Aira Kapoor expected many things when she reached school the next morning.
Reyhan blocking her locker?
Possible.
Reyhan leaning against the hallway wall like a bored model?
Likely.
Reyhan greeting her with a smirk and a "Good morning, Rookie"?
Almost guaranteed.
But she wasn't prepared for reality.
Reyhan wasn't at the gate.
Wasn't in the hallway.
Wasn't by her locker.
Wasn't anywhere.
For the first time since she transferred, the school felt… quiet.
Too quiet.
Sia appeared beside her, sipping iced coffee. "You look like you lost your emotional support menace."
Aira glared. "Sia."
"What? He's always attached to you like a magnet. It's weird NOT seeing him."
Aira opened her locker, trying not to look bothered.
"I asked for space yesterday. Maybe he's giving it."
Sia froze mid-sip. "He's WHAT?"
Aira shrugged. "I said I needed a minute… and he listened."
Sia slammed her iced coffee on the locker. "GIRL. WHY WOULD YOU SAY THAT? Reyhan is emotional in a quiet way. Now he's probably taking your words too seriously."
Aira groaned. "I didn't think he'd actually listen!"
"Oh, he listens to you," Sia muttered. "Even when he shouldn't."
Aira tried laughing it off, but she felt something uncomfortable growing in her chest.
An emptiness.
A small ache.
She missed him.
Already.
Which was ridiculous.
They weren't even… anything.
She walked into class, hoping he'd magically appear.
He didn't.
His seat was empty.
Aira stared at it too long.
Zayden touched her shoulder gently. "Looking for someone?"
"No," she said too quickly.
Zayden smiled knowingly but didn't push. "Maybe he's just running late."
Aira nodded, relieved. Yes. That was it.
He'd stroll in late, breathe chaos into the room, annoy her within five seconds—
But the bell rang.
And still…
no Reyhan.
Aira's stomach dropped.
She tried focusing on the lecture, but her eyes kept drifting to the doorway.
Nothing.
After fifteen minutes, she whispered to Zayden, "Is Reyhan sick or something?"
Zayden frowned. "Didn't he tell you?"
Aira froze. "Tell me what?"
Zayden leaned closer. "He has counseling this morning."
Aira blinked.
"…Counseling?"
"Yeah," Zayden said softly. "He goes sometimes. School recommended it last year."
Aira stared at her desk.
Counseling.
So he had things he struggled with.
Real things.
Hidden things.
Her rulebook didn't cover this.
Her heart didn't know what to do with this.
She swallowed. "Does he… go alone?"
"Usually," Zayden said. "He doesn't talk about it."
Aira nodded slowly.
Something inside her twisted—
guilt
sadness
and something dangerously close to care.
When class ended, Aira found herself outside the counseling office before her brain could stop her feet.
The door was closed.
She stood there, heart pounding, telling herself she wasn't waiting for him.
She was absolutely waiting for him.
Twenty seconds passed.
Thirty.
A minute.
Then the door clicked.
Aira's breath caught.
Reyhan stepped out, hoodie up, expression unreadable, hands shoved deep into his pockets.
He looked… softer.
Tired.
Human in a way he never allowed himself to be around others.
He stopped when he saw her.
Neither of them said anything for a moment.
Aira suddenly felt like she was standing in the middle of a truth she wasn't ready for.
Reyhan blinked once.
Then looked away.
"You needed space," he said quietly. "I'm giving it."
Her chest tightened painfully.
"I didn't mean like… disappear," she whispered.
He didn't look at her.
Didn't smirk.
Didn't tease.
Just said, "You looked overwhelmed."
"I'm always overwhelmed," she muttered.
"That's why I didn't want to make it worse."
"You're not making it worse."
He finally lifted his eyes.
There was no cockiness.
No mischief.
No armor.
Just honesty.
"…You sure?" he asked.
Aira's throat tightened.
She nodded softly. "Yeah. I'm sure."
He exhaled shakily — almost like he'd been holding his breath since yesterday.
A long silence passed before he spoke again.
"Aira… I never want to be the reason you run away."
Her heart cracked open a little.
"I didn't run," she whispered.
"You tried."
She looked down. "Only because I didn't know how to handle… all this."
Reyhan took a step closer but stopped halfway — as if he was giving her the choice.
"Then let's… figure it out slowly," he said.
Aira's breath caught.
"I don't want you to disappear," she whispered.
He finally—finally—showed a small, real smile.
"Then I won't."
Aira's heart decided to stop behaving.
RULE #18: Don't ask Reyhan Malhotra for distance.
Because he'll give it…
and you'll realize you never wanted it.