Aina doesn't respond right away.
But her heart flutters at that—just a little.
And she doesn't pull away when he walks beside her.
The café is just a short walk from campus, tucked behind a row of quiet bookshops and tall trees that sway gently in the spring breeze. It has a charm of its own—wooden signs, ivy crawling up the brick walls, and soft acoustic music floating through the air.
Aina walks ahead, her steps more relaxed now. As they approach, Rayyan slows down, taking in the place with a curious glance.
He hasn't been here before.
The café has both indoor and outdoor seating, but the outdoor area is what draws them in—lush with greenery, hanging plants, and small stone paths winding between wooden tables. Vines curl over the pergola above, casting soft shadows on the wooden deck.
And then there are the animals.
Two British Shorthair cats lounge near a corner table, one gray and the other a pale cream. They stretch lazily in the sun, occasionally blinking at the people around them like royalty surveying their kingdom.
A fluffy white Samoyed lies beneath another table, its tail thumping gently against the floor every time someone passes by.
Aina's eyes light up the moment she spots them. She crouches down for a second to greet one of the cats, who purrs and nudges against her hand like it remembers her.
Rayyan watches her, eyebrows lifting slightly in surprise.
"You come here often?" he asks, his tone casual.
She straightens, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Sometimes. It's... peaceful. And the animals are friendly."
He smiles to himself. He hadn't expected that, but he likes seeing this side of her. Softer. Unfiltered.
"I didn't take you for the café-and-cats type," he teases gently as they find an outdoor table near a cluster of flowering plants.
"Well," she says, sitting down across from him, "you don't know everything about me."
Rayyan raises a brow, leaning forward on his elbows. "Not yet."
Aina blinks, momentarily thrown by the way he says it—quiet, confident, like he fully intends to change that.
She looks away quickly, pretending to study the menu, though she knows it by heart.
Rayyan smiles, watching her—knowing he's starting to peel back the layers, one by one.
They sit across from each other, the quiet hum of the café blending with the rustling leaves above. Aina tries to focus on the flowers nearby, or the cats lazily sunbathing at the edge of the patio—but it isn't working.
Because Rayyan's eyes are on her.
Unmoving. Quiet. Curious.
His gaze isn't intense, but steady—like he's trying to figure her out, and enjoying every second of it.
Aina shifts in her seat, pretending to brush imaginary dust from her sleeve. Her cheeks are already burning, and she curses herself silently for being so obvious.
Why is he looking at me like that?
She peeks at him through her lashes, only to find him still watching her, a subtle smile playing at the corners of his lips.
Her heart thuds.
Rayyan raises an eyebrow slightly, clearly noticing the blush spreading on her face—but before she can say anything, he looks away, giving her space. Breaking the silence just enough.
"So," he says lightly, "what do you usually get here?"
Just then, the waiter approaches their table with a polite nod. "Ready to order?"
Rayyan leans back slightly and glances at Aina. "Ladies first."
Aina clears her throat and looks up at the waiter, trying to compose herself. "One cold coffee, please."
Rayyan gives a small nod. "Make that two. And…"—he pauses for a second, then adds with a grin—"one choco lava cake. Please."
The waiter scribbles the order, gives them a short bow, and walks away.
Aina glances at him, surprised. "You like lava cake?"
Rayyan smirks. "No idea. But it feels like a lava cake kind of moment."
Aina stares at him for a second, then lets out a small laugh—soft, almost surprised at herself.
Rayyan relaxes into his chair, satisfied. He isn't just here for coffee. He's here for this—to see her laugh like that, eyes crinkling, shoulders loosening.
And maybe, just maybe, she's starting to let him in.
The breeze drifts through the patio, carrying the faint scent of flowers and fresh coffee.
Aina sips her cold coffee slowly, trying to act casual. But her mind isn't quiet. The question has been sitting with her for days now, and with the easy calm between them, she finally can't hold it in any longer.
She looks up at him, eyes narrowing just a little—not accusing, but definitely curious.
"So… Rayyan," she says slowly, setting her glass down, "I've been meaning to ask you this for days."
He raises an eyebrow, leaning forward slightly with interest. "Yeah?"
"How did you even find my account?" she asks, tilting her head. "We met once, at the exhibition. It's not like I gave you my full name or anything."
Rayyan's lips curl into a small, knowing smile.
Aina crosses her arms. "Don't tell me you just guessed."
He chuckles, eyes glinting. "I didn't guess. I remembered your badge name, and... well, I might've used some creative searching."
She blinks. "So you stalked me."
"I prefer 'investigated with dedication,'" he says, mock-serious.
Aina rolls her eyes, but she's smiling now. "You really went through all that trouble?"
Rayyan shrugs, his voice softer now. "Yeah. I wanted to talk to you again."
That shuts her up for a second. The way he says it—not playful, not dramatic—just honest.
She looks down, fingers brushing the edge of her cup. Her cheeks are warm again.
"You could've just asked for my number," she murmurs.
He leans back with a grin. "Next time, I will."
Rayyan takes another sip of his cold coffee, his gaze still casually locked on her.
"I even know your Instagram," he says suddenly, like it's no big deal.
Aina blinks. "Wait—what?"
He leans back, resting one arm along the back of his chair. "Your username isn't that hard to figure out, you know."
She narrows her eyes. "But I don't even have my picture on it."
Rayyan's lips curve into a smug smile. "Yeah. I know."
Aina stares at him, her confusion mixing with surprise. "You... actually found me?"
He shrugs, unbothered. "I could only see the profile picture, though. But I recognized the cat."
Aina freezes for a second. "You mean my orange tabby?" she asks, her voice tinged with disbelief.
Rayyan grins. "Yep. Sitting on a windowsill, looking like it's the king of the world."
