Chapter Fifty-Seven
Hanna's POV
Exam week was exhausting. With endless classes and late-night study sessions, I was barely keeping it together. When the actual exams started, my nerves kicked in. I’d missed so much class time, but the school allowed me a reasonable margin to make up for my absence. That small act of leniency was the only thing that kept me calm enough to push through.
The exams went on for three intense weeks. Some were manageable, while others felt almost impossible. Somehow, though, I managed. Thanks to Dominic's support, I stayed sane through every minute of it. And today, after what felt like ages, it was finally over. All the students gathered in the auditorium to receive our results, and I clutched my paper with nervous excitement.
Jenny and I squealed as soon as we saw our scores. *We passed!* Relief and pride flooded me. "Good job, ladies," Kai said, walking over with a grin. Kai had scored as the second-best student in our class.
"Yep, Hanna did really well. She’s so smart, while I’m considered beauty and brains,” Jenny said with a playful wink, making us both laugh.
“Where’s Dominic, by the way?” I asked, noticing his absence. I wanted to thank him for everything; he’d been my rock throughout these stressful weeks.
"He got called to the school office,” Kai replied.
"Oh, alright. I’ll be back in a minute.” I felt a smile tugging at my lips as I turned to go, but Kai just smirked knowingly, and Jenny gave me a little wave. They’d been teasing me about Dominic forever, and I just rolled my eyes at them, pretending to ignore it.
I headed to the school’s garden, a peaceful place where Dominic often went to read. Sure enough, there he was, seated on a bench with a book open in his hands, seemingly lost in thought. Smiling, I tiptoed up behind him, carefully draping my arms around his shoulders and dangling my results paper in front of him.
"I got an A, thanks to you!" I whispered. He didn't flinch; from my voice alone, he already knew it was me. He turned slightly to meet my gaze, his face soft and calm.
"Congratulations, Hanna. You did really well," he said warmly.
"No, *we* did it,” I corrected him, my voice filled with gratitude. "You helped me so much—staying up with me, making sure I didn’t give up. With everything going on… I don’t think I could’ve done it alone.” In a bold move, I reached down, resting my hand on his.
He looked at me, a smile spreading across his face that made my heart melt. He gently squeezed my hand. "Alright then,” he said, "we did it."
My smile grew wider as I nodded. But before I could say anything else, Judy appeared, walking up with her usual energy. Since the exams were over, juniors were allowed to come to the senior building.
Her gaze flickered down to our hands, and Dominic and I quickly pulled them apart, a bit flustered. "Uh, sorry if I’m interrupting something, but have you seen Jenny?” Judy asked. “We were supposed to meet up and take some pictures—my fans are not exactly known for their patience.”
"She’s in the classroom with Kai,” I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. Judy grinned.
"Gosh, you guys are making me feel jealous! Maybe I should get a boyfriend too,” Judy teased, giving us a playful look.
"We’re not—" I started to say, feeling my face heat up, but she cut me off.
"Oh, please. Since you and my brother are dating and Kai and Jenny are practically a couple, I might as well try dating that cute guy from my class!”
Dominic gave her a stern look. "You’re too young for that."
Judy just rolled her eyes. “Whatever, big brother.” She turned and hurried back inside the school building, leaving Dominic and me in silence.
To break the tension, I looked up at him, smiling. “So, what are you planning on doing after graduation?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know yet. What about you? Any plans?”
"Not really. Though I think Kai and Jenny might have something up their sleeves. Come on, let’s go find them.” I stood up, gesturing for him to follow, and together we walked back into the building.
---
Later that afternoon, we all met up at a nearby amusement park to celebrate our exam results. It was Jenny’s idea, of course—she never passed up a chance for fun. I arrived in my favorite casual outfit: a fitted white t-shirt that hugged me like a second skin, paired with beige baggy pants and my go-to sneakers. I let my hair down, feeling comfortable and happy.
"Hanna, this is a celebration, not a casual meetup!” Jenny groaned, eyeing my outfit. "How many times do I have to tell you to dress up?”
“Sorry, Mom,” I teased back. “But this *is* my definition of nice.”
She sighed, turning to Dominic. "Dominic, help me out here. Doesn’t she look a little too plain for the occasion?”
He glanced at me, studying my outfit, then shrugged. “It’s nice and simple.”
Jenny rolled her eyes dramatically. “Oh my god! You two are so boring. Honestly, you’re a match made in heaven.” She shook her head in exasperation, but I just laughed, and Dominic smirked.
We spent the afternoon trying all the rides. Eventually, Jenny and Kai decided to go on a new roller coaster, while Dominic and I opted to sit it out and grabbed some ice cream instead.
As we sat together, I gathered the courage to tell him something that had been on my mind. “I just want you to know… I really appreciate everything,” I said softly, looking up at him. “These past few weeks have been incredible, and meeting someone like you—calm, kind, and caring—has made all the difference.”
He looked at me thoughtfully, as if weighing his words before he spoke. "You know, there's a reason I don’t usually let myself get close to people.” He hesitated, his gaze distant. “I grew up in a difficult home. My father… he wasn’t the kindest man. I saw the way he treated my mom, and it broke something in me. I never wanted to be anything like him, so I kept my distance. Kai was the only one who managed to get through to me.”
His words struck me deeply. "I’m so sorry, Dominic,” I whispered. “Your mom is such a wonderful person… I can’t imagine what she must have gone through.”
He said nothing, and I took a deep breath before reaching over and gently placing my hand on his. "You’re nothing like him. You care. You noticed things about me that no one else did. Even when no one could tell something was wrong, you saw right through me. That’s why… I couldn’t help falling for you.”
My voice wavered as I braced myself, expecting a quiet rejection. He stared at me, his face unreadable, and for a moment I thought I’d misjudged everything. But then, in one swift, gentle motion, he reached up, brushing a loose strand of hair behind my ear.
We leaned closer, my heart pounding so loudly I could barely think. Our faces were inches apart, and before I knew it, his lips touched mine in a soft, tentative kiss. The world seemed to melt away, and for that single, beautiful moment, nothing else mattered. His touch was gentle, reassuring, and my heart fluttered with a feeling I never expected.
Author's Note:
Wow! The moment we’ve all been waiting for—Dominic and Hanna finally took the leap! Thank you to everyone for sticking with me through this story. Please vote, share, and comment your thoughts. It means the world to me. Special thanks to @hamdyayodele and all of you amazing readers for making this journey so unforgettable.
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