The first week of exams flew by in a haze of late-night cramming, hopeful whispers, and groggy mornings. Rudd was on autopilot, his mind constantly juggling formulas and the haunting image of Scarlet with Dapo from the week before. It felt like a weight in his chest, and no matter how deep he buried himself in schoolwork, that nagging thought wouldn't budge.
Scarlet wasn't any better. She had pulled away from Dapo and her usual friends, throwing all her energy into studying. But every time Rudd walked into a room, looking worn out yet ready with a book or a sarcastic comment, her heart would still do that little flip. She hated that she still cared about him after everything that had happened.
One steamy Wednesday afternoon, right after their literature exam, Dayo pulled Rudd aside.
"Are you alright?" he asked.
Rudd let out a sigh. "Define 'alright.'"
Dayo shook his head. "This thing with Scarlet? You need to either confront it or let it go. This whole moody 'I'm fine' act? It's not who you are."
Rudd chuckled weakly. "How do you forget about something you never really had, Dayo?"
"You didn't just not have it. You never fought for it."
Those words hit hard—not because they were harsh, but because they were spot-on.
Later that evening, Rudd spotted Dapo alone in the library, looking too comfortable, legs sprawled out and flipping through a past exam booklet. That was the first time Rudd really took a look at him. There was a smugness in the way he carried himself, as if he already thought he'd won.
Meanwhile, in her corner of the dorm, Scarlet was curled up at her desk, her thoughts drowning out the chaos around her. She recalled that time Rudd helped her with math, how focused he got when trying to explain things, and the way his eyes lit up when she finally understood. Compared to Dapo's shallow charm, Rudd had depth. But timing…it had really messed things up.
On the other hand, Dayo's own life was changing. His interactions with Simi were happening more often. At first, it was small things—borrowing a pen, asking about assignments. But recently, he found himself seeking her out in class, noticing how she tucked her hair behind her ear when she was nervous or how she giggled at jokes she didn't get but wanted to laugh along with.
Simi, for her part, noticed too. Dayo was different from the others. He didn't push too hard, didn't act superior. He was a good listener, confident without being cocky.
They ended up paired for a biology study session that Friday.
"I didn't think you were into science," Simi teased.
Dayo smirked. "I just keep it under wraps."
They shared a laugh, and suddenly, something felt different. There weren't any fireworks, but there was an easy connection.
Back in the boys' dorm, Rudd was staring at his notepad. He hadn't written much in the past hour. Finally, he picked up his phone and started typing a message to Scarlet. He hovered over the screen and typed:
"Hey. I know things are complicated. Just wanted to say I miss us, even if we never really were 'us'."
He sat there, finger poised over the send button.
And then he hit delete.
The exam period raced by. Whispers about school politics, rumors of expulsion lists, and jokes about who cried after the physics exam echoed throughout the school. Yet beneath all of that, the tension between Rudd and Scarlet lingered—like an unplayed note in a song.
The last exam was Chemistry. After it ended, students poured onto the lawn like they'd just escaped prison. It was chaotic and full of relief all at once. Rudd sought a quiet spot under the mango tree by the staff block, needing some space.
Scarlet spotted him alone there. She didn't know why her feet were leading her toward him.
"Hey," she called out.
Rudd looked up. "Hey."
"I heard we're free now."
He let out a soft laugh. "Yeah. No more balancing equations for a bit."
She nodded. "Are you okay?"
He hesitated before answering. "Honestly? Not really."
She bit her lip. "Same here."
They stood in silence for a moment, neither moving closer nor walking away.
Finally, Scarlet said, "I guess we'll figure it out eventually."
"Maybe," Rudd replied. "Or maybe we won't."
She smiled. "You always have to play the philosopher."
"I try."
And then she walked away.
Rudd stayed there long after she left.
The exams were over, but nothing else felt resolved.