The final exam arrived like a whisper.
No chaos. No drama. Just... quiet determination.
Section E filed into the classroom one by one. Tired. Ready. Done.
Ci-n: "Last one. LAST ONE."
Rakki: "Don't jinx it."
Ci-n: "I CAN'T JINX IT! IT'S THE LAST ONE!"
Rakki: "You can always jinx it."
Ci-n: "THAT'S NOT FAIR!"
Percy appeared at the door. Not taking the exam—just documenting.
Percy: "FINAL EXAM! HISTORIC! CI-N, HOW'S THE STRESS?"
Ci-n: "PERCY! I'M STILL DYING!"
Percy: "DOCUMENTING!"
Rakki: "Get out, Percy."
Percy: "I'M EMOTIONAL SUPPORT!"
Rakki: "You're a distraction."
Percy: "SAME THING?"
Rakki: "NOT THE SAME THING."
Jay and Keifer walked in together.
Jay: "Last one."
Keifer: "Last one."
Jay: "We made it."
Keifer: "We made it together."
Jay: "Tss."
Keifer: "Stop."
Jay: "No."
He kissed her forehead.
Aries and Ella followed.
Aries: "You two are still disgusting."
Ella: "They're still in love."
Aries: "Same thing?"
Ella: "Same thing."
Sir Alvin stood at the front. Smiling.
Sir Alvin: "Welcome to your last exam, Section E."
Cheers.
Sir Alvin: "After this, you're done. Finished. Graduates."
More cheers.
Sir Alvin: "But before you go—" He paused. Dramatic. "There will be a prom this weekend."
Silence.
Then EXPLOSION.
Ci-n: "PROM! PROM! PROM!"
Rakki: "Ci-n, calm down."
Ci-n: "I CAN'T! PROM!"
Mica: "Like, actual prom?"
Calix: "With dancing?"
Freya: "With dresses?"
Edrix: "With suits?"
Freya: "Shut up."
Edrix: "Never."
Rory: "I'll need to calculate optimal prom strategies."
Drew: "New bet! Who looks best at prom?"
David: "Jay. 500."
Drew: "Safe bet."
Eren: "Wait, what's prom?"
Josh handed him a pamphlet.
Eren: "Oh. Dancing. Fun."
Baster hummed a prom melody.
Percy: "PROM! I'M DOCUMENTING EVERYTHING!"
Ci-n: "WE'LL DOCUMENT TOGETHER!"
Percy: "DREAM TEAM!"
Rakki: "Nightmare team."
Mica: "Same thing?"
Rakki: "Same thing."
Sir Alvin: "Now—focus. Last exam. Give it everything."
The room settled.
Pens moved. Brains worked. Time passed.
Two hours later.
"Pencils down."
Silence.
Then—
Ci-n: "WE'RE DONE!"
Rakki: "We're done."
Mica: "FINALLY!"
Calix: "Free at last."
Freya: "No more studying."
Edrix: "No more exams."
Freya: "No more stress."
Edrix: "Just prom."
Freya: "Shut up."
Edrix: "Never."
They spilled out of the classroom.
Laughing. Hugging. Celebrating.
Jay jumped into Keifer's arms. He caught her. Spun her.
Jay: "WE DID IT!"
Keifer: "WE DID!"
Jay: "I love you!"
Keifer: "I love you too!"
Jay: "Tss!"
Keifer: "STOP!"
Jay: "NO!"
He kissed her.
Percy: "DOCUMENTING!"
Ci-n: "FROM THREE ANGLES!"
Rakki: "Those two."
Mica: "Always."
Calix: "Forever."
Freya: "Unfortunately."
Edrix: "You love it."
Freya: "Shut up."
Edrix: "Never."
Aries and Ella walked out together.
Aries: "We survived."
Ella: "Barely."
Aries: "Same thing?"
Ella: "Same thing."
Aries: "Prom?"
Ella: "Prom."
Aries: "Together?"
Ella: "Obviously."
Aries: "Good."
Ella: "Good."
They nodded. Cool. Casual.
But Aries was already planning.
The girls gathered.
Jay. Mica. Rakki. Freya. Ella. Honey (honorary).
Mica: "Prom dresses. We need a plan."
Rakki: "Shopping trip. Tomorrow."
Freya: "I have standards."
Ella: "We know."
Honey: "I'm coming. For moral support."
Jay: "And fashion advice?"
Honey: "Obviously."
Mica: "So tomorrow. Mall. Dresses. Chaos."
Rakki: "Typical."
Freya: "Acceptable."
Jay: "I'm in."
Ella: "Same."
The boys gathered elsewhere.
Keifer. Aries. Calix. Edrix. Rory. Drew. David. Eren. Josh. Baster.
