Morning arrived without ceremony. The bus stop looked exactly as it always did. The worn bench. The faded sign. The hum of the city waking up. But everything felt sharpened, like the world had leaned in.
Juni arrived first, backpack slung over one shoulder, breath fogging faintly in the cool air. He paced once, then stopped himself.
Breathe.
Elian appeared a moment later, hair slightly messy, eyes alert but tired.
"Morning," he said.
Juni smiled. "Morning."
The word felt heavier than usual. They didn't talk about the exam. They didn't quiz each other. They stood side by side, hands tucked into pockets, sharing the quiet like a borrowed coat. Juni watched Elian's jaw tighten and relax, tighten again.
"You're doing the thing," Juni said softly.
Elian blinked. "What thing?"
"Pretending you're calm so hard it almost works."
Elian huffed a laugh. "Is it convincing?"
Juni tilted his head. "Enough."
The bus was fuller than usual. Students clutched notes, whispered formulas, stared out windows like answers might appear in the glass. Juni sat beside Elian, close enough to feel the tension in his shoulders. He didn't comment. He leaned back, letting his presence be steady.
At school, they split at the corridor that led to different exam rooms.
Juni stopped. "…Hey," he said.
Elian turned. Juni hesitated, then reached out, squeezing Elian's wrist once—quick, grounding.
"Whatever happens," Juni said, "you don't have to prove anything today."
Elian nodded, throat tight. "Neither do you."
They shared a small smile. Then went their separate ways.
Elian sat at his desk, papers placed neatly in front of him. The clock ticked. He inhaled. Remembered the scrap of paper. The words written carefully.
You are enough.
His shoulders lowered a fraction.
In his own room, Juni sat staring at the exam booklet, fingers curled around his pen. His heart thudded. He closed his eyes. Counted breaths. He didn't think about results.
He thought about the bus stop. The promise.
"Time starts now," the invigilator said.
Pens moved. Pages turned. The world narrowed to ink and paper. Outside, the city continued on, unaware. Inside, two boys did the bravest thing they could that morning.
They showed up.