"Miss Emilia Albreicht! Is my class so boring that it makes you so sleepy?"
Emilia instantly woke up when she heard their Geography teacher's loud voice. She didn't realize that she fell asleep in the middle of the class! And it's so embarrassing!
She wasn't able to sleep well last night because she drank a cup of coffee to help her study. But the caffeine was too much for her, and now, she's really sleepy... 
She wants to disappear right there and then when she noticed that everyone's looking at her.
“There’s no excuse for what I did. And I am really sorry, Sir.” she apologized. 
At the same time...
Clark wanted to reach out for Emilia but he decided to stop himself. Eventhough she's being embarrassed infront of other people, she still made sure to genuinely apologize for what she did. stopped himself.
But Clark's emotion won in the end. He quickly stood up to say what's on his mind.
"With all due respect Sir, you shouldn't have reprimanded Emilia as if you're talking to a child. You can just talk to her in your office after the class. You're delaying the class as well." he firmly stated.
Their Geography teacher's face suddenly became red, and it was obvious that he didn't like Clark's comment.
"What are you doing, Clark?! You're just making the situation worst!" Emilia thought to herself, while panicking. She's worried about him because she knows their teacher can give him demerit points.
And she was damn right. 
"I didn't know you have a knight and shining armor in my class, Miss Albreicht!" the Professor announced.
"I-I just relayed what's on my mind, Sir." Clark tries to reason out.
"Very well. You both did something wrong, so I'm taking away ten points from your scorecards. And after this class, you will stay at the detention room for one hour." their teacher told them their punishment. 
Emilia helplessly sighed. It is pretty obvious that their teacher is lashing on them, especially at Clark. 
Meanwhile, Clark nervously gulped. The teacher's clearly mad, and Emilia doesn't like what he did awhile ago...
============================
After the class, Clark and Emilia are now inside the Detention room. They are the only ones there, so they can freely talk to each other.
"Clark, I appreciate what you did for me awhile ago, but I could've handled it myself. You didn't have to stand up for me." Emilia started. 
"But our teacher's out to get you, Emilia! Why don't you say something for yourself? He embarrassed you infront of many people!" Clark tries to reason out.
"Thank you for your concern, but it's not really a big deal... Anyway, would you like to have an ice cream with me later so that we can cool our heads off?" Emilia smilingly suggested. 
"Sure, I like that." Clark nodded instantly.
His can feel his heart jumping with so much happiness when Emilia asked him to have an ice cream with her...
Whenever he's near Emilia, he feels totally different. He's having a hard time breathing, and his heart is beating so fast as if he just ran in a marathon... He also couldn't take his eyes of her. And he's been thinking about her recently, more than his books...
He suddenly remembered a certain article that he read on the internet few days ago... He read something about "Symptoms of having a Crush..."
The article discussed about a research wherein if the object of your affection's standing nearby, many different chemicals are being released in our brain, and that includes dopamine, oxytocin and cortisol.
When dopamine is released, you can feel a jolt of happiness in your system. One of the symptoms is the feeling of limerence; having uncontrollable thoughts, extreme nervousness and shortness of breath.
And bingo.
Clark's eyes widened in shock when he finally realized something...
"Oh, good heavens... I'm in love with Emilia Albreicht!"
===============================
Clark and Emilia's normal high school life at Palmridge School continues.
Clark and Emilia are now standing at the wide school field along with their other classmates, while listening to their Physical Education teacher. 
"---To make the story short, I don't care if you're good at written exams but since this is a Physical Education class, you need to use your physical strength and insurance here. I now will start calling the names of those people who will complete Group 1 and Group 2..." Mr. Pearson explains to everyone.
While everyone is waiting for their names to be called, Clark is feeling apprehensive. He is extremely confident with written and oral exams, but he's such a weakling when it comes to physical and rigorous activities. 
"Hey, are you alright Clark?" Emilia suddenly whispers at him. 
"I-I'm okay." Clark tries to act cool, eventhough his palms are already wet with sweat.
"The Group One will be consists of 8 people... The members are Clark, Emilia, Kara Alvarez and-----!" the teacher continues to call their group's other members. 
"Great! We're on the same team! Do you know how to play volleyball?" Emilia immediately asks Clark.
"No. I'm not good at ANY sports." Clark emphasizes.
"Oh, I see. But don't worry. I got your back." Clark smilingly stated.
