Anya sat in the passenger seat, her fingers still loosely intertwined with Alaric's for a moment before he shifted gears, though the warmth of his touch lingered long after.
"Breakfast?" he asked, glancing at her briefly.
Anya nodded. "Only if you're eating too."
He gave a small smile. "I wasn't planning to skip."
A few minutes later, he pulled into a drive-through. The exchange was quick and familiar, and soon the car was filled with the comforting scent of warm food and coffee. Alaric handed her a wrapped sandwich and a drink before taking his own, steering the car back onto the road with practiced ease.
They ate as they drove. Anya stole a glance at him as he focused on the road, noticing how relaxed he seemed despite his packed schedule.
"You've been busy," she said softly.
"So have you," he replied without looking away. "But I've been noticing you're not eating properly."
She let out a small laugh. "You're watching me that closely?"
"Always," he said simply.
The word settled somewhere warm in her chest.
She took another bite, then glanced at him again. "You didn't have to come with me this morning."
"I wanted to," he said, finally turning his head slightly to meet her eyes for a brief second before returning his attention to the road. "And I'll make time for you, no matter how busy things get."
Anya looked down at her hands, her lips curving into a soft smile she didn't try to hide.
When they reached the School of Medicine, the building stood tall and busy, students already moving in and out, the energy of the day fully underway. Alaric slowed the car and pulled up near the entrance.
For a moment, neither of them moved.
Anya turned toward him, adjusting her bag slightly as if delaying the moment she had to leave. "I should go," she said, though her voice was softer than before.
Alaric nodded, but his gaze remained on her.
As she reached for the door handle, his hand gently caught her wrist.
"Wait."
She turned back, her heart skipping slightly at the way he was looking at her.
Without saying anything more, he leaned closer, his hand sliding lightly to her cheek as he pressed a soft kiss against her lips. It was brief, but filled with a quiet affection that made her forget, just for a second, that they were sitting in a car in front of a busy campus.
When he pulled back, his thumb brushed gently along her cheek, as if memorizing the moment.
"Have a good day," he said softly.
Anya blinked, her cheeks warming, but she didn't look away. "You too."
He smiled faintly, then added, "I'll pick you up after your shift at the cafe."
"You don't have to," she said automatically, though there was no real resistance in her tone.
"I want to," he replied, his voice calm but certain.
She nodded, this time not arguing.
"Alright."
He gave her hand a small squeeze before letting go.
Anya stepped out of the car, the cool morning air brushing against her as she closed the door. She turned back once, catching his gaze through the window, and he gave her a subtle nod before driving off.
As she walked toward the building, she could still feel the warmth of his touch, the softness of his kiss lingering with her.
"Hey, Anya."
She turned at the sound of her name and saw a few of her classmates gathered near the corridor. One of them, a girl she had spoken to a few times before, tilted her head slightly, her expression curious but friendly.
"Was that your boyfriend?" she asked, nodding subtly toward the direction where Alaric's car had just disappeared.
Anya froze for a brief second.
The word echoed in her mind.
Boyfriend.
Her fingers tightened slightly around her bag strap as she felt heat rise to her cheeks. She hesitated, just for a moment, before giving a small, shy nod.
"Yes," she said softly.
The reaction was immediate.
"Oh my god, he's so good-looking," another classmate chimed in, stepping closer with a bright smile. "Like seriously, that's not fair."
"I know, right?" the first girl added, laughing lightly. "The way he was looking at you just now? That's definitely not just a casual thing."
Anya felt her face grow warmer, her gaze dropping slightly as she tried to hide her embarrassment. "He's just… being himself," she murmured, though she could even hear how soft her voice had become.
"Well, you're really lucky," one of them said, her tone genuine. "Guys like that aren't easy to find."
Another nodded in agreement. "Not just good-looking, but he seems really attentive too. He drove you here, didn't he?"
Anya nodded again, her lips curving into a small, almost unconscious smile. "He did."
The girls exchanged knowing looks before one of them nudged her lightly. "You better hold on to him," she teased. "If you don't, someone else definitely will."
That made Anya look up quickly, her heart giving a small, unexpected jolt.
For a brief second, the image from yesterday flickered at the edge of her mind. She pushed it away.
"He's not like that," she said quietly, more to herself than to them.
Her classmates didn't seem to notice the shift, still smiling as they gathered their things.
