Ryu barely touched her breakfast.
Her hands still trembled from the night before, though her mind remembered nothing — just heat, panic, and darkness.
Arjun watched her quietly, backpack slung over his shoulder.
"I'll drop you today," he said flatly.
She nodded.
No questions. No explanations.
But when she got on the back of his bike, she could feel it.
He knew.
He saw something last night he wasn't ready to explain.
The ride was silent.
Except for the part where Arjun glanced at her through the mirror and said:
"You don't have to hide the shaking."
She looked away.
So did he.
Section C was already filling up when Ryu stepped inside the building.
The hallway buzzed with voices and footsteps.
She held her bag tightly and kept her head down, walking straight—
Until someone pushed her.
Hard.
A boy's shoulder slammed into her back — too forceful to be an accident.
Her foot twisted. The world tilted.
But before the floor could meet her —
Two strong hands caught her.
Reyan.
She crashed into him.
Her face hit his chest. His arms were firm around her waist.
Time froze.
And then—
The boys started laughing.
"Oyeee, love story in motion!"
"Rey bro, catching feelings now?"
"Careful, Ryu, you'll melt his icy heart."
"One catch and she's already blushing!"
Ryu's cheeks flared with heat. She backed away immediately.
Reyan's jaw clenched.
His hands dropped from her like she'd burned him.
"Watch it," he snapped, voice cold.
"I—someone pushed me—" she started.
"I'm not your bodyguard," he muttered and turned sharply, brushing past the snickering boys.
Inside the classroom, every seat was taken.
Except one.
Beside Reyan.
Ryu's stomach sank.
She hesitated, but Kabir caught her eye from a nearby bench. He raised an eyebrow as if to say "You're strong enough. Sit."
Avi just gave her a small nod — calm and steady.
She sat beside Rey silently.
He didn't look at her.
But his grip on his pen was too tight.
Like he was trying to hold back a storm.
From behind, the teasing continued in whispers:
"Our icy president has a soft spot now."
"Don't fall again, Ryu — or Rey might propose next time."
"She's the first girl to touch him and live."
Kabir turned around sharply. "Shut it, morons."
Avi added without turning, "Unless you want your lunch inside your shoes."
Silence returned.
But Ryu's ears still burned.
Sometimes falling hurts less than being caught.
Especially when the whole world is watching — and laughing.