The walk home felt longer than usual.
Caelum kept his hands in his pockets as he walked along the quiet street leading to his house. The late afternoon sun painted the sky in soft orange colors, and the breeze carried the faint smell of food from nearby houses where families were starting to prepare dinner.
Normally, Caelum liked this part of the day.
Walking home after school always helped him clear his mind. Sometimes Glenn and River would walk with him for a while before splitting off toward their own streets.
Sometimes they joked around or talked about school projects or games they wanted to play later.
But today was different.
Today, Glenn and River had left him with one final sentence before turning down their street.
"You almost did it," Glenn had said.
River had nodded.
"You were literally two steps away."
Caelum hadn't known how to respond.
Because they were right.
Two steps.
That was all it would have taken.
Two steps and a few words.
Happy birthday.
That was it.
Yet somehow it had felt impossible.
Now he was alone with his thoughts.
And those thoughts were not kind.
"You're such a coward," Caelum muttered quietly to himself as he kicked a small pebble along the road
.
The pebble rolled forward before stopping near the sidewalk.
He kicked it again.
"You had the gift in your hand," he continued, his voice barely above a whisper.
The memory replayed in his mind.
Furschia walking toward the door.
Her friends laughing beside her.
The moment when Caelum had taken the gift out of his bag.
The moment he could have said something.
And then—
He backed out.
Just like that.
Caelum sighed and rubbed the back of his neck.
"What did you think was going to happen?" he mumbled.
Did he think Furschia would suddenly smile and thank him?
Did he think they would magically start talking after that?
Did he think she would even accept it?
He stopped walking for a moment and looked down at his bag.
The gift was still inside.
Untouched.
Hidden.
Just like his feelings.
The thought made his chest feel heavy again.
Eventually he reached his house.
The small gate creaked slightly as he pushed it open. His home looked the same as always—simple, quiet, and familiar.
The lights inside were already on.
His mom must have been cooking dinner.
Caelum stepped inside and slipped off his shoes.
"I'm home," he called.
"In the kitchen!" his mother replied.
Caelum walked toward the kitchen slowly.
His mom stood near the stove, stirring something in a pot while soft music played from her phone nearby.
"You're late today," she said casually without turning around.
"Stayed after class for a bit," Caelum replied.
It wasn't exactly a lie.
He had stayed behind.
Just not for the reason she probably imagined.
His mom glanced at him briefly.
"You look tired."
"I'm fine."
She studied him for a moment longer but didn't push the subject.
"Wash your hands. Dinner will be ready soon."
Caelum nodded and headed toward the sink.
The simple routine of washing his hands felt strangely calming.
Water.
Soap.
Dry hands.
Normal things.
Things that didn't involve overthinking every single word he said.
Afterward, he quietly slipped into his room.
His bag slid off his shoulder and landed softly on the chair beside his desk.
For a moment, he just stood there staring at it.
He already knew what was inside.
But somehow it still felt strange.
Slowly, he unzipped the front pocket.
The small blue box appeared again.
Caelum carefully picked it up.
The ribbon was still neat.
Nothing had changed.
Except the day had already passed.
"Happy birthday…" Caelum whispered quietly.
The words sounded empty now.
Too late.
He sat down on the edge of his bed and opened the box.
The silver bracelet glinted softly under the light.
The tiny star charm swung slightly as he tilted the box.
It looked exactly the way it had when he bought it.
Perfect.
Too perfect.
Too good for something that would probably stay hidden forever.
Caelum sighed and closed the box again.
He placed it gently on his desk.
His eyes drifted toward his camera.
Without thinking, he picked it up and turned it on.
The screen lit up.
Photo after photo appeared.
School activities.
Group work.
Random moments from class.
And occasionally—
Furschia.
Smiling.
Talking.
Laughing with her friends.
Caelum paused on one particular photo.
It was taken during a science activity earlier that week.
Students were gathered around a table while working on a project.
