After her conversation with Reyhan in the hallway, Aira Kapoor walked into her next class feeling like her brain had been tossed into a blender.
Reyhan Malhotra was confusing.
Confusing in a way that made her chest hurt and her stomach flip and her knees weak in a way she absolutely, definitely, 100% did not approve of.
Sia immediately noticed.
"Girl," she whispered dramatically, "why do you look like someone unplugged your soul?"
Aira dropped her forehead onto the desk. "Because they did. It was Reyhan. He unplugged it himself."
Sia clapped like she was watching a proposal. "DID HE SAY SOMETHING ROMANTIC AGAIN?!"
Aira covered her ears. "Sia, please. My emotions are not built for your volume."
But she didn't answer.
And that was answer enough.
Zayden leaned over from the row behind them. "Hey, Aira… are you alright? You look pale."
Aira nodded quickly. "Yes. I'm fine."
Sia scoffed. "Lies."
Aira elbowed her.
Before the conversation could go further, the teacher walked in and announced the thing Aira dreaded most:
"Pair up for the presentation. Same partners as last time."
Aira stared at the desk.
No.
No no no no—
A shadow fell over her notebook.
"Ready?" Reyhan asked from behind her, voice lower than usual.
She looked up.
He wasn't smirking.
Not teasing.
Not cocky.
Just waiting.
Aira gulped. "Um… y-yes. Let's… go."
They walked out of the classroom together to an empty corner in the hallway. Aira sat on the bench, trying to put some distance between them.
Reyhan joined her.
He sat way too close.
Not touching, but close enough that her heart forgot how to function.
Aira scooted an inch away.
Reyhan scooted an inch closer.
"Stop doing that," she muttered.
"I'm not doing anything."
"You KNOW what you're doing."
"Do I?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes!"
"Then explain it," he said calmly.
Aira opened her mouth, then froze.
Because she didn't know how to explain it without sounding insane.
"You're… confusing," she said finally.
Reyhan leaned back, eyes on her. "So are you."
Aira blinked. "Me??"
"Yes, you." His voice softened in a way that dissolved every bone in her body. "You say you don't care. But you keep looking for me."
"I DO NOT—"
Reyhan tilted his head. "Okay. Then don't look at me."
Aira immediately looked at him.
He smiled—slow and warm.
"Exactly."
She groaned. "Stop doing that."
"What?"
"That… smile thing."
"What smile thing?"
That smile thing.
The one he didn't use on anyone else.
The one that made her want to stare forever and puke at the same time.
"Reyhan," she whispered, "you're making this complicated."
His expression shifted—almost too sincere.
"Aira… things are already complicated."
Her chest tightened painfully.
Before she could respond, his shoulder brushed hers.
Not on purpose.
Just… naturally.
Her breath stopped.
Reyhan looked down at the small space between them, then back at her.
"You're shaking," he said softly.
Aira looked at her hands.
She WAS shaking.
"I—I'm not," she lied.
He gently placed his hand near hers on the bench. Not touching. Just close enough to steady her.
"Aira," he murmured, "stop pretending."
She looked up.
Bad decision.
Very bad decision.
His eyes were warm and intense in a way that made her entire soul malfunction.
Reyhan whispered, "Just tell me what you're feeling."
Aira's heart thudded so loudly she was sure the entire hallway heard it.
"Reyhan… I don't know," she whispered honestly. "I don't know what this is."
He exhaled—slow, like he'd been waiting for that truth.
"That's okay," he said. "I'm still figuring it out too."
Aira blinked, stunned.
He didn't know either?
He leaned closer—slowly, carefully—like he wanted to give her a chance to move away.
She didn't.
Their foreheads nearly brushed.
Aira's pulse was in her ears.
Reyhan whispered,
"If you really want me to stop… say it."
She opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
Because she didn't want him to stop.
And that terrified her.
He pulled back slightly, eyes searching hers.
"You're scared," he murmured.
"I'm not," she whispered.
"You are," he said gently. "But I'm not here to hurt you."
Aira's chest tightened so hard it hurt.
The teacher's voice echoed down the hallway suddenly, calling students back inside.
Aira jumped away from Reyhan like the bench was on fire.
Reyhan chuckled, low and amused. "Relax, Rookie. I'm not going to kiss you in the hallway."
Aira nearly tripped. "WHO SAID ANYTHING ABOUT KISSING?!"
He smirked. "Your face."
Aira covered her entire face with her notebook.
RULE #15: Don't ever be alone with Reyhan Malhotra.
Because the walls stay silent…
but your heartbeat won't.