exams, exams, and Christmas cheer
ok you guys Im sorry it's been so long, I've had a wild three months but anyways here's a little Christmas gift for you all. Hope you enjoy.
Happy Holidays 🌲✨
~
Luna is done. So, so done. And it technically has only just begun.
It is the last semester of her second year in university and all that has been piling up on Luna is the constant stress and anxiety that has come with preparing for final exams. It may not be her most important year yet, but still important to focus on none the less.
For Matteo, it's so much easier, making Luna even more jealous than before. He only got the easiest forms of exams ever. Mainly studying music, his final projects only consisted of composing lyrics and melodies and such. Only having one actual test exam that could be done online. Meanwhile, with Luna and her several hundred science classes, she was lucky if she could get any sleep with the constant studying she had to do in order to pass.
It's only Monday, barely the first day of exams week and she had to start off with two exams back to back already, one of them being her most difficult class. Needless to say, she was more than exhausted by the end of the day, not even wanting to think about the next two days of exams.
She walks into her and Matteo's apartment, dragging her feet slowly and sullenly, so worn out from not even half the stress, still trying to alleviate from her brain.
Her mood lifts, however, when she smells the most amazing scent of what seems to be tortellini and creme sauce, mixed in deliciously with the familiar aroma known to her heart of enchiladas. She was definitely in heaven now.
Luna smiles at the sight of Matteo in his apron, a little smeared in sauce, slicing away at the vegetables on the cutting board, barely able to mutter a hello to his tired girlfriend as he is so concentrated on cooking.
She hangs her bag and sweater by the door hooks and walks over to Matteo, wrapping his arms around his middle from behind, resting her cheek against his back as he finishes up chopping the last few vegetables to put into the saucepan.
When he dims the stove top heat lower, he turns around and wraps his arm around Luna's waist walking them into the countertop away from the stove. planting kisses over her cheeks and wraps his arms further around her body. He looks at her full of content. "Hello my Love, how were your exams?"
She pecks him once before sighing stressfully into his arms. "So exhausting. I feel so worn out already and I still have three more exams to go. I just want vacations to be here already," she whines.
Matteo feels her on every level. He may have had it easy this semester, but he's been in her shoes plenty of times before and knows that the amount of stress is unreal. He really feels for his girl.
"I know, love. But you're almost there. Only a few more days and you'll be free for two whole months. And we'll be far, far away living our best lives in Cancun."
For a brief second, Luna forgot that she and Matteo were going to fly out to Cancun to spend the holidays with her family. Given finals had taken up most of her thinking. It had been a few years since she had gone back, so to finally see them again was such a sight to look forward to her.
And after about a week, she and Matteo would go over to Cozumel for their own private vacation for another week, just them two. And right now that sounded like absolute bliss to her.
Luna sighs slightly less tense, having her vacations in mind while wrapping her arms tighter around his body. "I know, I know. But still, it's so tiring when all I can think about is finishing these exams before anything else. Why did I take so many science courses?" She looks up at him.
"Probably because of the major you chose to eat, breathe, and study love." He teases her, bumping her nose while she gives him a pout. "But luckily for you, having the best boyfriend, I'm gonna help make it easier for you," he says to her while winking and presenting his masterpiece.
"I made you all your favorite foods. And I even asked my mom to give me my grandma's recipe for the tortellini you loved so much from last Christmas."
It's true. As much as Luna loved her Mexican food, as well as getting to see her family. A little piece of her heart rips not being able to spend Christmas in Italy with Matteo's family. And mostly because of the heavenly food. But the fact that he was able to bring that to her touched the tips of her soul.
"I also bought your favorite ice cream, double fudge brownie flavor..." he continues before taking her hand and leading her into the living room. Where she is presented with many pillows and desk lights, paper and highlighters, and her favorite mug. Which she notices is for the tea brewing in the kettle from the kitchen. She looks up so shocked at Matteo, who smiles so smugly at the work he's created to perfection.
"You set all of this up for me?" she asks in awe. With puppy sweet eyes. "Nah, I did all of this for myself. To make your life harder and rub it all in your face," he teases her. Earning a sock in the arm that doesn't hurt entirely, but enough to make him exaggeratingly whimper and caress it with his other hand.