"Come on, we're going to be late," one of them said, gesturing toward the lecture hall.
Anya nodded and followed them inside, but her thoughts lingered just a little longer than usual.
As she took her seat and opened her notes, she found herself touching her lips unconsciously, the memory of that brief kiss still fresh.
And despite everything, a small, quiet smile returned to her face.
****
It was a quieter hour at the cafe, the usual rush easing into a gentle lull. Anya stood behind the counter, wiping down the surface with slow, absent-minded movements, her thoughts drifting more than usual.
Caris leaned against the side of the counter, arms loosely crossed, watching her with a knowing look.
"So," Caris began, her tone light but clearly curious, "how are things between you and him?"
Anya paused mid-motion, her hand still resting on the cloth as she glanced up. She knew exactly who Caris meant. There was no need to ask.
For a second, she hesitated, as if trying to find the right words.
Then a small smile formed, soft and almost shy.
"Well…" she said, her voice quieter than usual, "things went in a direction I didn't expect."
Caris straightened immediately, her eyes lighting up. "Wait," she said, leaning closer, "don't tell me—"
Anya nodded before she could finish.
"We're… together now."
Caris's reaction was instant.
"What?!" she exclaimed, her excitement barely contained. "That's huge! Finally!"
Anya let out a small, embarrassed laugh, her cheeks already warming under the attention.
"I didn't think it would happen so soon," she admitted. "It just… felt right."
Caris studied her expression for a moment before her grin widened. "Is he your first boyfriend?" she asked, her tone turning slightly teasing.
Anya looked down, her fingers fidgeting lightly with the edge of the counter before she nodded.
"Yes."
That was all Caris needed.
"Oh my god," she said dramatically, placing a hand over her chest. "Your first boyfriend? And it's him? Anya, you really skipped all the beginner levels."
Anya couldn't help but laugh softly, though her face flushed even deeper.
Caris leaned in slightly, lowering her voice but not her playful tone. "You know what that means, right?" she said. "You're going to experience a lot of firsts with him."
Anya blinked, confused for a split second before the meaning clicked.
Her face turned even redder.
"Caris!" she said quickly, glancing around as if someone might overhear, though the cafe was still quiet.
Caris laughed, clearly enjoying her reaction. "What? I'm just saying," she teased. "It's normal."
Anya shook her head, trying to hide her embarrassment, though the small smile on her lips gave her away.
After a moment, she shifted the conversation, her curiosity surfacing. "What about you?" she asked. "Are you seeing anyone?"
Caris's expression changed slightly, the teasing softness giving way to something more thoughtful.
"No," she said, shaking her head lightly. "I'm single right now."
Anya tilted her head. "By choice?"
Caris nodded. "Yeah. I wanted a break."
She leaned back against the counter again, her gaze drifting briefly toward the window before returning to Anya. "I needed some time to clear my head. Figure out what I actually want before jumping into another relationship."
Anya watched her, sensing there was more behind those words. "What happened?" she asked gently.
Caris let out a small breath, not exactly bitter, but honest.
"My first boyfriend and I argued all the time," she said. "It was exhausting. We cared about each other, but we just couldn't get along."
She paused briefly before continuing. "The second one… cheated."
Anya's expression softened immediately. "I'm sorry," she said quietly.
Caris gave a small shrug, though there was a hint of tiredness in her eyes. "It's fine. It happens. I just… got tired of all the drama."
She looked back at Anya, her tone becoming more sincere. "I'm not telling you this to scare you," she added quickly. "I just want you to understand that finding the right person isn't easy."
Anya listened carefully, her earlier embarrassment fading into something more thoughtful.
Caris smiled faintly. "But if you've found someone who treats you well, who makes you feel safe and happy…" she said, her voice soft but firm, "then you should treasure that."
Anya's fingers stilled against the counter.
She thought of Alaric.
The way he looked at her. The way he cared for her without needing to say much. The way he had always been there, even when she didn't realize it.
A quiet warmth spread through her chest.
"I will," she said softly.
Caris nodded, satisfied, before nudging her lightly. "Good," she said. "Because if you don't, I might just steal him."
Anya laughed, the tension easing completely this time.
"You won't," she replied, her voice carrying a quiet confidence she hadn't shown before.
And for the first time since yesterday, she felt certain of something again.