Note: I wasn't actually planning on making the settings in this particular school, but since one of my readers is a great fan to a certain game, I won't let you know which *wink wink* I decided, why the hell not? It won't effect the story drastically.

Gressenheller University - London

June 1, 2015 7:00 a.m.

"Good luck, Cecilia! I know you'll do a fantastic job on the final!"

"Thank you, Ritza! You're always great at cheering me up!" Cecilia squeezed her thick binder in her grasp. "Where's Taci?"

Ritza gasped, desperation colliding on her visage, "Oh my God! If he doesn't make it, he'll have to repeat the semester!"

Cecilia gave her friend a somber look. "I sure hope he makes it…"

"I'm surprised Mr. Tactical isn't here. I stood up all night for him to study that final along with my own! Biochemistry is a thick subject." Ritza crossed her arms, shaking her head in disapproval.

The weather was warm, just enough to be outside in comfort clothing for the university students. Ritza gazed at her friend, who was worried about her boyfriend.

"Listen, Cecilia. He's going to make it, don't you worry. The finals don't start until 0800 hours." Ritza's smile gleamed as she cheered the hopes for her friend. "He can be irresponsible sometimes, ha! And you should know that, but he's a good man."

"Ritza stop!" The girl teased as she pushed Ritza's arm away playfully. "You're making it seem you're eyeing him more than me!"

Ritza gave a playful pout, "Oh please! That's your man. I'll find my own dream boat somewhere else!"

Cecilia giggled as she saw Ritza bask in her own independence. The courtyard became cumbersome as caffeinated sugar rushed students ran to their destinations. Ritza shook her head as she gazed at all the zombified overnight studiers who probably didn't get a lick of sleep the night before. Then again, she didn't want to be a hypocrite. She too, didn't get sleep, but mustered all her strength to keep her friend from worrying about her as well.

"Mr. Tactical better get here. I bet a lot of those students took all the best seats!" Ritza grimaced as one student bumped into her without apologizing. She sighed, unsurprised.

Cecilia squeezed her binder harder against her tiny frame. Her black cardigan mader her physique even tinier. Ritza stumbled backwards, realizing she accidentally worried her friend. The college student quickly thought of a subject to talk about.

"So...how was your professor this semester?" Ritza placed her hands on her hips, hoping the girl would ask her question.

"Ah. The Professor is such an amazing man. He is smart and ironically eccentric despite his calm demeanor. When he taught archeology, he made the subject seem like the world depended on it. He spoke in riddles and told us to solve these amazing puzzles from ancient civilizations that completely blew my mind!" Cecilia was rambling on about her archaeology professor.

"Is that so? Then you have nothing to worry about!" Ritza playfully slapped Cecilia's shoulder, before gripping it. "If you're interested in the subject, then it should be glued and reinforced in your brain. You got this!"

Cecilia blushed as her companion further lifted her spirits. She gasped suddenly when she felt a tap on her shoulder. She shuffled quickly on her toes as she saw the love of her life. "TACITUS!"

"CECILIA!" The man yelled back in with overboosting compassion. He grappled her tiny body in his firm grasp, making sure he didn't crush her in the process. She flew into the sky from his height, doused in his kisses. On her cheeks, her forehead, her chin, her eyes, her nose and her lips. Ritza stood there gaped, wondering if she was breathing under all those affectionate attacks. When the barrage ceased, he finally put the girl on her feet and gave her one last hug.

"I told you I'd make it!" Tacitus brushed back the thick lock of black hair against his scalp embarrassedly.

"You were almost late... What happened?" Ritza asked with concern.

Tacitus caught his breath before beginning, "It's kind of humiliating, but… I got a present before I came here."

Cecilia's eyes lit up, " a present?" She jumped eagerly on her toes. "What is it?! What is it?!"

"Nuh-uh. Not after we pass our exams. After we pass, I'll show you later." The man humbly boasted before walking towards the archway, leading inside the building.

"This oughtta be good." Ritza teased. "But it's almost time. I'll see you guys afterwards."

"Okay! See you Ritza!"

"Bye Tacitus, bye Cecilia."

"Seeya, Ritza."

Tacitus saw the woman in front of him. His feelings for her had no bounds. He found her sweet, innocent, beautiful, but shy at times. However, all her imperfections he loved and all her perfections. He grabbed her tiny soft hands before escorting her to her assigned testing destination. The hallways were very traditional as students lined against the walls, awaiting for their assigned seats.

Tacitus held the girl's shoulders. The student tilted her head upward. He beamed with joy before giving his most sincere and emotional gaze that reflected in her grey eyes. "Cecilia… You can do this. I believe in you with my heart and my soul. You've studied hard and we made it through all just to get here today. To do what you want to do for the rest of your life. I have all my faith on you, Ceci."

