Northcrest High's cafeteria was basically a social jungle.
Loud. Chaotic. Full of teenagers who acted like gossip was oxygen.
Aira Kapoor just wanted to eat her sandwich in peace.
She sat at the table near the window with Sia and Zayden, hoping the universe would give her five drama-free minutes.
But the universe laughed.
Because suddenly, students started whispering.
Sia nearly dropped her spoon. "Oh no."
Aira frowned. "What?"
Zayden winced. "He's coming."
Aira froze mid-bite.
"Who's coming?"
Sia narrowed her eyes at the cafeteria entrance.
"Northcrest's number-one headache."
Aira didn't have to turn around.
She already knew.
Reyhan Malhotra.
Walking in slow motion like a cinematic villain, hands in pockets, uniform messy, hair perfect in the worst way. Girls stared. Boys stared. Teachers probably stared too.
He scanned the cafeteria…
…and locked eyes with Aira.
She dropped her sandwich.
"No," she whispered. "No no no—he's not coming here."
"He is," Zayden confirmed.
"He's walking faster," Sia added.
Aira's soul quietly exited her body.
Reyhan reached their table, pulled out the chair opposite Aira, and sat down like he had a VIP reservation.
Aira stared at him. "Why are you here?"
He shrugged. "I was bored."
"Go be bored somewhere else."
"No."
Aira shut her eyes. "You're unreal."
Reyhan pointed at her tray. "Are you going to finish your fries?"
"No."
"Great." He stole one.
Sia covered her mouth. "Dude, that's flirting."
Aira glared at her. "No, it's robbery."
Reyhan smirked. "Relax, Rookie. Consider it a tax."
"A tax for what?"
"For existing near me."
Aira contemplated hitting him with her spoon.
Zayden cleared his throat gently. "Reyhan, maybe give her some space?"
Reyhan leaned back, eyes flicking between them.
Then he smirked again.
"Why? She doesn't mind."
Aira snapped, "Yes, I do!"
"Then move," he said casually.
Aira blinked. "What?"
"Move seats. If you really hate me being here, sit somewhere else."
Her jaw dropped.
He was challenging her.
She lifted her chin stubbornly. "No. I like this seat."
"Good," he said. "Me too."
Aira groaned into her hands. "Why are you like this?"
He paused for a moment, then said softly,
"Because it's fun watching you pretend you don't care."
Her stomach did a weird somersault.
She needed therapy. Immediately.
Before she could react, a group of girls from another table hissed:
"Is she seriously sitting with Reyhan?"
"She just transferred and already—wow."
"Attention seeker much?"
Aira stiffened.
Reyhan's eyes snapped to the group, expression turning cold enough to freeze the lunch trays.
The girls instantly shut up.
Then Reyhan turned back to Aira.
"Eat," he said simply.
"I don't feel like it."
"Eat," he repeated, softer this time.
Aira blinked.
Was he… worried?
She grabbed her sandwich again.
Sia kicked Aira under the table and whispered, "Girl. I'm sweating. What was THAT?"
Aira whisper-yelled, "I don't KNOW!"
Zayden smiled politely, trying to swallow the awkward tension.
Reyhan casually nudged Aira's tray back toward her when it slid an inch away.
"Don't skip lunch," he muttered.
Aira looked up at him, confused. "Why do you care?"
He didn't look at her.
He didn't smirk.
He didn't joke.
He simply said,
"I just do."
Aira's breath caught.
Sia mouthed, "HELLO?? ROMANCE???"
Aira mouthed back, "SHUT UP."
Reyhan suddenly stood.
Everyone watched him.
He turned to Aira, eyes locking with hers in a way that felt way too intense for a school cafeteria at 1:00 PM.
"I'm picking you up after class," he said.
Aira sputtered. "Picking me up for WHAT?"
"Our project."
He smirked again.
"You didn't think you'd escape that, did you?"
Aira didn't get a chance to reply.
He walked away, the crowd parting for him.
Sia leaned over the table like she was narrating a soap opera.
"Babe… he's obsessed."
Aira put her head down. "This is my villain origin story."
---
RULE #6: Never let Reyhan Malhotra sit at your table.
Once he does, he doesn't just join your lunch…
he invades your entire day.