After the lecture, as the students began to file out of the hall, Wendy mustered up the courage to approach Irene. She couldn't wait to reconnect with her and catch up on everything that had happened since the wedding. 

As Wendy approached Irene, she couldn't help but notice Irene's attire. Gone was the vibrant, floral dress from the wedding. Irene now exuded an aura of professional chic, dressed in a tailored blazer, a blouse that looked straight out of a fashion magazine, and heels that made her strides look confident and elegant. 

Wendy's jaw dropped involuntarily, and she blinked in disbelief. She felt a pang of self-consciousness as she looked down at her own attire—casual jeans, a simple t-shirt, and sneakers that had seen better days.

Irene noticed Wendy's reaction and couldn't suppress a mischievous grin. "Surprised to see me like this, Wendy?" 

Wendy knew Irene was just teasing but felt the need to be honest and managed a nervous laugh. "Irene, you look absolutely stunning! I, uh, didn't get the memo about the dress code, apparently." 

Irene blushed at the complement but tried to hide it by chuckling, quickly directing the attention to her counterpart. "Oh, Wendy, don't worry about it. You look perfectly comfortable, and that's what matters." 

Wendy grinned, feeling a bit more at ease. "Comfortable is my middle name..." 

Irene extended her arm, linking it with Wendy's. "Well, let's get comfortable together, s