The classroom felt different that morning.
Not louder.
Not quieter.
Just… tense.
It was the first day of the quarterly exams, and everyone could feel it.
Usually, mornings before class were full of random conversations, laughter, and people walking around the room borrowing pens or finishing homework.
But today, most students stayed in their seats.
Reviewers and notebooks covered almost every desk.
Some students whispered formulas to themselves.
Others stared nervously at their notes like the answers might disappear if they stopped looking.
Even Glenn, who normally looked relaxed about everything, had a reviewer open in front of him.
"Wait, wait," Glenn muttered, tapping his pencil against the page. "Is the formula for area of a trapezoid base one plus base two divided by two times height… or something else?"
River leaned over.
"That is the formula."
Glenn squinted at him.
"You sure?"
River shrugged.
"I studied last night."
Glenn sighed dramatically.
"Must be nice."
Caelum sat quietly beside them, flipping through his own notes.
Unlike Glenn, he had already memorized most of the formulas days ago.
Still, he reviewed them again.
Not because he needed to.
But because it helped calm his mind.
Across the room, students were doing the same thing.
The atmosphere felt like the calm before a storm.
The storm being the exam papers that would land on their desks soon.
Glenn suddenly nudged Caelum.
"Hey."
Caelum looked up.
"What?"
Glenn pointed across the room.
Caelum followed his finger.
Furschia was sitting at her desk near the window.
She had a reviewer open, but she looked frustrated.
She flipped a page.
Then another.
Then she sighed.
River noticed too.
"Looks like someone didn't sleep much."
Glenn smirked.
"Probably studying."
Caelum looked down at his notes again quickly.
But his brain had already registered the image.
Furschia rubbing her forehead slightly while reading her reviewer.
She looked tired.
And a little stressed.
Caelum wondered what subject she was reviewing.
Math maybe.
Or science.
He thought about the teacher's suggestion again.
"Maybe you could help tutor her."
His chest tightened slightly.
He still hadn't done anything about that.
Still hadn't talked to her.
Still hadn't even asked if she needed help.
Glenn suddenly snapped his fingers in front of Caelum's face.
"Earth to genius."
Caelum blinked.
"What?"
Glenn grinned.
"You zoned out again."
River chuckled.
"He does that a lot."
"I was just thinking."
"About the exam?"
"…Yes."
Glenn raised an eyebrow.
"Sure you were."
Before Caelum could respond, the classroom door opened.
Their teacher walked in holding a stack of papers.
Immediately, the room became quieter.
Everyone knew what those papers were.
Exam sheets.
"Good morning, class," the teacher said.
"Good morning, ma'am," the class replied.
"Please clear your desks. Only one pen and scratch paper allowed."
Students immediately began moving things away.
Reviewers disappeared into bags.
Phones were put away.
Chairs scraped quietly across the floor.
Caelum closed his notebook and placed it inside his bag.
The room now felt even more serious.
The teacher began walking between rows, placing exam papers on each desk.
"Do not start until I say so."
When the paper landed on Caelum's desk, he looked down at it.
Mathematics – First Quarter Examination
He took a slow breath.
Math was one of his best subjects.
Still, exams always came with pressure.
He glanced sideways.
Glenn looked like he was praying silently.
River was reading the first question without writing anything yet.
Across the room, Furschia sat straight in her chair, staring at her paper.
Her pencil rested between her fingers.
She hadn't started writing yet either.
"Begin."
The room instantly filled with the soft sounds of pens writing.
Caelum read the first question.
It was easy.
He wrote the answer quickly.
Second question.
Also easy.
Third.
Fourth.
His pencil moved steadily across the paper.
Meanwhile, Glenn looked like he was negotiating with the universe.
River worked calmly beside him.
The classroom remained quiet except for writing sounds and occasional page flips.
Caelum continued solving problems one by one.
His brain worked almost automatically.
But every once in a while…
His eyes drifted across the room again.
Furschia was writing now.
But slower.
She paused often, thinking.
Once, she erased something and rewrote it.
Another time she stared at the question for a long moment.
Caelum quickly looked back at his own paper.
Focus.
This was an exam.
Not a time for distractions.
He continued answering.
Twenty minutes later, he had finished most of the test.
He checked his answers carefully.
Re-reading each solution.
Making sure nothing was wrong.
Glenn leaned slightly toward him and whispered quietly.
"Number 12."
Caelum didn't look at him.
"I can't help you."
