Back in the present, Angel watched as Sarah and Anna were still deep in their conversation. She quietly stepped away from them and walked toward Peace.
Peace was everything Angel wasn't—outgoing, confident, brilliant, and kind. Despite their differences, they clicked perfectly. Peace didn't tolerate bad behavior, and that was one thing Angel respected deeply about her.
When Angel got closer, she realized Peace was standing with a group of guys. She joined them quietly, listening.
They were talking about a girl who usually sat in front of Peace.
"She has big legs, though," one of them said jokingly.
"And her shape…" another added, laughing. "But she's cute."
They teased Peace about it, laughing among themselves, clearly trying to get a reaction out of her.
Then Mason spoke up.
"I like her," he admitted casually. "Peace, can you help me get her number?"
Peace shook her head immediately. "No, I can't," she said politely. "I don't want to be part of that."
Her tone was calm but firm.
"And besides," she added, "I think she already has a boyfriend."
That wasn't just a guess. Everyone had seen it. After the break the previous day, the same girl—Rose—had been spotted on the balcony outside the hall with a boy. They weren't hiding it.
They had all seen them together.
The conversation faded after that, and soon it was time to return to the exam halls. Everyone went back to their assigned seats, settling in as the next paper began.
The hall was quiet again, filled with the familiar sound of pens moving across paper.
Angel focused on her work.
Then suddenly—
A loud cough broke the silence.
Everyone's head snapped in the same direction.
A girl sitting ahead had started coughing. At first, it seemed normal. But then it got worse. And worse.
The coughing became violent.
Students began to look at each other, confused. Some whispered. Others froze.
Then it happened.
She coughed again—and this time, there was blood.
The entire hall went silent.
Angel felt her chest tighten. No one knew what to do. The girl kept coughing, struggling, her body shaking slightly as she tried to breathe.
"Call someone!" a voice said from somewhere in the hall.
The invigilator rushed over immediately, followed by another teacher. They tried to calm her, helping her sit up properly, but it was clear the situation was serious.
Within seconds, more teachers arrived.
They carefully helped her to her feet, supporting her as she struggled, and quickly escorted her out of the hall.
The tension in the room didn't disappear. It stayed.
Just an hour ago, everyone had been downstairs, talking, laughing, moving around like nothing was wrong.
And now… this.
Angel stared ahead, her pen still in her hand, but her mind far away from the exam.
The image wouldn't leave her head.
No one spoke for a while. Even after the girl had been taken to the school nurse and then prepared to be rushed to the hospital, the atmosphere remained heavy.
Slowly, the invigilator instructed everyone to continue.
But it wasn't the same anymore.