The campus looked scrubbed clean by rain, sky sharp and blue like it had never stormed at all.
Ayan sat under the glass roof of the atrium, notebook open, pretending to read.
And then—
> "Morning, stranger."
That voice.
Too bright. Too easy.
He looked up, expecting shadows. Instead, Kairo stood there grinning, hands in his pockets like he hadn't dragged Ayan through hell in the dark last night.
> "You're early," Kairo said, dropping into the chair across from him without asking.
"Planning world domination, or just drowning in homework?"
Ayan stared, sharp as a blade.
> "You're loud."
> "You missed me."
The words were playful. Harmless on the surface.
But Kairo's eyes—dark, unwavering—told a different story.
Ayan dropped his gaze, ice sliding back over raw edges.
> "You're delusional."
> "Maybe."
Kairo leaned back, lazy smile in place.
But his fingers drummed slow against the table, a rhythm that felt like a countdown.
For the next hour, he played it well—jokes, easy chatter, smiles for everyone else in the room.
Normal.
Perfectly normal.
And yet—
Every glance Ayan caught was a trap disguised as warmth.
Every laugh felt like bait.
By the time Kairo stood to leave, Ayan's jaw ached from clenching.
> "See you later," Kairo said lightly, slinging his bag over his shoulder.
Then, as he passed—low enough for only Ayan to hear—
"Don't run too far. You'll miss the fun part."
And then he was gone, sunlight pouring where he'd stood, leaving Ayan frozen in a room that suddenly felt too small.
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