Percy joined. Ci-n too.
Percy: "Suits. Important. We must look good."
Ci-n: "I WANT A SHINY SUIT!"
Rakki: (from across the room) "NO."
Ci-n: "RAKKI CAN'T CONTROL ME!"
Rakki: "I CAN AND I WILL."
Calix: "I'm thinking classic black."
Edrix: "Simple. Elegant."
Rory: "I've calculated optimal colors."
Drew: "I'm betting on who coordinates best."
David: "Keifer. 500."
Drew: "Bold."
Aries: "I'll figure it out."
Eren: "What color is prom?"
Josh shrugged.
Baster hummed a suit-fitting melody.
Percy: "I'M GOING FABULOUS!"
Ci-n: "I'M GOING SHINY!"
They high-fived.
Rakki: "Those two."
Mica: "Dangerous."
Calix: "Chaotic."
Freya: "Perfect."
Edrix: "Agreed."
Freya: "Shut up."
Edrix: "Never."
Keifer sat quietly. Thinking.
Blue.
Something about blue. It felt right.
He didn't know why. Just... a gut feeling.
Aries: "You okay?"
Keifer: "Yeah. Just thinking."
Aries: "About?"
Keifer: "Color."
Aries: "For prom?"
Keifer: "Yeah."
Aries: "What color?"
Keifer: "Blue."
Aries: "Blue?"
Keifer: "Blue."
Aries: "Huh."
Keifer: "What?"
Aries: "Nothing. Just—" He paused. "Jay likes blue."
Keifer: "She does?"
Aries: "She mentioned it once. Said it's her favorite."
Keifer smiled. "Good."
The girls planned their trip.
Mica: "Meet at the mall. 10 AM."
Rakki: "I'll bring snacks."
Freya: "I'll bring opinions."
Ella: "I'll bring patience."
Honey: "I'll bring style."
Jay: "I'll bring excitement."
Mica: "Perfect."
They hugged. Separated.
Jay found Keifer.
Jay: "Shopping tomorrow. Girls' day."
Keifer: "Have fun."
Jay: "I will."
Keifer: "Find something beautiful."
Jay: "For you?"
Keifer: "For you. But I'll enjoy looking."
Jay: "Smooth."
Keifer: "Honest."
Jay: "Tss."
Keifer: "Stop."
Jay: "No."
He kissed her.
The next day.
Mall. Dresses. Chaos.
Mica tried on everything. Rakki judged. Freya critiqued. Ella modeled. Honey advised. Jay searched.
Store after store. Dress after dress.
Then—
Jay found it.
Blue.
Soft. Elegant. Perfect.
She tried it on.
Stepped out.
The girls gasped.
Mica: "JAY."
Rakki: "That's the one."
Freya: "Finally."
Ella: "Beautiful."
Honey: "Perfection."
Jay looked in the mirror.
Blue.
She didn't know why. But it felt right.
Jay: "This one."
Mica: "YES."
Rakki: "Finally."
Freya: "Took you long enough."
Ella: "Worth the wait."
Honey: "Keifer's going to lose his mind."
Jay smiled.
Meanwhile, the boys shopped elsewhere.
Keifer walked through the suit section.
Black. Gray. Navy.
He stopped at navy.
Blue.
He didn't know why. But his gut said yes.
He tried it on.
Aries: "That's good."
Calix: "Really good."
Edrix: "Solid choice."
Rory: "Optimal color."
Drew: "I'd bet on that."
David: (already asleep in a chair)
Eren: "You look like a prince."
Josh nodded.
Baster hummed approval.
Percy: "BLUE! INTERESTING CHOICE!"
Ci-n: "IS BLUE YOUR COLOR?"
Keifer: "I think so."
Percy: "YOU THINK SO?"
Keifer: "My gut says yes."
Percy: "GUT IS RELIABLE!"
Ci-n: "GUT IS ALWAYS RIGHT!"
They high-fived.
Keifer smiled.
Blue.
That night.
Jay and Keifer on the phone.
Jay: "Found my dress."
Keifer: "Good."
Jay: "What color did you get?"
Keifer: "Not telling."
Jay: "Why not?"
Keifer: "Surprise."
Jay: "I hate surprises."
Keifer: "You love them."
Jay: "I tolerate them."
Keifer: "Same thing?"
Jay: "Not the same thing."
Keifer: "Tss."
Jay: "Stop stealing my thing."
Keifer: "OUR thing."
Jay: "Same thing?"
Keifer: "Same thing."
She laughed.
Jay: "I can't wait to see you."
Keifer: "Me too."
Jay: "Goodnight, future husband."
Keifer: "Goodnight, future wife."
They hung up.
Both smiling.
Both thinking of blue.