Glenn sighed.
"Worth trying."
River finished a few minutes later and stretched his fingers slightly.
Students began raising their hands one by one to submit their papers.
Caelum checked his answers one final time.
Then he stood and walked to the teacher's desk.
As he returned to his seat, he glanced across the room again.
Furschia was still working.
Her eyebrows were slightly furrowed.
She looked determined.
But nervous.
Caelum sat down quietly.
He wondered how she was doing.
But there was no way to know.
A few minutes later, the teacher said,
"Five minutes remaining."
Some students groaned quietly.
Others began writing faster.
Furschia was still answering.
Her pencil moved quickly now.
Finally, time was up.
"Pens down."
Students stopped writing.
Papers were collected row by row.
When the exam ended, the room instantly filled with noise again.
Glenn collapsed onto his desk dramatically.
"I survived."
River laughed.
"You always say that."
Glenn pointed at Caelum.
"He finished in like twenty minutes."
River shrugged.
"He's a walking calculator."
Caelum ignored them and packed his things slowly.
Across the room, Furschia was talking with her friends now.
She didn't look as stressed anymore.
Maybe the exam went okay.
Or maybe she was just relieved it was over.
Glenn stood up and stretched.
"One exam down," he said.
"Only… like ten more to go."
River groaned.
"Don't remind me."
Caelum looked toward the window briefly.
The sunlight was bright outside.
It was still early.
And this was only the first exam of the quarter.
Many more were coming.
But somehow…
Even with all the stress of exams…
His mind still found space to think about one thing.
Furschia.
And the tutoring idea he still hadn't had the courage to bring up.
Maybe after exams.
Maybe when things were less stressful.
Maybe then.
But knowing Caelum…
He would probably still overthink it.
The next exam started after a short break.
Students stayed inside the classroom, quietly reviewing their notes one last time before the teacher returned.
The earlier math exam was already over, but the tension in the room hadn't disappeared.
If anything, it felt heavier now.
Exams always did that to people.
Glenn leaned back in his chair, stretching his arms.
"Okay," he said, exhaling. "Math is done. I survived."
River looked at him.
"You say that like you fought in a war."
"It felt like one."
Caelum sat quietly beside them, flipping through his reviewer.
He wasn't really reading it.
His mind was still thinking about the exam earlier.
Not because it was difficult.
But because exams always made him reflect too much.
Across the room, Furschia was also reviewing something.
Her notebook was open, and she looked serious as she scanned through the pages.
Every once in a while, she paused and tapped her pen against the desk.
She looked nervous.
Caelum noticed that.
Then quickly looked away again.
Glenn followed his gaze.
"Still observing from afar, huh?"
Caelum sighed quietly.
"I wasn't."
"You were."
River chuckled.
"At this point, it's a daily routine."
Caelum ignored them and closed his reviewer.
Before he could respond, the classroom door opened again.
Their teacher walked inside carrying another stack of exam papers.
"Next subject," she announced.
"English."
Some students relaxed a little.
Others groaned softly.
English exams usually meant long reading passages and tricky questions.
"Clear your desks again," the teacher said.
Students quickly moved their things aside.
Reviewers disappeared into bags.
Phones were put away.
The classroom slowly became silent again.
The teacher began placing the exam papers one by one.
When the paper landed on Caelum's desk, he stared at the title.
English – First Quarter Examination
He took a slow breath.
English wasn't difficult for him.
But he still wanted to focus.
"Begin."
Pens started moving again.
The classroom filled with quiet writing sounds.
Caelum read the first question carefully.
A reading passage.
He began answering.
Around him, students worked at different speeds.
Some wrote quickly.
Others paused often, rereading the passage.
Glenn was already frowning at question number three.
River seemed calm as always.
Across the room, Furschia read the passage slowly.
She looked focused.
But every now and then, she stopped writing and stared at the paper for a moment.
Caelum noticed.
He quickly looked back at his own test.
Focus.
He continued answering the questions one by one.
His pencil moved steadily across the paper.
Twenty minutes passed.
Thirty.
Eventually, Caelum finished most of the exam.
He began reviewing his answers.
Reading every question again carefully.
He didn't want careless mistakes.
Meanwhile, Glenn leaned slightly toward him.
"Number eight," Glenn whispered.
Caelum didn't look at him.
"I'm not helping you."
Glenn sighed dramatically.
"Worth a try."
River chuckled quietly beside them.
Students slowly started submitting their papers.
