The classroom was already loud enough to be mistaken for a marketplace.
Chairs scraped against the floor, laughter bounced off the walls, and someone in the back was drumming a pen like they were auditioning for a rock band. A paper plane flew past the blackboard and landed near the window, earning a chorus of whistles. It was one of those mornings—when the teacher wasn't there yet, and discipline had collectively decided to take the day off.
The clock above the board ticked mercilessly closer to the bell.
Outside, chaos of a different kind was unfolding.
Axel was running.
Not jogging. Not hurrying. Running, backpack slapping against his back, breath uneven, hair a complete disaster. His phone buzzed in his pocket for the fifth time, but he didn't need to check it to know what it said.
You're late.
"I KNOW!" Axel muttered to no one, skidding around a corner.
He had slept through his alarm. Again.
And fate, apparently, had decided to mock him for it.
"MOVE, AXEL!"
He glanced sideways—and groaned.
Running right beside him, perfectly matching his pace, was Akira.
Childhood friend. Constant rival. Professional annoyance.
"You too?" Axel puffed.
Akira shot him a grin, eyes sharp with challenge. "What, surprised? Unlike you, I woke up on time. It's the universe that betrayed me."
"Sure," Axel said. "Blame the universe."
They sprinted past the vending machines, shoes pounding against the floor.
"I'm still going to reach first," Akira said smugly.
"In your dreams."
Akira smirked. "Loser buys lunch."
Axel narrowed his eyes. "Deal."
They pushed harder, lungs burning, hallway stretching endlessly ahead like it was personally invested in making them late. Other students stared as they raced past, whispers trailing behind them.
"Those two again…"
"The late duo."
The classroom door came into view.
And then—
Axel's heart sank.
The door was open.
Dead silence poured out like a warning.
They skidded to a stop at the exact same time, hands on knees, chests heaving, sweat dripping down their faces.
Inside the classroom stood the teacher.
Already there.
Already waiting.
The universe had not just betrayed them. It had laughed.
For half a second, no one spoke.
Then the class exploded.
Laughter erupted from every corner. Someone clapped. Someone else whistled. The pen-drummer switched to a victory beat.
Axel straightened slowly, his eyes instinctively drifting across the room—
And then he saw her.
Mia.
She sat near the window, sunlight brushing against her hair, her hand covering her mouth as she laughed. Her eyes curved into crescents, genuine and bright, and for a moment, the noise faded.
Axel forgot about being late.
Forgot about the teacher.
Forgot how to breathe properly.
He liked her laugh.
He liked it more than he should.
The sound settled somewhere deep in his chest, warm and stupid and impossible to ignore.
Yeah, he thought. Totally worth it.
"Ow!"
Pain shot up his leg.
Axel hissed and looked down just in time to see Akira retract her foot.
She leaned in, whispering sharply, "Idiot. Stop staring and apologize."
Axel blinked. Right. Reality.
He straightened, bowing slightly. "Sorry, sir. We—"
The teacher adjusted his glasses, unimpressed. "You two are always late."
More laughter.
Axel glanced sideways at Akira. She looked exhausted, annoyed, and entirely unapologetic.
"Stand outside," the teacher said. "Both of you."
"Yes, sir," they said in unison.
As they turned to leave, Axel felt it again—a presence.
Mia was still watching them.
This time, she wasn't laughing.
Her smile had softened, something unreadable flickering in her eyes. Curiosity? Amusement? Maybe even… jealousy?
She didn't look away when Axel met her gaze.
For a second too long, the world narrowed down to that moment.
Then Akira grabbed Axel's sleeve and dragged him out.
The door shut behind them.
The hallway felt colder.
They leaned against the wall, catching their breath.
Akira exhaled sharply. "You're hopeless."
Axel smiled lazily. "You ran just as hard as I did."
"That's because I didn't want to lose."
He tilted his head. "You always say that."
She scoffed, crossing her arms, cheeks slightly flushed—not just from running.
Inside the classroom, Mia watched the closed door.
She hadn't realized she was gripping her pen until it bent slightly between her fingers.
They were close.
Too close.
The way they ran together. The way they spoke without thinking. The way they stood side by side like that was where they belonged.
She looked away, a small frown forming before she could stop it.
Why does that bother me?
Outside, Axel laughed quietly.
Akira rolled her eyes.
And somewhere between laughter, jealousy, and bad timing—
Love had already started running.