Part 3 of Sky_Melody12's request, but emotionalamna specifically asked for this part :3

INTJ (male) x INFP (female)

I’m late, I’m late, I’m FREAKING LATE! Celine could not stop panicking internally as she clutches on tightly to the handle of her bag as she rushes through the university grounds to head to one of their many auditoriums where the research study defense is currently ongoing. 

Of all days she had to oversleep during a nap, it had to be during an important day for Matthias. She promised him that she’ll be there to quietly support him during his defense. She promised him that she’ll be part of the audience to listen to his presentation. She even promised him that she’ll ask a question during the defense so that he would be able to show how competent and well-versed he is with the topic. 

She promised all these things...but she never got to do any of them. 

Her heart continues to beat rapidly, not only because of her running but because of the sudden realization that she may not be able to make it to anything. She could literally feel her heart breaking apart just with the mere thought of it. She does not want to bring Matthias down; she does not want to disappoint him. 

Celine may be in constant denial herself, but deep down, she’s aware that the way she sees Matthias has changed already. Perhaps...in that heart of hers...there may be space for a certain guy who’s too stubborn yet charming for his own good. Spending time with him made her grow comfortable in his presence and the constant teasing from her roommates did not help with her changing of feelings for the guy. 

Okay, so maybe she does like him. If she can’t find it in her to tell him how she feels, the least that she could do is be there for him as a friend that he respects and enjoys spending time and talking with. That explains why she feels so mad at herself for being late for an important day of his.

After dashing through a sea of students as some of the classes have ended for the day and somewhat pushing her way through some freshmen who always love to block the corridors with their cliques (A.N. no hate to college freshmen but back in my university, they always blocked the way I SWEAR HAHAHUHU), she finally reached the large and heavy wooden doors that lead to the auditorium where the research defense is currently occurring. Maybe it was the adrenaline coursing through her veins that gave her the extra strength to push open the door and enter the large room in a rush. 

“This seems a bit idealistic especially given the time for you to finish and present your final paper,” the intimidating voice of one of the panelists, seated at a long table with four other panelists, reverberated throughout the room. Celine halts in her step, noting the palpable tension between the panelist and the student presenting in front. 

Oh no, please don't let it be him. Celine’s heart dropped to her stomach when her gaze landed on the guy standing in the middle of the stage. 

“I agree with Professor Jawhari,” another panelist adds, “The premise of your paper is brilliant but it would take years for it to be finished since it takes on a very broad approach of how you want to focus on the community at hand. You are looking at it in a sense that calls for a longitudinal way.”

“I understand, ma’am,” the student onstage coolly responds, a serious look on his face. But Celine knew better for she knew the person standing there.

From all students that the panelists had to tear apart, it had to be Matthias. 

As Celine stands by the door, she could see from afar how he clenches his jaw and forces out a smile and nod with every comment said by the panelists. Her face falls and she brings a hand over her chest. “Matthias,” she murmurs sadly under her breath as she continues to painfully watch him stand there all alone and get berated by people who supposedly know more than him. Yes, the panelists are professionals in their field, but Celine found it wrong for them to look down on Matthias’s work and not praise him for the effort he has given to this paper. 

She knows how hard he has worked to make this paper right. Heck, she spent sleepless nights with him, both staying at the university dorm lobby, to research and write his paper. There was a day wherein he looked and felt really tired that he considered the idea of just giving up. He is not one to simply hold on to such a thought, but that basically is the result of working on something that tests one’s limits. 

Matthias eventually finishes his presentation, but not with the praise and approval of the panelists he and Celine were constantly hoping for. 

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“Matt?” Celine softly calls out his name, her voice laced with uncertainty, as she takes careful steps to the guy who is sitting on one of the benches outside the auditorium with his head hanging low. “Matthias?” She tries again. 

His head whips up in alarm as he hears his name. His gaze softens when he sees Celine nearing him and even forces out a grin, which clearly does not reach his eyes. “Hey,” he softly greets her. He shifts a bit to his left to give Celine space to take a seat beside him. 

Celine could not hide how dejected she feels and it is difficult for her to say something that is not deemed sensitive with what happened at the defense. She throws him a side glance and looks down at her lap as she admits in a quiet voice, “I was late, Matt. I’m sorry that I wasn’t there.”

He chuckles wryly. “But you were able to hear their comments, weren’t you?”

“Yeah…”

Heaving out a long and heavy sigh, Matthias hangs his head low again and buries it in his hands. “I wish you did not make it at all.”

“Matt-”

“It was embarrassing, Celine!” He utters, “They were practically asking me to change my paper. And they even called it idealistic?” He takes his hands away to look straight into her eyes with a look of disbelief. “Idealistic?” He repeats even louder. “How could I have missed it? How could I have not foreseen that? I could have prepared an argument, I could have made sure that I knew exactly what I was talking about and-” He stops as he hears someone sniffle from beside him. He looks back at the girl sitting next to him and immediately his heart clenches at the sight before him. There she is, the girl he has spent a lot of time with for the past months, with heaving shoulders and tears streaming down her face. He frowns slowly and whispers, “Oh, Cel, don’t cry.”

“H-How can I not?” She sputters, continuously wiping the tears from her cheeks, though it has been proven useless since they still keep on spilling from her eyes. “I...I wish I did something to help you. I wish I was not late. I wish that I gave those panelists a piece of my mind.”

Matthias shakes his head, even if Celine does not see him do it. He then reaches out a hand and gingerly places it on her shoulder. “You talk as if you wrote the paper. Don’t waste your tears on me, Cel.”

“I can’t help it. I-I feel so guilty,” she cries, “I could have done something.”

“Hey, you were the one who provided me with the crucial information I needed for the paper,” he mutters softly, his hand now running gently on her back, hoping to soothe her. “And if it weren’t for your patience with the book, I would have never had the time and data to even start my paper. I may have been asked to rewrite my paper, but it doesn’t mean that it has to be all from scratch...and that’s thanks to you.” 

Celine sniffles, and with misty eyes, looks back at Matthias who is smiling at her. The smile may be small, but it clearly is not forced. It’s a smile of gratitude. 

“Now, stop crying because the Celine I know is tougher than all of that.”

“Yeah?” She sniffles again.

He nods once and rubs her back again. “Yeah.” He blinks as realization dawns on him and how close he has moved to her. He clears his throat and pulls back his hand from her back to rub the nape of his neck. Chuckling awkwardly, he then adds, “I also don’t really know how to handle crying people, so I’m sorry if I’m a bit...uh, out of character, if you would say so.”

Celine smiles at him, still wiping the tears away from her cheeks. “When I cry, I like to eat ice cream.”

“The ice cream parlor across the street,” Matthias muses. “Isn’t that your favorite?”

Her breath hitches in her throat out of shock and pure happiness to know that he remembers her favorite ice cream place. Celine shared that piece of information about herself a month ago, not thinking that he would remember such a small detail. As always, she has been proven wrong...in a good way. “Mhm,” she hums. “I’m surprised you remember that.”

“Of course. I...uh...I frankly remember a lot when it comes to you,” Matthias shyly admits. “How about we get some ice cream? We both deserve some today. It will be my treat. What do you think, Celine?”

“Yeah,” she whispers, her mood brightening by the second. Unbeknownst to her, Matt’s mood was also changing to a more positive one. “I’d love that, Matt.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~

I love love LOVE this couple 😭 somebody make a book of them PLEASE. I don't have enough time to add another book to my list of works (*crying intensifies*)

I hope you enjoyed reading this! ♡