. Shelly's stomach twisted in nervous anticipation as she opened her notebook, skimming through formulas and ledger entries. She tried to focus, but her mind kept wandering to her fans and the constant messages she had yet to respond to. She scolded herself silently. She couldn't let distractions ruin this. She had to prove she could handle both worlds.
The lecture hall filled quickly, students whispering and comparing their preparation strategies. Shelly took her seat, feeling a mix of dread and determination. Professor Ananda entered, carrying a stack of papers with an air of quiet authority. The room fell silent. "Good morning, everyone," he began. "Today's midterm will test your ability to apply Accounting principles practically. Remember, understanding the concepts is more important than rote memorization."
Shelly's hands shook slightly as she opened the test booklet. She scanned the first page—journal entries, ledger balancing, and cost analysis. Her mind raced. She had studied, yes, but the complexity of applying it under time pressure was intimidating.
Hours seemed to stretch as she worked through each problem. Some sections felt manageable, her confidence rising as she solved them, while others made her teeth grit with frustration. For a fleeting moment, she considered giving up, telling herself that maybe her fans wouldn't notice if she failed one exam. But she quickly dismissed the thought. The System had taught her persistence; her own dreams demanded resilience.
By the time the final question loomed, she was exhausted, her fingers aching from writing, her mind foggy. She took a deep breath, rereading the problem carefully. Slowly, methodically, she worked through it, her focus sharpening with every calculation. When she finally wrote the last answer, she exhaled so forcefully it startled the student beside her. She had done it. It wasn't perfect, but she had tried with everything she had.
Later, as she stepped out of the lecture hall, her legs felt like jelly. Hana appeared beside her, carrying two iced teas. "How did it go?" she asked, handing one to Shelly.
Shelly shrugged, trying to keep her composure. "Tough. Harder than I remembered. But I finished it." She took a sip, letting the cold liquid soothe her parched throat. "I just… I hope it's enough."
Hana squeezed her shoulder. "It will be. You're learning, Shelly. That's what counts."
The rest of the day blurred into a mix of library study sessions, editing a quick fanmeet vlog, and replying to messages. Every time her phone buzzed, her heart jumped—fans asking how she was, complimenting her, or sending snippets from the event she had shared. She smiled through fatigue. Even in the middle of academic pressure, her supporters reminded her why she was doing this, why balancing it all was worth it.
That evening, she sprawled on her bed, laptop open as she tried to organize her schedule. The Accounting midterm loomed large in her mind, a shadow over the rest of her tasks. The System pinged softly: "Analytical Thinking Skill +1. Resilience +2." Shelly smiled faintly. At least her effort hadn't gone unnoticed.
The next morning, she was up early, determined to review her weaker areas before heading to the library. She found a quiet corner, headphones on, replaying lectures and solving practice problems. A faint smile crossed her face as she realized she could feel her understanding solidifying. Persistence, she reminded herself, was everything.
By noon, she had a short break and checked her social media. The fanmeet clips she had uploaded were trending, comments flooding in faster than she could read. She laughed, covering her face. Even in the midst of stress, she couldn't escape the joy of connecting with her fans. Messages poured in: "You're amazing!", "We're so proud of you!", "Shelly, don't give up!"
Later that week, the results of the midterm were posted. Shelly approached the bulletin board with trembling hands. Her stomach twisted as she scanned the list. When she finally found her name—Accounting: 72%—she blinked, stunned. Not perfect, but a marked improvement from before. She felt a mix of relief and pride, a small victory that reminded her she was capable of overcoming her struggles.
She immediately video-called her family. "I… I passed Accounting," she whispered, voice shaky. Caro squealed. "See! We knew you could do it!" Nelia teased, "Still obsessed with Ohm, huh? Guess you can multitask after all." Clifton waved excitedly. "You did it, Shelly!" Her mom's eyes were filled with warmth. "We're proud of you. Remember, it's not about being perfect—it's about trying and improving." Shelly smiled through tears, feeling the distance between Bangkok and Chitungwiza shrink with every word of love and support.
That night, she recorded a vlog about her week—the challenges of balancing university, social media, and personal growth. She shared her Accounting struggle honestly, showing fans that even she had obstacles. Comments flooded in, cheering her on and praising her honesty. She laughed softly through fatigue, her heart full. Even in struggle, she had found connection, joy, and a reminder that persistence paid off.
As she drifted off to sleep, the city lights sparkling outside her window, she whispered to herself, "I can do this. Step by step, one day at a time." Somewhere deep inside, the System pulsed quietly, approvingly, a reminder that her effort, perseverance, and resilience were being recognized.