We fell in love in math class

Chapter 19 "Unexpected Confessions"

(A Few Days Later - Thursday Morning, School Hallway)

Xyleme's POV:

It had been a few days since that... intense moment with Ethan. Things had settled down, but my heart still skipped a beat every time I saw him. Today, I was at my locker, trying to focus on getting my books, but I couldn't help glancing down the hallway, waiting for Ethan to show up.

X: "Why am I acting like this? He’s just a guy... a really sweet, handsome, distracting guy..." I muttered to myself.

Just then, I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned around, and there he was, smiling down at me, his eyes twinkling with that familiar mischief.

E: "Talking to yourself now, Xyleme? Should I be worried?" he teased.

I felt my face heat up. "N-no! I was just... organizing my thoughts."

E: "Sure you were," he said, still grinning. "Walk to class together?"

X: "Yeah, of course."

As we walked side by side, Ethan casually slipped his hand into mine, giving it a gentle squeeze. My heart practically melted. It was such a simple gesture, but it meant so much. We were still trying to keep things discreet, but little moments like this made me forget about everything else.

(Later - During Lunch Break)

Ethan's POV:

I sat across from Xyleme at our usual spot, watching him absentmindedly poke at his lunch. There was something adorable about how he zoned out sometimes. I knew I wanted to do something special for him, but I hadn’t figured out the best way to go about it.

E: "Hey, Xyleme," I called out, bringing him back to reality. "Are you free after school today?"

X: "Uh, yeah, why?"

E: "There's something I want to show you. Think of it as a... surprise."

Xyleme blinked, looking both intrigued and nervous. "A surprise? What kind of surprise?"

E: "If I told you, it wouldn't be a surprise, would it?" I said with a wink.

(Time Skip – After School)

Xyleme's POV:

Ethan was being unusually secretive, but I decided to trust him. As soon as classes ended, he led me outside, away from the usual busy areas, and towards a small park not far from school.

X: "Ethan, seriously, where are we going?"

He just smiled and kept walking, his hand firmly holding mine. We finally reached a spot under a big oak tree, where a small picnic blanket was already set up. There were snacks, drinks, and even a small bouquet of flowers.

X: "Wait... you did all this?" I asked, completely taken aback.

E: "Yeah. I wanted to do something nice for you," he said, a bit shyly. "We've been through a lot these past few weeks, and I thought you deserved something... special."

I felt my eyes start to sting. I had never had someone do something so thoughtful for me.

X: "Ethan, this is... amazing. Thank you."

E: "You're welcome," he said, sitting down next to me. "Now, sit and enjoy it. We don't have to rush anywhere; it's just the two of us."

(A Few Moments Later – Sitting Together)

We ate, talked, and even laughed about the weird things that had happened in class lately. It felt so normal, so easy, and yet so perfect.

X: "You know, Ethan... I was really scared about what would happen between us," I admitted, my voice soft. "But I'm glad we're still... whatever we are."

E: "I know what you mean," he said, looking into my eyes. "And I want to make this official... if you’re okay with that."

X: "Official?" My heart skipped a beat. "Like... boyfriend official?"

Ethan nodded, his expression serious yet warm. "Yes. I want to be your boyfriend, Xyleme. No more hiding, no more pretending. Just us."

I felt a rush of emotions, and before I could stop myself, I reached out and hugged him tightly. "Yes, Ethan. I want that too."

(A Few Minutes Later – Under the Oak Tree)

Ethan gently pulled back, looking down at me with a soft smile. "Then it’s official," he said, before leaning in and pressing a gentle kiss on my lips. It was sweet, slow, and filled with so much affection that I felt like I could float away.

X: "You're really something, Ethan," I said, blushing as we broke apart.

E: "And you're everything, Xyleme."

We spent the rest of the afternoon under that tree, talking, laughing, and just enjoying being together. It was one of those rare, perfect moments where everything felt right, and for the first time in a long time, I wasn’t scared about the future. I was just... happy.