Chapter 33 — The Final Stretch
The first day of final exams hit Section E like a storm. The school halls were quieter than usual, punctuated by frantic scribbling, whispered panic, and the occasional groan of despair.
Jay sat at her desk, staring at the exam paper, pencil poised. Keifer, sitting across from her, gave her a small, reassuring smile—but she refused to look back, trying to focus.
Focus, Jay. You've survived worse than this.
Chaos in Section E
Of course, Section E wasn't about to let finals be normal:
Percy had brought a "motivation survival kit"—snacks, sticky notes with motivational quotes, and an inflatable stress ball shaped like a shark. "You never know when stress attacks," he explained dramatically.
Felix had created a study schedule that looked more like a conspiracy chart than anything academic. Arrows, highlighters, and cryptic notes covered every corner.
Ci-n whispered "strategies" like he was planning a heist, glancing nervously at the teachers.
Jay sighed, but she couldn't suppress a small laugh. Even with exams looming, Section E was still utterly chaotic.
Jayfer Tension (and Teasing)
Keifer leaned over, whispering, "You're stressing too much. Look at me."
Jay rolled her eyes. "Not now, Keifer."
He smirked. "Fine. But if you fail, I'm taking you out for ice cream as punishment."
Jay tried to glare, but the corner of her mouth twitched. He's impossible.
Alys and Drake sat nearby, quietly supporting each other, though Alys shot occasional glances at Jay, noticing how flustered she got whenever Keifer whispered something.
Study Break Mayhem
By the second day, everyone was cracking under pressure.
Percy, ever the entertainer, had hidden an inflatable flamingo in Jay's bag as a "stress reliever." It popped out mid-exam, causing half the class to snort and the teacher to groan.
Eman tried to organize a "silent meditation break," which quickly devolved into giggles, whispers, and someone dropping a pencil with a dramatic clang.
Jay and Keifer ended up in a corner, sharing snacks in silent solidarity, occasionally elbowing each other over a shared joke.
Even in chaos, there were small moments of normalcy—quiet glances, shared smiles, and hands brushing ever so slightly across the table.
The Emotional Low Point
By the third day, Jay felt the exhaustion fully. Her head pounded, her eyes stung, and she hadn't had a proper sleep in two nights. She leaned back in her chair during a short break, feeling tears prick.
Keifer noticed immediately, kneeling beside her. "Hey… you okay?"
Jay shook her head, voice small. "I'm… just tired. It's… too much."
He grabbed her hand gently. "You're amazing, you know that? And you're not alone. We'll get through this… together."
Jay let herself lean into the reassurance, letting a small smile escape despite the exhaustion.
Alys and Drake Moment
Meanwhile, Alys leaned against Drake in the library corner, her head on his shoulder. "I… I don't know how you stay calm," she admitted.
"I'm not," he whispered. "I'm just… trying not to freak out too much. But seeing you like this… I don't want to mess it up again."
Alys sighed, squeezing his hand. "You won't. I trust you. We can survive this… together too."
Even amidst exams, the small threads of trust and love were weaving back together.
Final Exam Day
The last exam day arrived, heavy with tension, pencils scratching like waves crashing on the shore. Jay and Keifer walked into the hall together, both nervous but somehow anchored by each other.
Percy tripped on a bag strap, falling dramatically into Felix, who flailed like a domino.
Eman whispered, "Good luck… survive the last battle."
Jay tried to suppress laughter, feeling the tension melt slightly.
The exams were brutal, demanding every ounce of focus, but with Section E's chaotic energy around her—and Keifer silently squeezing her hand every so often—Jay made it through.
End of Exams — Celebration Pending
By the time the final papers were handed in, the hall erupted in cheers. Section E hugged, laughed, and even cried a little.
Jay felt exhausted but… happy. The last months, the chaos, the love, the heartbreak—it had all led here.
Keifer leaned down, whispering, "We survived. And now… we celebrate."
Jay smirked, rubbing her tired eyes. "Yeah… but you owe me ice cream."
He grinned. "Everything for you, Watson. Everything."
And for the first time in weeks, she felt like the weight of the world was lifting—even if only for a moment.