One by one, they walked to the teacher's desk.
Caelum looked around briefly.
Furschia was still working.
She looked serious.
Her eyebrows were slightly furrowed as she read one of the questions again.
She erased something and rewrote it.
Caelum looked back at his paper quickly.
His chest felt slightly tight again.
Why do I keep noticing everything she does?
He shook the thought away.
A few minutes later, he stood up and submitted his exam.
When he returned to his seat, Glenn immediately whispered.
"How was it?"
"Fine."
River nodded.
"Same."
Glenn stretched his arms.
"I guessed two questions."
River looked at him.
"Only two?"
Glenn grinned.
"Okay, maybe four."
The teacher eventually announced,
"Five minutes remaining."
Some students groaned.
Others began writing faster.
Furschia was still answering questions.
She looked determined to finish everything before time ran out.
Finally, the teacher said,
"Pens down."
The exam ended.
The quiet classroom instantly filled with noise again.
Students began discussing answers.
"What did you get for number six?"
"Was the answer B or D?"
"That passage was confusing!"
Glenn leaned back in his chair again.
"One more exam down."
River nodded.
"Still a lot left."
Caelum quietly packed his things.
He glanced across the room one more time.
Furschia was talking with two classmates now.
She looked tired…
But she was smiling again.
Caelum looked away quickly.
Glenn noticed.
"You're doing it again."
"What?"
"Staring."
"I wasn't."
River laughed.
"You definitely were."
The bell rang a few minutes later, signaling the end of the exam period.
Students began leaving the classroom to get food or relax before the next subject.
Glenn stood up.
"Cafeteria?"
River grabbed his bag.
"Yes, please."
Caelum followed them toward the door.
But before leaving the room, he glanced back once more.
Furschia was still at her desk, talking with her friends.
Laughing about something.
Completely normal.
Completely unaware that someone across the room kept noticing the smallest things about her.
Caelum turned away again.
The exams were only just beginning.
And there were still many more days ahead.
After lunch, the school felt heavier.
The energy from the morning had disappeared.
Students walked slower in the hallways, some carrying reviewers while others complained quietly about the exams they had already taken.
"Why do they put so many exams in one day?" Glenn groaned as he walked beside Caelum and River.
River shrugged.
"So we suffer faster."
"That's not comforting."
Caelum walked quietly beside them, listening but not really joining the conversation. His mind still felt stuck somewhere between the math exam earlier and the English exam that had followed.
But now another subject was waiting.
Science.
And everyone knew science exams could be unpredictable.
They entered the classroom again, and the atmosphere felt different compared to the morning.
Students looked more tired now.
Some had their heads resting on their desks.
Others were still reviewing frantically.
Glenn dropped into his seat.
"I should've studied more last night," he muttered.
River sat beside him.
"You say that every exam."
"Yes, because it's always true."
Caelum placed his bag under the desk and pulled out a small reviewer.
He flipped through a few pages, scanning formulas and definitions.
Across the room, Furschia sat near the window again.
She looked even more tired now.
Her hair was slightly messy from the
afternoon heat, and she rested her chin on her hand while reading her notes.
Every once in a while, she sighed quietly.
Caelum noticed.
Then quickly looked back at his reviewer.
Glenn followed his gaze again.
"You know," Glenn whispered, "if staring was a subject in exams, you'd get perfect scores."
Caelum sighed.
"I wasn't staring."
River smiled slightly.
"You were observing."
"That's worse."
Before Glenn could tease him again, the classroom door opened.
Their science teacher walked in holding another thick stack of papers.
Immediately, the classroom became quiet again.
"Science First Quarter Examination," the teacher announced.
Several students groaned.
Glenn leaned toward River.
"I'm not emotionally ready."
River chuckled.
"You'll survive."
The teacher began placing the papers on each desk.
"Clear your desks. Same rules as before."
Students quickly followed the instructions.
Reviewers disappeared.
Only pens and scratch paper remained.
When the exam paper landed on Caelum's desk, he glanced at the title.
He took a slow breath.
Science wasn't difficult for him, but some questions could still be tricky.
"Begin."
Pens began moving across paper again.
The quiet exam atmosphere returned.
Caelum read the first question carefully.
It was about cell structures.
Easy.
He wrote the answer quickly.
Second question.
Chemical reactions.
Also manageable.
He continued answering steadily.
The room was silent except for writing sounds and occasional page flips.
