The rest of the school day dragged by in a blur.
Aira Kapoor kept replaying what Reyhan had said in the hallway.
"If you really want me to stop… say it."
"I'm not here to hurt you."
Her brain took those two lines, repeated them on loop, and refused to let her exist like a normal person.
By the time the final bell rang, she was an emotional disaster holding a backpack.
Sia sprinted to her. "Babe. BABE. Did something happen?? You look like you saw a ghost."
"I saw Reyhan," Aira muttered.
"Same thing."
Before she could gather herself, Zayden approached with a gentle smile.
"Hey, Aira. Want to walk together today? You look a little… overwhelmed."
Aira opened her mouth—
And then a familiar voice slid in from behind her:
"She's with me."
Aira nearly dropped her bag.
Reyhan Malhotra stood there like a problem she couldn't uninstall.
Zayden sighed softly. "Reyhan, maybe give her some space."
Reyhan's jaw ticked. "I asked her first."
"No, you didn't," Aira shot back. "You just appear and decide things!"
Reyhan crossed his arms. "I didn't 'appear.' I walked here."
"Silently," she snapped. "Like a ghost with attitude."
Sia clapped. "THE CHEMISTRY. I CAN'T."
Zayden looked between them, concerned. "Aira? Do you actually want to go with him?"
Aira blinked.
Her heart said one thing.
Her brain said another.
Reyhan's expression softened—barely noticeable unless you were looking too closely.
Which she was.
He said quietly, "I won't force you. Tell me what YOU want."
Aira's chest tightened.
Why did he have to say things in that tone?
The hallway was too loud.
Her heartbeat was too loud.
She stammered, "I… I need to get my notebook from the library first."
Reyhan nodded. "I'll come."
"No!" she blurted. "You stay."
Reyhan raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
"Because," she said, scrambling for an excuse, "the librarian… doesn't like you."
Sia snorted. Zayden looked like he wanted to laugh but was too polite.
Reyhan just shrugged. "Fine. I'll wait here."
Aira escaped toward the library like she was running from danger.
Sia followed her halfway, whispering loudly,
"Babe, he LISTENS to you. This man is whipped."
"I don't want him whipped!" Aira whisper-shrieked.
"Yes, you do."
"No, I—"
Sia stopped walking and gave her a look.
A knowing, older-sister, you're in denial look.
"Aira," Sia said softly, "your rules aren't working anymore."
Aira opened her mouth but nothing came out.
Because Sia was right.
Her rules weren't protecting her.
They were just exposing the fact that Reyhan Malhotra affected her more than she wanted to admit.
A lot more.
---
Aira grabbed her notebook from the library desk and took a deep breath.
Okay.
She would go back, tell Reyhan she needed space, and walk home with Zayden this once.
Simple.
Clear.
Logical.
But the moment she stepped back into the hallway—
Reyhan wasn't alone.
A girl stood beside him.
Pretty. Confident. Smiling at him like she knew him well.
Aira slowed.
The girl touched Reyhan's arm.
Reyhan stepped back slightly but didn't push her away.
Aira's stomach twisted.
Something unpleasant bloomed in her chest.
Jealousy.
Real, actual jealousy.
She hated it.
She walked toward them before she could stop herself.
Reyhan saw her instantly.
His whole expression changed—eyes lighting up, shoulders straightening, attention snapping fully to her.
The girl beside him noticed and frowned. "Oh? Who's she?"
Reyhan answered instantly.
"Aira."
Just that.
Her name.
Like it mattered.
The girl blinked. "Oh. The new girl?"
She smiled politely at Aira. "Hi, I'm Tania. Reyhan and I—"
"We're not anything," Reyhan said sharply.
Tania raised an eyebrow. "Wow. Chill. I was just saying we're classmates."
Reyhan didn't apologize.
He just kept looking at Aira.
Aira's heart tripped over itself.
Why did he sound so defensive?
Why did her chest feel warm?
Why did she suddenly feel… relieved?
She swallowed. "We should go."
Reyhan nodded immediately. "Yeah."
Tania looked between them, smirked knowingly, and walked off. "Have fun, lovebirds."
Aira turned bright red. "W–We're NOT—"
Reyhan stepped closer, voice low. "Ignore her."
Aira started walking toward the gate. Reyhan matched her pace—quietly, not teasing, just being there.
After a moment, she spoke softly.
"You didn't have to answer like that."
"Like what?"
"Like she said something wrong."
Reyhan's jaw tightened. "She did."
Aira blinked. "Reyhan… why does it bother you when someone assumes things about us?"
He didn't answer right away.
Then—
"Because I don't want anyone thinking something that's not true."
Her heart dropped.
Not true.
Not true.
Of course it wasn't true.
She forced a smile. "Right. Yeah. We're not—"
Reyhan cut her off quietly.
"Not yet."
Aira stopped walking.
Completely.
Reyhan kept going until he realized she wasn't beside him. He turned back, expression unreadable.
Aira's voice trembled. "W–What did you just say?"
Reyhan walked back toward her, slow, deliberate.
Close enough that she felt his warmth.
"I said," he murmured, "it's not true yet."
Aira's heart went into panic mode.
"Reyhan…"
He leaned closer—barely—his voice quiet enough that only she could hear it.
"You asked why I act the way I do."
His eyes softened.
"This is why."
Her breath hitched.
She took a step back.
He let her.
Because he always did.
"I—I need to go," she whispered.
"Okay," he said gently. "I'll walk with you."
"No," she said quickly. "Please. I need a minute."
Reyhan went still.
Then nodded once.
Respectfully.
Softly.
"I'll give you that."
Aira turned away fast.
Her heart was exploding.
Her rules were useless.
Her logic was fried.
Because for the first time…
She realized Reyhan Malhotra wasn't playing with her.
Not even a little.
RULE #16: Don't let Reyhan Malhotra get close enough to hear your heartbeat.
Because the closer he gets…
the louder it becomes.