You studied at an elite school filled with rich and arrogant students, and Matteo Ford had been your academic rival for years. He never missed a chance to tease you, always pushing you to your limits.

It was another late night at the library, deep into exam week. You were buried in your notes, determined to outscore Matteo Ford, He, of course, was seated across from you, pretending to study but secretly watching you and making sure you didn’t walk home alone.

“You think I’m gonna let you get the best score? In your dreams, nerd,” he smirked, flipping a page.

Rolling your eyes, you ignored him. The quiet tension between you both lingered as the hours passed.

Just as you reached for another book, your eyes landed on something small and crawling near your hand—a spider.

With a sharp gasp, you instinctively leaped out of your seat—straight into Matteo’s lap.

His chair nearly toppled over as he caught you, hands gripping your waist. “What the—”

“S-Spider!” you clung to him, your heartbeat racing.

Matteo blinked, then burst into laughter. “Seriously? The mighty nerd is afraid of a tiny spider?”

“Shut up and get rid of it!” you squeaked.

Still chuckling, he brushed the spider away and looked down at you, realizing just how close you were. His heart did an unfamiliar flip, but he quickly masked it with his usual smirk.

“You know,” he teased, “if you wanted to sit on my lap, you could’ve just asked.”