Sunlight streamed through the dorm windows, catching on the messy blankets and soft piles of clothes. Anastasia stirred first, blinking against the brightness. Her mind immediately went to last night—the confessions, Devin's words, the way his eyes had held hers. She could still feel the warmth of his gaze, the intensity of the moment, and her cheeks flushed at the memory.
Devin, however, had already been awake for a while, quietly sitting at the edge of the bed, watching her. He had chosen not to wake her, wanting to let her ease into the morning. But when Anastasia finally opened her eyes and met his, her breath caught.
"Morning," he said softly, a teasing curve on his lips.
"Morning…" she replied, voice barely above a whisper, flustered. She turned slightly, burying her face in the pillow, trying to hide her blush.
Across the hall, Patricia and Lucian were having a similar morning. Patricia stretched, yawning, and noticed Lucian leaning casually against the wall, a small, amused smirk playing on his lips. "Good morning," she muttered, still recovering from the rush of emotions from last night.
"Morning," Lucian replied, moving closer. "Sleep well?" His eyes glinted with amusement as he noticed her shyness.
Patricia huffed softly, trying to act nonchalant. "I did… I guess."
The two couples exchanged knowing glances across the dorm, each silently acknowledging what had happened. The teasing began almost immediately. Anastasia nudged Devin playfully, "So… no regrets, huh?"
"None," he said with a smirk, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face. "Although I think you're blushing more than I am."
Patricia rolled her eyes at Lucian, but he reached out, gently tugging her closer. "Admit it—you liked last night," he teased.
"I—no!" she stammered, though her brightening cheeks betrayed her.
The room filled with quiet laughter, soft teasing, and the subtle intimacy that comes from knowing each other in a deeper way. For both couples, the morning was a mixture of bashful smiles, secret glances, and the lingering thrill of their confessions.
Even as the sun climbed higher, there was no rush to get up. The day ahead could wait. For now, the world had shrunk to the warmth of each other's presence, the safe cocoon of whispered promises and shared glances.