Reality Check
1633 Words
Today was the day—my pre-board exam.
Excitement buzzed in my veins, not just because of the test but because I was finally meeting Lyn again. We had been reviewing together at the same center, and having her around made everything feel a little less stressful.
"Mads!" Lyn’s voice rang through the hallway as she waved at me.
"Lyn!" I grinned, meeting her halfway for a tight hug.
"You ready?" she asked, nudging me playfully.
I nodded. "More than ready. I feel like I’m going to ace this."
And I really did. I had studied hard, reviewed endlessly, and even answered random questions Sam threw at me. Nothing could shake my confidence.
Or so I thought.
The moment I flipped the first page of the exam, my confidence wavered.
I frowned. Wait… what?
I read the question again. And again. But my brain refused to process it.
I moved to the next one. Okay, maybe this one will be eas— Nope.
Panic crept in as I realized something—this was way harder than I expected.
I felt the first bead of sweat roll down my temple.
Great. Just great.
The exam drained every ounce of energy from me. By the time it was over, my brain felt like mush.
Lyn stretched beside me, letting out an exhausted sigh. "That was brutal."
"Tell me about it," I muttered, rubbing my temples.
She turned to me with a hopeful grin. "Wanna go out? Eat, drink, maybe rant about how the exam nearly destroyed us?"
Normally, I would’ve said yes in a heartbeat. But today, my mind was already set on something else. Or rather… someone else.
I shook my head with a small smile. "Not tonight."
Lyn raised an eyebrow. "Really? That’s new."
"I just… I just want to go back to the hotel."
Her knowing smirk was instant. "Ahhh, I see."
I rolled my eyes, but I couldn’t even argue.
Because it was true.
All I wanted was to be wrapped in his arms, to feel the warmth of his embrace after such a tiring day. I craved the sound of his voice—the one that never failed to calm me down.
So, without another word, I bid Lyn goodbye and headed back.
Back to where I wanted to be.
The moment I stepped into the hotel room, warmth engulfed me—not just from the cozy air inside, but from him.
Without a word, Sam pulled me into his arms, his embrace instantly melting away the exhaustion clinging to my body. His lips landed softly on my forehead, lingering just long enough to make my heart flutter.
"You’re back," he murmured against my skin.
I let out a deep sigh, finally allowing myself to relax. "Yeah… long day."
He guided me to the sofa, his hands never straying too far as we sat down. His eyes scanned my face, reading me like an open book.
"Tough exam?" he asked.
I groaned, leaning my head back. "You have no idea. I thought I was prepared, but the questions were insane."
He chuckled. "So, you’re saying you didn’t ace it?"
I shot him a playful glare. "Excuse me, I’m a valedictorian, remember? I probably still did well."
He smirked, shaking his head in amusement. "Of course. How could I forget?"
For a moment, we just sat there, the silence between us comfortable. His presence alone was enough to ease the weight on my shoulders.
Then, without a word, he stood up and walked to the mini-fridge. I watched him curiously, wondering what he was up to.
And then—
My eyes widened as he pulled out a familiar-looking box.
"Wait… is that—"
Before I could even finish my sentence, he turned around, holding up the box of chocolates with a knowing smile.
"I figured you’d need this after your exam," he said casually, as if he hadn’t just made my entire night.
I gasped, practically leaping off the sofa. "You got me chocolates?!"
He barely had time to react before I snatched the box from his hands, holding it to my chest like it was the most precious thing in the world.
"You’re the best," I mumbled between excited giggles, already unwrapping one.
He let out a deep laugh, watching me with pure amusement. "I know what cheers you up."
I paused for a second, staring at him.
Because of course he did.
It hadn’t even been that long since we started spending time together, yet he already knew me so well. The little things, the small details that others often overlooked—he noticed them all.
And maybe that’s what made it all the more terrifying.
Because the more he knew me, the more I found myself wanting him to be the one who knew me best.
