The classroom buzzed with restless chatter as the teacher scrawled something across the board in large, bold strokes: "College Applications & Career Paths."
A wave of groans rolled through the room. A few students joked about dropping out, others slumped dramatically in their chairs, while some just stared at the board with wide, worried eyes. Reality had officially arrived, and nobody was thrilled to face it.
Eli sat at his desk, idly twirling his pen between his fingers. The teacher was explaining deadlines, application forms, and the importance of deciding early. "You should all start preparing your requirements now. Don't wait until after graduation. By then, it might be too late. Think carefully about your future."
Eli stole a glance to his right. Kai looked surprisingly calm, chin propped on his hand as though none of this weighed on him. When their eyes met, Kai's lips curved into a small, confident smile—the kind that silently said, Don't stress, you'll figure it out. Heat crept up Eli's neck, and he quickly looked away, scribbling random shapes in his notebook just to look busy.
By lunchtime, the classroom tension had carried over to their group's usual table in the cafeteria. Trays clattered as Mina, Jace, Caleb, and Leo squeezed into their spots, the conversation starting almost immediately.
"So," Mina began dramatically, pointing her fork like a microphone, "what are you guys going to take in college? Come on, spill it. Future careers, dream jobs, all of it."
Jace groaned. "Why are you making it sound like a press conference?"
"Because it is," Mina shot back with a grin. "Now answer."
The table erupted with mixed responses. Mina admitted she wanted to try psychology, Jace mumbled something about business management while insisting he hadn't thought it through, and Caleb leaned back in his chair with his usual grin. "I'm totally going for computer science. You know, future billionaire vibes."
Leo snorted into his drink. "You? A billionaire? Please. You'd spend all your money upgrading your gaming setup."
"Exactly," Caleb shot back proudly. "State-of-the-art gaming cave. That's the dream."
Everyone burst out laughing, especially Mina, who nearly choked on her rice. Leo shook his head, muttering, "Unbelievable," but the small smile tugging at his lips gave him away.
Eventually, the spotlight shifted. "Eli, what about you?" Mina asked, nudging him gently.
Eli froze mid-bite, caught off guard. "Uh… I haven't really decided yet," he admitted. "Maybe something in the arts? Or… literature?"
"That suits you," Kai's voice slipped in smoothly before anyone else could comment. He said it casually, but the way his eyes lingered on Eli made his stomach twist. Eli tried to laugh it off, hoping nobody noticed the color rising to his cheeks.
"And you, Kai?" Jace asked, clearly interested.
Kai leaned back in his chair, thoughtful. "Architecture. Or engineering. Something where I can build things."
"Ooooh, sounds like a future breadwinner," Caleb teased, earning another round of laughter. Even Leo cracked a grin, shaking his head at the joke.
As the teasing shifted toward Mina's dramatic plans of becoming a "world-renowned therapist," Eli found himself sneaking quiet glances at Kai. The thought of them ending up at different schools tugged at him unexpectedly. He told himself it was normal—they were all heading toward different paths. Still, the idea left a hollow ache in his chest.
When the bell finally rang, everyone scattered back to class, still laughing and joking. Eli walked beside Kai down the hallway. Neither said much, but at one point their hands brushed—just once, brief and fleeting. Eli's heart jumped so hard he thought it might stop.
And beneath all the noise of the day, one unspoken thought lingered: What if we don't end up in the same school?