Her mouth parts slightly, and she can't help but laugh despite herself. "You actually looked at my profile picture?"
He raises an eyebrow. "Of course I did. I wasn't going to message just any random person with a cute cat, you know."
Aina groans softly, hiding her face in her hands. "Oh god. That account is just books, cats, and food pictures."
Rayyan chuckles. "And somehow, that was still the most interesting profile I came across. If anything, it made me more curious."
She lowers her hands slowly, feeling her cheeks warm. This time, she doesn't try to hide the shy smile creeping across her lips.
"Okay," she says quietly, "I'll admit, that was smooth."
Rayyan's eyes gleam, mischief dancing in them. "I haven't even started yet."
The waiter arrives with their order, setting down the cold coffees and the choco lava cake between them. Aina can't help but glance at the cake, her stomach rumbling slightly at the sight of it. The warm, gooey chocolate slowly oozes out as the cake is cut, tempting her to take a bite.
They both dig in, the conversation flowing easily now, a comfortable silence between them as they enjoy the sweet treat.
Aina takes a deep breath, leaning back in her chair as the last of her coffee disappears. She's starting to feel at ease again, the initial tension dissipating, but something still lingers in the air. It's hard to ignore the way Rayyan keeps glancing at her, the softness in his gaze that hasn't quite left.
She's just about to stand up, grabbing her bag, when Rayyan's voice stops her.
"Aina," he says quietly, his tone a little more serious now.
She turns, surprised to see the look on his face—genuine, yet expectant. There's a quiet moment between them, the kind that holds more than just casual conversation.
"Yeah?" she asks, her heart suddenly picking up its pace.
Rayyan shifts in his seat, leaning forward just slightly, and with a look that's both casual and intense, he asks, "Can I have your number?"
Aina freezes for a second, her eyes widening. She hadn't expected him to ask so soon—at least not this directly.
Her lips part, and for a moment, she isn't sure what to say. Should she make a joke? Brush it off? Or... actually give it to him?
Rayyan seems to sense her hesitation, but instead of pushing, he simply gives her a gentle, almost apologetic smile.
"No pressure," he adds. "I just thought… maybe we could talk more. Outside of just random coffee dates, you know?"
Aina feels the weight of the question settle between them, and her pulse quickens. There's no teasing this time—just Rayyan, quietly asking for something real.
She hesitates, then lets out a soft breath, her fingers tapping against her phone.
"Okay," she says, her voice almost a whisper. "But don't make me regret it."
Rayyan's smile widens as he hands her his phone, his eyes sparkling with something softer than before.
"Promise you won't," he says, almost too earnestly.
After a brief pause, Rayyan's eyes soften, his gaze lingering on her as she stands to gather her things.
"You don't have to go just yet, do you?" he asks, his voice light but laced with something more. "Let me walk you back. I'll drop you from campus."
Aina pauses, glancing up at him. "What? Why?"
Rayyan stands up, his height suddenly making the space between them feel a little smaller. "Because," he says, taking a step closer, "I know it's late, and I don't think you should walk alone. Besides, my car's near campus anyway."
Aina hesitates. She's not used to people offering to walk her somewhere, let alone drop her off afterward. And something about the way Rayyan says it with that quiet insistence makes it hard to turn him down.
"I can just take a cab," she tries to protest, her voice already losing conviction.
Rayyan shakes his head with a small smile. "It's not the same. Let me do this. I insist."
She meets his gaze, and something about the way he's looking at her—steady, calm—makes the words catch in her throat. There's no pressure, just presence.
"Okay," she says softly, her voice quieter than she intends. "But only because you've got that 'insistent' charm going for you."
Rayyan grins, his usual teasing smirk returning. "Told you—I haven't even started yet."
Aina rolls her eyes, but she can't stop the smile pulling at her lips. They step out of the café together, the soft clinking of mugs and laughter fading behind them. The sky is deeper now, the streetlights flickering on, and the air carries that lingering hint of spring.
As they walk back toward campus, Aina glances sideways at him. "You really didn't have to offer, you know."
Rayyan gives a small shrug. "Maybe. But I wanted to."
By the time they reach the edge of campus, the city feels quieter, more still. Rayyan leads the way toward where his car is parked, tucked just outside the university gates.
Aina settles into the passenger seat, still a little unsure why she agreed so easily. Rayyan gets in beside her, the engine humming softly to life as he pulls away from the curb.
She reaches for the seatbelt, but her bracelet snags on the fabric of the seat. She frowns, trying to tug it loose, but it's stuck.
"Seriously?" she mutters under her breath.
Rayyan glances over. "You okay?"
"It's nothing," she says, still tugging. "My bracelet's just caught on something."
He watches her for a second, then leans over, brushing past her to take a closer look. The space between them shrinks fast—too fast—and suddenly he's right there, the scent of coffee and something faintly citrus clinging to him.
Aina's breath stumbles.
His fingers reach for the bracelet, gently working it free. His arm brushes hers, warm through the fabric. And for just a moment, their faces are close—closer than they should be.
Rayyan's eyes flick up to hers.
And everything slows.
Then, with a soft click, he pulls the seatbelt over her and locks it into place.
"You should always wear your seatbelt," he says, his voice low. "Safety first."
Aina doesn't respond. She can't—not right away. Her heart's beating too fast, and she's way too aware of him sitting just inches away.
Rayyan draws back casually, as if the moment hadn't just tied her stomach into a thousand quiet knots.
"Better?" he asks, smirking slightly.
She exhales, swatting his hand half-heartedly as she recovers her bracelet. "Thanks," she mutters, flustered.
He grins. "Anytime. Though I might start charging for rescue services."
The drive continues in soft silence, the city lights flickering across the windshield, the air charged with something unspoken. Aina doesn't know what this is between them, but it's more than a casual ride home. That much is clear.