That evening, Ariana returned to her dorm room, her mind replaying the day. The walk with Kian, the quiet smiles, the way his presence seemed to fill even the simplest moments—she couldn't stop thinking about him.
Her phone buzzed. A message. 💬
"You walked too fast today. I barely kept up. – K"
She smiled, her cheeks warming. It was simple, playful, yet it made her heart race.
Later that night, she sat at her desk and scribbled in her notebook, thoughts spilling out onto the page. She couldn't stop thinking about him.
About his quiet gestures, the way he noticed small things, the way he sometimes glanced at her with a softness he didn't show anyone else.
A knock on the window startled her. She looked up. There he was, silhouetted against the dim courtyard light, holding a small sketchbook.
"Can I come in?" he asked softly.
Her heart skipped. "Of course."
He climbed in carefully, carrying his sketchbook. He sat across from her, silent for a moment, eyes darting nervously.
"You… don't usually come here," she said softly.
"I wanted… to show you something," he replied, opening the sketchbook.
Inside was a new drawing—Ariana sitting at her desk, hair falling over one shoulder, a look of quiet thoughtfulness on her face.
Her chest tightened. "You… drew me again?"
Kian nodded, gaze downcast. "I… I like seeing you… like this. Calm. Thoughtful. Real." 🧖
Ariana felt a warmth she couldn't describe. His vulnerability, so rare and quiet, made her heart ache. For the first time, she realized that Kian trusted her;not just noticed her, but trusted her.
She reached out, brushing her fingers against his hand briefly. He froze for a moment, then relaxed slightly.
No words were needed. In the soft glow of the lamp, with the sketchbook open between them, their connection deepened, unspoken but undeniable. ✨
Ariana realized that the quiet stranger she had met on the bus was becoming the most important person in her world;and she wasn't afraid to let him in. 🎖