Class 12 had started properly now.
The teachers were not joking anymore.
Every class had the same sentence.
"This is your board year."
Assignments were coming every day. Tests were already being planned. Even the atmosphere in the classroom had changed.
During lunch break, Lily dropped her head on the desk.
"I miss Class 10," she groaned.
Ariana laughed a little. "You said the same thing in Class 10."
"Yeah but this time it's serious."
Ariana didn't argue.
It was serious.
When she got home that evening, she opened her books almost immediately. Physics notes were spread across the table. A math practice book was open beside them.
Her phone buzzed after an hour.
Nick: Studying?
She looked at the message and smiled slightly.
Ariana: Obviously.
Nick: Same.
That made her pause.
Ariana: You also have boards this year.
Nick: Unfortunately.
She imagined him sitting somewhere with books open and messy notes around him. The image made her smile.
Ariana: What subject are you doing now?
Nick: Math.
She groaned instantly.
Ariana: Don't remind me.
Nick: What happened?
She sent him a picture of her notebook.
A messy integration question.
Ariana: This problem is stupid.
He replied after a minute.
Nick: It's not stupid.
Ariana: Then solve it.
Nick: Give me a minute.
She leaned back in her chair while waiting.
Three minutes later—
Her phone buzzed again.
Nick: Check step two.
She looked carefully.
"Oh."
She had made a small mistake in the substitution.
Ariana: Wait.
She solved it again.
This time it worked.
Ariana: Okay fine.
Nick: What?
Ariana: You were right.
Nick: I know.
She rolled her eyes.
Ariana: Stop saying that.
Nick: But it's true.
She shook her head but she was smiling.
A few minutes later another message came.
Nick: Send the next question.
She blinked.
Ariana: Excuse me?
Nick: I'm bored.
She laughed softly.
Ariana: You're using me for practice.
Nick: Exactly.
For the next thirty minutes, they kept solving problems together.
Sometimes she got the answer first.
Sometimes he did.
Sometimes both of them got stuck and laughed about it.
It didn't feel like a distraction.
It felt like studying with someone.
Before going to sleep, she looked at her notebook again.
Three difficult questions were now solved.
Her phone buzzed one last time.
Nick: Tomorrow we suffer again.
She smiled.
Ariana: Goodnight.
Nick: Goodnight, genius.