By lunchtime, the rumors had evolved.
They always did.
What started as concern had turned into certainty.
"He always does this."
"She's just another phase."
"Wait till she gets hurt."
Aira heard it all.
Not whispered carefully anymore.
Said openly.
Like facts people felt entitled to.
She stood near the notice board, pretending to read something she didn't care about, fingers clenched around her bag strap.
Sia was pacing beside her like a bodyguard.
"I swear, if one more person says 'for your own good,' I'm going to lose my mind."
Aira exhaled slowly. "Let them talk."
Sia froze. "Since when are YOU this calm?"
Aira didn't answer.
Because calm wasn't the right word.
She was… decided.
Across the courtyard, Reyhan stood with a group of boys.
Laughing.
Joking.
Looking exactly like the version everyone loved to misunderstand.
Someone from the group nudged him.
"So, Malhotra… heard your past came back to haunt you."
Reyhan's smile faltered — just for a second.
Another boy added, louder this time,
"Guess some girls don't learn."
That one was meant to travel.
It did.
Aira felt it hit her chest like a shove.
Reyhan didn't react.
Didn't snap.
Didn't defend himself.
He just stepped away from the group.
That was when Aira moved.
Not rushing.
Not dramatic.
She crossed the courtyard steadily, every step grounding her.
Sia gasped softly behind her.
"Oh. She's doing it."
Reyhan looked up when Aira stopped in front of him.
His expression shifted instantly — concern first, then surprise.
"Aira…?" he said quietly. "You don't have to—"
She didn't let him finish.
She turned slightly, just enough that others could see.
Not holding him.
Not clinging.
Just standing there.
Beside him.
She looked at the boy who'd spoken earlier.
"Say it again," Aira said calmly.
The boy blinked. "Say what?"
"What you said about him," she replied.
"And say it like you're sure."
Silence spread.
People stopped pretending not to watch.
The boy scoffed. "Relax. I'm just saying—"
"No," Aira interrupted gently.
"You're repeating things you didn't experience."
She turned to Reyhan briefly — not asking permission, just checking.
He didn't stop her.
So she continued.
"You don't know how he listens," she said.
"You don't know how careful he is when it matters."
"You don't know how much he holds back."
Reyhan's throat tightened.
"And you definitely don't get to decide what kind of person he is," she finished.
The boy shifted, uncomfortable.
"Didn't mean anything."
"I know," Aira said.
"That's the problem."
She turned back to Reyhan.
Didn't say I choose you.
Didn't say I trust you.
She just asked softly,
"Ready to go?"
Reyhan stared at her.
Not shocked.
Not embarrassed.
Undone.
"Yeah," he said quietly. "Yeah, I am."
They walked away together.
Not fast.
Not hiding.
The whispers followed — but they sounded weaker now.
Later, on the stairs, Reyhan finally spoke.
"You didn't have to do that."
Aira looked ahead. "I know."
"You don't even know everything about me."
She nodded. "I know."
"Then why—"
She stopped walking.
Turned to him.
"Because I'm tired of people telling me what to be afraid of," she said.
"And I'm not afraid of you."
Reyhan swallowed hard.
"What if they're right?" he asked quietly.
"What if I mess up?"
Aira stepped closer — close enough to matter.
"Then we deal with it," she said.
"Together. Or not at all."
That was it.
That was the choice.
Not loud.
Not dramatic.
Just real.
Reyhan nodded once, eyes shining with something he didn't try to hide anymore.
"Thank you," he whispered.
Aira smiled faintly.
"Don't make me regret it."
He smiled back.
"Never."
They continued upstairs, shoulders brushing lightly.
And for the first time, the rumors didn't feel like a threat.
They felt… irrelevant.
RULE #33: Don't believe everything they say about him.
Because people talk from a distance…
and you chose to stand close enough to know the truth