The morning of the exam the sky looked like paper thin gray stretched too wide I woke up before my alarm the air heavy with that strange quiet that only happens before something important I grabbed my bag double-checked my calculator and walked to school half hoping to see him along the way I didn’t but somehow I knew he’d show up exactly when it mattered

The hallways buzzed with nerves people whispering formulas like prayers I sat in our usual spot near the library pretending to review notes but the words blurred into shapes My phone buzzed one message from Liam don’t run away I’m coming with caffeine Ten minutes later he showed up carrying two cans of iced coffee and that same uneven smile He said you ready I said define ready He said alive enough

We sat on the steps outside the classroom waiting for the bell He said remember the deal if I pass you owe me your favorite place I said what does that mean He said you’ll show me where you go when you don’t want to talk to anyone I said that’s cheating He said no that’s curiosity I said curiosity gets people in trouble He said good then it’s worth it

When the exam started the room filled with the sound of pencils tapping and paper rustling My hands were steady but my brain wasn’t I caught myself glancing at him a few times he sat two rows ahead tapping his foot the same rhythm he used to tap his pencil when he was thinking The clock moved too slow and too fast all at once

Halfway through he turned slightly his eyes met mine for just a second long enough for me to remember every late afternoon we’d spent in that library The light the rain the way he’d say progress after every right answer I smiled without meaning to He looked back at his paper and I knew he’d seen it

When the bell finally rang the whole room exhaled together We stumbled out into the hallway like survivors He leaned against the wall eyes closed said I think my brain’s gone I said you’ll be fine He said you sound sure I said I am He said that’s dangerous faith I said maybe but I’m right

We walked outside the sky breaking into sunlight after a week of gray The air smelled new He said it’s weird how everything feels lighter when you stop worrying I said maybe you should stop more often He said maybe you should start worrying sometimes I said about what He said about me I laughed said that’s your job not mine He said too late I already failed that subject

We grabbed lunch from the small shop near campus sat by the window watching people rush by He said what are you doing after this I said probably studying for the next one He said of course you are He tore his straw wrapper into little pieces said maybe you could take a break once exams are over I said maybe He said that’s not a no

When I got home later there was another message don’t forget our deal favorite place when I pass followed by a photo of his hand holding a thumb up next to the exam paper and a single word progress

I didn’t reply right away I just stared at the photo for a long time before saving it to my phone I didn’t want to admit it but somewhere between equations and promises something had already changed The test was over but something else was just beginning

That night I couldn’t sleep I kept hearing his voice in my head the way he said curiosity gets people in trouble and how he smiled when I said I didn’t lose I wondered if this time maybe I’d lost something anyway or maybe I’d found it instead