The room was quiet except for the soft rustle of pages turning and the occasional scratch of pen on paper. Ariel and Favour sat at their reading table, heads bent low, each focused on the mountain of notes in front of them. The hum of the ceiling fan filled the silence, and for almost an hour neither of them looked up.
Finally, Favour dropped her pen and leaned back with a groan. "Ariel, my brain is officially fried. If I look at one more line of this theory, I might scream."
Ariel chuckled, stretching her arms. "You've been at it nonstop. Maybe you should take a break."
"I'm not maybe taking a break," Favour said firmly, standing up and stretching. "I am taking a break. Rest before I collapse." She walked to her bed and dropped onto it with a dramatic sigh.
Ariel hesitated, then grinned. "You know what? You're right." She closed her notebook and joined her on the other bed, sinking into the mattress with a relieved smile.
For a while, they lay there in the quiet, letting their eyes rest. It was Ariel who broke the silence. "By the way… Divine and I decided we'll be reading separately this week. Since exams are in just one week, he thinks we'll focus better that way."
Favour turned her head to look at her. "That's smart. Samuel and I… well, we still read together sometimes, but mostly separately too. You know how distracting it can get when you're with someone you like." She smirked.
Ariel laughed softly. "Yeah. Sometimes I catch myself staring at him instead of reading."
They both giggled before settling into a thoughtful silence. Favour sighed. "Can you believe the semester is already ending? It feels like just yesterday we were stressing over Assignments."
"I know," Ariel said softly. "So much happened this semester. Good things, bad things… everything."
Before Favour could respond, Ariel's phone buzzed on the table. She reached for it, glanced at the screen, and her face brightened. "It's Divine."
Favour smirked. "I knew it."
Ariel opened the message. 'Hey, want to take a break from all that reading? Let's hang out for a bit.' Her lips curved into a smile. "He's asking me out. I think I'll go."
"Of course you will," Favour teased. "Go, before I die of boredom watching you blush."
Ariel grabbed her cardigan and her bag. "Don't wait up. I'll be back later."
"Mm-hm," Favour hummed, watching her leave. As the door closed behind Ariel, she reached for her phone and dialed Samuel's number.
He picked up almost immediately. "Hey, you. Still alive after all that reading?"
"Barely," she said with a laugh. "Come keep me company before I go insane."
His chuckle warmed her chest. "On my way."
---
The days blurred by, and before they knew it, exam week arrived. The campus was filled with tired faces, whispered last-minute revisions, and prayers murmured under breath. Ariel and Divine finished their last paper a day earlier than the seniors, while Favour and Samuel wrapped up theirs the next afternoon.
That evening, the four of them gathered at a popular student restaurant buzzing with life. The smell of fried chicken and spices mixed with laughter and chatter, and Ariel felt the weight of exams finally lift.
"To survival!" Samuel raised his glass of soda, grinning.
"To survival," the others echoed, clinking glasses.
Favour leaned her chin on her hand, smiling. "So, how did everyone's exams go?"
Divine shrugged. "Honestly, not bad. But I'm glad it's over. Ariel made me revise every night until my brain almost exploded."
Ariel rolled her eyes. "You're welcome. You'll thank me when your grades come out."
Everyone laughed. Then Samuel sighed. "I'll miss this, though. Hanging out. Exams are stressful, but… the end always feels bittersweet."
A quiet fell over the table. Ariel nodded. "We'll miss each other during the holiday. It feels strange, knowing we won't see each other every day."
Favour's smile softened. "At least it's just a month. Then we're back—new semester, new challenges."
"And new levels," Divine added. "Ariel and I will finally be in our third year. You two will be final years."
Samuel gave a playful groan. "Don't remind me. The thought of graduation makes me nervous already."
Favour nudged him gently. "Don't worry. You'll handle it fine. I'll be there with you."
He looked at her, a smile tugging his lips. "That makes everything easier."
They ate, laughed, and shared stories until late. The restaurant buzzed with students celebrating the same relief, but to Ariel, it felt like their table existed in its own bubble.
When they finally left, the night air was cool and refreshing. They split into two pairs—Divine and Ariel walking ahead, Samuel and Favour following behind. The streetlamps cast soft glows on the road as they strolled slowly toward the hostel area.
Ariel held Divine's hand and whispered, "Thank you for this. Tonight was perfect."
He squeezed her hand gently. "Anything for you."
Behind them, Samuel teased Favour about almost falling asleep during her last exam. She swatted his arm, laughing. "You're not any better—you nearly forgot to write your matric number."
Their laughter trailed into the night until they all reached their buildings, exchanging goodnights with reluctant smiles.
---
One long month later…
The taxi pulled away from the building gate, leaving Ariel to drag her heavy bag along the walkway. The air smelled of fresh rain, and the campus looked alive again with returning students. She brushed a strand of hair from her face and sighed.
"Ariel!"
She froze. That voice. Turning quickly, her eyes lit up. Favour was standing a few feet away, a bag slung over her shoulder, her face glowing with excitement.
"Favour!"
They both dropped their bags and ran toward each other, hugging tightly in the middle of the path.
"I missed you so much!" Ariel said, squeezing her.
"Missed you too," Favour laughed, pulling back to look at her. "The break felt like forever."
Ariel grinned. "I have so much to tell you. Divine called me almost every day."
"And Samuel wouldn't stop texting me," Favour said with a playful eye-roll, though her smile gave her away.
They picked up their bags and started walking toward the hostel, chatting non-stop, their voices carrying the joy of reunion.
The semester was beginning again, and with it, new beginnings awaited them all.