The school bell echoed through the hallways. Afternoon sunlight filtered through the windows, bouncing off the tiled floor that now quieted with footsteps of students heading to the parking lot.

As usual, she packed her books and school supplies into her bag. Neatly. Precisely. Efficiently. And as usual, from the half-open classroom door, Rayven Alvaro was already leaning there. Hands in his pockets, head slightly tilted, his smile half-annoying, half... loving.

As she stepped toward the door, Rayven moved first. He yanked on her bag strap with ease, making her body jerk slightly backward.

"Ray, don't start—"

But before she could finish her protest, Rayven's arms quickly wrapped around her waist and lifted her as if she weighed no more than a pillow. Panic mixed with anger flushed across her face.

"Put me down!!! Ray!! Put me down right now!!"

Rayven laughed loudly—satisfied, chaotic, and completely annoying. With one swift motion, he set her down, then patted her shoulder lightly while still holding back laughter.

"Whose fault is it, huh? You dared to ignore me earlier. Miss Vice President too busy, huh? Forgot she has a boyfriend?"

His gaze was playful, but something behind his tone felt... off. A kind of irritation that couldn't quite be explained.

She just sighed and walked away—heading to the parking lot in the opposite direction from Rayven.

Rayven narrowed his eyes, then followed while calling out.

"Hey! Where are you going? I told you—we have a date at your place today! I'm teaching you how to play games, so you know what it's like to be a normal kid, not a student council robot—"

"I have a student council meeting. With the president and the supervising teacher. So I can't," she cut him off, voice annoyed and tired. She turned briefly, then pinched Rayven's cheek hard.

Rayven winced at the pinch, but his eyes sharpened the moment she mentioned the student council president. His grin slowly faded, replaced by an expression of discontent.

"Just you two? In a closed room, with just that one teacher?" he muttered, eyebrows furrowed.

He chuckled, sarcastic—not because it was funny, but to mask the strange storm inside him.

"Ahahaha... don't count on me letting you go there. Nope, babe. Not today."

Before she could respond, Rayven already pulled her closer again, this time wrapping his arm around her shoulders tightly, holding her as if afraid of losing her—even though he still kept that annoying swagger.

"Listen, I've been good today. I didn't trash your student council room or anything. But if you dare go have a private meeting with that goody-goody president... well, we'll see tomorrow if your office desk is still in one piece."

He leaned in slightly, his voice lowering, deeper—and for a moment, jealousy was unmistakably clear in his eyes.

"I know you're disciplined, busy, and full of responsibilities. But I'm your boyfriend too. And I'm selfish. I don't like you being too comfortable around other guys—especially ones who aren't me."

Rayven exhaled, then pinched her cheek back—softer than earlier.

"So, how about canceling that meeting? I mean, our date is more important anyway."