The classroom was already in chaos.
Students were talking over each other, whispering, laughing, and staring at the new transfer student like she had just said the strangest thing imaginable.
"Did she seriously say she came here to learn about love?"
"What kind of introduction is that?!"
"Is that even a reason to transfer schools?"
At the front of the room, Amoriel stood calmly.
Completely unfazed.
Meanwhile, Caelum slowly lowered his head onto his desk.
"...This is exactly what I was afraid of."
Someone tapped his shoulder.
He didn't move.
"Caelum."
"...What."
"Why is the transfer student looking at you?"
He froze.
Very slowly, he lifted his head.
At the front of the classroom, Amoriel was indeed looking directly at him.
With the same small, innocent smile.
Caelum stared at her for a moment.
Then he quietly dropped his head back onto the desk again.
"...I'm already tired."
The whispers around the room only grew louder.
"They definitely know each other."
"No way that's coincidence."
"Caelum, explain!"
Before the interrogation could continue—
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
The teacher knocked on his desk.
"Enough."
The classroom gradually quieted.
He adjusted his glasses and looked toward Amoriel.
"Thank you for the... unique introduction."
A few students snorted.
He cleared his throat.
"There is an empty seat available."
He glanced around the classroom for a moment.
Then pointed.
"Next to Caelum."
The reaction was immediate.
"WHAT?!"
"No way!"
"That lucky—"
"Quiet," the teacher said flatly.
Amoriel walked down the aisle as students stared openly.
Some looked amazed.
Some looked jealous.
One boy looked like he was reconsidering all of his life choices.
She stopped beside Caelum's desk.
He still had his head down.
"Caelum."
He groaned quietly.
"Please pretend you don't know me."
"I cannot do that."
She pulled out the chair and sat beside him.
Several students leaned forward immediately.
One girl whispered loudly,
"They know each other."
Another whispered back,
"I knew it!"
Caelum slowly sat up again and rubbed his forehead.
"This is already a disaster."
Amoriel placed her bag neatly beside her desk.
Then she leaned slightly toward him.
"Caelum."
"What."
"I have a question."
"Of course you do."
She pointed subtly toward the front of the classroom.
A girl near the window was laughing while talking to a boy beside her.
"Why is that girl touching his arm?"
Caelum glanced over briefly.
"They're probably flirting."
"Flirting," Amoriel repeated thoughtfully.
"So physical contact is a method of signaling romantic interest."
He closed his eyes.
"You did not learn that from me."
"I am observing."
"Please stop observing out loud."
She nodded once.
Understood.
For almost thirty seconds, everything remained quiet.
The teacher began writing something on the board.
Pens started moving.
Students opened notebooks.
It almost felt like a normal class.
Then—
"Caelum."
He didn't look at her.
"What."
"What is heartbreak?"
His pencil snapped.
A few nearby students immediately turned toward them.
One boy whispered,
"Did she say heartbreak?"
Caelum kept his voice low.
"Why are you asking me that right now?"
"Because I am learning."
"This is math class."
"Love exists during math."
He stared at her.
She stared back with perfect seriousness.
"...I hate how that sentence makes sense."
She seemed pleased.
"Thank you."
He sighed and grabbed another pencil.
"Heartbreak is what happens when love goes wrong."
"That sounds inefficient."
"Yes. That's the point."
She considered that carefully.
Then she looked around the classroom again.
"So love includes risk."
"Yes."
"And emotional pain."
"Yes."
"And embarrassment."
"Definitely yes."
Amoriel nodded slowly.
"I see."
He glanced at her.
"You really are taking this seriously."
"I told you," she said calmly. "I want to understand it."
Her voice was quiet this time.
Not curious.
Not analytical.
Just sincere.
For a moment, Caelum didn't know what to say.
Then the teacher's voice cut through the room.
"Caelum."
He flinched.
"Yes, sir?"
"Would you like to share the conversation you're having with the class?"
The entire room immediately looked at him.
Even Amoriel turned slightly.
Caelum stared at his desk.
"...No, sir."
"Then perhaps you would like to pay attention."
"Yes, sir."
The teacher nodded once and continued the lesson.
Caelum leaned back in his chair and exhaled slowly.
Beside him, Amoriel seemed perfectly calm.
After a moment, she spoke again—much quieter this time.
"Caelum."
He groaned.
"What now."
"I have learned something important."
"I'm afraid to ask."
She looked at him with thoughtful eyes.
"If I truly want to understand love…"
He already didn't like where this was going.
"I should experience it."
He slowly turned his head toward her.
"...Experience it how?"
She spoke as if stating the most logical conclusion in the world.
"I will need a partner."
He blinked once.
Twice.
Then he pointed at himself.
"...Why are you looking at me?"
"Because you are my teacher."
"That is not how teaching works."
"You are also convenient."
"I feel insulted."
She leaned a little closer.
Her golden eyes met his.
"Caelum."
He felt a very bad feeling creeping up his spine.
"...Yes?"
Her voice was calm.
Gentle.
Completely serious.
"Will you pretend to be my boyfriend?"
The pencil slipped from his hand and rolled off the desk.
The boy sitting behind them nearly choked.
And across the classroom, half the students had already started staring again.
Caelum closed his eyes.
"...I died yesterday."
No one responded.
He sighed.
"And somehow today is worse."