Group 1 and Group 2 members are finally complete. Emilia's watching out for Group 2, which are all consists of athletic players...
"Alright, people! Start warming up before the practice game. Just take it easy and don't let yourselves get hurt, okay?" Mr. Pearson instructed.
Emilia was taken by surprise when she saw Clark looking so pale, and he looks like he will collapse at any time.
"Are you sure you're okay? You look white as a ghost!" pronounced Emilia. 
"Why are we even doing this?" Clark responded, while looking so desperate.
"Don't worry too much. I'll be right behind you. In case you don't know, I enrolled in a summer volleyball camp few years ago. And I can say that I'm a really good player. We'll do anything and everything we can to win this." Emilia reassures Clark.
"---Okay, your warm-up is over. Go to your positions." commanded their PE Instructor.
As they are walking at the court, Emilia's busy giving instructions to Clark. 
"Remember, Clark... No matter what happens, even if there's a dinosaur in front of you, just follow my lead, is that clear?" she firmly said.
Clark nervously gulps while listening to Emilia. He is so nervous, and he didn't even realize that the practice game has already started. 
"Oh, shoot!" Emilia muttered under her breath when she couldn't hit the ball that the opponent served from the other court.
The ball went into Clark's direction and it landed straight to his face!
At the same time, Clark felt a shocking pain on his nose. And before he could say anything, his vision went pitch black... 
===============================
As soon as Clark opens his eyes, he immediately saw the white ceiling. He doesn't have any idea where he is right now, until he felt that stinging pain on his nose.
"Owww..." he moaned aloud.
"Clark?" 
He saw Emilia sitting at a certain chair at beside his bed, and he can clearly see the concerned expression on her beautiful face.
"--You're finally awake. How are you feeling?" their school's resident doctor suddenly made an entrance.
"I can feel the pain now." Clark tries to talk, amidst the pain that he's feeling. 
"Looks like the effect of the painkiller is gone. Here's another one and drink it." the doctor commanded. 
"Please, let me do it." Emilia volunteered. She helped Clark sit up on her bed, and assisted him on drinking the painkiller medicine.
"You're so lucky because you have a beautiful and a thoughtful girlfriend, young man." the female doctor smilingly commented.
"Oh, it's not what you think it is... Clark and I are just classmate." Emilia immediately clarifies everything.
Clark can't help himself but to feel disappointed when he heard Emilia.. But she's also right. They are just regular classmates, nothing more, nothing less. He shouldn't be expecting anything from her, and he shouldn't get his hopes up.
What kind of girl would like a nerd like him, right?
"Oh, I'm sorry. Anyway, I'll leave you two first. I need to go back to my desk to finish up something." the doctor announced, and she went back to her desk.
"Here, drink this so that you won't feel any pain and to help down with the swelling of your nose." Emilia helped Clark with his medicine.
"I'm sorry if I was useless at our volleyball game earlier." Clark sincerely apologizes.
"Don't worry, we'll get back at them... The important thing right now is for you to take a rest." Emilia gently reminded him.
"Thanks for taking care of me." Clark whispers back, as he slowly closes his eyes.
He did not realize that he had fallen asleep due to the effect of the painkillers.
Emilia smiled while looking at Clark. He decided to stay by his side until he wakes up... 
==================================
After a few days...
"How's your nose?" Emelia asks, as soon as Clark enters their classroom.
Clark gently touches his nose. He's still wearing a bandage on his nose, and it hurts every now and then but he can tolerate it. Good thing is, he doesn't need to drink painkiller medicine anymore... 
"I'm not in too much pain so I think I'm all good now." Clark smilingly responded. 
"Really? Let me see it." Emilia suddenly spoke. She started touching Clark's nose in a gentle way, making sure that she's not going to hurt him.
She suddenly stares at Clark's eyes, as he looks back at him.
Clark suddenly became self-conscious because their faces are too close to each other, and he can feel her fresh and warm breath on his face.
"Looks like your nose is recovering pretty well. Just few days more and you're ready to play volleyball again." Emilia commented, in a teasing manner.
Clark wasn't able to answer because he is still being hypnotized by Emilia's beauty and presence. 
There's no doubt about it, he can openly say that he is helplessly, hopelessly and crazily in love with Emilia Albreicht! 
This is the very first time he ever felt like this, and he is at loss on what to do. He is still a novice when it comes to matters of the heart...