The last bell rang and for two seconds the whole classroom went quiet.
Then suddenly everyone started talking at once.
"Freedom!" someone shouted from the back.
Lily dropped her pen on the desk like she had just finished a war.
"I swear if I see another math problem today, I will cry."
Ariana laughed while closing her answer sheet.
"You said that yesterday too."
"Yes, but yesterday I still had one paper left."
The teacher collected the papers and waved them out of the class.
"Go home. Rest."
That was the first time in weeks someone had said the word rest.
When Ariana stepped outside the school building, the air actually felt lighter.
No formulas running in her head.
No last-minute revision panic.
Just quiet.
She took out her phone while walking toward the gate.
A message was already waiting.
Nick: Done?
She smiled without even noticing.
Ariana: Yes. Finally.
Three seconds later another message came.
Nick: Same here.
She leaned against the gate railing.
Students around her were shouting, laughing, making plans.
But her attention stayed on the screen.
Ariana: How was your last paper?
Nick: Not terrible. Which means it was good.
She laughed softly.
That sounded exactly like him.
Ariana: Math was annoying.
Nick: Math is always annoying.
For a moment neither of them typed.
Then another message appeared.
Nick: So the board student is free now.
She read the message twice.
Free.
It felt strange after weeks of pressure.
Ariana: For a few days.
Nick: Good.
Pause.
Then—
Nick: I'm coming tomorrow.
Her fingers stopped moving.
She blinked at the screen like she had read it wrong.
Tomorrow.
Her heart suddenly started beating faster.
Ariana: Wait… tomorrow?
Nick: Yes.
She sat down on the small bench near the gate.
It suddenly felt real again.
The last time they met everything happened so quickly. She barely had time to process it.
Now he was coming again.
And this time there was no exam stress.
Ariana: You didn't warn me.
Nick: I like surprises.
She shook her head.
Ariana: That's not funny.
Nick: It is.
She tried to sound calm but inside her brain was already running ahead.
What would they talk about?
Would it be awkward?
Would he still tease her the same way?
Nick: Ariana.
Ariana: What?
Nick: Breathe.
She frowned.
Ariana: I am breathing.
Nick: You start thinking too much when you go quiet.
She sighed.
He knew her too well.
Ariana: I'm not nervous.
Nick: Good.
Pause.
Then he added—
Nick: Because I might be.
That made her smile.
She didn't expect that answer.
For the first time she realized something simple.
He was just as aware of this meeting as she was.
And somehow that made it easier.