After lunch, Aira Kapoor walked toward her next class with Sia, doing her absolute best to pretend her brain wasn't replaying Reyhan snapping at that random guy.
Or the way he looked at her afterward.
Or the way her heart had done a full gymnastics routine.
Sia nudged her with an elbow. "Girl. GIIIRL. You're zoning out again."
"I am not."
"You are. You're walking like a WiFi signal — weak and confused."
Aira groaned. "Can we stop talking about Reyhan for five minutes?"
Sia blinked dramatically. "No."
Aira stomped her foot on the ground. "I hate this timeline."
Before Sia could respond, Zayden jogged up beside them.
"Aira! Hey — do you want to walk together after school today? I can help with the assignments or—"
Aira opened her mouth to answer.
But someone else answered first.
"No. She can't."
Aira nearly face-planted on the floor.
Reyhan Malhotra had appeared from absolutely nowhere, sliding into their path like he had teleportation abilities.
Zayden frowned. "Reyhan, she can answer for herself."
"She already HAS plans," Reyhan said.
Aira blinked. "I do??"
"Yes," Reyhan said firmly. "With me."
Sia whispered, "Oh boy, jealousy part two."
Aira shoved her. "Stop narrating."
Zayden crossed his arms. "Aira doesn't belong to you, Reyhan."
Reyhan's face tightened — not in anger, but something heavier.
Something Aira wasn't used to seeing on him.
"I know," he said slowly. "She doesn't."
Aira's breath caught.
Then Reyhan added, "But she's my project partner, and we're not done."
Aira exhaled a breath she didn't realize she was holding.
Zayden looked disappointed, but he nodded politely. "Alright. Some other day then."
Aira gave him a soft smile. "Yeah. Another day."
When Zayden walked away, Reyhan muttered under his breath, "Yeah. Right."
Aira raised an eyebrow. "You're unbelievable."
He shrugged. "You keep saying that like it's a bad thing."
She walked ahead before he could smirk more.
Except he caught her wrist gently.
Aira froze.
His fingers wrapped around her wrist — warm, steady, careful.
Not teasing.
Not demanding.
Just… grounding.
"Aira," Reyhan said, voice startlingly soft.
She turned to him slowly. "What?"
He searched her face like he was looking for something.
Something she wasn't sure she wanted him to find.
"You okay?" he asked quietly.
Two simple words.
But they hit different coming from him.
Too real. Too sincere. Too unguarded.
Aira opened her mouth, but nothing came out.
She just nodded.
Reyhan didn't look convinced.
His thumb brushed lightly — accidentally? purposefully? — against her wrist.
Her entire heartbeat stopped working properly.
"If you're not," he said softly, "you can tell me."
Aira swallowed.
When did he start caring like this?
When did she start noticing?
When did her rules stop protecting her?
She pulled her hand back, cheeks burning. "Reyhan… stop."
He blinked. "Stop what?"
"You can't just—touch people like that."
"Why not?"
"Because!" She struggled. "Because it's confusing!"
Reyhan's lips twitched. "For you?"
"Yes!"
He stepped a little closer. "Good."
Aira nearly combusted. "GOOD?!"
"Means I'm not the only one feeling something."
Her jaw dropped. "I–I'm NOT FEELING—"
"Aira!"
The teacher called from inside the classroom.
"Stop blocking the doorway!"
Aira wanted to bury herself alive.
Sia whispered while sliding in past them,
"Babe… your love story is louder than the bell."
Aira smacked her forehead and walked in.
Reyhan stayed outside for a moment.
And when he finally looked at Aira again through the classroom window…
He wasn't smirking.
He wasn't teasing.
He was watching her like she mattered.
Like he didn't want to look away.
Aira's heart panicked.
RULE #13: Don't let Reyhan Malhotra touch you.
Because his touch won't feel like a joke…
it'll feel like a truth you're not ready to accept.