SURPRISE

VERA'S P.O.V

To everyone's surprise, Halden nodded, acknowledging Hunter's presence. He casually resumed teaching, like Hunter hadn't committed the worst offence a student could.

Hunter walked quickly to the row in front of me, sliding into his usual seat, not wanting to draw even more attention to himself.

"Halden's in a good mood today," Ellie pointed out, ignoring the very obvious favouritism Halden had just displayed. "He almost bit Julian's head off just last week."

He shouldn't be allowed in, not during this Professor's class.

Hunter was Halden's golden boy and the top law student in my year. Most lecturers were very fond of him— Halden included. But it seemed the rest of the class had forgotten, given that Hunter barely took advantage of it.

"Halden might as well give him an A on the surprise test, lick the ground Hunter walks on," a female student whispered behind, loud enough for me to hear. She was annoyed and clearly pissed.

Ellie gave me a "did you just hear what she said" look. The girl knew Hunter was my boyfriend, that's why she said that, trying to get a reaction from me. Everyone around me felt that way too, jealous and annoyed.

"Well, if you study hard enough and pass your classes, I'm sure Halden would also lick the ground you walk on," Ellie turned to tell her, defending Hunter, something I was meant to do.

Halden shot the class a warning look, pretending he wasn't biased.

"Quiet at the back," he warned.

Ellie watched me while I wrote. "Why didn't you...Is something wrong?" She asked.

"It's just a test, he'll be fine."

Lectures resumed seamlessly. I tried my best to focus, but couldn't. From where I sat, I could see Hunter—barely. He sat at the far end, his back faced me, but his side view was clear.

The break didn't erase him from my daily reality. We still had lectures on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday together. Four days a week of unavoidable eye contact four days of pretending everything was normal.

Hunter wore a hoodie, the hood was drawn so far over his head, making it impossible to read his face. I couldn't gather even the smallest clue about how he was doing, if he was tired, sad, angry, or numb. If he was thinking about me, and if the break affected him as much as was affecting me.

I missed him so much. I missed sitting with him, I missed how he leaned toward me during lectures, whispering stupid commentary that made me laugh. I missed his hand tapping mine restlessly because he could never sit still. I missed how he tilted his head toward me, silently asking if I was okay.

Just watching him, knowing that I couldn't talk to him, that after class we wouldn't narrate the highlight of our entire day while he drove me back to our apartment, it broke something in me—it was killing me. Now he sat so still, like he had completely zoned out. I watched him, hoping no one noticed, especially Ellie— but I knew she did.

"Are you okay?" She finally asked.

"I am," I replied, returning my gaze to my books.

"You don't look it," she pointed out.

"I'll tell you everything after class."

"But you're okay, right?" She asked again, deeply concerned.

I nodded, forcing a smile.

She didn't say anything after that, though I still felt her eyes on me.

I returned my gaze to Hunter.

How was he handling this? Was he okay? Was he falling apart, or pretending he was fine?

This was all my fault. If I had just endured the pain, this wouldn't be happening. If I hadn't called for this fucking break, we would still be together. He wouldn't have missed the test today, a test he would have come early for, prepared and ready. But instead... he came late.

This wouldn't be happening if we weren't on a break, he wouldn't have missed something so important as this.

What was he doing last night? Why was he late? Did he sleep? Was he up pacing like he did when he was anxious? Did he cry, like I did?

My mind spiralled faster, building scenarios I could no longer control, and then, like he could read my thoughts, Hunter lifted his head. Just a small movement, barely anything, but enough that the shadow of his hoodie shifted.

And then he turned.

I averted my gaze so fast, avoiding eye contact by just a second, my eyes glued to the books in front of me.

I hoped he didn't catch me staring.

A few seconds passed, and I tried, carefully, to look at him again. He was still watching me, subtly, but not subtle enough.

Every few minutes, he shifted, turning slightly to see me. Hunter was checking on me even when we weren't speaking or together, even though the break was meant to keep us apart.

I hated that this break was hurting him; it was hurting us.

Halden's voice eventually cut through my fog.

"We've come to the end of the class," he announced as he clapped his hands. "Your test scores will be sent to your emails by the close of today."

Hunter doesn't have a score to check.

The class emptied quickly, chairs scraped, bags zipped, and students spoke loudly as they left the lecture hall. I turned to see Hunter, but my view was blocked.

I couldn't see him anymore.