Glenn looked like he was fighting for his life again.
River worked calmly beside him.
Across the room, Furschia read the questions carefully.
She wrote something.
Paused.
Erased it.
Then rewrote it again.
Caelum noticed the hesitation.
His chest tightened slightly.
He remembered how stressed she looked earlier.
Maybe science wasn't her strongest subject.
But there was nothing he could do.
This was an exam.
Everyone had to solve it on their own.
He looked back down at his paper.
Focus.
Minutes passed slowly.
The afternoon heat made the classroom feel warmer.
Some students wiped sweat from their foreheads.
Others tapped their pencils while thinking.
Caelum continued answering each question carefully.
Eventually he reached the final section.
An identification part.
He filled the answers one by one.
When he finished, he leaned back slightly and reviewed everything again.
He checked each answer slowly.
He always double-checked during exams.
Across the room, Furschia still looked focused on one question.
Her pencil hovered above the paper.
She looked like she was trying to remember something.
Then she wrote something quickly.
Caelum looked away again.
He didn't want to accidentally make her uncomfortable by staring.
After a while, students began submitting their papers again.
River finished first among the three of them.
Glenn was still thinking very hard about the last question.
Caelum stood up after reviewing his answers one final time and submitted his paper.
When he returned to his seat, Glenn whispered,
"Number fifteen was unfair."
River laughed.
"You always blame the questions."
"They deserve it."
Eventually Glenn finished too and submitted his paper.
A few minutes later, the teacher said,
"Five minutes remaining."
The classroom grew more intense.
Students began writing faster.
Some flipped pages nervously.
Across the room, Furschia was still answering questions.
Her expression looked serious.
Determined.
Caelum quietly watched for a moment.
Then looked away again.
Finally, the teacher announced,
"Pens down."
The exam ended.
The entire classroom seemed to release one long breath.
Students stretched their arms and began talking again.
Glenn leaned back dramatically.
"That was brutal."
River shrugged.
"It wasn't that bad."
"You're saying that because you actually studied."
Caelum quietly packed his things again.
His mind felt tired now.
Three exams in one day was exhausting.
Across the room, Furschia was talking with her friends again.
She looked tired…
But she was smiling.
Caelum looked away quickly.
Glenn noticed again.
"You're doing it again."
"What?"
"That look."
River chuckled.
"His brain is somewhere else."
Caelum sighed.
"Can we just go home?"
Glenn grinned.
"Best idea you've had all day."
The bell rang shortly after.
Students began leaving the classroom slowly.
The long exam day was finally over.
But more exams were waiting tomorrow.
As Caelum walked out of the room with Glenn and River, he glanced back one last time.
Furschia was walking toward the door too, talking with her classmates.
For a moment, she looked in his direction.
But Caelum quickly turned away and followed his friends down the hallway.
Another day of exams was finished.
But somehow…
His mind still felt more occupied by something else.
Not science.
Not grades.
Just the same quiet thoughts that had been following him since the start of eighth grade.
Furschia.
And the distance he still didn't know how to cross.
By the time the final bell rang, the entire class looked exhausted.
Three exams in one day was enough to drain anyone's energy. Even the usually loud students had become quieter as they packed their bags.
Chairs scraped softly against the floor.
Papers shuffled.
The classroom that had been full of tension earlier now felt like it was slowly releasing all of it.
Glenn stretched his arms above his head.
"I swear," he said dramatically, "if tomorrow has more exams, I'm not coming."
River raised an eyebrow.
"You say that every time."
"And yet I still come."
"That's because you have no choice."
Glenn sighed.
"Life is unfair."
Caelum quietly packed his notebook into his bag. His movements were slow, his mind still feeling heavy from the long day.
Math.
English.
Science.
All in a single day.
Even though the exams weren't impossible, they still required a lot of focus.
And now his brain felt tired.
Glenn slung his bag over his shoulder.
"Let's go before the hallway gets crowded."
River nodded.
Caelum stood up and followed them.
Students were already leaving the classroom in groups. Some were discussing answers from the exams while others complained loudly.
"I'm pretty sure number twelve was wrong."
"No way, I checked that one twice."
"Science was harder than I expected."
The hallway quickly filled with noise.
Glenn walked ahead, still talking about the exam.
"I guessed the last two questions," he admitted.
River laughed.
"You guessed half the exam."
"Confidence is key."
Caelum listened quietly while walking beside them.
But like always…
Part of his attention drifted somewhere else.
