Lunch break was my only sacred moment—the one chunk of time I swore to myself I'd use for something other than work emails, investor drama, or grading papers. Today, I just wanted to breathe, maybe binge a little music or scroll through memes without feeling like the world was collapsing.
So, when I pushed open the door to my apartment, the last thing I expected was a ruckus.
There, sprawled out on the living room floor like they owned the place, were Lucian, Kalpo, and Ayaan. The unmistakable sound of laughter bounced off the walls, and from the corner of my eye, I caught the flash of a phone and some dramatic gestures.
Truth or dare? Seriously?
I paused in the doorway, folding my arms with a half-smile tugging at my lips. These three definitely knew how to make a dull afternoon feel like a chaotic party.
Kalpo looked up first, her eyes sparkling as she caught sight of me. "Hey, professor! Join us or what?"
Ayaan just grinned, waving like a little kid who'd been caught doing something they weren't supposed to.
Lucian, though—my Lucian—shifted awkwardly, cheeks already tinged pink, and quickly tried to look anywhere but at me.
"Oh, come on," Kalpo teased, nudging him. "Don't be shy. We're just having fun."
I arched an eyebrow, stepping fully inside and closing the door behind me. "Truth or dare, huh? Guess you all needed a break from being 'serious adults,' huh?"
Ayaan snorted. "Adulting's overrated."
Lucian gave me a side glance, that shy half-smile that always made my heart do this weird little skip. "It's… not as easy as it looks."
I dropped my bag by the couch and crossed my arms. "Prove it. Your turn."
Kalpo clapped her hands like she was hosting a game show. "Okay, Daphne's in. Truth or dare?"
I grinned, the challenge sparking a little fire inside me. "Truth."
They exchanged a quick, mischievous glance before Kalpo fired off, "Alright, what's the most ridiculous thing you've ever done because of a crush?"
The room went silent, and I felt every eye locked on me.
I rolled my shoulders, letting out a breath. "That's classified information."
Lucian chuckled softly, and I caught a glimpse of a teasing sparkle in his eyes. Damn, he was too cute when he was trying not to laugh at me.
Ayaan smirked. "Come on, Daphne. You can't leave us hanging."
I leaned back, giving them all a smirk right back. "Maybe next time."
Kalpo huffed playfully. "Cheeky."
I shook my head, but inside, I was glad for this little escape—the messiness of laughter and teasing, the way Lucian looked like he wanted to say something but was too chicken, and the way, just for a moment, the weight of the world lifted.
"Alright," I said, pushing off the couch, "I'm making lunch. You clowns better clean up before I set the kitchen on fire."
Ayaan whistled. "Damn, boss lady takes no prisoners."
Lucian stretched, flopping back onto the carpet with a soft groan. "I'm too lazy to move."
I tossed a pillow at him. "Move it, Kim."
He grinned and sat up, eyes sparkling as he helped Kalpo gather the empty snack wrappers and scattered cards while I headed into the kitchen.
Lunch came together quick—some stir-fried rice and eggs, easy but filling. We ate together, loud and chaotic, Kalpo stealing bites off Ayaan's plate while Lucian acted like he wasn't enjoying the whole vibe when his smile gave him away.
After lunch, they lounged around the apartment all afternoon, napping, watching dumb videos, arguing about anime characters and which one would win in a fight. Honestly? I kind of loved it.
By dinner time, I decided to cook again. Something simple—pasta with garlic bread, because I was not about to pretend like I was in a Michelin-star kitchen.
"Food's ready, come get it!" I called out.
They came running like kids again, Ayaan acting like he hadn't eaten since the dawn of time. We sat down, stuffed ourselves silly, and somewhere between seconds and thirds, the room got quieter, everyone slowing down like the food coma was hitting.
Kalpo let out a dramatic sigh. "Alright, I should go before I get too comfortable and end up living here."
Ayaan yawned, slumping against the back of the couch. "Same, I've got an 8 AM tomorrow. Gotta pretend to be a good student."
Lucian stayed quiet, his eyelids heavy, the kind of sleepiness that was contagious.
Kalpo gave me a hug and whispered, "Thanks for the chaos, boss lady."
Ayaan grinned. "Later, professor. Later, Kim."
They both headed out into the evening, leaving behind a trail of empty dishes and their lingering laughter.
Lucian stood up slowly, rubbing at his eyes, and I caught that adorable little pout he wore when he was too tired to function.
"Bed," I ordered softly, nudging him toward the hallway.
He didn't even protest this time. "Yeah… night, Daphne."
"Night, babe."
I watched him shuffle off like a sleepy kid, his hair messy, and my heart did that dumb little flutter thing again.
I cleaned up the kitchen, turned off the lights, and changed into one of my oversized shirts for bed.
Curled up beneath my covers, I sighed into the quiet. The day had been loud, messy, and unexpected—and honestly? I wouldn't have traded it for anything.
And maybe… just maybe… I wouldn't mind having them all here again sometime.