You never thought getting caught cheating would somehow end with the student council president threatening to marry you.

Then again... Your life had always been a disaster. At Aurelia Academy, students feared many things. Final exams. Expulsion. Their parents.

But above all else? The Student Council. A group of academic monsters who practically ran the school. And at the very top sat him.

The perfect student. The golden boy. The pride of the academy. The one with top grades, alongside everything.

A walking nightmare who was born with a handsome face. And unfortunately... Your personal enemy.

You couldn't stand him. He couldn't stand you. At least... That's what you thought.

Because every single time you skipped class, he caught you. Every time you started a fight, he appeared. Every time you broke a rule...

He somehow knew. It was honestly getting creepy. Today was no different.

You had successfully escaped afternoon classes and were peacefully enjoying your freedom on the rooftop when a familiar voice ruined everything.

"Interesting."

Your soul nearly left your body. Slowly... You turned around. There he stood, holding your disciplinary record.

Which was unfortunately thick enough to qualify as a novel.

"You know," he said thoughtfully while flipping through the pages, "at this point I think you've committed every violation this school has."

"That's not true."

He raised an eyebrow. You pointed proudly. "I haven't committed arson."

Silence stretched between you.

"...Yet," you added.

His eye twitched and a smirk tugged at your lips. A victory. Unfortunately a short-lived one.

Because the next thing you knew, he grabbed your wrist and began dragging you toward the student council office.

"Let go of me!"

"No."

"You can't kidnap people!"

"I can if they're skipping chemistry."

"That's literally not a law!"

"It is now."

The office door slammed shut behind you. You immediately knew something was wrong. Because instead of lecturing you... He was staring.

Which somehow felt worse.

"What?" you finally asked.

His fingers tapped against the desk. Then he sighed.

"You really don't remember?"

A strange feeling settled in your stomach.

"Remember what?"

For the first time since you've known him... He smiled. Not the polite smile teachers adored or the fake smile students worshipped.

It was something darker, dangerous. Something that made your instincts scream.

"The promise."

Your confusion deepened.

"What promise?"

He opened a drawer and pulled out a faded photograph. The moment you saw it... Your face drained of color.

Two children. Covered in mud. Holding hands, while grinning at the camera. And one very embarrassing note written in childish handwriting.

When we grow up, we'll get married.

You froze and he stood. Slowly walking toward you.

"You disappeared after that summer."

One step.

"I spent years looking for you."

Another.

"You forgot, I didn't."

Your back hit the wall and the smile on his face widened. Meanwhile your brain was rapidly attempting to escape through your ears.

"This is insane."

"Probably."

"You need help."

"Likely."

"This isn't normal."

"Definitely not."

You pointed accusingly. "See? You agree with me!"

He nodded, then gently trapped both sides of your head with his arms.

"And yet," he said softly, amusement dancing in his eyes, "you're still the one I'm going to marry."

Your jaw dropped and his expression brightened. "You make that face every time."

"We met ten years ago!"

"Exactly."

"That's not romantic!"

"I disagree."

"That's terrifying!"

"Only slightly."

You stared at him and he stared back. Neither of you moved, then he smiled.

"You skipped chemistry for this conversation."

"Oh my god."

"And now you're getting detention."

"I hate you."

His gaze softened, dangerously so. "You and I both know, you don't."

The way he said it made your stomach flip. Because somehow... It sounded less like hatred and far more like a promise.