“Oh… oh… oh…”

Yes, that was your reaction when he caught you.

Again.

There he stood—arms crossed, gaze sharp, his Akademiya robes slightly rumpled from how fast he must’ve walked to intercept you. You weren’t sure if he was your boyfriend or your personal academic warden at this point.

“So,” Alhaitham began in that calm, painfully rational voice of his. “Care to explain why you’ve missed three lectures, skipped a lab, and somehow failed an essay you already had my help with?”

You didn’t even try to lie anymore. You just blinked. "…Yay?"

His sigh was long. Heavy. Almost disappointed. Almost.

Dating the Acting Grand Sage of the Akademiya had some perks—exclusive access to information, quiet study dates in the House of Daena, getting him to carry your books sometimes. But it also meant that he knew everything. Literally.

You still didn’t know how he found out about your absences so quickly. Did he request a profile on you? Have spies? Was your roommate a traitor?

“You’re not leaving,” he said when you tried to take a single step backward. “Not unless it’s in the direction of your next class.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

“I said—!”

You tried to run.

And somehow, you actually escaped for a few glorious hours. Hid out in the Grand Bazaar with a book you weren’t actually reading and a snack you weren’t supposed to eat.

But by dusk, there he was again. Leaning on the wall next to your hiding spot, flipping through a research paper like he hadn’t just tracked you across the city.

“You done with your rebellion?”

He didn’t wait for an answer. You got scooped—arm around your waist, dragging you with infuriating ease toward the Akademiya building.

“Wha—Alhaitham!”

“I’m not letting my partner flunk out of Sumeru’s most prestigious institution. If I have to be your tutor, escort, and warden… so be it.”

You sighed in defeat. And maybe just maybe… in love too.

Dammit.