Today proved to be emotionally overwhelming, and I found myself shedding many tears. The emotional residue of yesterday's events lingered heavily, compounded by additional personal matters which I prefer not to elaborate upon. Lu, uncertain as to whether I was upset with him, chose to sit with Carlos and Jonathan instead of taking his usual seat near me. This decision, though perhaps understandable, deeply wounded me—particularly as today marked the last time we would see each other before classes resumed on March 10 (Happy Mar10 Day).
During the examn, I initially scored 17 out of 20. However, the professor kindly offered a second attempt, on which I achieved a perfect score of 20. Despite this success, I became overwhelmed with emotion for reasons left unspoken, and quietly stepped outside the classroom, seeking solitude behind the door. There, I remained for over ten minutes, until Lu emerged—seemingly en route to the restroom—but paused upon seeing me, concern evident in his expression. He softly asked, "What's wrong?" before sitting beside me, offering quiet comfort. I wept in his arms for another ten minutes or more, as he gently stroked my head and shoulders in a gesture of care.
Though I felt some discomfort at being seen in such a vulnerable state, there was also a sense of guilt—knowing that Lu carries his own burdens, and fearing that I might be adding to them. When he asked what was troubling me, we discussed the events of the previous day. He reassured me that he had merely been joking, and although this brought some relief, I still could not shake the feeling of being a toxic presence. While the tears were not solely about that interaction, his kindness lightened the emotional weight I had been carrying. At one point, he offered his lap as a place for me to rest, and I accepted, laying my head there quietly.
As the mood gradually lifted, we began joking with one another again. At one moment, Lu began to playfully lick my face, unintentionally smudging the makeup, though I did not mind. It felt as if he was about to kiss me, and though he ultimately did not, the gesture itself was enough. We remained close for some time afterward, and I felt genuinely grateful for the intimacy we shared. It was a moment I had long hoped to experience—something tender and meaningful—especially since, even during our previous relationship, much of our time together had been dedicated to studying, leaving little room for such vulnerability.
Carlos appeared to have witnessed the moment and may now suspect that we have rekindled our relationship. Later, at lunch, we went to the cafeteria, where I ordered a burrito. To my surprise, it came with more toppings than expected—including nachos with cheese, for reasons unknown. The unexpected generosity was amusing. We chose to eat behind the university, in a quiet spot where I often sat during a particularly difficult period last December. There is a blue table there, tucked away from the main paths, where I feel at ease. While eating, I fed some pieces of the burrito to a few crows—along with most of the nachos (cheese removed). Initially, there were three crows, but soon, more than six arrived, much to Lu's astonishment. I attempted to take photos, but the quality was too poor for the crows to be clearly visible.
Eventually, bW90aGVy arrived to pick me up. A wave of sadness swept over me at the thought of not seeing Lu again until March 10. I wished the farewell could have lasted longer—and, truthfully, wished for one final embrace, perhaps even a kiss.
Afterward, bW90aGVy drove us to the new mini-supermarket nearby, where c2libGluZ3M= and I picked out a few sweets and a box of Lucky Charms—something ZmF0aGVy has been particularly fond of lately.