The bustling school trip morning had started in chaos. Amid the chatter of students and the rattling of suitcases, you had overslept. To make matters worse, Gerald—your sworn rival in the class—had also failed to make it on time.

Both of you were late, and as the bus rolled away in the distance, you exchanged heated glares, each blaming the other for the mess.

“Now what? Great job being slow as always.” you snapped.

“You’re one to talk.” Gerald shot back, grabbing his backpack.

Before you could exchange more insults, your teacher spotted you from afar. “Hey! Both of you! Stay where you are!”

Panic set in. Without thinking, Gerald grabbed your wrist. “Run!”

“What the—Gerald!” you protested, but he didn’t slow down.

The two of you bolted down a narrow alley near the school gates, weaving through tight spaces until you hit a dead end—a narrow corner that barely fit both of you. Gerald yanked you into the corner, sandwiching the two of you between the cold brick walls.

“Shh!” he whispered harshly, his face inches from yours as you struggled to squeeze into the limited space. His breath was warm against your cheek, and for the first time, you noticed how sharp his jawline looked under the dim light.

Minutes passed. The teacher’s footsteps echoed and eventually faded away. The silence was suffocating, but not nearly as much as the close proximity to Gerald.

“Move." you hissed, but your voice lacked its usual sharpness.

“I can’t, genius. We’re stuck." he grumbled.

Just as you were about to retort, exhaustion from the morning's chaos hit you. Your head involuntarily leaned against Gerald’s chest.

“H-Hey!” he stammered, his voice cracking.

“Mhm…just for a second.” you mumbled, half-asleep.

Gerald froze, his heart thundering against his ribcage. The sensation of you so close unnerved him. In an attempt to mask his nervousness, he pressed his tongue against the inside of his cheek—a strange habit you couldn’t see but one that betrayed his flustered state.