At certain points in a student's life, challenges and obstacles are needed to be overcome. Now, at this certain time was another wall that they must face - the Midterms. Periodic exams that we're taken only four times in a year, and twice each semester, because these exams are scarce they hold so much weight to a student's grade. It is a test of your grasp on everything that was taught at school so far.

Dalteon and his friends; Rina, Terrence, and Luenniel were once again hanging at the library. It was proposed to by Luenniel immediately as their class adviser announced the upcoming midterms in two weeks.

The sun was almost done setting as the sky turns dark and the air begins to shift to a colder temperature. All this time in the library yet Dalteon still hasn't absorbed any of Rina's notes that he borrowed.

Rina and Luenniel had their noses deep in their books and notes while Terrence had his head down, clearly asleep. Dalteon couldn't take it anymore and decided to notify his two bookworm friends.

"Hey, don't you think it's getting late now?" Dalteon said as he caught the attention of both Rina and Luenniel.

Rina takes a look outside and realizes it too, "Oh yeah." she then notices Terrence who was sleeping.

"Well, I guess it's pretty late. Terrence, wake up. We're going home." Rina said as she shook Terrence awake.

Terrence wakes up but still in a daze, "Huh? Oh yeah. I had studied so much." he said while yawning.

Everyone giggled but began packing their stuff except for Luenniel who still sat there when everyone was ready to leave, even Terrence had fixed his bed head.

"Oh you guys go, I still wanna finish a chapter before going," Luenniel said as he brought out another book.

"Are you sure? Isn't it scary going home on your own?" Rina asks as she looked over at Luenniel with genuine worry.

Dalteon worried as well but he couldn't speak up and felt self-conscious immediately, especially after his recent failed attempt.

"She's right, its dangerous to go home alone at night, maybe Dalte-" Terrence was about to speak up but Dalteon immediately shut him off.

Dalteon shut Terrence off by speaking over him, "We better get going guys, Rina's parents will be worried about her too, right?"

"Bye Luenniel, get home safe," Dalteon said goodbye to Luenniel as he hurriedly pushed Rina and Terrence outside.

As soon as Dalteon got home, he wanted to bang his head against the wall. He panicked and shied away at a chance, he was also worried because of how late it was and if Luenniel got home safely.

Luenniel walked his way home super late, he didn't want to go home yet but he had no choice since the library and the school was closing down for the night.

As Luenniel was on his merry way home, the phone in his pocket vibrates.

Dalteon: Have you gotten home? Sorry for leaving so suddenly earlier. [just now]

Luenniel read the text as he walked and chuckled and decided to reply to the message.

Shaking in doubt and fear, Dalteon covered himself in a blanket as he anxiously waited for his phone to ring. As soon as it does, Dalteon immediately springs out of his covers.

Luenniel: Not yet, but I'm near. No need to worry, I'm fine. [just now]

...

Another week passes in a flash, the exam fever kicks in as students start their own version of cramming for the upcoming midterm examination. The past week Dalteon and his friends have spent all their time in the library with their noses into their books, while on the weekends we're spent studying in a familiar cafe.

The school bells ring and students file out of class and head to different destinations to study. This time around, the Dalteon squad decided to go to a fast-food restaurant and study there because the library was starting to become overcrowded.

The Dalteon squad went to a local fast-food restaurant with leather two-by-two seats that were at the corner of the restaurant. They immediately ordered food, which Terrence and Luenniel did for them.

After ordering their food and returning to their table, Terrence immediately took the space beside Rina so Luenniel sat beside Dalteon. After getting settled in, their food sprawled on the table along with their books and notes. Rina carefully drilled Terrence with Calculus practice questions, this time making sure he doesn't doze off while Terrence whines in agony.

Dalteon himself was practicing on some of the previous tests in their Physics subject, he was having a hard time solving the problem though when suddenly Luenniel scoots closer.

"You forgot to divide it by the gravity constant two times instead of one, especially since you're actually calculating projectile motion," Luenniel said as he pointed out Dalteon's mistake.

Luenniel then began correct Dalteon's solution and with all of his willpower, he tried to process Luenniel's explanation without getting flustered but he failed to do so as he felt the other boy too close for comfort.

Dalteon sat there fazed, while Luenniel went back to his spot after finishing his work.

The study group soon finished as the sky turned dark making the moon visible and they all went home for the day, while Luenniel decided to stay behind in a bit further. It seemed like everyone had a productive time, except for Dalteon who has been distracted for a while now.

...

It was finally the day of the midterm examinations, students went on their own fights against both their fears and dreams. The usual classroom filled with a cacophony of noises was dead silent, the only sounds to be heard were pens that was writing on paper.

Each student showing varying thresholds of mental capability as some industriously answered their test papers or broke down and crumbled before the challenge upon them. Every test paper filled out either with actual knowledge or a press on luck.

After so many grueling hours for each subject, loud cheers erupted from the class. The nightmare was finally over, some of Luenniel's classmates teared up and some held each other in an embrace. Clearly, everyone seemed relieved that they had overcome their tests.

Luenniel felt tired too, he felt hanging out at Mike's before going home maybe get himself a reward for doing well on the exam. With that mindset, he immediately goes home, after all, he too was holding his breath for the past weeks he spent studying with his study group.

Dalteon was glad that their exams were over, he looked over at Terrence who was a sobbing mess at Rina. They may have spent the last few weeks together studying but Dalteon also felt unsure how he did, he only felt relieved it was over.

That suddenly reminded Dalteon of a chance to talk to Luenniel by asking him how did in the exam, but when he looked over to his friend's seat he was already gone. He was suddenly called over by Terrence and Rina without giving him time to collect his thoughts.

Lots of students had already come home for the day after their exams but Dalteon and Terrence were waiting on Rina who had some things to do as a class officer.

The sun had begun to set, in the classroom, only Dalteon and Terrence were there. Both boys were killing time; Terrence was immersing himself with a newly installed game on his phone while Dalteon distracted himself with social media.

Dalteon was distracting himself because he was actually worried where Luenniel disappeared to after the exams. The worry he was feeling crept up to him and suddenly felt the urge to go to the bathroom.

After a quick trip to the bathroom, Dalteon was in the hallways on his way back to Terrence when he saw their classroom representative, Nicque.

Nicque approached Dalteon, her short snow-white hair becoming a warm shade of yellow as it reflected the sunset. She was the first to greet him.

"Hello Dalteon, I guess you're waiting for Rina?" Nicque said as she greeted Dalteon.

Dalteon nodded sheepishly as he agreed, "Yes. I was just on my way back to the classroom."

"Okay. I guess I better not make you wait any longer and finish our business." Nicque said jokingly with a smile on her face.

Before heading back, Nicque suddenly calls out for Dalteon once again. "Dalteon! You're friends with the transferee, Luenniel, right?"

"Yeah, we're friends. Why?" Dalteon queries why Nicque would ask this.

Nicque said as she recalled her black obsidian eyes filled with genuine concern and wonder, "I remembered seeing a trespasser a while ago, someone from another school who was talking to Luenniel."
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Dun dun dun...

I didn't want to half-ass this so I did my best! I hope you enjoy this chapter, it would also make me happy if you voted and commented on this story. Thank you so much!
- See you in the next chapter, LeastGreatest!