Ariana turned. There he was—Kian, standing a few feet away, hands in his pockets, expression calm and unreadable. His hair was damp from the mist, small droplets catching the light.
"I… just enjoying the morning," Ariana said, attempting casualness, though her heart pounded unexpectedly fast. 🌄
"Same," he replied. His gaze swept over the courtyard, then rested briefly on her. "It's rare to see the world quiet like this."
They walked side by side, the soft light of the lanterns guiding their path. Neither spoke much; words weren't necessary. Sometimes, the silence itself carried more warmth than conversation ever could.
Ariana noticed the way his shoulders moved with each step, the quiet rhythm of his presence. She felt drawn to him in a way she couldn't fully explain. Every glance, every small movement, seemed to leave an imprint on her mind.
As they reached the edge of the garden, Ariana paused, unsure whether to say something.
"You're… different in the mornings," she whispered finally.
Kian glanced at her, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips. "Maybe mornings are honest," he said softly. "No pretenses. No distractions. Just… real."
Her chest tightened at his words. She realized that in his presence, even a simple morning walk could feel like something profound—something she didn't want to end.
They lingered together in the mist, shoulders nearly touching, hearts quietly acknowledging each other, without ever needing to speak.
By the time the bell rang for classes, neither of them moved first. Both knew that this shared quiet, this unspoken closeness, was theirs alone. ⌚