The rain started at dawn.
Amara noticed it when she woke up, the steady tapping against the window filling the room with a quiet rhythm. For a moment, she forgot everything—last night's argument, the tension, the words that had cut deeper than intended.
Then she turned slightly.
Kian was already awake.
He sat on his bed, elbows resting on his knees, staring at the floor like he'd been there for a while.
Neither of them spoke.
The silence felt different this morning. Not sharp. Not heavy. Just… fragile.
"I'm making tea," he said finally. "You want?"
She nodded before she could overthink it. "Yes."
He moved around the room carefully, like sudden sounds might shatter something. When he handed her the cup, their fingers brushed again—longer this time.
Neither pulled away.
"About yesterday," she began.
He shook his head gently. "You don't have to."
"But I want to."
He looked at her then, really looked at her, and her breath caught. His eyes were softer than usual. Less guarded.
"I didn't mean what I said," she continued quietly. "I was frustrated. And scared."
"Of me?"
"Of… feeling things I didn't plan for."
The words hung between them.
Kian exhaled slowly. "You think I planned for this?"
She met his gaze. "Did you?"
"No," he said. "But I'm not pretending it's not happening."
Her heart skipped.
Outside, thunder rolled faintly.
"I don't want to complicate your life," he said. "You already have enough going on."
"You don't," she replied before she could stop herself.
He smiled faintly. "See? That's the problem."
She laughed softly, then fell quiet again.
"If things were different…" she started.
He leaned forward slightly. "If things were different?"
She shook her head. "Forget it."
But he didn't look away. "Amara."
Her name sounded different on his lips now. Not casual. Not teasing.
"Yes?"
"I don't regret this," he said. "Whatever this is."
Her chest tightened. "Neither do I."
The moment stretched.
Too close.
Too honest.
Slowly, deliberately, he reached out and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
She froze.
His hand lingered for half a second longer than it should have.
The door slammed open.
"Guys—"
Sade stopped short.
Her eyes flicked between them. The proximity. The stillness.
"Oh," she said quietly. "I'm interrupting something."
Kian stepped back immediately.
Amara looked away.
"No," Amara said quickly. "Just… talking."
Sade studied them for a long moment, then nodded. "Right. Well. Dean's office is looking for you, Kian."
He frowned. "For what?"
"No idea. But it sounded serious."
The air shifted instantly.
"I'll be back," he said, grabbing his jacket.
As he reached the door, he paused and looked at Amara.
"We'll finish this conversation," he said softly.
She nodded.
But as the door closed behind him, a strange unease settled in her chest.
Because something told her—
Things were about to change.