"Of course, it's all for you, love. All I wanna do is see you kick ass this week. And I wanna help you with that. Always." Luna's mouth curls up a bit and goes back to hugging him, arms around his middle, face buried deep in his shirt, engraved of her favorite cologne on him. "I love you, stupid," she muffles into his shirt, feeling a single wet tear stain into his shirt.
Matteo smiles a little wider, brushing her hair with his fingers while planting kisses on top of her head. "I love you, too Luna." After a few minutes, he pulls himself away from her. "Come on, let's get studying, we got a lot to do tonight." He commands her. As she walks to get her bag, he lightly slaps her butt, earning an annoyed glance and eye roll over her shoulder from her while he laughs in subtle amusement.
Most of the night she studies alone, rarely looking up from her books and computer, as Matteo refills her tea and continues to wrap Christmas presents and packing them in their suitcases to take to Mexico. But eventually, he ends up helping her to remember certain phrases and words that would show up on her final exam for physics. Sometimes they goof off and forget what they're supposed to be doing. But Matteo keeps her intact for the most part, determined to get her to remember every fact and word to perfection.
Luna decides to call it a night at barely past three in the morning. She closes her books with a slam, falling right into Matteo's chest as he wraps his arms around her shoulders contently. Somehow they were able to finish a lot of studying way earlier than she expected, and now she can get a somewhat decent amount of sleep finally. She was truly blessed for that.
Matteo rubs his hand up and down her arm to relax her tensed muscles and kissing her forehead over and over. "You did it, babe. I think you're gonna make this. I know you'll make this." He whispers to her in the eerily quiet apartment. Careful enough not to wake the neighbors. Luna snuggles deeper into his chest, trying her hardest not to flutter her eyes completely shut when he's this warm surrounding her. But she feels so content and so much stress taken away. "Thank you for helping me study," she can barely manage to say back, as she is moments away from passing out.
As he feels her weight, shift heavily onto his chest, breathing heavier, he lightly snorts at the way his girlfriend passes out like a light, onto his body. But can never admire enough the peaceful and at ease way she sleeps, it amazes him. He picks her up and takes her to their room. Resting her gently on the bed, covering her with a blanket and kissing her one last time. "Sweet dreams, love," he whispers once more, before falling asleep right next to her in exhaustion, yet happiness rolled into one.
~
He's the same exact way at breakfast and preparing her lunch too. Giving her the biggest presentation ever of all her favorite pancakes and fruits and endless amounts of whipped cream stacking sky high. Coffee so loaded with sugar, it makes him sick, but just the way she loves it. Even writing her to-go notes with most essential information to review while he drives her to university.
And when she comes out of the exam, he is waiting for her in the car, kissing her like he'll never get to kiss her ever again. No air in between hundreds upon hundreds of kisses that would knock him off his feet if he weren't sitting in the car with the console right between them. She murmurs endless thank yous and I love yous in between, squishing smiles and laughter among it, the happiest and at relief. She's never been so in love with him now as she had been before.
She contemplates opening up her student portal in the airport, waiting for their layover flight in Puerto Rico. She hovers over the sign in button of the login page when she's at home tucked in bed, not quite ready to come face to reality yet.
Only on Christmas Eve, when the nerves get to her, she excuses herself from the table to get some air. Standing by the tree, phone in hand, panic in full action. She waits until Matteo finds her there in worry. He holds her free hand, squeezing it tightly as she waits to load onto the screen. Eyes shut, energy on full blast, completely anxious to know.
When she opens her eyes and laughter of happiness erupts from her chest of seeing an overpassing score, she hugs Matteo jumping into his arms and spinning around in glee.
It's only after those few brief moments of rush he realizes that they're standing under a complete strategically placed mistletoe coincidentally. He smirks down at her as a blush appears on her cheeks. "There's only one thing that can make this the best gift in the universe even more complete." Luna pretends to be oblivious about it, wrapping her arms tighter around his neck.
"Oh, and what would that be?" He says nothing more as his hovering lips press onto hers lightly yet powerfully. Kissing her over and over and over, wishing he could do it for the rest of his life.
"Merry Christmas, Luna." He whispers against her lips. She kisses him four more times, too dumb in love to even string words together. She'll never be able to get enough of him. "Merry Christmas, Matteo. I love you."
Kissing until her cousin comes to look for them and bring them back. As cliche and overratingly cheesy as it sounded, it truly was her best Christmas yet.
