Even Top Students Fail

Newly Official Couple

William embraced Lilith, playing the part of devoted boyfriend. "Why didn't you tell me you were going there today?"

Lilith pouted silently, swatting away his hand as if contaminated.

"Jealous, little one?" William coaxed. "It's freezing. Let's find somewhere warm. I'm turning into an icicle."

With Lilith, William's patience was endless. Anyone else, he'd have given up on long ago. Angela never dared contradict him during their brief fling - his word was law.

"I'm not going anywhere," Lilith retorted. "Why hide that Angela studies there too? What were you two up to today?"

"So sour. Just admit you like me," William teased, arm around her. Though they'd talked often, he'd missed her terribly these past six months. He longed for a cozy chat, having snuck out by climbing the wall. He had to be back by nine, leaving little time together.

William preferred avoiding Angela talk. He felt guilty about how he'd treated her, though her recent behavior eroded any remorse. Their relationship had been consensual, after all. She blamed the breakup for her poor grades, but hadn't Lilith aced her exams? Clearly Angela's own issues. Her constant pestering irked him - if she weren't a girl, he'd have thrashed her by now.

Still, William had no desire to revisit this with Lilith. No one could understand his position. Lilith was easygoing mostly, but hypersensitive about Angela. Even hearing her name set Lilith off. So he'd avoided mentioning Angela was in his class.

Who knew they'd run into each other? Now it looked deliberate. William understood Lilith's temperament - at the slightest ripple, he had to retreat. Six months of careful coaxing to get here. If Angela caused Lilith to withdraw again, he'd be lost. That's why he'd risked climbing out today.

Unaware, Lilith felt hurt by his evasiveness. Seeing him try to pull her along, she sat down and began sobbing loudly.

Pampered since childhood, that willful core remained despite reincarnation. As a kid, her parents working, she'd stayed with grandparents. Her older cousin Lewis easily bullied her. Seeing Lilith always crying, Maria taught her to wail when bullied. So while Lilith loved laughter, she was adept at waterworks too.

Seeing Lilith half-squatting, crying, William felt exasperated yet amused. Worried she'd catch cold, he crouched to lift her. "Are you a kid? Stop crying on the ground. Come on."

William had never seen such a tantrum. His family's women were serious, even his young cousin as steady as Linda.

But Lilith wailed on. Luckily few people were around in winter. Lilith knew this, daring to cry so dramatically. After two lives, she felt utterly wronged by William's mistreatment.

"Alright, alright. It's just Angela, okay? Yes, she's in my class, but I ignore her. I was wrong before, a jerk. I shouldn't have dated her to make you jealous. I'll stay away from her. Not a word to her, okay?" William soothed, not daring to be stern. He truly didn't understand - why all the tears over Angela? Shouldn't Angela be crying? Lilith used to smile always, now she was a fountain. The tears seemed endless.

Seeing William apologize profusely, Lilith peeked at him, sobs quieting to sniffles. Her swollen eyes looked utterly pitiful.

William finally half-lifted his little troublemaker, intending to wipe her face. But his hands were scraped from climbing. He awkwardly lowered them. Guys don't usually carry tissues.

"Your eyes are so puffy. What will your parents say?" William kissed her eyes tenderly, only to be shoved away as Lilith wiped her own face.

"Are we good? Still angry? I must have owed you big in my past life," William said helplessly.

"No talking to Angela anymore. If there's a next time, I'll cry again," Lilith said fiercely, though not very intimidating with her tear-stained face.

"Alright, I'll stay far away. But in what capacity is Miss Lilith making this demand?" William asked, unusually serious.

Lilith looked down silently, lightly kicking him. William chuckled and pulled his new girlfriend close. Finally official, though considering her crying fit, he felt his future might be challenging. But he was willing to accept it.

William left soon after. Lilith went home to wash her face. Touching her swollen eyes, she smiled foolishly. "How embarrassing." Perhaps love makes people childish. Though mentally in her twenties, she'd still thrown a toddler's tantrum.

Now a couple, their lives didn't change much. Lilith had free time, but William studied harder than ever, determined to get into MIT. This year alone had nearly worried him to death. If Lilith hadn't been so focused on her own studies, his sure thing could have slipped away. The past eighteen years combined hadn't been as exhausting as this one.

Time flew, and soon it was time to return to school. Lilith had gained some weight over the happy break. Since William was seeing her off, she dawdled at home, not wanting her parents to take her.

Maria fretted, cramming things into Lilith's suitcase: "How will you carry all this? It would be easier if we took you."

Besides clothes, Maria packed tons of food. When the suitcase was full, she kept trying to stuff more in.

"Mom, stop. I can't eat all that," Lilith protested. She'd only planned to bring some local specialties for her roommates, but her mom had prepared a mountain - not just specialties, but also several of her dad's signature dishes like spicy chicken wings.

"Of course you can. Share with the girls. Not just roommates, give some to close friends too. Listen, get along well with your roommates. We're not around, so you'll need their help if anything happens," Maria rambled. A child traveling far worries a mother. Though Lilith was grown, Maria fretted over every detail.

In the end, Lilith couldn't dissuade her. Besides the overstuffed suitcase, there was a large backpack too. Lilith clearly couldn't manage it all on public transport, so her parents had to take her to the station. William and Jennifer waited for them there.

Lilith finally shooed her parents away at the entrance. William took her bags. With only fifteen minutes before boarding, little time remained. William half-embraced Lilith, reluctant to part until June. "Why don't I escort you all the way to school?" He happened to have the day off.

"No need, that's too tiring. You have school tomorrow. I'll be fine with Jennifer. You focus on studying. You'll be free come June," Lilith said, also feeling the ache of parting.

"Alright, you two, enough mushiness. It's almost time to check tickets," Jennifer interjected, seeing the couple being lovey-dovey. Only three months left until exams. Was all this fuss necessary?

William glared at David, handing him Lilith's suitcase and gesturing to take Jennifer away. David grinned and led her off. Only then did William reluctantly give Lilith a few more reminders, kiss her once more, and finally send her on her way.