The sun filtered weakly through the classroom windows, throwing long shadows across the rows of desks. Most of the students have already left, save for two who stayed behind for extra studying for finals. At the least, that was the pretext set up by Remi. Shinatsu getting expelled made her realize that things could change just like that. And the one thing she doesn't want is for her feelings for Austin to go unsaid.
Austin sat with his chin propped on one hand, his gaze fixed stubbornly on his math notes. Remi was watching silently for a moment before speaking.
Remi: "You know, staring at it like that doesn't count as studying. Unless you've discovered telepathy."
Austin: "Maybe I have. Maybe if I glare long enough, my brain will be able to solve every equation there is."
Remi: "If only that's how it worked."
Austin: "Such is the way of life, sometimes not even effort can turn into results."
Remi: "Who're you talking about?"
Austin: "No one in particular…"
For a moment, neither spoke. The silence of the room wasn't heavy but fragile, as though it might break if either of them moved too suddenly. Dust motes floated lazily in the beams of light. Austin doodled absentmindedly on the corner of his notebook. Remi got up and lingered by the windows, her hands gripping the strap of her bag a little too tightly, as if letting go would make her lose her nerve. Finally, she speaks.
Remi: "Y'know, I really do hate math."
Austin chuckles: ""You say that every time you study. At this point, I think you just enjoy losing arguments to algebra."
Remi: "Someone has to take responsibility for reminding math it's terrible. Consider it my civic duty." There was a pause. "You know, you act cool, but... you're not actually that cool."
Austin raised an eyebrow, pretending to be offended: "Ouch. My reputation being cool and mysterious with unmatched comedic timing is all I have."
Remi: "That's what I mean. You always hide behind your jokes. And the cool act. But... I know it's not the whole story."
He blinked, caught off guard, then looked away toward the window. The sunset outside made it easier not to look at her.
Austin: "Dangerous words. If you ruin my image, people might not expect much from me. Can you live with that guilt?"
Remi rolled her eyes, but her voice was gentle: "I think I can handle it."
She adjusted the strap of her bag, fingers tightening on it like it was the only thing anchoring her. The words were there, waiting, but they felt heavier the closer they got to leaving her mouth.
Remi: "Austin."
Austin: "What's up?"
Remi: "Even when you're hiding behind your jokes, I know the real you, and how much you genuinely care and notice things. I… like you."
There it was. No dramatic music, no sudden gust of wind-just her voice filling the quiet classroom.
He didn't say anything right away. He just leaned back a little further in his chair, as though he could escape the moment by tipping away from it. His expression stayed unreadable, though his hand tapped lightly against the desk, betraying the restless energy he usually hid behind sarcasm.
Austin: "You sure you aimed that confession at the right guy?"
Remi smilied faintly, despite her racing heart: "Yeah. I'm sure."
For once, he didn't have a comeback ready.
The classroom stayed quiet, the sunset slipping further toward night, and in the stillness, her words hung there, real and undeniable.
He blinked, slowly, then leaned back in his chair, his hands folded loosely on the desk. His reputation of being easygoing, well-liked, and always surrounded by people didn't seem to fit in this silence. He looked almost unsure of what to do with it.
Austin: "You know, people say things like that to me, sometimes."
Remi's stomach tightened. She forced a smile: "...Of course they do. I'm sure there's lots of girls who like you."
Austin shook his head, a faint laugh escaping: "That's not what I mean. People... they say they like me, but usually it's the version of me they see from the outside. The guy who's nice to everyone, who knows how to make a joke at the right time, who-" He stopped himself, rubbing the back of his neck. For once, he seemed at a loss. "...It's different hearing it from you."
Remi's eyes widened. She didn't expect that: "Different how?"
Austin glanced at her, then away again. The sunset was fading fast, leaving only a faint orange rim against the sky. His voice was earnest: "Because you know me past all of that. You've seen me mess up. You've seen me get frustrated. You've seen me when I'm not... putting on a good face. And you still said it. You still like me." He smiled then, just a little. Not the practiced one everyone else got, but something smaller, a little uncertain around the edges. "Honestly, that's... scary."
Remi blinked, thrown: "Scary?"
Austin: "Yeah. Because around you, I won't be able to hide behind anything. Since the day I met you, I've been hopelessly in love with you."
Remi's face flushed red. His words carried a weight she hadn't expected. She looked at him, searching his expression, but he kept his gaze fixed on the fading light outside.
The silence stretched again. The clock ticked on the wall. Then, he turned back to her, and his eyes were steady.
Austin: "I don't know if I'll be good at this. I'll probably mess up. But if you're okay with that, then... I'd like to go out with you." His smile widened, just enough to soften the tension in the room.
And just like that, the air in the classroom shifted. It became lighter, warmer, as if her words had finally found a place to land.
Austin thought to himself: 'People say things like "I like you." "You're amazing." "You're the kind of guy everyone notices." I hear it more often than I probably deserve. And every time, I smile, say thank you, and let the moment pass. That's the easy thing to do. But this wasn't the same.'
He stood up. No deflections, no easy grin. Just him. It wasn't dramatic. No fireworks. No grand gestures. And somehow, that made it feel bigger than all of those things combined.
Remi blinked at him once, twice, her lips parting like she wanted to speak but couldn't find the words. Instead, she laughed softly, shaky, almost disbelieving: "...You really said yes."
His chest loosened a little at the sight of her smile. He hadn't realized how much he'd been holding his breath until then. The clock ticked on the wall. The sunlight was gone now, leaving the classroom dim except for the pale blue glow creeping in through the window. Reality was slowly catching up to them.
Austin: "We should probably head back before the janitor kicks us out."
She nodded quickly, gathering her things. The scrape of her chair against the floor sounded far louder than it should have. They walked out together, their footsteps echoing in the empty hallway. Normally, he filled silences like this with small talk, something easy, something to make people laugh. But now, every word felt like it might mean too much, so he said nothing. Outside, the air had cooled, the sky was painted in streaks of gray and violet, the first stars timidly blinking awake. They walked side by side, not too close, not too far.
After a minute, Remi glanced at him, fiddling with the strap of her bag: "So... does this mean you're my boyfriend now?"
Austin almost tripped over his own feet: "You don't waste time, huh?"
Remi laughed nervously: "I just want to be clear.
Otherwise tomorrow at school, you'll act like nothing happened, and I'll look like an idiot."
Austin: "I wouldn't do that." He shoved his hands into his pockets, his voice thoughtful now: "It feels strange."
Remi: "What does?"
Austin: "Walking home back you. Like this. Knowing things are... different."
Remi's steps slowed just slightly: "...Is that a bad strange?"
Austin: "Not at all. Just... new."
Remi: "I think I like 'new.'"
They kept walking. Their hands brushed once, by accident, and both of them froze. He pulled his hand back into his pocket, pretending not to notice, and she looked straight ahead, her cheeks pink. Austin is zapped of all his energy and wants to lie down as soon as possible. Somehow, this took everything out of him. But he knows there's still something he has to do. He removes his hand from his pocket and slowly holds Remi's hand. The awkwardness was still there, but so was something else. Something warmer, unspoken, and understood. By the time they reached the corner where their paths split, the stars had begun to scatter more boldly across the sky. He stopped, turning to her.
Austin: "So. See you tomorrow?"
Remi grinned: "I guess so. Boyfriend."
He groaned under his breath at her tease, but the smile tugging at his lips gave him away. They parted ways, each heading inside their dorm, and though the night air was cool, neither of them felt cold.