Patiently Awaited Love

Chapter 4

October finally loosened its grip on us, leaving behind only exhaustion, half-finished notes, and the faint memory of our argument. We were okay again, not magically healed, but stronger. After that night, we promised to communicate better, promised to check in before assuming the worst, and promised not to let stress turn us into strangers.We meant every word of our promises.

But November didn’t care.

November was the exam month, which was cold, merciless, and draining. A month that swallowed everyone whole. The campus changed almost overnight, the laughter in hallways faded, and study rooms filled before sunrise. People walked around with textbooks in their bags, which made them look like they were carrying suitcases. Relationships everywhere even took a back seat.

And unfortunately, ours did too.

I didn’t see Kaden for the first four days of November, not because we were fighting, not because we were avoiding each other but because we were simply buried in our schoolwork.

He was studying with his coursemates, and I was drowning in revision classes and tutorials. Every day, it felt like the sun rose faster and time slipped through my fingertips. Our interactions shifted from hugs and whispering into each other’s necks to something much smaller

A message when he woke up.

A voice note on his way to class.

A “drink water” text.

A “how’s studying going?” at 11 p.m.

A sleepy “goodnight, baby” before bed.

It was strange loving someone and missing them at the same time, loving someone and barely seeing them, but somehow our texts kept us okay. Every day felt the same, waking up exhausted, studying half-conscious, writing the exams, trying not to break down and repeat.

Some days, I’d stare at my phone, wishing Kaden would appear next to me so I could just put my head on his shoulder. Other days, I missed him so much it hurt physically.

But I also understood.

And he understood, too.

We were both fighting the same academic monsters.

One night, after spending eight hours at the library, I walked into my room and collapsed onto the bed. My legs were sore, my head was pounding, and I hadn’t eaten properly all day. I didn’t even have the energy to shower when my phone buzzed.

Kaden:

Hey baby, you alive?

I stared at the screen, then typed slowly.

Me:

Barely. I feel like I’m melting.

A moment later, his voice note came through tired, soft, warm.

Kaden:

“You’re doing great, Luce. I know it’s hard. I’m tired too like really tired. But I’m proud of you for striving for the best, and I hope you won’t be demotivated. Stay strong. We’ll survive this, okay? And when the exams are over, I’m k********g you for a whole day.”

I didn’t realize how much I needed those words until tears stung my eyes. I was happy at the text messages.

Me:

I miss you too. So much.

He replied almost instantly.

Kaden:

I miss you more. But focus, okay? We can miss each other while still passing these exams.

His words hit something deep because that was the reality. Love didn’t pause exams, and exams didn’t pause love. We were just learning how to balance both.

As November continued like that, long days, short nights, little messages, soft support some nights, we sent each other photos

He’d send a picture of his messy desk, textbooks everywhere. I'd send a selfie with my tired eyes and smudged mascara. He’d then send a voice note reminding me to eat.

I’d send one reminding him to sleep.

None of it was dramatic.None of it was grand but in the quiet ways that mattered we held each other together because that’s what love looked like in exam season with no dates, no long conversations and no kisses.

Just two exhausted students chose each other every day, even when they barely had energy to choose themselves.

Five days before my last final exam, I woke up to a long message from him.

Kaden:

I know this month has been rough.

I know we barely see each other.

But I want you to know that nothing has changed.

Not for me.

I love you.

And I’m proud of you.

When this is all over, I’m taking you out. No books. No lectures. Just us.

I can’t wait.

My chest tightened, warmth filling every tired corner of me.

I typed back with shaking fingers:

Me:

I love you too, Kaden.

We’re almost there.

We’ll make it.

Together.

I didn’t see him that day or the next, but the message stayed with me because love wasn’t always touch. Sometimes, it was faith.

Faith that even in the busiest, hardest, most overwhelming season of our young lives…

we were still choosing each other. Even from a distance, through exhaustion and through silence.

November felt hard, lonely, stressful, but somehow steady because even if we weren’t in the same room, even if we barely had time to breathe,I still felt him with me.

In every text, in every voice note.voice note.

In every late-night “goodnight baby.” and every early-morning “you got this.”

November didn’t break us it just reminded us that love or real love survives even the busiest seasons. And as exams approached, one thing became clear:

When the month ended, when the chaos settled, and when our schedules would finally be aligned again, I was going to fall into his arms and stay there as long as time would let me.