*Sam's POV*
The preliminary exams had finally ended, and I felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders.
I finally had a moment to breathe. The past week had been nothing but case readings, caffeine-fueled nights, and a constant battle with my own exhaustion. I was drained, mentally and physically. I needed a break.
All I wanted was to breathe fresh air, unwind, and forget about the stress of law school... at least for a little while.
I grabbed my phone and sent messages to Millie and Cass, hoping we could go out and celebrate surviving this semester's first exams together.
Sam: Guys, exams are over! Let's go out? Coffee, food, anything? I need to unwind.
Millie: Ugh, I wish! But I promised my sister I'd help her with something today. Rain check?
Cass: Can't, sorry! My brain is still in study mode, and I need to prepare for the next set of readings.
I sighed, slightly disappointed but understanding. Instead of sulking at home, I decided I'd take myself out. Suddenly, a thought popped into my head. The park near the old library. Nate had suggested it when he was driving me home after we went to the local cafe.
He said it was peaceful, the perfect place to clear my head. Maybe he was right. Maybe it was exactly what I needed.
On my way, I stopped by my favorite local coffee shop. No more caffeine, though. I had practically replaced my blood with espresso during exams. Instead, I ordered a strawberry milk. It was sweet and refreshing, a childhood favorite of mine. I also bought some bread to snack on. With my small bag slung over my shoulder and my drink in hand, I made my way to the park.
The afternoon sun was warm but not too hot, and there was a light breeze in the air. The park was peaceful, just as Nate had described it. A few people were scattered around. Some were jogging, others reading on benches. I took a deep breath, appreciating the stillness.
The sound of birds chirping and leaves rustling in the gentle breeze was a welcome change from the constant shuffling of papers and stressed whispers in the library.
It was perfect. I walked along the path, taking my time, sipping my drink, enjoying the scenery.
As I wandered through the park, taking in the sights, my eyes landed on a familiar figure sitting on a bench. Nate.
He was alone, his elbows resting on his knees, staring at nothing in particular. His usual composed expression was gone, replaced by something unfamiliar, something almost troubled. I hesitated for a moment, debating whether to approach him. But he had helped me so much with studying, and he was the one who recommended this place. The least I could do was say thanks.
Taking a deep breath, I walked over.
"Hey," I greeted with a small smile as I sat down beside him. "Mind if I join you?"
He turned his head slowly, his eyes landing on me. But something was off. His usual confident, teasing smirk wasn't there. Instead, his expression was unreadable. It was guarded, even distant.
"Oh. It's you," he said flatly.
I frowned slightly at his tone. It wasn't the Nate I was used to. The one who laughed and bantered with Cass during study sessions. The one who had casually offered to drive me home. He seemed... cold.
"Yeah, just thought I'd check out the place you recommended. It's beautiful," I said, attempting to keep the conversation light. "Thanks for the suggestion."
He gave a short nod, not saying anything. The silence stretched uncomfortably between us.
Okay. Weird.
I cleared my throat. "So, uh, how were the exams for you?"
"Fine."
Another dead-end answer. I tried again. "That's good. I think I barely survived mine. If it weren't for you and Cass tutoring me, I'd probably still be in the library, crying over case digests."
Nate let out a breath, shaking his head slightly, but still didn't say anything. His jaw clenched. Something was definitely wrong.
I shifted on the bench. "Are you okay? You seem—"
"Why are you here, Sam?" Nate interrupted, his voice sharp.
I blinked, taken aback. "I just—"
"I mean, what are you really doing here?" His tone was clipped, irritated. "What, are you following me or something?"
My stomach dropped. His words stung, and I didn't know why he was suddenly acting this way. I searched his face, trying to find some hint of a joke, but there was none. Just irritation. Anger.
"No, of course not," I said quickly, my voice quieter now. "I just— I was just trying to be friendly."
He let out a bitter chuckle, running a hand through his hair. "Friendly, huh?"
I nodded, swallowing hard. "Yeah. I mean, we studied together, and I thought we—"
"You thought what?" he snapped, his voice rising.
"We studied together a couple of times, that's it," he continued, voice laced with something bitter. "You don't need to pretend like we're close."
I stiffened. My throat tightened, and I looked down at my hands, gripping my drink tightly. I wasn't sure what hurt more... his words or the way he looked at me, as if he regretted even speaking to me in the first place.
"I—" I started, but I didn't know what to say.
Nate let out a frustrated sigh and stood up abruptly. "Forget it, Sam. Just... forget it."
"Did I do something wrong?" My voice came out more vulnerable than I intended.
Nate exhaled sharply. He looked frustrated, but also... conflicted. Like he didn't actually want to say these things but was forcing himself to.
He didn't answer. Instead, he turned his back. And then he walked away, his long strides taking him further and further until he disappeared down the path.
I sat there frozen, staring at the spot where he had been just seconds ago. My chest ached, and my eyes burned. I wasn't used to people yelling at me. I wasn't used to this kind of coldness.
I blinked rapidly, trying to push back the sting of tears threatening to spill over. I didn't understand what just happened. One minute, we were study partners, maybe even friends, and the next... this.
Had I done something wrong?
I wrapped my arms around myself, suddenly feeling small in the vastness of the park. The scenery that had felt so comforting just moments ago now felt distant, uninviting.
Taking a shaky breath, I whispered to myself, "I was just being friendly."
But it seemed like, to Nate, that was a mistake.
Had I misread everything? Had I been annoying? Did he just not want to be associated with me?
I swallowed hard and shook my head, forcing myself to focus on something else, anything else.
Maybe I was just overthinking. Maybe he was just having a bad day.
I wiped at the stray tear that escaped and took a deep sip of my drink, trying to swallow down the lump in my throat. I didn't know what I did to deserve that reaction, but I wasn't going to let it ruin my day.
Even if, deep down, it already had.
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