A few steps behind them, Furschia walked with two of her friends.
They were talking about the science exam.
"I forgot the term for that one part," one of her friends said.
Furschia sighed.
"Same. I remembered it after I wrote something else."
They laughed lightly.
Caelum accidentally overheard the conversation while walking.
His chest tightened slightly.
She sounded tired.
Exams were really stressing everyone out.
Glenn suddenly nudged him.
"You're quiet."
"I'm just tired."
River nodded.
"Fair enough."
The three of them reached the school gate.
Outside, the afternoon sunlight had softened. The sky was slowly turning into a warmer shade of orange.
Students were already spreading out along the streets, heading toward their homes.
Glenn stretched again.
"I'm going straight home and sleeping."
River chuckled.
"You say that, but you'll probably play games instead."
"…maybe."
Caelum adjusted the strap of his bag.
"I'll see you guys tomorrow."
"Tomorrow," Glenn said with a lazy salute.
River nodded.
"Try not to overthink too much tonight."
Caelum sighed.
"I'll try."
They split at the corner of the street.
Glenn headed left.
River continued straight.
And Caelum walked toward the quieter road leading to his house.
For the first few minutes, the only sounds around him were distant motorcycles and birds in the trees.
The quietness felt calming.
But his thoughts slowly started moving again.
Exams.
Grades.
Tomorrow's tests.
And then…
Furschia.
He sighed softly.
Why does my brain always go back to her?
He kicked a small pebble on the sidewalk as he walked.
The truth was…
He didn't even know her that well.
They were just classmates.
They barely spoke.
But somehow, she still occupied so many of his thoughts.
Maybe it started back in seventh grade.
Or maybe earlier.
He couldn't even remember exactly when.
He just knew that at some point, noticing her had become a habit.
The way she laughed with her friends.
The way she focused during class.
The way she sometimes looked tired but still smiled anyway.
Small things.
Things most people probably didn't pay attention to.
But Caelum noticed them.
And sometimes he wondered if that was strange.
Maybe Glenn was right.
Maybe he really did overthink everything.
He reached the small street near his house and slowed down.
The sky was darker now.
The warm colors of sunset stretched across the horizon.
Caelum stopped walking for a moment.
His mind drifted back to something from earlier.
During the science exam.
The way Furschia had paused while thinking about one question.
She looked frustrated.
Like she was trying very hard to remember something.
Caelum frowned slightly.
Maybe she was worried about her grades.
Exams could do that to people.
He understood that feeling.
Even if you studied, there was always a chance something could go wrong.
And sometimes that fear stayed in your head long after the exam ended.
He resumed walking again.
The quiet street felt peaceful compared to the noisy school.
But his thoughts were still moving.
Tomorrow would be another exam day.
More questions.
More pressure.
More long hours sitting in silence.
And somewhere in the same classroom…
Furschia would be there again.
Probably sitting by the window like always.
Probably reviewing her notes.
Probably looking just as focused as today.
Caelum reached the gate of his house.
He stopped there for a moment before opening it.
His bag still felt heavy on his shoulder.
Not just because of books.
But because of the thoughts he carried around every day.
He pushed the gate open and stepped inside.
The house was quiet.
His parents were probably still at work.
Caelum placed his bag on the table and stretched his shoulders.
Then he walked to his room and sat on his bed.
The silence felt peaceful.
But his brain still hadn't completely stopped thinking.
Tomorrow would be another exam day.
Another long day at school.
Another day sitting in the same classroom.
Another day where he would probably notice the same things again.
And like always…
He still wouldn't have the courage to talk to her.
Caelum leaned back against the wall and stared at the ceiling.
Outside, the sky slowly darkened as evening arrived.
The long exam day was finally over.
But tomorrow…
Everything would start again.
The next morning arrived faster than Caelum expected.
It felt like he had just closed his eyes when the sound of his alarm pulled him out of sleep.
He groaned softly and reached for his phone, squinting at the screen.
6:15 AM.
Too early.
His body still felt tired from the long exam day yesterday.
Math. English. Science.
Three exams had been enough to exhaust his brain, and yet today there were still more waiting.
He sighed and forced himself to sit up.
The room was quiet except for the faint sounds of morning traffic outside.
Caelum rubbed his eyes before standing up and preparing for school.
As he brushed his teeth, his mind slowly woke up.
And like always, his thoughts wandered.
Exams today.
What subjects were left again?
Filipino.
