The moment Aira Kapoor walked into class, she knew something was wrong.
Not wrong wrong.
Just… Reyhan wrong.
Because he wasn't in his usual seat.
He wasn't leaning back.
Wasn't tapping his pen.
Wasn't smirking at her like she was his morning entertainment.
He was sitting two rows back, headphones in, hoodie up, eyes on the window.
And he wasn't looking at her.
At all.
Aira froze in the doorway.
Sia whispered, "Uhh… did Northcrest's favorite menace get emo overnight?"
Zayden frowned. "He doesn't look like himself."
Aira blinked. "What happened to him?"
Sia gasped dramatically. "OH MY GOD—did he finally realize he has feelings and now he's malfunctioning—"
"SIA," Aira hissed. "Please stop giving me anxiety."
They sat down, but Aira's eyes kept drifting back to Reyhan.
He hadn't moved an inch.
No smile.
No eye contact.
Nothing.
Something about that felt wrong.
Not because she needed his attention—
NO.
Obviously not.
Just…
She was used to it.
And now there was silence where chaos should be.
The teacher started the lecture, but Aira barely registered anything. She kept glancing back—subtly, or so she hoped.
After ten minutes, Reyhan finally moved.
Just a shift.
A tiny one.
But Aira noticed immediately.
Because she'd spent too much time noticing him.
He pulled out a notebook—blank except for his usual doodles—and dropped his pen. It rolled off the desk and hit the floor.
Normally, he'd make a joke, or smirk, or nudge it with his foot.
Today, he just stared at it.
Aira couldn't take it anymore.
She tore a small piece of paper from her notebook and scribbled:
What's wrong?
She waited until the teacher faced the board, then turned in her seat and tossed the note lightly toward him.
It landed on his desk.
He looked at it.
But didn't open it.
Aira's heart tightened.
He always opened her notes.
He always responded.
He always reacted.
Today… nothing.
Sia whispered, "Girl. This is serious. Men like him don't get quiet unless something is OFF."
Zayden nodded. "Maybe talk to him after class?"
Aira chewed on her lip. "I don't know if he even wants to talk."
"He does," Sia said instantly. "Trust me. The way he stares at you? He DEFINITELY does."
Aira blushed. "He's not staring today."
"Exactly," Sia said. "That's why something's up."
When the bell rang, Reyhan was out of his seat before anyone else, heading straight for the door.
Instinct—stupid, treacherous instinct—pulled Aira after him.
"Reyhan!" she called.
He paused.
But didn't turn.
She walked closer. "Reyhan… wait."
He finally looked over his shoulder.
His expression wasn't angry.
Just tired.
And tired Reyhan was scarier than chaotic Reyhan.
Aira stepped in front of him. "You're acting weird."
He said nothing.
"You didn't talk in class," she continued softly. "You didn't even steal my pencil. You ALWAYS steal my pencil."
Still nothing.
Aira swallowed. "Did I… do something?"
Reyhan blinked, surprised. "What? No."
"Then why are you avoiding me?"
His jaw tightened. "I'm not avoiding you."
"You literally sat in another row."
He looked away. "Didn't matter where I sat."
"Of course it mattered!" she blurted.
He looked back at her—really looked.
Direct.
Sharp.
Unfiltered.
Aira's breath caught.
Reyhan stepped closer, voice low.
"You think I didn't want to sit next to you?"
"I—I don't know."
"That's the problem," he muttered. "You never know."
Her heart hammered. "Know what?"
He hesitated.
Then said softly—
"Know what you do to me."
Aira stopped breathing.
Completely.
Reyhan ran a hand through his hair, frustrated. "I couldn't sit next to you today. Not when you won't even look at me properly."
"I DID look at you—"
"No," he said quietly. "Not like before."
Aira's stomach flipped. "Reyhan, it's just… everything's getting confusing."
"For me too," he said.
She blinked.
Wait.
WHAT?
"For you too?" she whispered.
He stepped even closer. "You're not the only one trying to figure out what this is."
Her heart nearly burst out of her chest.
She took a small step back.
He followed.
She looked away.
He gently tilted her chin back up.
"Aira," he murmured, "look at me."
Her knees nearly buckled.
"Reyhan… don't."
"Why not?"
"Because if I do—"
She gulped.
"I won't be able to look away."
His lips curved—soft, knowing, devastating.
"That's the point."
Aira's heart did a full-blown somersault.
RULE #14: Don't look into Reyhan Malhotra's eyes.
Because he doesn't look away first…
and eventually, neither will you.