Angel Smith adjusted her pen nervously, her heart beating a little faster than usual. Today marked the first day of the final-year exams, and the college halls were buzzing with the nervous energy of hundreds of students. Though she had spent three years in Class A, today the classrooms didn't matter—everyone was shuffled into pre-assigned exam halls according to numbers on their cards. No choosing seats, no familiar corners, just rows and columns in the massive hall.
Angel found her seat and glanced around. Peace, Anna, and Elena were nearby—Elena, as usual, had taken the middle seat, leaving Angel on one side and a clear view of the boy in the seat to the right of Elena. Sarah was a couple of rows behind, chatting quietly with someone else.
The ID scanning began. "Please remove your nose mask," the invigilator instructed.
Angel looked up—and her breath caught. David Sinclair, Class C, sitting just one chair away from Elena, removed his mask. He was more handsome than she had imagined. Dark, slightly tousled hair, eyes sharp and observant, a calm confidence in the way he adjusted his pen and papers. Angel's pen hovered midair, forgotten.
Beside him, Alexander—David's friend—scribbled absentmindedly, clearly distracted. But Angel couldn't stop looking at David.
Elena nudged her lightly, oblivious. "You okay? You're staring."
Angel blinked and forced herself back to her exam sheet. But even as maths began and the clock ticked steadily, her eyes kept drifting sideways. David Sinclair was there—so close—and for reasons she couldn't explain, her heart skipped a beat.