College Canteen – Midday
If people were still in doubt about them being together, they weren't after what happened next.
Shristi was sitting at their usual table, casually sipping her drink while watching a small group of girls whispering nearby.
They were staring at Wick—as usual.
"They've been staring for five minutes," Shristi muttered, leaning toward Nick. "Are they planning an attack, or do they just have a death wish?"
Nick chuckled, glancing at Wick, who was sitting beside her, completely unbothered.
"You get used to it," Wick said, taking a bite of his food.
Shristi narrowed her eyes. No.
If she was in a relationship with Wick, there were going to be rules. Standards.
So she set her drink down, stretched her arms lazily, and—without any hesitation—reached for Wick's hoodie, pulling it over his head and wearing it herself.
The entire canteen went silent.
Wick paused mid-bite, blinking at her, before his lips curled into the most dangerous smirk anyone had ever seen.
"Possessive, are we?" he murmured.
"Just setting expectations," Shristi said casually, crossing her arms. "You're mine. They need to know."
The girls watching? They left immediately.
Nick nearly choked on his food, while Deep muttered, "Damn. I gotta find someone like that."
And Wick?
He just leaned back, studying Shristi like she was the most interesting thing in the world.
"Noted," he said, voice low. "And for the record, I was always yours."
---
The Rooftop – Late Evening
By the time the day ended, there was no doubt.
Wick and Shristi weren't just a couple.
They were a statement. A warning.
They set the new standard.
Which is why, later that night, as they sat on their usual rooftop, watching the city lights, Shristi turned to Wick and smirked.
"I think we broke the campus today."
Wick chuckled, shaking his head. "Good."
Shristi laughed softly, then hesitated before asking, "You okay with this? With… everyone knowing?"
Wick turned to her, his gaze holding something rare.
Softness.
"I told you before, Shristi." His voice was quiet but firm. "I don't need somebody. I need you."
Her heart did that stupid thing again, where it felt too full.
So, instead of answering, she just leaned her head on his shoulder.
And Wick?
He let her.
Because for the first time in his life, he had someone worth protecting.
And everyone else?
They could only watch and learn.
---
The next night,just clock had struck midnight when a soft, almost hesitant tapping sounded at Shristi's flat window. She stirred from the edge of sleep, blinking through the dim moonlight to see a shadowed figure leaning casually against the glass. Her heart skipped a beat when recognition dawned—it was Wick.
"What are you doing here?" she whispered, equal parts surprised and curious.
Wick's smirk was unmistakably his—a mix of mischief and something gentler, warmer. In his hands, he cradled a slightly crumpled pizza box like a secret treasure. "Special delivery," he said, lifting it as if presenting a prize. "Pizza for the lady… jalapeños and extra oregano and chili flakes included, just how you like it."
Shristi folded her arms, arching a skeptical brow but the faintest smile tugged at her lips. "I'm not hungry," she said softly, though her voice betrayed the small crack in her resolve.
Wick's grin widened, eyes sparkling with amusement. "What are you talking about? You're always hungry at midnight. Don't pretend you don't crave a little midnight snack."
She shook her head, a reluctant laugh escaping her. Despite the late hour and the suddenness of his arrival, the gesture was undeniably thoughtful—and only Wick could turn something as simple as pizza into a shared adventure.
"Come on," Wick coaxed, voice teasing, "one slice won't hurt."
Shristi hesitated, feeling the warmth of his presence slowly wash away the tiredness from her eyes. Finally, with a quiet laugh, she reached out and lifted the box. "Alright, but only one slice," she warned, already knowing she wouldn't resist more.
Wick's voice dropped, more intimate now, as he looked up from the box with a glint in his eyes. "Besides, I wasn't just bringing you pizza."
He glanced down at the box, then back up to her, the playful light in his gaze deepening into something softer. "I brought myself. Thought you could use a little company."
Shristi's defenses crumbled. She tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear and whispered, "You always know how to show up when I need you."
His smile softened, warm and tender. "Because I'm not just any delivery guy. I'm your midnight distraction, your secret slice of peace in the chaos."
Shristi rolled her eyes with a fond smile and reached up to open the window wider, inviting him inside. He slipped through easily, settling beside her on the windowsill. For a moment, the pizza box sat forgotten as their fingers intertwined, sharing the quiet intimacy of the night. No words were needed—only the gentle rhythm of two souls who had learned to find comfort in each other's presence.
Finally, Wick reached for the pizza, offering her a slice with a teasing smile. As they ate together under the soft glow of moonlight, Shristi caught herself stealing a glance at him—there was that proud, tender look in her eyes, a silent admiration for the boy who always knew how to be there, no matter the hour or the reason.
In that simple midnight moment, surrounded by warmth and quiet, their world felt perfectly right.
To be continued...