The moment
The exams were approaching dangerously and, by then, most of the students spent their days in the library. It had needed to change its opening schedule, allowing the students to stay there for more hours. The queues in the canteen to get coffee had gotten out of hand, and some students had started smuggling thermos full of coffee inside the library, and selling cups of it to desperate peers who didn't want to give up their place. There were some students that had tried to sleep inside the library only to be thrown out by the staff, a couple of them tried it more than once and were expelled from the library for a week. It was absolutely crazy. Albert found himself wishing that he could study in his dreams, to avoid all the hysteria. Luckily, all that was bound to finish during the following week as the exams were already starting.
Robert and Dalia had their first exam the following day, so they had arrived first at the library to make sure they could get the most of their last day. Myriam was starting two days after them, and Albert on the following Monday. Robert and Dalia had been studying for two hours when Albert walked to their table in the library. He left his backpack on the floor and sat on a chair that they had taken for him.
-How are you doing?- he asked his friends. Dalia looked clearly exhausted, and Robert didn't look much better, although there was an aura of excitement around him.
-Great.-Robert replied- We are studying organic chemistry and it is thrilling!
Albert made a face that made Dalia laugh covering her mouth with her hands.
-Don't look at me like that! It is!- he whispered.
-If you say so...- he told him taking his books and notes out of his backpack.
Myriam arrived a bit later carrying a couple of books and her laptop.
-Sorry for my lateness. But I stayed awake studying for long tonight and this morning I just couldn't wake up.- she stretched when she sat on the chair.
-Well, you can always stay longer.- Albert joked while Myriam kicked him under the table.
A librarian passed by and told them to be silent. They, then, focused on their notes until lunch time and took turns to go to eat. They all enjoyed those moments outside the library, and they usually took their food outside in the grass to take profit of the sun. That day Robert and Dalia went together because they had been studying for longer and were hungry earlier. Albert was hungry too, but he didn't want to leave Myriam alone so he waited until his friends came back, they wouldn't take too long, Dalia had been trying to minimize her time alone with Robert in places where she would need to talk to him, regardless, they still spent an awful lot of time together. When they came back Albert asked Myriam to go for lunch.
-Already? You've been eating all the time, don't think I didn't see you! I don't understand how you can eat so much and still be hungry all the time.
-I've got a fast metabolism. Can we go now?
Myriam closed her laptop and stand up from her chair sighing.
-Ok, let's go.- she conceded.
They headed outside, took some sandwiches from the cafeteria and sat on the grass to eat their lunch. Albert felt safe during those moments, they were inside their little world not needing to worry about anyone else. He finished his sandwiches and lay down in the grass watching her finish hers.
-You're going to fall asleep in here.- she reproached him.
-Not if you're here.
She smiled and stood up. Albert was reluctant to stand up but he knew he still needed to study and that he wouldn't do anything if he stayed outside. They got back in and took it on from where they had left it. Late in the afternoon, they were all yawning over their notes.
-I'm going to get some coffee, who wants one?- said Dalia standing up.
-Bring me a long espresso, please.- said Albert.
-Myriam? Robert?
-Mmmm a cappuccino for me. Thanks.- she replied.
-I don't want anything, thanks, I need to go to sleep early today and if I have coffee I won't get any sleep.- complained Robert with his eyes still on his notes.
Dalia came back not long after with the coffees which helped them study until the library closed. Then they all headed to their respective dorms either to keep studying or to sleep.
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