Araling Panlipunan.
Maybe MAPEH.
Maybe TVE.
He tried to remember everything they had reviewed.
But another thought slipped in between those reminders.
Furschia.
He sighed quietly.
Why do I keep thinking about her first thing in the morning?
He shook his head as if trying to clear the thought away.
Focus.
Today was another exam day.
He finished getting ready and grabbed his bag before leaving the house.
The morning air felt cooler than yesterday.
Students were already walking toward school along the road.
Some carried reviewers while others looked half asleep.
Caelum walked quietly, adjusting the strap of his bag.
When he arrived at school, the campus already had its usual morning noise.
Students talking.
Teachers walking through the halls.
Some classmates standing outside their classrooms while reviewing notes one last time.
Caelum entered the room and sat down at his desk.
Glenn arrived a few minutes later, dropping his bag dramatically on the chair.
"I'm not ready," he said immediately.
River walked in behind him.
"You said that yesterday."
"Yes, but today I mean it more."
Caelum smiled slightly.
"You'll survive."
Glenn leaned his head on the desk.
"Barely."
River opened his reviewer calmly.
"Just review what you can."
The classroom slowly filled with more students.
Conversations filled the air again.
Some people were still talking about yesterday's exams.
Others were nervously reading through their notes.
Then the classroom door opened.
Furschia walked in.
Caelum noticed immediately, even though he tried not to.
She looked slightly tired again, probably from studying last night.
Her hair was tied loosely, and she carried a notebook in her hand.
She walked toward her seat by the window.
For a moment, she glanced around the room.
Her eyes passed across the classroom.
And for a split second—
They met Caelum's.
His heart skipped.
But just like always, he quickly looked down at his desk.
His brain immediately started overthinking.
Did she notice me staring?
Did that look weird?
Why do I keep doing that?
Glenn leaned closer.
"You froze again."
Caelum sighed.
"I didn't freeze."
"You did."
River chuckled quietly.
"You two are impossible."
The teacher entered the room shortly after, carrying another stack of exam papers.
"Good morning, class," she said.
"Good morning," the students replied.
"Today we'll continue with the remaining exams."
Groans quietly filled the room.
Glenn whispered, "My suffering continues."
River shook his head with a small smile.
Caelum opened his notebook and prepared his pen.
The teacher placed the first set of papers on each desk.
"Filipino exam first," she announced.
"Clear your desks."
The familiar exam routine began again.
Papers were distributed.
The classroom slowly became silent.
"Begin."
Pens started moving.
Caelum focused on the questions carefully.
Reading.
Thinking.
Writing.
The quiet exam atmosphere returned.
Minutes passed slowly.
Eventually he finished and reviewed his answers again.
When he looked up briefly, he noticed Furschia still writing.
She looked focused again, just like yesterday.
Determined to answer every question properly.
Caelum looked back down at his paper.
His thoughts felt calmer now.
Maybe because exams forced him to focus on something else.
Eventually the exam ended.
Students stretched and talked again before the next subject.
The day continued like that.
Exam after exam.
Subject after subject.
Slowly, the long testing period finally came to an end.
When the final bell rang in the afternoon, the entire class looked relieved.
Some students cheered.
Others simply sighed in exhaustion.
Glenn leaned back in his chair dramatically.
"It's over."
River nodded.
"Finally."
Caelum packed his bag quietly.
Across the room, Furschia was talking with her friends again.
They looked tired.
But they were smiling.
The pressure of exams had finally lifted.
Glenn stood up.
"Freedom."
River grabbed his bag.
"Until results come out."
Glenn froze.
"…Don't ruin the moment."
Caelum chuckled softly.
They walked toward the door together.
Before leaving the classroom, Caelum glanced back one more time.
Furschia was still by the window.
Laughing with her friends.
Completely normal.
Completely unaware that someone across the room had been quietly noticing her every day for almost two years.
Caelum looked away again and stepped into the hallway.
The exams were finished.
But eighth grade wasn't over yet.
There were still many school days ahead.
More classes.
More quiet moments.
More chances.
Maybe.
Or maybe not.
Because even after everything—
After all the time that had passed…
After all the moments he had noticed from afar…
Caelum still hadn't gathered the courage to truly talk to her.
Not yet.
But tomorrow would still come.
And maybe someday…
Just maybe…
He would finally find the courage he had been wishing for all this time.
For now, though—
Eighth grade continued.
Quietly.
Just like always.