Aira Kapoor thought she understood chaos.
Exams.
Deadlines.
Rumors.
Sia's mouth.
But nothing prepared her for the silence that followed Reyhan's words.
You're here because you want to be.
She didn't reply.
She couldn't.
Because replying meant admitting something out loud that she wasn't ready to face — not in front of him, not in front of herself.
The rest of the class passed in a blur.
Aira wrote notes she wouldn't remember.
Answered questions she didn't hear.
Avoided looking at the boy beside her whose presence felt louder than the entire room.
Reyhan didn't push.
That was the worst part.
He didn't tease.
Didn't smirk.
Didn't corner her with words.
He just… stayed.
Like he wasn't afraid of silence.
Like he knew it would eventually betray her.
When the bell rang, Aira stood up too quickly, her chair scraping loudly.
"I'm leaving," she blurted.
Reyhan stood too — slower, calmer.
"Okay."
She froze.
That wasn't the reaction she expected.
"You're… not coming?" she asked quietly.
Reyhan met her eyes.
Not intense.
Not playful.
Honest.
"I don't want to scare you," he said.
"So I'll follow only if you ask."
Her chest tightened.
Why did he make things harder by being gentle?
Aira slung her bag over her shoulder. "I didn't say you scare me."
"I know," he replied softly. "But you're scared anyway."
She turned away before her face betrayed her.
---
Outside, the sky was cloudy — grey but not dark.
That in-between state.
Just like her.
She walked toward the empty corridor near the staircase, hoping to calm down, to breathe, to stop feeling like her emotions were about to spill everywhere.
She almost succeeded.
Almost.
"Aira."
Her name.
From his mouth.
Not loud.
Not teasing.
Just… her name.
She stopped walking.
Didn't turn.
"Why do you say it like that?" she asked quietly.
Reyhan stepped closer — not invading her space, just close enough to be real.
"Like what?"
"Like it means something," she whispered.
Silence.
Then his voice — lower than before.
"Because it does."
Her heart broke open.
She finally turned around.
"What do you want from me?" she asked — not angry, not accusing. Just tired. Honest.
Reyhan didn't hesitate.
"I want you to stop thinking you're alone," he said.
"I want you to stop running every time something feels real."
"And maybe—" his voice softened, "—I want you to choose me back. Even a little."
Aira's throat closed.
"That's not fair," she whispered.
"I know," he said gently. "I'm not asking for fair. I'm asking for honest."
She laughed weakly. "You're asking for too much."
"Am I?" he asked softly.
"Because you already do half of it without realizing."
She looked away.
He stepped closer — still careful, still giving her the option to leave.
"You look for me," he continued.
"You come back."
"You don't push me away when it matters."
Her voice cracked. "Because I don't know how."
Reyhan nodded. "Then don't. Just… stay."
Aira felt tears sting again — not falling, just threatening.
"This isn't a game to me," she whispered.
His eyes softened completely.
"It's not a game to me either."
That was it.
That was the line that shattered her last excuse.
She exhaled shakily.
"I'm scared," she admitted.
Reyhan didn't smile.
Didn't celebrate.
He just said quietly,
"So am I."
And somehow… that made everything feel safer.
Aira took a small step forward.
Not close enough to touch.
But close enough to matter.
She whispered, "I don't know what comes next."
Reyhan answered without hesitation.
"Neither do I."
Then, softer—
"But I want to find out with you."
Aira closed her eyes for one second.
Then she opened them.
And didn't step back.
RULE #25: Don't let Reyhan Malhotra say your name like it's a promise.
Because once he does…
you'll stop pretending it doesn't mean everything.