Furschia stood near the middle of the group, holding a piece of paper while explaining something.
She looked happy.
Confident.
Comfortable.
The kind of comfortable Caelum wished he could feel around her.
Instead, he couldn't even say two simple words.
Happy birthday.
Caelum leaned back against the wall beside his bed.
The camera rested loosely in his hands.
"What's wrong with me…" he murmured quietly.
His mind drifted again
Back to the moment in the hallway.
Back to the moment he turned away.
The worst part wasn't just that he failed.
The worst part was knowing he almost succeeded.
Almost.
That word echoed in his thoughts.
Almost brave.
Almost confident.
Almost enough.
But not quite.
He looked at the photo of Furschia again.
For a moment, he imagined something different.
Walking up to her.
Saying happy birthday.
Handing her the gift.
Maybe she would smile.
Maybe she would say thank you.
Maybe she would ask why he gave it to her.
Maybe they would talk.
Maybe—
Caelum shook his head.
"Stop," he muttered.
Imagining things like that only made it worse.
Reality was simple.
He had the chance.
And he lost it.
The house outside his room remained quiet.
His mom was still in the kitchen.
The smell of dinner slowly filled the air.
But Caelum stayed where he was, staring at the bracelet on his desk.
The small star charm reflected the light again.
Almost like it was mocking him.
Eventually, Caelum leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees.
Tomorrow.
Tomorrow was another school day.
Another chance to see Furschia.
Another chance to say something.
But the thought immediately filled him with doubt.
Even if he wanted to talk to her…
What would he even say?
Hi.
Happy late birthday.
Also, here's a gift from someone you barely know.
Caelum groaned and covered his face with both hands.
"She's going to think you're weird," he whispered to himself.
Or worse.
She might think he was a loser.
A quiet, awkward guy who randomly gave gifts to girls he never talked to.
The thought made his stomach twist.
Caelum leaned back against the wall again.
The room felt smaller somehow.
Quieter.
And the feeling in his chest grew heavier.
Because the truth was simple.
He wanted to talk to her.
More than anything.
But wanting something…
And having the courage to do it…
Were two very different things.
Going Home
Caelum kept his hands inside his pockets as he slowly walked down the familiar road from school. The afternoon sun was beginning to sink, painting the sky with soft shades of orange and pink, but he barely noticed it. His mind was somewhere else.
He replayed the moment again.
And again.
And again.
The small gift box in his bag felt heavier than it should have. It was still there, unopened, ungiven, unseen.
He had planned everything.
Or at least… he thought he did.
This morning, before school started, Caelum had carefully placed the small gift inside his bag. He had wrapped it neatly the night before, taking almost an hour to make sure the tape didn't show and the ribbon looked straight. It wasn't anything expensive—just a small keychain with a tiny flower charm attached to it.
The flower reminded him of Furschia.
Bright.
Gentle.
Quietly beautiful.
He imagined giving it to her after class.
Maybe when everyone else had already left. Maybe near the gate. Maybe he would say something simple like:
"Hey… I saw this and thought of you."
That sounded normal enough, right?
Not too weird.
Not too obvious.
Just enough.
But when the moment actually came…
Everything inside his chest froze.
He saw her laughing with her friends near the hallway. The sound of their voices echoed softly through the corridor. She looked happy, carefree, like the kind of person who belonged in bright places.
And Caelum?
He stayed where he was.
Standing there.
Watching.
Holding onto the strap of his bag like it was the only thing keeping him from falling apart.
His feet refused to move.
His heart started pounding louder the longer he stood there.
What if she thinks it's weird?
What if she asks why I'm giving her a gift?
What if her friends laugh?
What if she tells everyone?
What if she thinks I'm a loser?
The thoughts came faster and louder until they drowned everything else out.
So he did the only thing he could think of.
He walked away.
And now he was here.
Walking home with the same unopened gift.
