I stood just outside room 304 in the Technology and Innovation Building, clutching my notebook a little too tightly. The hum of students chatting and the faint clatter of keyboards spilled out every now and then through the door's narrow window. Today was my first day as a transferee, and I was about to join the Human-AI Interaction class, something new and a lot different from my previous Business Management major.
Taking a deep breath, I stepped inside. The room was bright, rows of desks filled with students already settling in, some with their laptops open. The professor glanced up and smiled warmly.
"Everyone, please welcome Nyx Blake. She's transferring from Westbrook University and will be joining us for Human-AI Interaction this semester."
I felt every pair of eyes shift to me as I made my way to the front.
"Hi, I'm Nyx Blake," I said clearly. "I'm really excited to be here and learn with you all."
The professor gestured toward an empty seat near the middle of the room.
"That's your spot," he said.
I scanned the desks and spotted two students who seemed friendly enough. I walked over and slid into the seat between them.
A girl with soft brown eyes smiled. "Hey, I'm Lila. You're gonna like it here."
The boy next to Lila grinned. "I'm Sam. Don't worry, we're not as scary as the AI projects we have to build."
I laughed lightly, feeling the tension in my chest loosen.
"Thanks. I'm still trying to get used to everything," I admitted.
Lila nodded. "Don't worry, we'll help you catch up."
Sam gave a playful shrug. "Yeah, consider us your unofficial orientation guides."
I looked around at the classroom, the screens, the posters of famous AI pioneers on the walls, and felt a spark of excitement. This was the start of something new.
During our breaks, Lila and Sam guided me to where the library was, they even took the time to saty with me. And at lunch time, the three of us sat together inside the cafeteria. I was so amazed by how fascinating the inside of the cafeteria was. A moving prompt, with the menu listed on it, a little robotic helper, that swipes the students' I.Ds as they lined up before getting served.
Everything was new to my eyes, yet pretty much comforting at the same time. I couldn't even here gossips or murmurs from the other students. It's like they prefer to focus their time doing something productive than to gossip. I felt at ease in my new school.
On the other hand, as Nico was preparing the last stretch of what's needed to finally settle in his new home, Nico stood in the middle of the empty living room, hands in his pockets, eyes scanning the space that would soon be home. The soft scent of newly-polished wood and fresh paint still lingered in the air. The house was simple, two floors, warm tones, large windows that let the sunlight in just the way he liked it. And it was close enough to the campus that Nyx wouldn't have to take long commutes anymore.
He exhaled slowly. This was a big move. Selling his old place had been surprisingly easy; the new house came just in time, almost like the universe was giving him a nudge. He walked through the hallway, imagining the way Nyx's voice would echo through it when she got excited about something AI-related or the way she'd fill the corners with her little touches, books, digital sketches, late-night tea mugs.
His phone buzzed. He pulled it out and saw her name on the screen. It was Nyx.
"Let me guess, you're standing in the living room picturing where the sofa goes?"
He smiled to himself, thumbs tapping back.
"Caught red-handed. You're gonna love this place, Nyx. It's got your vibe written all over it."
He paused, staring at the message. There was a quiet anticipation brewing in his chest. This wasn't just about moving into a new house. This was a shift, a new rhythm to life, one they'd share under the same roof.
He looked up again, this time not at the empty room, but at the shape it would take with her in it. Her laughter. Her silence. Her presence.
It wouldn't just be his home.
It would be theirs.
At school, the final bell rang, a low hum echoing through the corridors of the university building. Students filtered out of their classrooms, their voices blending into the late afternoon buzz. I stepped out of Room 304 in the Department of Human-AI Interaction, my bag slung over one shoulder, thoughts trailing somewhere between class discussions and the next chapter of my life.
The sun was still warm, painting the edges of the campus buildings in amber. As I reached the main gate, I saw Nico leaning against his car, hands tucked into the pockets of his jacket. His gaze found mine immediately, the corner of his mouth lifting into a quiet smile. He looked like he'd been standing there for a while, content just waiting.
"Nico," I called as I approached, my voice soft with the weight of the moment.
"Hi Nyx." He reached out to take my bag, his hand brushing mine. "Ready?"
I glanced back towards the campus, then up at him. "Yeah. I think I am."
We didn't need to say much else. The ride back to my house was quiet, filled with a calm sort of anticipation. Nico drove with one hand resting lightly on the wheel, the other tapping along to the soft music playing on the radio. I looked out the window, the city passing by in familiar scenes that already felt a little more distant than usual.
When we arrived, the driveway was already filled with the sound of my family moving around inside. The front door opened just as we stepped onto the porch. My mother was the first to greet us, holding a folded blanket, followed closely by my father and my brother Xavier.
