After a while, Jace slowly opened his eyes.
He looked around—the sky outside had turned dusky, with soft shades of evening spilling in.
Still caught between sleep and waking, he rubbed his eyes and looked straight at me.
His voice was low and heavy with drowsiness.
"What, baby… everyone left?"
I just nodded.
"Why didn't you wake me up?"
He asked it with a small, almost confused smile—like he genuinely couldn't understand why I'd let him sleep so long.
Something in my chest tightened.
I lowered my gaze and said softly,
"You were sleeping so peacefully… after such a long time. I didn't want to disturb you."
For a moment, he just looked at me, silent—like he understood exactly what I meant without me saying more.
Then a faint, genuine smile tugged at his lips.
"Idiot," he murmured, reaching out to rest his hand on my head and mess up my hair lightly.
That one small gesture warmed something inside me…
like finding a little pocket of comfort in the cool breeze of the evening.
Jace chuckled softly, the corners of his eyes crinkling.
"What, baby? You should've woken me up," he said, still sounding half-asleep but already moving.
"Come on, or the guards will lock the building—it'll be dangerous."
Before I could respond, he grabbed my hand and practically dragged me out of the club room, his pace quick like we were running some secret race only he knew about.
He rushed down the stairs, movements hurried but… controlled—like he didn't want me to notice how badly he wanted to get out of there.
But I knew.
I knew he was hiding something.
And whatever it was… it wasn't small.
.
.
.
.
.
Just like that, a week later, our exams began.
It felt strange—how we all went from constant chaos and teasing each other every day… to complete silence.
No calls. No messages. No meeting in the club room.
It was like we had all gone into hiding, each of us trapped in our own little world, fighting our own private battles with textbooks and notes.
By the time the last exam finally ended, it felt like stepping out of a long, suffocating tunnel.
We had already planned that after this final paper, everyone would come to my place.
But until that moment…
it really felt like the exams were some kind of dangerous mission—
one we all had to complete alone.
---
In exam hall
I sat in the exam hall, my leg bouncing nonstop under the desk. My brain had already checked out—it felt like my pen was just moving on its own.
When I finally scribbled the last answer, relief washed over me like a wave.
Out of habit, I glanced toward the window… and there she was—Nova.
She was already outside, waving at me with that casual "I survived" grin.
She pointed to herself, then made a little checkmark gesture, mouthing, "I'm done."
Something in me eased. I wasn't alone in this anymore.
I quickly stacked my papers, handed my sheet to the teacher, and without even looking back, walked out of that suffocating room into the warm air outside—
where freedom (and Nova) was waiting.
She looked at me the moment I stepped outside.
"What about the others?" she asked, curiosity lacing her tone.
I shook my head slowly. "I don't know… and honestly, I'm not sure I want to guess."
---
Author's POV
Leo sat at his desk, eyes narrowed, writing his answers with the kind of precision you'd expect from someone defusing a bomb. Each stroke of his pen felt calculated—he wasn't just answering questions, he was making sure they were perfect.
Jace, on the other hand, was scribbling so fast it looked like he was in a race with time. There was no elegance—just urgency, like he wanted to get it over with before his thoughts slipped away.
Aven walked up to the teacher's desk with quiet confidence, handing over his paper with a polite nod before heading out.
Thea sat there, her brow furrowed so hard you could practically see the gears grinding in her head. She tapped her pen against her lip, eyes darting between questions as if begging them to reveal the answers.
And Zim?
She was asleep. Head resting on one arm, pencil still in her hand—dreaming her way through the exam like she had no idea the clock was ticking.
After the exam, it was like the school gates had been thrown open for a flock of caged birds.
Everyone came rushing out—laughing, shouting, shoving each other like the weight of the past week had suddenly vanished. The tension in their shoulders melted away, replaced by the wild energy of freedom.
Someone yelled my name, another grabbed my arm, and before I knew it, our old plan was back in motion.
One by one, we fell into step, the chatter growing louder with every street we crossed. The air felt lighter, the world somehow warmer.
And just like that, with smiles on our faces and exams behind us, we all started heading toward my house—our little post-war celebration waiting to begin.
At home, Cleo was already waiting for us, the warm smell of freshly cooked food spilling into the hallway like a welcome hug. She'd gone all out, setting up a full lunch for everyone.
One by one, we stepped inside. Cleo was leaning against the kitchen counter, her smile bright as she greeted each of us—until her gaze landed on Thea.
"And who's girlfriend is this?" she asked, curiosity lacing her tone.
Aven didn't even hesitate. "Sis, this is my fiancée."
For a moment, Cleo's eyes widened in pure surprise, her lips parting just slightly. But then she smiled again, switching into that warm, big-sister mode, and welcomed Thea like she'd known her forever, gesturing for her to take a seat at the dining table.
We'd barely settled in, the clink of cutlery just starting, when Cleo suddenly raised her voice—sharp, playful, and full of authority.
"Drake! Get down here! I need your help!"
From upstairs came a deep, familiar voice that rumbled through the walls.
And right then, I knew—my brother-in-law was back.
A man in his mid-30s came down the stairs, each step heavy and sure, like he owned every inch of the house. His blonde hair caught the light from the hallway, messy in that effortless way that still somehow looked good. Broad shoulders filled out a simple white home t‑shirt, the soft cotton stretching slightly across his frame, paired with casual brown trousers that made him look both relaxed and unshakably confident.
Perched on the bridge of his nose were sleek, thin-framed glasses that gave him an effortlessly sharp, intellectual edge—contrasting with the casualness of his clothes.
Without even reaching the bottom step, he called out—his voice deep, rich, and carrying that mix of authority and teasing familiarity.
"Cleo, I'm not deaf, you know! Stop yelling!"
There was a faint smirk tugging at his lips as he said it, like he knew he was about to get roped into helping anyway. The room seemed to shift slightly at his presence—warm, grounded, and a little bit intimidating all at once.
The moment I saw him, my heart lit up like it hadn't in a long time.
Beside me, Jace's face broke into a rare, unguarded smile—the kind that only a handful of people in this world could pull out of him.
Without thinking, I rushed forward, my feet carrying me faster than my brain could keep up.
He didn't even hesitate—just caught me in his arms as if it took no effort at all, his hold firm and steady like a shield I didn't know I'd been craving.
One big, warm hand brushed over the top of my head, fingers gentle, almost protective, and then he pulled me closer into a tighter hug.
I buried my face in his chest, breathing in the faint scent of soap and the familiar comfort that wrapped around me like home.
"Baby," he murmured, voice low but heavy with emotion, "I missed you so much."