When Caelum finally reached his house, the sky had turned darker.
Their small home stood quietly at the end of the street, the porch light already on. The familiar creak of the gate greeted him as he pushed it open.
Inside, the smell of dinner drifted from the kitchen.
"Caelum? You're home already?" his mother called out.
"Yeah," he replied softly.
He slipped off his shoes near the door and headed straight to his room.
His room was small but comfortable. A desk by the window, a bookshelf filled with school notebooks, and his bed tucked neatly into the corner. The late afternoon light slipped through the curtains, casting soft shadows across the floor.
He dropped his bag on the chair.
Then he sat on the edge of his bed.
For a moment, he just stared at the floor.
Slowly, he reached into his bag.
The small gift box came out, still perfectly wrapped.
He turned it over in his hands.
The ribbon looked a little crumpled now.
Just like his confidence earlier.
Caelum sighed and leaned back against the wall.
"You're such a coward," he muttered to himself.
The word echoed in his head.
Coward.
It wasn't the first time he had called himself that.
He had always been like this.
Quiet.
Careful.
Afraid of saying the wrong thing.
Afraid of standing out.
Afraid of being laughed at.
And Furschia…
She was the complete opposite of that fear.
She didn't even try to be noticed, yet people naturally liked her. She spoke gently, smiled easily, and somehow made the classroom feel lighter when she was around.
Caelum first noticed her at the start of the school year.
Not because she was loud.
Not because she was the most popular.
But because she was kind.
He remembered the day clearly.
A new student had accidentally dropped their books in the hallway. While everyone else just walked past, Furschia stopped and helped pick them up. She didn't make a big deal about it either.
She just helped.
Then smiled.
Then walked away.
That moment stuck with him.
Since then, he started noticing the little things.
The way she tucked her hair behind her ear when she concentrated.
The way she tilted her head slightly when listening to someone.
The quiet laugh she made when something amused her.
None of it was extraordinary.
But to Caelum, it was.
And now here he was.
Sitting in his room.
Still too scared to even give her a small gift.
He groaned and covered his face with his hands.
"Why am I like this?"
A knock suddenly came from his door.
"Caelum?"
It was his younger sister.
He sat up quickly. "Yeah?"
"Mom said dinner is ready."
"I'll come in a minute."
"Okay."
Her footsteps faded down the hallway.
Caelum looked down at the gift again.
Maybe tomorrow.
Tomorrow he would do it.
Yes.
Tomorrow would be different.
Tomorrow he would finally talk to her.
Maybe he could start simple.
Maybe ask for her number.
His stomach twisted just thinking about it.
How do people even ask for someone's number normally?
"Hey, can I have your number?"
No.
Too direct.
Too weird.
Maybe something like—
"Do you have the homework answers? Can I message you?"
That sounded slightly less awkward.
But then another thought appeared.
What if she says no?
His chest tightened again.
Why was everything so complicated?
Other guys in class seemed to talk to girls easily. Glenn, for example, could start a conversation with almost anyone without hesitation.
River wasn't as loud as Glenn, but even he could speak confidently when needed.
Caelum?
He struggled to even say "hi" without overthinking it.
He lay back on the bed again, staring at the ceiling.
The fan above him slowly spun in circles.
Round and round.
Just like his thoughts.
Dinner that night felt unusually quiet for him.
His mother chatted casually about groceries and school announcements while his sister talked about a class project.
Caelum mostly nodded and gave short answers.
"How was school today?" his mother asked.
"Normal."
"You finished your homework?"
"I will later."
His mother gave him a suspicious look.
"You seem distracted."
"I'm fine."
She didn't push further, but Caelum could tell she didn't completely believe him.
After dinner, he returned to his room again.
The gift was still sitting on his desk.
He stared at it for a long time.
Then he picked up his phone.
He opened the class group chat.
Messages from classmates filled the screen.
Memes.
Homework reminders.
Random jokes from Glenn.
