Aira Kapoor walked into her next class praying the universe would give her five minutes—just FIVE—to breathe without Reyhan Malhotra rearranging her heart like a messy desk.
But the universe had other plans.
She reached her seat only to realize…
she'd forgotten her notebook.
Her soul left her body.
"Not again," she whispered.
Sia glanced over. "What happened?"
"My notebook. I left it in the library."
"Oh," Sia said. "Should I come with—"
But someone else was already rising from the back of the classroom.
Reyhan.
Aira blinked. "Where are you going?"
"To get it."
She nearly choked. "YOU don't even know where I kept it!"
He shrugged. "I'll find it."
"Reyhan, NO—"
But he was already gone, leaving Aira staring helplessly after him while her heart threw itself at the walls of her chest like a trapped cat.
Sia smirked. "Your menace fetches things for you now. That's basically marriage."
"SIA!"
---
Five minutes later, the classroom door opened.
Reyhan walked in with her notebook in hand.
Aira's jaw dropped. "How did you—"
He placed it gently on her desk.
"You left it under the back shelf," he said like it was obvious.
She stared. "How did you know that??"
Reyhan shrugged.
"You always hide your things in the last place you sit when you're overwhelmed."
Aira froze.
He said it so simply.
But the meaning wasn't simple at all.
He'd noticed.
He'd memorized her habits.
He'd paid attention to the tiny details she didn't even know she had.
Before she could speak, he added softly,
"You were shaky earlier. I figured you'd leave it somewhere you stopped to breathe."
Her chest tightened painfully.
Sia squealed under her breath. "HE KNOWS YOUR ANXIETY PATTERNS?? BABE, MARRY HIM RIGHT NOW."
Aira shot her a look that could kill a plant.
Reyhan, meanwhile, pulled out the chair beside her and sat down like he belonged there.
Aira whispered, "You didn't have to get it for me."
"I wanted to."
"You're too much," she muttered.
He smirked. "You say that like it's an insult."
"It IS."
"No, it's not."
"A little."
"Not at all."
Aira wanted to scream.
But then the teacher walked in, and the class quieted.
Aira opened her notebook, trying to ignore the warmth pooling in her chest.
But Reyhan leaned sideways and whispered,
"You okay now?"
Aira nodded stiffly. "Yes."
He nudged her shoulder lightly. "Tell the truth."
"I AM okay."
"Aira."
"I'm—"
Her voice cracked.
She cleared her throat.
"I'm better."
Reyhan nodded like that was enough.
Like she was enough.
---
Halfway through the lesson, the teacher began assigning group tasks.
Pairs again.
Aira didn't even look up.
She already knew who she was stuck with.
Reyhan didn't wait for instructions.
He already slid his desk closer.
Aira sighed. "Why do teachers keep pairing us?"
Reyhan smirked. "Fate."
"It's alphabetical order."
"Then fate invented the alphabet."
Aira nearly choked. "STOP SAYING WEIRD ROMANTIC THINGS IN A SERIOUS VOICE."
"I didn't say it was romantic."
"It sounds romantic!"
"Only because it's me."
Aira's soul malfunctioned.
Zayden turned around. "Aira, want to join our group instead—?"
"No," Reyhan said immediately.
Aira glared. "I can answer for myself!"
Reyhan shrugged. "Then answer."
Aira turned to Zayden.
And the reaction surprised even her.
"I'm okay here," she said softly. "Thanks though."
Reyhan didn't react visibly.
But his foot tapped once under the desk.
Nervous.
Relieved.
Both.
---
While they worked, Aira reached for her pen, but Reyhan held it out before she could even ask.
"You dropped it," he said.
She blinked. "How long were you holding it?"
"Since you dropped it."
"Why didn't you give it back earlier??"
He shrugged. "I liked having something of yours."
Aira nearly fainted.
"REYHAN," she whisper-yelled.
"What? It's a pen, not your soul."
Aira covered her face. "You're impossible."
He leaned closer.
"Yet here you are. Still sitting next to me."
She froze.
Her heart froze.
Everything froze.
He said it calmly.
Simply.
Like it was a truth he'd accepted long before she had.
Aira swallowed. "I'm only here because the teacher—"
His voice dropped low.
"No. You're here because you want to be."
Her breath caught.
Before she could respond, the teacher walked by, and they both sat up straight.
Aira looked away, cheeks warm.
Reyhan whispered, "Stop pretending, Rookie."
She clenched her notebook.
"I'm not pretending."
He smiled softly —
the one that only appeared when he was being too honest.
"You are," he murmured.
"And I'm patient. I'll wait until you stop."
Aira's heart cracked open again.
RULE #24: Don't let Reyhan Malhotra carry your forgotten things.
Because he'll treat them like they matter…
and eventually, you'll realize he's been treating you like that too.