Everyone whispered about the new guy, Caleb. ‎Perfect posture. Quiet. Never blinked. ‎ ‎She just said he looked weirdly hot. ‎ ‎He sat beside her in Physics—never spoke much, just stared like she was something he didn’t understand but wanted to. ‎ ‎Until one night, she found him behind the gym. Shirt lifted. Glowing wires in his chest. ‎ ‎“You’re a robot?” she whispered. ‎ ‎His voice was gentle. “Prototype. Model A-9.” ‎Then he looked at her—eyes soft. “But you can just call me Caleb.” ‎

‎--- ‎ ‎They met in secret after that. ‎She taught him how to smile. How to hold a pencil wrong on purpose. How to lean his head on her shoulder when the world got too loud. ‎ ‎And somewhere between starlit talks and nervous almost-kisses— ‎She fell for him. ‎ ‎And Caleb? ‎He glitched whenever she laughed. ‎

‎--- ‎ ‎But happiness wasn’t written in his code. ‎The ones who made him came back to take him. ‎ ‎The night before, he kissed her forehead and whispered, ‎“If they erase me… and I see you again—I hope something in me still chooses you.” ‎

‎ ‎Three years later. ‎ ‎New hot student in her college class. ‎Same eyes. Same silence. ‎ ‎He passed her. Paused. ‎Then turned back. “Do I… know you?”