Caelum scrolled quietly.
Then he saw a message.
River:
"Anyone know the math assignment?"
Caelum typed slowly.
Caelum:
"Page 87. Numbers 1–10."
A few seconds later:
River:
"Thanks."
Then another message appeared.
Glenn:
"BRO SAVE ME I FORGOT ABOUT THAT"
Caelum chuckled quietly.
Glenn never changed.
Even through messages, his energy somehow filled the room.
Caelum hesitated for a moment.
Then he typed again.
Caelum:
"You guys done already?"
River replied first.
River:
"Almost."
Glenn sent:
Glenn:
"Nope I'm suffering."
Caelum smiled slightly.
For a few minutes, they talked about homework and random school stuff.
Then Glenn suddenly sent another message.
Glenn:
"Yo Caelum, why were you standing in the hallway earlier like a statue?"
Caelum froze.
His fingers hovered above the screen.
River added:
River:
"Yeah I saw that too."
Great.
They noticed.
Of course they did.
Glenn continued.
Glenn:
"You looked like you were about to confess or something."
Caelum nearly dropped his phone.
His face burned instantly.
He typed quickly.
Caelum:
"I wasn't."
Three dots appeared.
Then Glenn replied:
"Sureeeee."
River sent a simple message.
"Was it about Furschia?"
Caelum stared at the screen in complete shock.
His brain stopped working.
How did they know?
He didn't even say anything!
After a full minute of silence, Glenn sent another message.
Glenn:
"BRO IT IS HER"
Glenn:
"I KNEW IT"
Caelum buried his face into his pillow.
He wanted to disappear.
Eventually, he typed:
"Maybe."
Glenn immediately exploded.
Glenn:
"HAHAHAHAHA FINALLY"
Glenn:
"OUR BOY HAS A CRUSH"
River sent a calmer response.
"So what happened?"
Caelum stared at the gift on his desk.
Then he typed slowly.
Caelum:
"I was going to give her something."
Glenn:
"AND???"
Caelum:
"I didn't."
Three seconds passed.
Then Glenn sent:
"YOU CHICKENED OUT???"
Caelum sighed.
Caelum:
"Yes."
Glenn responded instant:
"BROOOOOOO"
River sent a laughing emoji.
But then River followed up with:
"Just do it tomorrow."
Caelum stared at the message.
Just do it tomorrow.
It sounded so simple.
Too simple.
But maybe… it really was that simple.
Maybe the only thing stopping him…
was himself.
He placed the phone down and looked at the gift again.
Tomorrow.
He would try again.
Even if his heart tried to escape his chest.
Even if his legs turned into jelly.
Even if his voice cracked.
He would try.
Because the thought of never trying at all…
felt worse.
Caelum turned off the lights and lay down in bed.
The room fell quiet.
Outside, the soft sound of crickets filled the night.
But inside his chest, his heart still beat with nervous excitement.
Tomorrow.
Maybe tomorrow he would finally gather the courage.
Maybe tomorrow he would finally say something.
Maybe tomorrow…
he wouldn't be a coward.
And somewhere in the back of his mind, one small hopeful thought kept repeating itself.
What if she says yes?
With that thought lingering in his mind, Caelum slowly drifted into sleep.
Unaware that tomorrow would bring moments he could never fully predict.
Moments that would make his heart race.
Moments that would test his courage.
And moments that would change everything.
The Next Day
Caelum woke up earlier than usual.
For a few seconds, he stared at the ceiling, still half-asleep. The morning light slipped through the curtains, and the quiet hum of the electric fan filled the room.
Then he remembered.
The gift.
Furschia.
His eyes widened.
"Oh no…"
He quickly sat up.
His heart started beating faster even though the day had barely started.
Today.
Today he would try again.
Or at least… he hoped he would.
Caelum looked over at his desk. The small wrapped gift was still there, resting quietly where he had left it the night before.
