The next morning at Northcrest High, Aira Kapoor walked through the gate feeling… off.
Not sad.
Not angry.
Just… off.
Maybe it was the weird conversation with Reyhan last night.
Maybe it was the way he said you're interesting like it was a fact.
Or the way her heart reacted like it received a system update.
Either way, she spent the entire walk to school convincing herself she didn't care.
She cared.
Unfortunately.
She headed straight to her locker, hoping for a quiet start.
She didn't get one.
Because the universe had no respect for her boundaries.
"Why do you look like your brain crashed?"
Reyhan leaned against the locker beside hers, hair messy, uniform undone, carrying the exact amount of chaos she did not need today.
Aira didn't look at him. "I'm fine."
"Lie."
She slammed her locker. "I said I'm fine."
"You said it," Reyhan replied calmly. "Doesn't mean it's true."
Aira turned to him, exasperated. "Why do you care?"
"Because I'm not blind."
"Well, be blind."
He grinned. "Impossible. You're too bright."
Aira blinked.
"What?"
"You always glow when you're pissed off."
Aira stared. "Are you—are you flirting or diagnosing me?"
"Both," he said with a shrug.
Before Aira could form a comeback, Sia arrived like a hurricane.
"GOOD MORNING PEOPLE WHO ARE DEFINITELY NOT DATING."
Aira choked. "SIA—!"
Reyhan smirked. "Good morning, chaos."
Sia pointed accusingly at Aira. "Why were you smiling like an idiot at your locker before I came?"
"I WASN'T—"
"Yes, you were. I saw it."
Reyhan's eyes lit up instantly. "Really?"
Aira wanted to die. "Sia, I swear to god—"
"Oh don't act innocent," Sia said, linking her arm with Aira's. "Your entire FACE said 'I thought about him again.'"
Reyhan looked very, very pleased.
Aira dragged Sia closer and hissed under her breath, "STOP TALKING."
Sia whispered back, "He's literally looking at you like you're his WiFi password."
Aira nearly combusted.
Reyhan tilted his head. "What are you two whispering about?"
"NOTHING!" Aira blurted.
"Everything," Sia volunteered.
"SIA!"
Reyhan laughed quietly—a warm, low laugh that did something weird to Aira's chest.
Zayden walked up behind them, books in hand. "Morning, guys—whoa, why does Aira look like she's about to spontaneously explode?"
Reyhan answered, "She's avoiding her feelings."
Aira smacked her forehead. "I can't do this today."
Reyhan stepped closer. "Then don't. Talk to me instead."
Talk?
To him?
After last night?
After you're interesting?
After who said being a couple is bad?
Absolutely not.
She tried walking away, but Reyhan matched her pace instantly.
"Aira."
No response.
"Aira."
She kept walking.
"Aira Kapoor."
She stopped.
His voice dipped into something real—something that wasn't meant for crowds.
"What's going on with you today?" he asked quietly.
The question hit her harder than expected.
Nobody asked her that.
Not sincerely.
Not like they actually wanted to know.
Aira swallowed. "Nothing. I just… I don't want to talk about it."
"Okay," he said softly. "I won't push."
She blinked.
He wasn't teasing.
He wasn't joking.
He wasn't cornering her.
He was… gentle.
Her chest tightened unexpectedly.
Then he ruined the moment—of course—by adding:
"But I'm not leaving you alone either."
"REYHAN."
He shrugged. "Can't help it. I notice things. Especially about you."
Aira couldn't breathe.
Sia whispered to Zayden, "Okay but WHY is this so romantic???"
Reyhan glanced at Aira again.
"You don't have to tell me anything," he said quietly.
"But don't pretend you're fine when you're not. That's not you."
How did he know that?
How did she let him know that?
She hated it.
She liked it.
She hated that she liked it.
Aira whispered, "Reyhan… stop noticing everything."
He leaned closer, voice low and annoyingly sincere.
"Then stop being noticeable."
Her breath hitched.
He smirked lightly. "Not my fault you stand out."
Aira's heart executed a backflip.
RULE #10: Never let Reyhan Malhotra notice your mood.
Because he won't just see it…
he'll see right through you.