Monday came like it had no respect for me.
I just… woke up.
Blink.
And suddenly it was real.
School.
Again.
Last exam day.
I sat up slowly in bed.
"…Oh."
That was my entire personality at that moment.
I dragged myself to the bathroom, took a long shower, stood under the water like it could erase the last few days of my life decisions, then came out wrapped in a towel and silence.
Changed.
Uniform.
Neat.
Too normal for how loud my thoughts were.
I sighed.
"…Okay."
And left.
The classroom felt different.
Not chaotic anymore.
Focused.
Heavy in a quieter way.
Everyone was writing like their future depended on every sentence.
Pens moving.
Pages turning.
No jokes.
No distractions.
Just… pressure.
I wrote seriously too.
Too seriously.
Like if I stopped thinking, everything else would catch up to me.
So I didn't stop.
I just kept going.
Time passed like that—blurred.
Then—
"Time's up."
Pens dropped.
A collective breath left the room like everyone had been holding their entire lives in their lungs.
We submitted.
It was done.
And suddenly—
Noise returned.
Too fast.
Too loud.
Hugging.
Laughing.
People standing in groups like they were already separating their futures in real time.
"I'm going to this university."
"I got accepted here."
"Let's stay in touch."
Plans.
Dreams.
Directions.
I stood there.
Listening to none of it.
Not because I didn't care.
But because my mind was somewhere else entirely.
Far away.
Too far.
I sighed and walked out.
Straight to the cafeteria.
Food. Anything. Something normal.
I dropped into a seat and groaned.
"…Of course after exams there's prom."
And I already knew.
I wasn't going.
"Why are you frowning like your life is ending?"
Mark sat down beside me.
Calm.
As usual.
I looked at him.
"…Ethan."
That was enough.
He already understood.
Mark sighed and leaned back.
"Yeah. About that."
I sat up slightly.
"What."
He rubbed his face.
"He told me."
"…Told you what."
"That he's leaving."
I froze.
"…When."
Mark glanced at me.
"Today."
My fork stopped mid-air.
"…What?"
"He said he didn't want drama," Mark added. "So he just… decided to leave right after exams."
I blinked.
"…Why didn't anyone tell me?"
Mark shrugged.
"You were busy panicking in your own head."
Fair.
But also not helpful.
I stood up immediately.
"Where is he."
Mark sighed.
"Not the airport. Yet."
I froze.
"…Then where."
"Home."
"And Seraphine is there helping him pack into the car."
That was all I needed.
I ran.
Outside air hit me hard.
I didn't slow down.
Didn't think.
Just ran.
When I got there—
He was outside.
Car open.
Boxes.
Luggage.
Seraphine by the side, adjusting things in the trunk.
And Ethan—
Just there.
Like it was already done.
He turned when he saw me.
"…You're running a lot lately."
I stopped.
Breathing hard.
"…You're leaving."
He didn't deny it.
"…Yeah."
My chest tightened.
"…So early? I thought it was after graduation."
"It was after exams," he said softly.
I stepped closer.
"…Why didn't you tell me properly."
He hesitated.
Then—
"Why does it matter if I tell you properly?"
That made me stop.
Silence.
Then—
I just said it.
"…Because I like you."
And immediately—
I froze.
"…I mean—"
Too late.
I already said it.
He stared at me.
Not shocked.
Just… quiet.
Like he had been waiting for me to stop running around it.
"…Say it again," he said softly.
I rolled my eyes.
"No."
"Say it."
I sighed. "…No."
He tilted his head slightly. "Last chance."
I groaned. "…I like you."
Silence again.
Then—
He stepped closer.
Not rushing.
Not forcing.
Just closing the space gently.
And pulled me into a hug.
Warm.
Steady.
Real.
I froze for half a second.
Then slowly relaxed into it.
He pulled back slightly.
And pressed a soft kiss to my forehead.
Not dramatic.
Not loud.
Just… calm.
I blinked up at him. "…I should do that too, right?"
He smiled faintly. "You don't have to."
"I want to."
I leaned up slightly.
Pressed a small kiss to his cheek.
Quick.
Awkward.
But real.
Seraphine sighed loudly behind us.
"I am emotionally exhausted," she said. "I helped pack for this?"
Ethan laughed softly. "Sorry."
She waved a hand.
"I'm happy for you. Both of you. But I'm also tired."
I let out a breath. "…So you're really leaving."
He nodded. "Yeah."
But it didn't feel like an ending.
Not fully.
Just…
Something that would continue.
Somewhere else.
And for the first time—
I didn't run away from it.
The air felt heavier than it should have.
Like the world was trying to pretend everything was normal… but failing a little.
I stood there, still catching my breath.
Ethan looked at me quietly.
Not rushing.
Not pushing.
Just… waiting.
"I'm not leaving today," he said softly.
I blinked. "…Huh?"
He shifted slightly, hands in his pockets. "I'll stay until graduation."
Silence.
I stared at him. "…You what."
He nodded once. "And even after that… I'll wait a bit before going."
My brain paused. "…That sounds like a very slow exit plan."
He shrugged lightly.
"It is."
I let out a small laugh before I could stop it.
Soft.
Unexpected. "…You're weird."
"I've been told."
He looked at me for a second longer.
Then added casually—
"Also, I don't want you crying in public again."
I immediately frowned.
"…I did NOT cry in public."
He tilted his head.
"You ran across the street."
"That was cardio."
"For me."
I blinked.
"…That's not fair."
"It is."
There was a pause.
Not awkward.
Just… quiet again.
But lighter this time.
Then I sighed.
"…So you're just going to stay here… wait… and then leave slowly like some dramatic movie character?"
He nodded.
"Yes."
I stared at him.
"…That's actually annoying."
A small smile appeared on his face.
"I know."
I looked away quickly, biting back another laugh.
"…You're so calm about everything."
"You're loud enough for both of us."
I gasped.
"…Rude."
He stepped a little closer.
Just enough that I noticed.
Not too much.
Just… there.
"I'll come back," he said gently. "I just need time to go and come back properly."
I blinked.
"…That sounds like you're collecting yourself like luggage."
He actually laughed a little.
"Kind of."
My chest felt weird again.
But not heavy.
Just warm.
I looked at him.
"…You better come back."
"I will."
"…You promise?"
He thought for a second.
Then nodded.
"Yes."
I sighed dramatically.
"…Fine. But if you forget me, I'll be very dramatic about it."
That made him smile properly this time.
"I'd expect nothing less."
Then I added, quieter:
"…Don't take too long."
His expression softened.
"I won't."
And somehow—
it didn't feel like goodbye.
Not really.
More like—
a pause.
A promise sitting in the middle of everything.
I exhaled softly.
"…You're still annoying though."
He nodded.
"I'll accept that title."
And I laughed again.
Because somehow—
even with everything changing…
he still made it feel okay to breathe.