It looked harmless.
Just a small box with a ribbon.
But to him, it felt like carrying a thousand nervous thoughts.
He slowly got out of bed and picked it up.
"Okay," he muttered quietly to himself.
"Today. I'm giving it today."
He placed the gift carefully inside his school bag again, making sure it wouldn't get crushed by his notebooks.
Then he headed out of his room.
The smell of breakfast greeted him in the kitchen.
His mother was already preparing food.
"You're up early," she said.
"Yeah."
"Big test today?"
Caelum hesitated.
"...Something like that."
His mother raised an eyebrow but smiled.
"Eat first before you face your 'big test'."
Caelum nodded and sat down at the table.
His little sister was already eating.
"Why are you nervous?" she suddenly asked.
Caelum nearly choked on his food.
"I'm not nervous."
"You look nervous."
"I always look like this."
She stared at him for a second, then shrugged.
"Okay."
Caelum finished eating quickly before grabbing his bag.
As he stepped outside, the morning air felt cool and fresh. Students were already walking down the street toward school, chatting and laughing.
Meanwhile, Caelum walked quietly behind them.
His hand gripped the strap of his bag.
Inside it, the gift waited.
When Caelum arrived at school, the familiar noise of students filled the campus.
Groups of classmates gathered around the hallways, talking about homework, games, and random stories from the night before.
Caelum entered the classroom and sat down at his desk.
He immediately felt two pairs of eyes on him.
Glenn and River.
Glenn leaned over his chair dramatically.
"So?"
Caelum blinked.
"So what?"
"The mission."
River turned slightly from his seat.
"Did you bring the gift?"
Caelum sighed.
"...Yes."
Glenn's face lit up like someone had just announced a festival.
"YES!"
"Keep your voice down!" Caelum whispered urgently.
Glenn laughed.
"Dude, relax."
River leaned closer.
"So what's the plan?"
Caelum froze.
"...Plan?"
Glenn stared at him.
"You don't have a plan?"
Caelum scratched the back of his neck.
"I thought I would just… give it."
Glenn dramatically held his chest.
"That's your plan?!"
River chuckled quietly.
Glenn leaned forward again.
"Okay, listen carefully," Glenn said like a coach preparing his team. "Step one: you walk up to her."
Caelum nodded slowly.
"Step two: you say hi."
"...Okay."
"Step three: you give the gift."
Caelum blinked.
"That's it?"
"Yes."
River added calmly, "You're overthinking it."
Caelum sighed.
Maybe they were right.
Maybe it really was that simple.
Then Glenn suddenly grinned.
"Oh look."
Caelum followed Glenn's gaze.
Furschia had just entered the classroom.
She walked in with her usual calm expression, greeting a few classmates softly before heading to her seat.
The moment Caelum saw her, his heart immediately started racing again.
"Go," Glenn whispered.
"What? Now?!"
"Yes now!"
Caelum shook his head quickly.
"I can't just—"
But Glenn had already grabbed his shoulders and pushed him slightly forward.
"JUST GO!"
Caelum stumbled a little as he stood up.
His legs suddenly felt heavier than usual.
River watched quietly, clearly amused.
Caelum took one step.
Then another.
Each step felt louder than it probably was.
Why does the floor feel like it's shaking?
His heart pounded in his chest.
He reached into his bag slowly.
The gift was there.
Waiting.
Furschia was sitting at her desk, flipping through her notebook.
Caelum was only a few steps away now.
This was it.
This was the moment.
He opened his mouth.
"Fu—"
Suddenly someone else appeared beside her.
"Hey Furschia!"
One of her friends sat down next to her.
Then another joined.
They immediately started talking and laughing.
Caelum froze.
His brain shut down.
Three people.
Too many people.
His courage disappeared instantly.
He slowly backed away.
And quietly returned to his seat.
Glenn looked at him in disbelief.
"You were right there!"
Caelum buried his face into his hands.