Cecilia kept the tears from tumbling over her bottom eyelids. Her boyfriend's face began to blur as the tears overwhelmed her eyes. She shut her eyelids, allowing her emotional tears to finally fall down her face, conjoined together at the tip of her chin. Ritza and Tacitus had so much faith in her, best friends until the end. Even at the time where it seems that their adventures were going to end by the termination of the exams, they will always be behind each other.

"Thank you, Tacitus. I love you…"

"I love you, too, Ceci. Now make me, the professor, and Ritza proud."

"I will!" The girl gave a peck on his lips before she darted with courage in her heart towards the examination hall.

Tacitus grinned widely, seeing the girl he loved run down to her future, her destiny, her dream.

"Ladies and gentlemen." The professor with a large brown top hat walked through the corridor. His voice proper and respectful. "Only pencils, nothing else near your vicinity."

Cecilia placed her binder on the floor, near the lockers before heading to her seat. The courage was beginning to wear down into panic when the realization was setting in.

"It was a pleasure to meeting all of you fine young women and men, but today determines whether you walk out of here with satisfaction or regret."

The girl was shaking in her seat. 'Regret…'

"But I am more than aware that all of you have the potential of being future archeologists. Make sure you leave nothing blank. A Gentleman, this goes for the ladies as well, never leaves a puzzle unsolved. Good luck!"

Cecilia clenched her seat tightly as she saw the test in front of her. That ominous test eyed her back, teasing her. She felt dizzy as the paper became fuzzier. The pencil in her hand was drenched in sweat that she couldn't even bubble in the first answer. The pencil would slide down her fingers before she even pressed it on the paper. Cecilia inhaled deeply before letting out a puff that almost blew her test away. She frantically pulled it back before falling out of her seat. 'I hope no one saw that…'

It was now or never. She resettled herself, grabbed her pencil, wiped it clean and took the test head on.

After two hours. She left the hall. Feeling only slightly confident about herself, but the results are still pending. Her friends awaited for her down the stretch of the corridor. They were chatting a storm about how they wrecked the test, in a positive way. Tacitus turned his focus on his girlfriend. "Cecilia! How did you do?"

She had a weak smile, but still managed to crack it well. "I think I did okay."

Ritza greeted her friend with pride. "Psh, I don't know why he's even going to bother grading your test. We should just go to graduation straight away!"

"Hehe. Yeah…" Cecilia chuckled.

Tacitus found her little laugh adorable. "She's right. My girl is too good for this school!"

"Guys stop…" Cecilia blushed.

"Oh yeah… I remember something. What was your gift, Mr. Tactical?" Ritza sassed the gentleman in front of her.

"Oh that… well. Hehe… ugh…" The man was fumbling all over his words as he began to sweat.

"Yeah, Taci! What is it?!" Cecilia bumped her thick binder against the bumbling student.

"Well. I ugh… I got it for you, Ceci…" Tacitus was choking on his words nervously. "I'll show you during graduation!"

"Aw! Why Taci?! I really wanted to see it." The girls were making the man tremble. He didn't want to show it yet, it was too special.

"I promise… I'll show you then." He muttered.

"Hmm…" Ritza focused on Tacitus. He was begging every inch of his being for her not to give him the death glare. Somehow it always broke him worse than Cecilia's puppy eyes.

"Fine. We'll wait. If it's that special than I guess it is worth it." Ritza placed her hands on her hips.

"It sure is."

Several days later, the results were posted across the bulletin boards. Each student had to find their identification numbers and locate their scores. Students almost climbed on top of each other, riddled with paranoia and overwhelming apprehension to see the results. It took some time for the crowd to die down before the three friends managed to see their scores.

"No surprise, Mr. Tactical. Practically a perfect score." Ritza bumped him.

"Speak for yourself, Miss Regime! You're the tryhard. You beat me!" The man guffawed.

"Yeah, but virology is so much easier than Biochemistry. I'd die doing that."

"What about you, Ceci?"

Cecilia eyed the board, searching her name. She passed, just not exactly the grade she wanted. Her emotions were mixed between satisfied and melancholy.

"What's wrong? You got the grade." Tacitus wrapped his arm around her shoulder.

"Yeah, but you guys always do better. I just, get satisfactory…" Her view touched the floor, partially saddened she was not in league with her genius friends.

"Ceci… you shouldn't be upset by that. Some people didn't pass at all. And your professor is an all or nothing type of guy." Ritza added words of encouragement.

"I guess…" Cecilia whispered, her head low.

"Hey, c'mon. Don't be sad… What matters to me is that we all made it. Together." The man's voice sincere with his heart.

"You're right, Taci." Cecilia glimmered a soft smile before admiring at the science nerd duo though their appearance was out of grand and sumptuous professionalism.

"That's what I love to see." Her boyfriend gave a toothy grin, his dark eyes gifting her the love she deserved.