The university library was quiet, the faint hum of laptops and shuffling pages filling the air.
Raye had claimed a corner table, notebooks and textbooks spread out, trying to concentrate on her calculus assignment.
Jane wasn't with her again , she has another class so she settled in the library the only quiet place she could think freely and also learn.
Not like she was though , her thoughts were preoccupied by the basketball period .
Raye growled again covering her face with her book .
Curse you Kyle curse you for being seriously flirty she thought huffing loudly.
A shadow fell across her table.
"Mind if I join?"
The voice was calm, smooth—no teasing smirk, just that confident tone.
Raye looked up to see Kyle standing there, hoodie over his shoulders, backpack slung casually. His gaze lingered for a second longer than comfortable.
Speak of the devil she thought as she tried hard not roll her eyes to the moon .
It felt like he was following her everytime _ and when she thought about it ...he was always following her .
Before she didn't notice it , now it was obvious .
"I… uh… sure," she muttered, sliding her notebook over , before clearing her throat .
Be cool she sang in her head like some ritual ,but her heart was definitely receiving another instruction cause it was beating faster than usual .
He dropped his bag beside the chair and sat down, posture relaxed but commanding. "I saw you struggling from across the library. Thought I'd help."
If only he knew he was the cause of her struggle Raye thought massaging her forehead , eyes shut closed .
She fluttered her eyes open , blinking twice .
"You… want to help me?"
He shrugged lightly. "Seems like the right thing to do."
She hesitated, then nodded, opening her notebook. "Okay… number seven. I just… I can't get this integral."
Kyle leaned over, fingers tracing the edge of her page as he explained. His movements were careful but deliberate, brushing her hand slightly as he pointed to the steps.
"You're approaching it all wrong. Factor here, then substitute there. See?"
Raye's breath hitched a little. "Oh… wow. You… actually know your math."
He gave a small, almost shy smile. "I've been good at numbers for years. Doesn't mean I get along with people as easily."
She blinked. "Wait… you mean… you're… serious?"
Kyle's gaze met hers. "Always. I don't do small talk well. But I do notice things. Like when someone struggles and needs help."
Raye felt a flutter in her chest.
There was nothing childish in him right now—just calm confidence and attention, focused entirely on her.
Too much confidence if she may add .
He wrote a few steps on her paper, explaining with surprising clarity. "See? Easy."
Raye blinked, impressed as she nodded slowly .
He made it very simple _ really she now understand it even more .
Kyle smirked, leaning back, stretching his long arms. "Told you. Not just a pretty face."
She tried to hide her smile. "I wasn't implying—"
"Relax," he interrupted with a lazy shrug. "You're cute when you panic over math."
Raye groaned and buried her face again, hiding the blush creeping up her neck.
She peeked up at him, eyebrows furrowed. " I just couldn't figure out this integral. I've tried like five times."
For the next thirty minutes, they worked through the problems. Every now and then, he leaned slightly closer, voice low and soft when explaining a step. His hand occasionally brushed hers—just enough to make her heart skip—but there was restraint, a controlled, level intensity.
She tried to concentrate, but every glance at him made her stomach twist. He wasn't teasing, he wasn't joking—he was serious, attentive, and subtly… flirty.
Then they heard a soft footstep , Raye head snapped to look up at the person who just entered as her eyes widen a little .
Danielle.
Raye froze, pencil in mid-air.
But Kyle didn't even glance at her. His posture didn't change, his calm focus didn't waver.
Danielle shot Raye a glare and scoffed, muttering under her breath. "Right… I see." She turned abruptly, storming toward the exit, backpack bouncing with her stride.
Raye exhaled sharply. "Wow… she's… gone?"
Kyle leaned back slightly, eyes still on her notebook. "Seems like she is."
Raye rolled her eyes. "She's… dramatic."
He looked at her then, and for the first time, the teasing flicker appeared in his otherwise serious expression. "You're distracted."
" Um Kyle can I ask you something , do you like Danielle... I know that's like something private or I don't know _ I just wanted to know ?" Raye asked trying to form the right words so it wouldn't get awkward while , watching him carefully to still see his normal expression the answer came into quickly very blunt .
"No".
"O _ " before Raye could finish her question Kyle grabbed the two arms of her chair turning her so she could face him , both their knees touching each other now .
He relaxed his hand beside her staring deep into her eyes while Raye gulped , suddenly the atmosphere seemed tensed again .
She turned her head not able to keep his gaze but hid index finger shut up holding her jaw as he turned her face to look at him ..
"I want you Raye , no one else ,that girl doesn't matter...I just want you ...do you understand ".
Raye stared at his face , he looked serious she thought .
Gulping softly she was about to say something but ended up closing her mouth .
"Answer me don't be silent , trouble " Kyle muttered as if he was soothing a child before he slowly ran his thumb on her lower lips .
Raye cheek turned red as she tried to concentrate she bobbed her head in a yes too quickly making Kyle to smile .
"Yes I um _ understand" .
"Good for both of us , now let's go back to maths before I lose my patience and do something else ,hmm ". He said brushing her lower lips still slowly before he eventually pulled away begrudgingly as he turned her chair back to face the table .
Kyle raised his hand patting Raye head slowly before saying .
"You look adorable struggling with numbers , I want to see you every day , so we start lesson , every single day , by this time "
Raye wasn't even listen anymore her thoughts were jumble , she got a few words he said but the rest flew together with the breeze .
She wanted to touch her lips but he was still looking .
Gosh !!..how did everything even turn this fast .
She asked a question and it felt like she was put into some kinda of situation ..
For a moment she forgot how to breath .
Calm down Raye clam down ok ...Raye screamed inside her head .
"So tomorrow this time ? " Kyle asked snapping his finger in the air to bring Raye out of her thought .
"Yeah sure " she muttered , heart thumping.
Wait _ Raye thought turning to meet Kyle who had a satisfied smirk .
She just agreed to continue this lesson !! she smacked her head lightly.
She knew how this would eventually end _ she was going to die from lack of oxygen .
Because definitely this guy was planning on taking her breath away .
Literally!!!
Kyle smiled faintly, leaning closer, tone low. "i don't mind if you think about me . You're thinking about me, aren't you?"
He asked but got no reply seeing the girl shocked and confused face .
If only she knew how cute she looked at this moment he thought .
"Mhm answer me ,my little first year " Kyle coaxed holding Raye hand on the table who jolted lightly .
She flushed, looking down. "I… maybe a little."
His eyes softened, a serious, almost lonely edge to them. "Good. You'll have to get used to it. I don't make distractions easy to forget."
Raye swallowed, feeling the weight of him, the attention, the subtle flirty tension.
He wasn't loud, he wasn't a goof.
He was Kyle:confident , focused, a little lonely, and entirely magnetic.
She wanted to argue, she really did. But the truth was that , she knew it was true ...and also she lacked strength to argue ..
Her poor heart needed a break ....fast too .