"I panicked."
River tried not to laugh.
Glenn shook his head.
"Unbelievable."
Caelum groaned.
"I'm trying!"
Glenn sighed dramatically.
"Okay fine. We'll try again later."
River nodded.
"Maybe after class."
Caelum looked at the gift inside his bag again.
After class.
Yes.
That might work.
Less people.
Less pressure.
Maybe then he could finally do it.
The entire morning felt slower than usual.
Every class felt twice as long.
Every minute dragged by.
And every time Caelum accidentally glanced toward Furschia, his heart skipped again.
She looked normal.
Calm.
Unaware that someone a few seats away was fighting an internal battle just to talk to her.
Glenn occasionally whispered encouragement.
River simply observed everything quietly.
Finally, lunchtime arrived.
Students began leaving the classroom.
This could be the chance.
Glenn immediately turned to Caelum.
"NOW."
River nodded.
"Less people."
Caelum swallowed nervously.
He reached into his bag.
The gift was still safe.
His hands felt slightly shaky.
Furschia was standing near the window, organizing her books.
She was alone.
Completely alone.
This was the perfect moment.
Glenn gave him a small push again.
"Go."
Caelum slowly stood up.
One step.
Two steps.
Three steps.
His heart beat louder with every step.
Furschia hadn't noticed him yet.
He was right behind her now.
This was it.
This time he couldn't run away.
He took a deep breath.
"Furschia—"
She turned around.
Their eyes met.
For a second, Caelum completely forgot how to speak.
Her expression was gentle and curious.
"Yes?"
His brain scrambled.
Words.
He needed words.
He reached into his bag.
But suddenly—
"Furschia!"
A voice called from the hallway.
She looked toward the door.
"Oh! I need to go," she said quickly.
Then she smiled politely at Caelum.
"Sorry!"
And just like that…
She left.
Caelum stood there frozen.
The gift still inside his hand.
Glenn and River stared from across the room.
Glenn slowly walked over.
"...You have the worst timing ever."
Caelum sighed.
"Tell me about it."
River joined them.
"You'll get another chance."
Caelum looked at the gift again.
It felt heavier now.
But somewhere deep inside him, a small piece of determination was still there.
Tomorrow.
Maybe tomorrow.
He would try again.
Because even though fear kept stopping him…
The feeling he had for Furschia wasn't going away anytime soon.
The walk home that afternoon felt strangely quiet again, but not in the same way as yesterday.
Yesterday, Caelum walked home with disappointment hanging over him like a storm cloud.
Today, the feeling was different.
It was still heavy.
Still confusing.
But mixed somewhere inside it was something new.
A thought.
A possibility.
A plan.
Caelum walked slowly along the sidewalk, his bag hanging from one shoulder as he kicked small pebbles along the road again.
Inside his bag, the birthday gift for Furschia was still there.
Still wrapped.
Still waiting.
And now it felt like a reminder of every chance he had already missed.
Glenn and River had walked with him part of the way before turning down their street.
But before leaving, Glenn had said something that kept echoing in Caelum's head.
"If giving the gift is too scary, then start smaller."
River had nodded in agreement.
"Just talk to her."
Just talk to her.
Caelum sighed as he continued walking.
"Yeah… just talk to her," he muttered.
As if it were that easy.
If talking to Furschia were easy, he wouldn't have spent nearly two years silently admiring her from a distance.
Still…
The idea kept returning.
Start smaller.
Maybe Glenn was right.
Maybe trying to suddenly give her a gift was too big of a step.
Maybe that was why his courage kept disappearing.
Maybe he needed something simpler.
Something normal.
Something that wouldn't make him look weird.
And then the thought appeared.
Clear.
Sudden.
Dangerous.
What if I just ask for her number?
Caelum immediately stopped walking.
His heart jumped slightly at the idea.
Her number.
If he had her number, he could talk to her normally.
No pressure.
