Morning sunlight slipped quietly through the thin curtains, spilling a pale golden glow across the room.
Akshat woke slowly. For a moment, he didn't move. The room was silent except for the faint rustling beside him. He turned his head and saw Aavya was already awake.
The moment she noticed his eyes open, she gasped softly and yanked the blanket up to cover herself. Her face flushed bright red as she tried to hide her bare shoulders.
"D-don't look," she muttered.
Akshat raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
She turned her face away, gripping the blanket tighter. "Just… don't."
A small smile formed on his lips. "You're hiding now?" he asked lazily. She didn't answer. Her ears burned red.
He leaned back against the pillow and sighed. "Aavya," he said casually, "I've already… experienced every inch of you."
Her head snapped toward him instantly. "Akshat!"
Her face turned even redder. "Don't say things like that in the morning!"
He chuckled quietly. "Why not? It's the truth."
She grabbed a pillow and threw it at him. "You're shameless!"
He caught it easily. "You weren't complaining last night. Your… reactions, I remember everything."
For a second she froze, then buried half her face into the blanket.
"I hate you…" Her voice was muffled, but the slight smile at the corner of her lips betrayed her.
Akshat studied her for a moment—the messy hair, the shy embarrassment, the way she avoided his gaze. It was strangely different from the crying girl he had seen last night.
After a few seconds, she peeked out from the blanket again. "…Are you still looking?"
"Yes," he said.
She groaned and covered her face again. "You're impossible."
He stretched lazily. "It's Sunday," he said.
She blinked. "…So?"
"So, no hostel politics today." He lowered the blanket slightly, curiosity replacing her embarrassment.
"What are you suggesting?"
He smirked. "Shopping."
Her eyes widened. "Shopping?"
"Yes."
Her expression softened. "Together?"
He shrugged. "You need clothes."
Her eyes went wide again. "Akshat!"
He laughed. "You tore half of them last night."
She grabbed the pillow again, clearly ready to throw it. "You're the worst!"
But despite her words, the excitement in her eyes was clear. For the first time that morning, Aavya smiled openly.
By the time they stepped out of the dormitory, Aavya trailed half a step behind him. She looked different today—not because of her clothes, but because she kept glancing at him, as if she still couldn't believe what had happened last night.
Akshat ignored it and pulled out his phone. Aavya tilted her head.
"Where are we even going?"
"To fix you."
She blinked. "Fix… me?"
He didn't answer. He dialed a number.
Alexander answered almost instantly. Calm, collected.
"Akshat."
"I need your account access."
There was a pause. "Which one?"
"Any of them."
"…You're about to do something stupid, aren't you?"
"Probably."
Alexander sighed faintly, then dictated a long account number and security code with his usual calm precision.
Aavya's eyes widened as she listened. "Wait… whose account is that?"
Akshat slipped the phone into his pocket. "Alexander's."
Her jaw dropped. "The rich Alexander?!"
He nodded. "He won't mind."
"You didn't even ask!"
"I did," he said calmly. "He sighed. That counts as permission."
Aavya stared at him like he had just committed a crime.
And then they entered the first store. Chaos began.
---
Two hours later, Aavya looked ready to faint. Shopping bags piled high in Akshat's arms—dresses, jackets, shoes, accessories. Everything.
She stood in front of a mirror wearing a simple black dress she had just tried on. Her eyes were wide. "Akshat… this is too much."
"No."
"It's expensive!"
"Correct."
She turned to him, anxious. "I can't accept this."
He stepped closer, glancing at her reflection in the mirror—the messy hair, the nervous posture, the beautiful eyes that kept trying to look anywhere but at herself.
"You still don't see it," he said, crossing his arms.
"See what?" she asked.
He stepped beside her. "You."
She frowned slightly. He pointed toward the mirror. "You keep looking at the girl everyone bullied."
His voice lowered. "But that girl doesn't exist anymore."
Her lips parted slightly. He met her gaze directly. "You need a transformation."
She blinked slowly. "What…?"
He smirked faintly. "From today…" He leaned closer so she could hear clearly. "I'm your teacher."
Her cheeks flushed immediately.
"And exactly what are you going to teach me?" she whispered.
He glanced at the mirror again. "How to walk without apologizing." He lifted a strand of her hair and tucked it behind her ear. "How to look people in the eye. And how to stop thinking you're ugly."
Aavya stood silently, staring at her reflection. For the first time, she didn't immediately look away.
Behind them, the cashier cleared her throat politely.
"Sir… your card?"
Akshat handed it over without checking the total.
Aavya's eyes widened when she saw the number.
"AKSHAT—"
He grabbed the bags. "Lesson one," he said calmly. "Stop panicking about money that isn't yours."
She groaned softly but followed behind him.
Something had already shifted in her steps.
A small spark of confidence.
And that spark… was only the beginning.
End of ch 30
To be continue...
© 2026 darkstar penguin | Reposting or copying is prohibited.