As I savored the sweetness of the chocolate, a thought crept into my mind—one I hadn’t allowed myself to dwell on before.
I glanced at Sam, watching as he leaned back against the sofa, a lazy smirk still playing on his lips from my earlier excitement. He looked so at ease, so natural, as if this moment between us had always been meant to happen.
But then, the realization hit me.
I didn’t really know him.
Not in the way that mattered.
Sure, I knew his name. His age—though the gap between us was something I tried not to think about too much. I knew his playful nature, the warmth he carried in his touch, the way he effortlessly made me feel safe even when my mind was at war with itself.
But beyond that?
Nothing.
I didn’t know his family, his past, or the things that kept him up at night. I didn’t know what made him tick, what his biggest fears were, or if he had ever been in love before.
And yet, he knew so much about me.
He knew that I liked my eggs fried hard and well-done. That I had a habit of overthinking to the point of exhaustion. That chocolates were my ultimate comfort after a long, draining day.
"You’re staring," Sam suddenly said, breaking through my thoughts.
I blinked, realizing too late that I had been watching him for longer than necessary.
"No, I’m not," I denied quickly, shoving another piece of chocolate into my mouth as a distraction.
He raised an eyebrow. "You totally were. What’s going on in that overactive mind of yours now?"
I hesitated, debating whether or not I should voice what I was thinking.
But in the end, I just shook my head with a small smile. "Nothing. Just tired."
It wasn’t a complete lie.
I was tired—tired of trying to figure him out when he was like a puzzle missing half its pieces.
Because as open as he seemed, there was something unreadable about him, something just beyond my reach.
And I didn’t know if I would ever get close enough to understand him the way he seemed to understand me.
I shook my head, pushing the thoughts away.
I didn’t want to dwell on them—not tonight. Not when I was here, in this moment, with him.
I had a habit of overthinking, of questioning things that didn’t need answers right away. But for once, I just wanted to feel—to live in the present without worrying about the future.
So, I focused on the warmth of the room, the lingering taste of chocolate on my tongue, and the way Sam sat beside me, completely at ease.
I wondered if he had any idea how much space he was starting to take up in my mind.
"You good?" he asked suddenly, his voice breaking through my thoughts.
I nodded. "Yeah. Just thinking."
"There you go again," he teased. "What is it this time?"
I hesitated for a moment before deciding to be honest—at least, partially.
"I was just wondering…" I trailed off, tapping my fingers against the chocolate box.
"Wondering what?" He tilted his head, genuinely curious.
I sighed. "I’m the youngest in my family, you know. Sometimes, I can be a little… dramatic. A little childish."
He smirked. "That doesn’t surprise me."
I narrowed my eyes at him. "Hey!"
His chuckle was deep and rich, his amusement obvious. "I mean, I’ve already seen glimpses of it. Like the way you nearly jumped out of your seat over those chocolates."
I pouted, crossing my arms. "That’s different. Chocolates are special."
"Mmhmm," he hummed, clearly unconvinced.
I huffed, leaning back against the sofa. "You haven’t even seen the real childish side of me yet."
"Oh?" He raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "And what does that look like?"
I hesitated, suddenly unsure if I wanted him to know.
Would he find it annoying? Would he think I was too immature? Or would he just laugh it off and tell me it was cute?
The uncertainty gnawed at me.
Because as much as I wanted to believe it wouldn’t matter, a small part of me feared his reaction.
I had always been the baby in my family—the one who pouted when things didn’t go her way, who clung to people she loved, who got easily excited over the simplest things.
Would he find that side of me endearing? Or would he be disappointed?
"You’re overthinking again," Sam pointed out, his voice softer this time.
I sighed. "Yeah… I guess I am."
He studied me for a moment, then smirked. "Well, now I’m curious. Sooner or later, I’m going to see that side of you."
I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, yeah. We’ll see."
For now, I just wanted to enjoy this moment—with him, in the present, without worrying about how much of myself I should or shouldn’t show.
- Writer
