Mani sat in the corner of a noisy café just off campus, though he barely noticed the chatter of students or the hiss of the espresso machine. His notebook lay open in front of him, pages filled with half-scribbled ideas and crossed-out schemes.
None of it felt good enough.
Flowers. Too cliché.
Dinner. Already failed.
Waiting outside her classes. Made him look desperate.
No—he needed something bigger. Something she couldn't ignore.
He drummed his fingers against the page, replaying the scene from earlier: Bryant sliding in beside her like he belonged there, the way Brooklyn had leaned toward him, the way she'd ignored Mani's calls.
His teeth clenched.
Brooklyn wasn't pulling away because she didn't care. She was pulling away because Bryant was poisoning her. Twisting her view. Making her see him as the villain.
That wasn't fair.
That wasn't right.
He was the one who noticed her first, who cared enough to plan dinners, who waited outside her classes just to make sure she got back safe. Bryant just showed up when it was convenient, and somehow he was the one she smiled at.
Mani's pen snapped in his grip, ink spilling across the page.
No. He wouldn't let Bryant win.
He leaned back, staring at the ceiling until an idea clicked into place. Slowly, his lips curled into a smile.
If Brooklyn couldn't see the difference on her own, he would show her. Show her who truly cared. Who truly belonged at her side.
Something public. Something undeniable.
He pulled out his phone and scrolled through his contacts until he found the one he wanted: a student who worked with the campus events committee. Mani's fingers flew across the screen.
"Hey. I need your help planning something special. Big. On campus. For someone important to me."
The reply came quickly: "What kind of special?"
Mani's smile sharpened. "The kind that makes sure everyone knows she's mine."
He set the phone down, his pulse racing with excitement.
This would work. This had to work.
Because once Brooklyn saw how far he was willing to go, she'd realize what he already knew: they were meant to be together.
And if Bryant tried to get in the way again?
Mani's eyes darkened, his smile fading into something harder.
Then Bryant would learn what it meant to lose.