When Aira walked back into the classroom, her pulse was still misbehaving.
Zayden raised an eyebrow. "Everything okay?"
Sia leaned forward, whisper-shouting,
"GIRL. WHY DO YOU LOOK LIKE YOU JUST HAD A ROMANTIC SIDE QUEST??"
Aira ignored both of them and slid into her seat.
For a moment, she thought maybe Reyhan wouldn't come.
Maybe she'd imagined the softness in his voice.
Maybe she'd misunderstood everything.
But then—
The door opened.
Reyhan walked in.
Not with swagger.
Not with cocky confidence.
Not with the usual "I own this room" energy.
He walked in quietly.
Calmly.
Like he was choosing not to take up too much space.
His eyes found Aira instantly.
And for a second, the world felt too still.
He walked toward her desk, pulled out the chair beside her, and sat—
not dramatically, not loudly, not teasing.
Just… sat.
Aira's heart did a full somersault.
Sia slapped her thigh, mouthing, "OH. MY. GOD."
Aira tried focusing on her book, but her brain was acting like a toddler who just inhaled sugar.
Reyhan leaned slightly toward her.
Not enough for anyone else to notice.
But enough that she could feel the warmth radiating from him.
"You okay?" he murmured.
Aira nearly dropped her pen. "I'm fine."
"Liar," he said quietly.
She glared. "Can you NOT call me a liar in front of the entire class?"
"Nobody heard," he said simply. "Just me."
"Well, you hearing it is the problem."
"Why?" he asked, leaning a fraction closer.
Aira swallowed.
Because he made everything too real.
Too intense.
Too noticeable.
"Because," she whispered, "you make it sound like you know me better than I know myself."
Reyhan's lips curved.
Not a smirk.
Not a tease.
Just something dangerously soft.
"Maybe I do."
Aira's stomach flipped so fast she almost panicked.
Zayden turned from the row behind them. "Aira, if you need help with the assignment—"
"I got it," Reyhan said immediately.
Zayden blinked. "I wasn't talking to you."
"I answered anyway."
Aira elbowed Reyhan under the desk.
"What is wrong with you?"
"Ow," he whispered dramatically. "Violence?? At your big age??"
She nearly burst out laughing.
But then—
the teacher announced a new seating rotation for a group activity.
"Pair up with the person sitting next to you," the teacher said.
Aira froze.
Reyhan turned to her with a slow grin.
"Looks like fate wants me here."
"It's a random rotation," she muttered.
"No such thing," he said softly.
Aira pretended to open her notebook, except her brain was busy screaming internally.
Reyhan leaned closer to look at her handwriting.
A normal thing.
A casual thing.
Except the space between them was tiny.
Barely an inch.
His shoulder brushed hers.
Her breath hitched.
He noticed instantly.
"You always do that," he murmured.
"Do what?" she whispered.
"Stop breathing when I get close."
Aira nearly imploded. "I DO NOT—"
"You do."
His voice was low, quiet, almost fond.
"And I'm not making fun of you."
Aira stared at him, stunned.
He continued, "I just… notice it."
Her heart twisted.
He did notice everything.
Too much.
Too clearly.
Too honestly.
She lowered her gaze. "Reyhan… why do you pay so much attention to me?"
A silence.
A deep one.
Then—
"Because," he said gently, "you're the one person who looks at me like I'm more than the mistakes I make."
Aira stiffened.
Her chest ached with something she didn't know how to name.
"Reyhan…"
He looked away, giving her space even though she hadn't asked for it.
"You don't have to say anything," he murmured. "Just… don't disappear again."
Aira nodded slowly. "I won't. Not unless you want me to."
His eyes snapped back to hers, sharp.
A little offended.
A little vulnerable.
"I'll never want that," he said quietly.
Aira felt her heartbeat echo in her ears.
They turned back to the assignment, but neither of them was really looking at the page.
Their shoulders brushed again.
This time…
Aira didn't pull away.
RULE #20: Don't sit beside Reyhan Malhotra when you're nervous.
Because he'll hear the breaths you try to hide…
and he'll remember every single one.