The light cast a golden tint over the university campus, signifying the start of their final weeks as students. The once-familiar hallways, classrooms, and courtyards were different now—bittersweet, nostalgic. For four years, these walls had witnessed their laughter, their tears, their friendships, and their heartbreaks. And soon, they would be leaving it all behind.
Arthur sighed as he came into the library, where Mia, Pim, and Nick were already buried in their textbooks.
"Alright," Arthur murmured, dropping his books on the table. "Time to cram."
Mia moaned, her forehead resting on her arms. "I can't do this anymore. My brain is full."
Pim smirked. "You're just mad because I got a higher score on the mock test."
Mia sat up, furious. "That was a fluke."
Nick chuckled, reclining back in his chair. "You two are impossible."
Arthur shook his head fondly. Despite the stress, it felt nice to be here—with his friends, with Nick. This was their final stretch before venturing into the real world.
And Arthur wasn't sure he was ready to let go.
The days blurred into nights, packed with endless pages of notes, practice exams, and caffeine-fueled breakdowns.
One evening, while Arthur sat on the rooftop of their flat, flicking through his notes, Nick joined him, two cups of coffee in hand.
"Here," Nick replied, handing one to Arthur.
Arthur took a sip, sighing. "Thanks."
Nick sat alongside him, extending his legs out. "You okay? "
Arthur hesitated. "Honestly? I don't know. It just… feels odd. We're so near to the conclusion, but I don't feel ready to leave."
Nick exhaled. "Yeah. I got it." He stared out at the city lights. "This place—this school—it's where we found each other again. Where we broke and rebuilt ourselves. It's hard to say goodbye."
Arthur glanced at him, warmth filling his chest. "At least we're leaving together."
Nick turned to him, smiling sweetly. "Yeah. We are."
And in that moment, Arthur knew—no matter where life took them, as long as Nick was by his side, he would be okay.
The exam halls were silent save for the scratching of pens against paper.
Arthur's pulse hammered as he penned his last answer, his fingers sore from hours of writing.
When the proctor finally shouted, "Time's up," a feeling of relief and tiredness crashed over him.
As he went out of the exam hall, he found Pim, Mia, and Nick waiting for him.
Mia raised her arms significantly. "We're free! "
Pim laughed. "Not officially. We still have graduation."
Nick smirked, bringing Arthur into a side hug. "But the hardest part is over."
Arthur leaned against him, smiling. "Yeah. We did it."
And as they walked away together, the weight of the past years finally lifted from their shoulders.
The air buzzed with excitement as students donned their gowns and crowns and lined up for the ceremony. Families flooded the stadium, cameras blazing, laughter booming.
Arthur adjusted his cap and glanced around for his friends.
Nick arrived beside him, looking unreasonably gorgeous in his gown. "Ready? "
Arthur exhaled. "As ready as I'll ever be."
Pim and Mia joined them, grinning.
"I can't believe we're actually graduating," Pim murmured, smoothing down her gown.
Mia rolled her eyes. "I can. We worked our asses off for this."
As the ceremony began, Arthur felt a lump rise in his throat. The speeches, the chants, the overwhelming sensation of accomplishment—it was all too much, yet not enough.
And then, it was their turn.
As Arthur stepped across the platform, his name resounding from the speakers, he felt a sense of pride unlike anything he had ever known. He collected his certificate, gazed out at the sea of people, his sight falling on Nick—watching him, smiling, proud.
Arthur grinned back.
They had made it.
After the ceremony, they congregated outside, snapping pictures, laughing, and celebrating.
Pim and Mia took a selfie, giggling.
Nick took Arthur aside, away from the crowd. "Come here."
Arthur lifted an eyebrow. "What—"
Before he could continue, Nick pulled him into a deep kiss.
Arthur dissolved into it, the cheers of their friends resounding in the background.
When they pulled apart, Arthur's face felt warm. "What was that for? "
Nick smiled. "For everything. For us. For the future, we're going to construct it together."
Arthur's heart surged.
And when he glanced around—at their friends, at the life they had established, at the vast possibilities ahead—he knew one thing for certain.
This wasn't an ending.
This was just the beginning.