The week after the school trip passed quietly, though Aria still caught herself smiling whenever her mind replayed little moments from it — the beach sunset, the rain, Ethan's worried eyes, and the warmth of his hand when she had nearly stumbled. Each memory lived like a soft echo in her heart, making her cheeks flush every time she remembered how gently he had cared for her.
When Monday came, everything seemed to return to normal… almost. The corridors buzzed again with chatter, students rushing to classes, the echo of shoes and laughter filling every corner. Aria walked beside Ethan, her bag slung loosely over her shoulder, and felt a strange comfort in their small silences. But even silence wasn't enough to stop the whispers that always seemed to follow them now.
"Look, they're always together," someone muttered as they passed.
"They act like a married couple," another giggled.
Aria tried to ignore them. She looked down, pretending to search for something in her bag, though she could feel Ethan's protective gaze on her. When she finally glanced up, he was already frowning slightly, his jaw tightening — that familiar expression he had whenever someone said something that bothered him.
"Don't," she whispered, gently touching his arm. "It doesn't matter."
"It matters to me," he muttered, eyes still sharp.
She smiled faintly. "Then… let it go. Please?"
He looked at her for a second, then sighed and nodded. "Fine. Only because you said so."
Their morning went smoothly after that. During classes, Ethan sat beside her as usual, helping her whenever she got stuck on a problem. Every time their hands brushed while sharing a notebook, her heart skipped a beat — a tiny electric feeling that made her look away before he noticed. But sometimes she wondered if he did notice, because he always smiled faintly, like he could read her mind.
It was lunchtime when things took an unexpected turn. Aria had gone to the canteen first, saving a seat for Ethan, who had been called by a teacher. She was scrolling through her phone when Ryan, the transfer student, walked up with his usual charming grin.
"Hey, Aria," he greeted. "Mind if I sit here? Ethan's not around, right?"
Aria hesitated. "Uh, yeah… but he'll be back soon."
"It's fine," Ryan said, already sitting down. "I just wanted to talk. You seemed quiet lately."
She smiled politely. "I'm fine, just tired."
Ryan leaned a bit closer, lowering his voice. "You know, it's nice seeing you smile again. You used to look so serious before you met him."
Before Aria could respond, a familiar voice cut in sharply behind her.
"Met who, Ryan?"
She turned — Ethan stood there, tray in hand, eyes narrowed slightly. His tone was calm, but there was something dangerous in the quietness of his voice. Ryan straightened, pretending to look casual.
"Oh hey, Ethan," he said easily. "We were just talking. Chill, man."
"Yeah," Ethan replied evenly, setting his tray down beside Aria. "Just make sure you keep it that way."
Ryan smirked, clearly enjoying the tension. "You sound jealous."
"Maybe I am," Ethan said flatly. "At least I'm honest."
Aria's eyes widened. Ryan chuckled awkwardly and stood up, muttering something about getting more food. As he left, Ethan sat down beside Aria, stabbing his fork into his rice a little harder than usual.
"You didn't have to be that serious," she said quietly.
He looked at her, his expression softening instantly. "I know. But I don't like the way he talks to you."
She tilted her head slightly, a teasing smile forming. "Someone's jealous again."
"Maybe," he admitted, a hint of a smile tugging his lips. "Can you blame me?"
She shook her head, laughing softly, her earlier tension fading. The rest of lunch went by with lighter talk — about assignments, the next exam, and random things that made them laugh again.
After school, the sky was painted in shades of gold and pink as they walked home. A cool wind played through Aria's hair, and she hugged her bag closer.
"Ethan?" she said softly.
"Hmm?"
"Thank you… for today. For always standing up for me."
He shrugged. "You don't need to thank me. It's what boyfriends do, right?"
That one word — boyfriend — still made her heart race every time he said it so easily. She looked away quickly, trying to hide her blush.
When they reached their street, Aria noticed a few petals stuck in Ethan's hair from the trees above. She reached up instinctively to brush them off. Their eyes met — that same gentle spark between them again, quiet and warm.
"Got it," she murmured, pulling her hand back quickly.
Ethan smiled. "You didn't have to."
"Maybe I wanted to," she replied without thinking, then looked away quickly, embarrassed. He chuckled softly beside her.
They reached Aria's gate, stopping as usual before parting. The evening breeze rustled softly, carrying the faint scent of jasmine from nearby gardens.
"Good night, girlfriend," Ethan said in a low, teasing tone.
She looked up, lips curving into a small smile. "Good night, boyfriend."
He leaned slightly closer, brushing a loose strand of hair from her cheek before stepping back. "Sleep early, okay? You've been looking tired lately."
She nodded. "I will. You too."
When Aria entered her house, she couldn't help smiling as she leaned against the closed door, her heart still fluttering from the small, tender gestures that had become their daily routine. She went to her room, flopped onto the bed, and stared at her phone screen — waiting for the usual goodnight text.
Meanwhile, across the street, Ethan was sitting on his bed, scrolling through their chat. His mother peeked into the room.
"You've been smiling at your phone for five minutes," she said with a knowing grin. "Something special?"
Ethan's face turned red. "Nothing, Mom. Just… homework stuff."
She laughed softly. "Homework never makes people blush, dear."
Ethan groaned, covering his face with his pillow as she chuckled and closed the door.
A few minutes later, a new message popped up on Aria's screen.
Ethan: You looked beautiful today.
Her cheeks turned pink instantly. She replied before she could stop herself.
Aria: Stop saying things like that, you'll make me blush.
Ethan: That's the point.
Aria giggled, her heart fluttering once again. Outside, the moon hung low, bathing both their houses in silver light — two hearts, separated by walls but connected by warmth that didn't need words anymore.