No awkward moment in front of the whole class.
Just messages.
Just simple conversations.
Maybe asking for her number was easier than giving a gift.
Right?
Caelum continued walking slowly again, thinking carefully.
"Okay…" he murmured. "That might work."
But then the second thought came immediately after.
How would you even ask?
His confidence dropped again.
Because suddenly the situation didn't feel simple anymore.
Asking for someone's number wasn't random.
There had to be a reason.
A normal reason.
A reason that wouldn't make him look suspicious.
Caelum rubbed his forehead.
"What excuse could I use…?"
He thought about school.
Homework.
Projects.
Group activities.
Maybe he could say he needed to ask about homework.
Yes.
That sounded normal.
Students asked each other for numbers all the time for school stuff.
That wouldn't be weird.
Right?
Caelum nodded slowly.
"Okay. Homework."
He repeated it like he was memorizing a script.
"Hey, can I have your number? In case I need to ask about homework."
He said the sentence out loud softly.
Then immediately cringed.
"That sounded so awkward."
He kicked another pebble across the road.
"Maybe… maybe something more natural."
He tried again.
"Hey, do you mind if I get your number? Just for school stuff."
He paused.
Still awkward.
He sighed.
Maybe Glenn was right.
He was definitely overthinking everything.
By the time Caelum reached his house, his brain was full of different versions of the same conversation.
And none of them sounded normal.
After dinner, he went straight to his room.
The gift still sat inside his bag.
He didn't even take it out this time.
Instead, he sat down at his desk and stared at his phone.
His reflection stared back at him through the dark screen.
"Okay," he whispered.
"You can do this."
He unlocked his phone and opened his contacts list.
It was mostly filled with classmates.
Group chats.
School announcements.
Random messages about homework.
Nothing special.
But then he imagined something new appearing there.
A new name.
Furschia.
Just the thought made his chest tighten again.
He leaned back in his chair and sighed.
"What if she says no?"
The question slipped out before he could stop it.
What if she thought it was weird?
What if she asked why?
What if she realized he liked her?
What if she told her friends?
What if they laughed?
The thoughts started piling up again.
One after another.
Each one worse than the last.
Caelum quickly shook his head.
"Stop."
He stood up and walked over to his desk.
The gift box was still there.
Quiet.
Patient.
Waiting.
He picked it up and turned it gently in his hands.
"You were supposed to make things easier," he said quietly.
But instead, the gift had made everything more complicated.
Maybe Glenn and River were right.
Maybe he didn't need to rush things.
Maybe the first step wasn't the gift.
Maybe the first step was simply becoming someone Furschia could talk to.
Someone normal.
Someone she wouldn't find strange.
Someone she wouldn't avoid.
Caelum placed the gift back on the desk.
Then he looked at his phone again.
The plan slowly started forming in his mind.
Tomorrow.
After class.
When things were calm.
He would walk up to her.
He would say hello.
And then—
He would ask for her number.
Simple.
Normal.
Just one question.
He didn't need to confess anything.
He didn't need to explain his feelings.
He didn't even need to give the gift yet.
Just a number.
That was all.
Caelum took a deep breath.
His heart was already beating faster just thinking about it.
But somehow…
The plan felt possible.
Still scary.
Still terrifying.
But possible.
For the first time in a while, the thought of tomorrow didn't feel like something to fear.
It felt like something to prepare for.
Before going to bed, Caelum opened his camera again.
He scrolled through the photos until he found another picture of Furschia.
This one was from a school activity outside the classroom.
She was looking up at the sky while holding a paper airplane.
The sunlight made her hair glow slightly.
Caelum smiled faintly.
"I'll do it tomorrow," he whispered.
The words felt small.
Fragile.
But they were real.
Tomorrow.
He would talk to her.
Even if his voice shook.
Even if his heart felt like it would explode.
Even if it only lasted ten seconds.
Tomorrow…
He would finally try.