"Finally!!!! FREEDOMMMMM" Gizel exaggeratedly expressed as she spread her arms wide open.

"Ahhhh yes! Sweet, sweet, freedom! Right now, I just wish to go out of school and go enjoy myself looking around town." Milly seconded.

Serena can't help but relish the same sentiments as her friends. Previously, when she had exams, she was always pressured because she must meet a certain grade so that she won't get kicked out of school. She understood that the situation was different here, but old habits die hard. Thankfully, she knew that she did well in all the subjects.

"Ugh… I'm not sure if I answered the essay part correctly. I'm afraid I might flunk this one." Via said worriedly.

"Stop that Via, I don't want to talk about the exams anymore, it's O-V-E-R, OVERRRRR and no matter how much we discuss it, the results won't change." Gizel said exasperated.

"Gizel's right Via, how about this, let's all go out to celebrate? My treat." Serena suggested.

As a breather after the exams, students were allowed to go out of school today. In addition, classes will resume on Monday.

"YESSSSSSSS!!!! I love you so much Serena! You're the BEST!" Milly exclaimed as she hugged her.

--

"Man, I just want to slump down now. These two weeks were hell. Ugh… if that were not enough, the wait for the results is even more nerve-racking." Kylo said as he slung his arms on Joshua's shoulder Although he may not look like it, he takes his schooling seriously.

"Hey, get off me! You're too heavy!" Joshua complained as he pushed Kylo's arm away.

"I agree with you there, it's really been hell. But look at the bright side, it's over now, and we have the long weekend ahead." Charlton replied as he smiled wistfully, thinking that he can finally spend the next few days with his girlfriend.

"Hey, do you guys want to join us in heading out?" Joshua offered.

Kylo looked at his watch and saw that it was only 4 in the afternoon. Unlike the freshmen, sophomores have 8 subjects. "where are you going?"

"Well, we're meeting up with some girls from class 2 at Fitzgerald's, and loath as I am for inviting you two who would most probably garner all the attention, we're lacking two guys to even out the number."

"Ha! Just what I need after all these… sure, we're in!" Kylo readily agreed.

At the same time, Charlton declined saying "No, I don't think I can join you guys. Sorry."

Kylo quickly faced Charlton "No, you don't get to say no. Remember, you still owe me."

"You know that I'm seeing someone, I don't think that it's proper for me to meet with other girls."

"Ha! Since when did you become attached to one girl? I hate to say this but you've been so boring since we left Alighieri, not to mention this two months. That girl must be so good in bed that you've been pussy-whipped!" Joshua ridiculed.

Charlton clenched his jaw. Joshua saying that was uncalled for, but he had to tell himself that the chap doesn't know what he's talking about.

Kylo saw the change in Charlton's mood. "Hey, don't say that Joshua, Charlton is just in the honeymoon phase. Anyway, do tell me about the girls we're meeting. Are they pretty?"

"Mia's group, well you might have seen some of them as I think 2 are from the swimming club. She's also bringing along her cousin from Balamb who's a freshy. There will be 6 of them I was told. So, are you in?"

"Who's going with us? And yes sure, count us in!" Kylo replied.

"Me, Vincent, Miles and Jeff. You sure? How about you Charlton?" Joshua looked at Charlton who was not speaking.

"Yes, Charlton is joining us." Kylo said as he slung his arm on Charlton's shoulder.

"Alright, let's meet at the dorm's lobby by 5."

Kylo confirmed with a nod.

--

"You don't have to do that, you know that I'm not interested and I really don't want to go. This might cause some unnecessary misunderstanding between Serena and I." Charlton said as he shrugged Kylo's arm. They were the only two people left in the classroom, so they talked freely.

"Don't be like that. I think you need to get your facts straight. I know that I did tell you to have a taste, but I did not tell you to swallow. You know that she's still engaged to Geoffrey, right? You can go have some fun with her, sure, whatever, I have nothing against that. But you're taking this way too seriously. In the end, you will be the one getting the short end of the stick. And are you truly willing to ruin your years of brotherhood with your blood cousin, mind you, just for some girl? I say you better stop now before it's too late."

"Kylo, she is not just some girl, and if it comes to that point, I'm willing to take all the repercussions our relationship entails."

Kylo looked at Charlton incredulously shaking his head, "I tell you that what you feel now, well, don't be too sure, as you might regret it. It's been just what? Less than two months? And now you want to go Romeo and Juliet? Come on, I thought you knew better than that."

Charlton had nothing to say in rebuttal because he knew that Kylo did have a point. There's no point in explaining because he himself doesn't understand why he is being this way.

"Cat got your tongue? Because we both know that I have a point. Anyway, we're going and you can't say no. This will be good for you. You have to see that there are more fishes in the ocean. I bet you're just feeling the way you do because of the excitement brought by your forbidden relationship."

"No matter what you think or say, I'm still not going."

"If you dare not to, then don't blame me for what I will do."

"Resorting to blackmail now?"

"I'm just concerned about you. You know that. For more than anyone else, I see you as my brother."

Charlton wanted to tell Kylo that there's no use convincing him to let go of Serena now. That his advice will just enter one ear and exit the other. As he already knew in his heart that he loved her. Loves her so much that he would rather suffer a thousand deaths than part from her. But he couldn't. He couldn't just throw Kylo's well-intended advice to his face. So, he nodded.

"I'll just go to fill in the numbers." Charlton said, hoping that Serena and Leonard do not get to see him.

"Ha! That's m'boy!"

--

TBC

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