By lunchtime, Aira Kapoor felt like she'd lived three separate lives already.
Life 1: Normal student.
Life 2: Emotional hostage to Reyhan Malhotra's moods.
Life 3: Confused human trying not to feel… whatever that weird thing was in her chest.
She walked into the cafeteria with Sia, clutching her tray like a protective shield.
Sia was mid-rant.
"—and then he just looked at you like you were the main plot twist of his life! Babe. BABE. I nearly passed out."
Aira groaned. "Sia, PLEASE. I already feel insane."
"That's because you LIKE him."
Aira tripped over nothing.
Sia grabbed her arm. "See? Emotional damage."
"I do not like him!"
"Your WiFi died when he talked to Zayden."
"THAT WAS NOT—"
Sia pointed her fork like a detective solving a murder.
"Girl, your face literally changed."
Aira opened her mouth to argue—
And froze.
Because at their usual table, sitting casually like the king of the cafeteria, was:
Reyhan.
Already seated.
Already waiting.
Already looking directly at her.
Aira's stomach dropped. "Why is he here BEFORE me??"
Sia smirked. "Maybe he riSKS HIS LIFE to reserve a seat for his crush."
"I'm NOT his crush!"
"Girl, he's sitting at OUR table."
Aira wanted to teleport into the sun.
She walked over slowly, bracing herself.
Reyhan looked up, expression unreadable, eyes flicking from her to her tray.
"You're late," he said.
Aira raised an eyebrow. "I don't remember agreeing to a schedule."
"I made one."
"Well, I didn't."
"No problem," he said with a grin. "You can follow mine."
She stared. "You're exhausting."
"You love it."
"NO I DON'T."
Zayden arrived right on cue. "Hey, Aira—oh, Reyhan's here. Again."
Reyhan didn't look at him. "Observation skills on point."
Zayden took the seat beside Aira.
Reyhan's jaw clenched.
Oh.
Oh no.
He was jealous again.
Sia's eyes sparkled wickedly. "Wow. Look at this energy. I think we're witnessing a love triangle in HD."
Aira kicked her under the table.
Hard.
Reyhan finally spoke. "Aira."
She looked up.
"Move closer," he said.
She blinked. "WHAT? Why?"
"Because you're about to fall off that chair."
She looked down.
She was, in fact, sitting on the very edge of her seat without realizing.
Aira muttered, "Oh."
Reyhan hid a smile and nudged her chair gently with his foot, pulling it back into place.
"You do that thing," he said softly.
"What thing?"
"Shrink yourself when you're nervous."
"I'm not nervous."
He raised one eyebrow.
She sighed. "Okay. Maybe a little."
Zayden looked concerned. "Are you okay, Aira? I can sit farther away if—"
Before she could answer, Reyhan cut in sharply.
"She's fine."
Aira stared at him.
Possessive much??
She quickly looked at Zayden. "I am fine. Really."
Zayden nodded and smiled kindly.
Reyhan stabbed a fry like it personally offended him.
Sia burst into laughter. "OH, HE'S SO JEALOUS IT'S RIDICULOUS."
Aira whispered, "Sia, shut up before he hears—"
"He can HEAR," Reyhan snapped, glaring at Sia.
Sia grinned. "Good!"
Aira rubbed her forehead. "This is too much for my emotional capacity."
Reyhan smirked. "Your what?"
"Nothing. Eat your lunch."
"No."
"WHY NOT?"
"I'm waiting."
"For what??"
Reyhan leaned in slightly, lowering his voice.
"For you to stop ignoring me."
Aira blinked so hard her eyes hurt. "I—I wasn't ignoring you!"
"You didn't look at me once when you sat down."
"That's because—"
Reyhan raised an eyebrow. "Because?"
Aira felt heat creep up her neck.
Because looking at him made her heart behave like it was on caffeine.
Because his existence was distracting.
Because she didn't know how to act normal around him anymore.
She cleared her throat. "I was just… hungry."
Reyhan leaned back. "Liar."
"Stop calling me a liar!"
"Then stop lying."
Sia whispered, "Ohhhh, this is INTIMATE."
Aira slammed her palm on the table. "I need a do-over on my life. I swear."
Without warning, someone walking by accidentally bumped into Aira's shoulder hard enough to make her spill her juice.
Before she could react, Reyhan was already standing.
"What's your problem?" he snapped at the guy.
The guy blinked. "Dude, it was an accident—"
"Apologize."
Aira tugged Reyhan's sleeve. "Reyhan, it's fine—"
"No."
He stepped forward, eyes dark.
"Apologize."
The guy mumbled a quick sorry and scurried off.
Reyhan sat back down, breathing out slowly, trying to calm down.
Aira stared at him.
"Why did you get so angry?"
He didn't look at her.
His jaw tightened.
Finally, he said quietly,
"I don't like when people mess with you."
Aira's breath vanished.
Just vanished.
She whispered, "Reyhan…"
He finally met her eyes.
And suddenly the air between them felt heavier than ever.
Nobody spoke.
Even Sia went quiet.
Aira looked away first, heart thudding painfully.
RULE #12: Never let Reyhan Malhotra into your personal space.
Because once he steps in…
he'll defend it like it's his own.