Upstairs, my suitcase lay open on the bed, half-packed. The sunlight filtering in through my window caught the small photo frame on my desk, the one of our family vacation at the beach. I moved around the room quietly, folding my remaining clothes, organizing my books, checking the drawers one last time.
Xavier leaned in the doorway, arms crossed. "So this is it?"
I nodded, zipping the side of the suitcase. "Looks like it."
He shrugged but didn't move. "Just don't forget us or anything."
"I'd need to forget half of myself to do that." She smiled, pulling him into a one-armed hug.
My mother entered next, laying the blanket gently over the top of the packed clothes. "This was always your favorite. Take it with you, in case it gets cold."
I clutched it close. "Thanks, Mama."
My dad lingered near the dresser, eyes scanning the room slowly. "Feels like just yesterday you were building robots in here out of cereal boxes."
"Now I'm studying real ones," I said, voice catching with a mix of pride and sadness.
When the last box was taped shut, Nico helped me carry everything down. Before stepping out, I turned to my family. My mother's eyes were glassy, my father's arms folded tightly, Xavier kept pretending to scroll on his phone even though he hadn't looked at the screen once, while Xanayah's eyes were teary.
I hugged each of them, beathing in their warmth.
"Nyx, be sure to call us if you need anything. We're just one call away." My father, his hands pressing on mine.
"Of course papa, I'll ask for my allowance monthly." I teasingly grinned, but my heart aches.
"This girl, still thinking about money." Xanayah handed me a red envelope. It was quite thick. I looked at her, tears went down, I couldn't hold it back any longer. Xanayah hugged me tightly as she started sobbing too. My family gathered, and we shared one last hug.
Xavier went to Nico. He out an arm around him, whispered something that made Nico looked his way to me. He nodded, as if the both of them had an agreement. Then Xavier patted his shoulders before he got back to where our parents were.
At the door, Nico waited without a word. He met my glance with quiet reassurance, stepping aside as I took one last look inside. Then, with my suitcase rolling softly behind them, we walked towards the car.
And just like that, I was no longer just leaving for the day. I was leaving for something new.
Before going to our new house, we decided to eat dinner first. We shared a hearty meal, as we celebrated our first day of officially living together. It was a big step for me.
After the meal, we headed straight back to our house. Nico carried my things inside while I trailed behind him, eyes wandering across every corner that now felt new. The space was warm and cozy, but this time, it was different. This time, we were together. Living together.
The thought finally sank in, wrapping around my chest and making my heart race. We're alone here. Just us. I could feel the heat crawling up my neck, my face already flushed from the thought alone. Nico was busy arranging my things, looking completely focused, but I was wrong. He kept sneaking glances, and I knew he saw me fanning my face with my hand.
"Need some water?" he asked, a hint of amusement in his voice.
"I-I can get it myself." I turned toward the kitchen, but he caught my hand.
His grip was firm, but gentle. He pulled me close and wrapped me in a hug tightly, grounding, and full of quiet emotion. I could feel the steady beat of his heart against mine.
"Nyx… thank you," he said, his voice low, sincere. "For trusting me. For choosing to be here… with me."
When I looked up, his face was so close that our breaths met in the space between us. His warmth enveloped me, stirring something deep inside.
"You don't have to thank me," I whispered, but my voice faltered as he leaned in, pressing our bodies even closer.
"Nyx…" His voice trembled slightly. "Can I?"
His gaze never left mine. No hesitation. No distractions. Just us.
"Nico…" I nodded shyly.
He scooped me into his arms, his lips brushing against mine. He kissed me slowly at first, savoring every second as he carried me upstairs. He only broke the kiss briefly to open the door to my room.
He laid me down with a gentleness that contradicted the fire in his eyes. His lips found mine again, deeper, hungrier. The kiss grew intense, and a soft sound escaped me, something between surprise and surrender.
He paused, looking down at me with a teasing smirk. "That sound… Nyx, that was beautiful."
"Nico…" I gasped, trying to catch my breath. "You're embarrassing me."
His thumb brushed my cheek. "I just want to make sure… are you okay with this? With me?"
He kissed my forehead, then my cheek, then lingered at my neck, leaving behind a trail of warmth.
"I'm okay," I whispered, meeting his gaze, placing my hand gently on his chest. "I want this."
He lifted my chin with a touch so tender it made me melt. I smiled, giving him all the permission he needed with just that look.
His kisses turned bold, urgent, like something long held back had finally been unleashed. I tried to meet him halfway, to return each kiss with the same intensity, but he set the pace, taking the lead with every motion. And I let him.
Because with him, I felt safe.
Because with him, I was home.
