Another weekend with Sara was fun. Linda had just finished breakfast and was in a hurry to go to school. After bidding Sophia and baby Jack goodbye, Linda headed to the garage where she normally parked her bike. After getting her bike, she drove to school.
When she got to school, she spotted her friends right away.
As always, Sofia and Alex were waiting for her near the front gate. But this very morning, Jae Min was also there. He leaned casually against the gatepost, hands tucked into his hoodie pocket, his expression calm and observant. His presence drew a surprised but subtle smile from Linda. Seeing all three of them together at the school entrance warmed her heart more than she could admit.
Sofia spotted her and rushed forward immediately, her face tight with urgency. Without a greeting, she blurted out, "Did you know the exam starts today?"
"What?!" Linda froze mid-step, her eyes widening in disbelief.
She quickly fished out her phone from her side pocket, swiping and tapping until the digital version of the exam schedule popped up. Her heart dropped slightly. "You weren't joking. The exam does begin today."
And then she breathed out in relief, saying, "Oh, thank God… It's English. It's my favorite subject. Even without reviewing, I'll be fine."
Sofia groaned and dramatically rolled her eyes. "Are you serious right now? I studied so hard last night that I thought my brain was going to leak out through my ears."
"Same," Alex chimed in, stretching his arms behind his head. "I went through six mock papers. I didn't even sleep until 2 a.m."
Jae Min, standing quietly beside them, didn't say anything.
Linda gave a sheepish laugh. "Well... I got home and just passed out. Didn't even open my bag. But really, it's English. It's all about understanding."
The four of them walked together through the school compound, weaving between other students, most of whom looked tense and preoccupied. Exam day energy always had a certain weight to it, that mix of anxiety and excitement.
As they approached their classroom, they noticed it was already half full. Most of their classmates had their heads buried in textbooks and notes, lips moving silently as they revised comprehension and vocabularies. The usual morning chatter had been replaced by quiet murmurs and the occasional deep sigh.
Linda, Sofia, Alex, and Jae Min quietly slipped into their seats. Their desks were clean, their exam tags already in place. The fluorescent lights overhead hummed softly, adding to the tense atmosphere.
"I can't believe I almost missed this," Linda whispered as she pulled out her English notebook and flipped through a few marked pages. She tried to force some last-minute reading into her brain, figures of speech, essay formats, a few tricky vocabulary questions.
Sofia, beside her, kept her head low, pen tapping rhythmically on her notebook. Alex had his earbuds at the back of his ear. This wasn't time to listen to music, he was just looping English sample questions from his study app. Jae Min, seated beside the window, calmly looked over a single page with a serene expression that made Linda wonder whether he was secretly a genius or simply too tired to care.
A few minutes passed like that. The room buzzed softly with the fluttering of paper and the tension of anticipation.
Then the door opened, and the class fell silent.
A teacher stepped in, holding a stack of exam papers in both hands. She wore a calm smile, but the way her heels clicked against the floor made it clear: it was time.
"Good morning, class," she said as she walked to the front. "As you know, today begins your promotion exams. I hope you've all studied well. We're starting with English, so I expect you to do your best. No cheating, and no talking. Phones off and in your bags."
Students began to shift uncomfortably, sliding their books into their bags and sitting up straight. The sound of zipping bags and shifting chairs filled the room.
Linda exhaled, gripping her pen tightly as the papers were passed row by row. When she received hers, she glanced at the first page and smiled. The comprehension passage was something she'd read before. Luck was on her side.
"This is simple," she whispered, and began to write.
---
After the English exam ended, the classroom emptied. The tension of the test melted into exhaustion. Students shuffled out with sluggish steps, carrying their bags like burdens. Linda left last, yawning as she stretched her arms.
"Man, I feel like my soul just left my body," Sofia said, slumping beside her.
"My hand's still shaking from writing so fast," Alex added with a grin.
"I almost wrote an essay with my eyes closed," Linda muttered. "Why did that last question feel like a trap?"
Jae Min walked quietly behind them. Though he didn't say much, he blended into their little group.
As they passed the school gate, Sofia turned to them, her eyes lighting up. "Hey guys! Let's eat something good?"
"Again?" Alex asked, already smiling.
"Yeah. We survived the first paper. Let's reward ourselves. Just a quick break before we bury ourselves in textbooks again."
Linda gave a small nod. "Sure. I could use something hot and greasy."
A few minutes later, the four of them were seated at their usual booth in their favorite restaurant, the cozy place just two blocks from school. The waitress knew them by now and greeted them with a knowing smile. Their table was soon filled with plates of golden fries, peppered wings, sweet chili noodles, and tall milkshakes.
As they continued to eat, Sofia suddenly turned to Linda with a mischievous look in her eyes.
"Linda, by the way… are you still angry with Adam William?"
Linda, caught off guard, froze with a fork halfway to her mouth.
"What's with that face?" Sofia teased.
"Seriously, shut up," Linda said with a groan, trying not to laugh. "You're starting to sound like my mom."
Sofia laughed. "Just asking. He's... interesting, and you know, I was shocked that you've met the legendary Adam William, King of Fun. With the way you two are always fighting, you might end up falling in love with him."
"How can I fall in love with a spoilt brat who fools around with anything in a skirt? I hate him with passion. And he also hates me as much as I hate him. He's a jerk that I don't want to see again," Linda replied, irritation in her tone.
"Let's forget about that asshole of a guy and talk about something meaningful," Linda murmured.
"I've been thinking," Sofia said. "After college, I want to explore the world. I want to see more of the world. I would spend a year exploring, then I'd want to further my education."
Alex tilted his head. "You have any place in mind?"
Sofia smiled and said, "Not really."
Then Linda said, "What about Europe? Or even visit Africa with me. I want to learn in different environments, meet people I'd never meet here. And I want to learn about my country. And I have a plan of getting to know who my father was. I mean, deep into it."
"Really?" Alex asked, then added, "As for me… I'm just trying to pass chemistry without losing my sanity."
Jae Min smiled faintly, his eyes flickering to Linda, as he said, "It's a good plan. You'd do well anywhere."
Linda met his gaze for a second, then looked away, smiling.
Alex raised his drink. "Let's always be friends, no matter where the winds of life blow us."
They all clinked their glasses, their laughter filling the bustling restaurant.