The morning sunlight gently crept through the curtains, casting a soft glow over the room. I slowly opened my eyes, my body still tangled in the warmth of the blanket and the scent of Nico lingering on the pillow beside me. It was quiet. Peaceful. The kind of silence that only existed on weekends, where the rush of the world waited just a little longer to wake.
I turned my head and found him still beside me, eyes closed, one arm draped across my waist as if he never wanted to let go. His chest rose and fell steadily, and I watched him breathe for a moment, letting the calm settle inside me. We were really here. Together. No alarms. No schedule. Just the comfort of knowing we were no longer apart.
As I shifted a little, Nico stirred and slowly blinked his eyes open. His gaze landed on me, soft and hazy from sleep, and he smiled.
"Good morning, beautiful."
My cheeks warmed instantly. "Morning. Did you sleep well?"
He nodded and pulled me closer, burying his face against my neck. "I did. Best sleep I've had in a while."
I chuckled softly, threading my fingers through his hair. "It's the weekend. We don't have to get up early."
"Mmm. Then let's not." His voice was a low murmur, and he tightened his hold just slightly, as if making sure I wouldn't slip away.
I smiled, resting my forehead against his. There was no rush. No need to pretend. Just the softness of the moment and the promise of something steady between us.
Eventually, we decided to leave the comfort of the bed. Or at least, that was the plan. I slowly sat up, stretching my arms above my head. Nico had already swung his legs over the side, shirtless, hair messily perfect, rubbing his eyes like a sleepy kid.
I shifted to stand, but the second my feet hit the floor, I winced.
"Ow."
Nico's head snapped in my direction, alert in an instant. "What? What happened? Are you okay?" He reached out, one hand at my back, the other hovering like he wasn't sure where to place it.
I bit my lower lip, suppressing a laugh. The soreness caught me off guard, but his wide-eyed panic made it impossible not to smile.
"Nico… I'm okay. Really. It's just…" I trailed off, face flushing.
His eyes flicked down, realization dawning. "Oh." Then louder, "Oh no. Was I too rough? Did I hurt you? Nyx, I swear I—"
I couldn't hold it in. I burst out laughing, covering my face with my hands. "Nico, you're overreacting."
He blinked, frozen in place, clearly not sure whether to be relieved or horrified.
"I mean," I giggled, "I expected it would hurt a little. It's not like I've done this before. You didn't break me."
Nico let out a dramatic exhale and flopped back onto the bed with a groan. "You're laughing. I almost had a heart attack and you're laughing."
I leaned over and poked his cheek. "Because you looked like you just committed a crime."
"I might have," he mumbled, but his hand caught mine and pulled me gently back down beside him. "If I knew you'd be this sore, I wouldn't have been so… thorough."
I rolled my eyes, still grinning. "You're so dramatic."
He sat up again and looked at me like I was the most fragile, precious thing in the world. "Seriously, though. Tell me if you're uncomfortable. I'll carry you everywhere like a princess. No walking allowed."
I snorted. "We are not doing that."
"We are. Starting now." He swooped me up before I could protest and began marching toward the door. "Princess rules apply until further notice."
"Nico, put me down!" I squirmed in his arms, laughing so hard I could barely breathe.
"Nope. I broke you, I carry you."
"You're the worst," I teased, clinging to his neck.
"I'm your worst. Forever."
I leaned into him, still smiling. "Forever sounds nice."
Nico finally set me down in the kitchen, making me sit while he busied himself at the stove. I watched him move around, bare-chested with messy hair and the most serious face as he flipped eggs like it was a mission from the heavens.
"Smells good," I said, resting my chin on my palm.
"You'll love it," he replied, sliding some eggs onto a plate, followed by toast and perfectly crisped bacon. He set it down in front of me, then sat beside me with his own plate.
Before I could grab my fork, he scooped a bit of egg and held it up to my lips. "Say ah."
I giggled. "Really? We're doing this?"
"Yup. I'm taking care of my broken princess, remember?"
I opened my mouth and let him feed me. "Mmm, okay fine. You're forgiven."
He smirked and leaned in to steal a kiss, brushing his lips against mine with a lazy hum. "Breakfast kisses make everything better."
We ate slowly, laughing between bites, feeding each other like we had nothing else to worry about. And we didn't. It was the weekend, and the world felt like it stopped spinning just for us.
After breakfast, we curled up on the couch under a blanket, switching between movies and whispered conversations. Every so often, Nico would sneak a kiss to my shoulder or the crook of my neck, and I'd pretend to be scandalized, even though I loved it.
The whole day slipped by in cozy moments and shared smiles. Time lost all meaning. There were no responsibilities, no outside world. Just us, wrapped in each other, stealing kisses and little touches when we thought the other wasn't looking.
And for once, everything felt perfect. Quiet. Ours.