Aira Kapoor had experienced many tragedies in life.
Forgetting her water bottle.
Losing her earphones.
Accidentally liking someone's old photo on Instagram.
But none of those compared to the emotional collapse of hearing her teacher say:
"Reyhan and Aira — pair up."
She stared at her desk like the wood grain would offer comfort.
It didn't.
Beside her, Reyhan stretched, cracking his knuckles in a way that suggested he was excited for the psychological torture ahead.
"So, partner," he said, voice dripping with amusement, "what's our game plan?"
Aira inhaled through her nose. "My plan is simple. You don't talk. I work. We finish."
Reyhan blinked slowly. "That's not a partnership. That's slavery."
"Call it what you want."
He leaned closer, tilting his head. "Rookie, you know I actually can study, right?"
She snorted. "Sure. And I'm secretly a billionaire."
He gasped dramatically. "Wait—are you? Because if yes, I'd like to be adopted."
She pinched the bridge of her nose. "Please focus."
But how was she supposed to focus when Reyhan Malhotra sat way too close, smelled way too good, and existed way too loudly?
The assignment instructions glowed on the projector:
Create a two-page profile about your partner. Personality, interests, strengths, weaknesses. Due in one week.
Aira's heart stopped.
Weaknesses?
She didn't even want to know this boy existed, and now she had to write about his weaknesses?
Reyhan grinned. "You'll need a whole notebook for mine."
"Can I write: 'Everything' and submit it?"
He smirked. "Only if I can write: 'She hates me but can't stop looking at me.'"
Aira choked on oxygen. "Excuse me?!"
"I'm just writing facts," he said innocently.
"You're delusional."
"You're staring again."
"I AM NOT—"
Sia peeked through the window at that exact moment and whispered loudly, "You totally are."
Aira contemplated throwing her pen at both of them.
The teacher clapped. "Get to work!"
Aira begrudgingly opened her notebook.
Reyhan flipped open his and positioned himself so close that their elbows brushed.
She jerked away. "Personal space!"
"What's that?"
"A normal human thing!"
"Well, I'm Reyhan. Not normal."
"Yeah, I figured."
He chuckled softly. "Rookie, relax. I don't bite."
"Really? Because your attitude does."
He smirked, leaning back. "Okay, okay. Let's actually start."
Aira blinked. "Wait. Really?"
Reyhan sat up straighter, pushed his hair away from his forehead, and held his pen like he was suddenly a model in a stationery commercial.
"Ask me anything," he said, completely serious.
"I'm an open book."
"Fine." She cleared her throat, trying to ignore how stupidly good he looked when he actually focused.
"Favorite subject?"
"Lunch."
She glared. "Reyhan."
He grinned. "Okay, okay. English."
She wrote it down.
"Strength?"
He shrugged. "Fighting. Running. Sleeping. Annoying you. I'm multi-talented."
She scribbled: Unhelpful. Overconfident. Zero filter.
Reyhan peeked at her page. "Wow. You're brutally honest."
"That's my strength."
He smirked. "I can tell."
Aira looked up again. "Fine. Weakness?"
Reyhan grew quiet.
For the first time since she met him… he didn't have a comeback ready.
He tapped his pen on the desk, eyes flickering to the window instead of her face.
"Pass," he said lightly.
Aira frowned. This wasn't his usual tone.
She opened her mouth to ask again, but he cut her off.
"What about you?" he asked. "Favorite subject?"
She answered carefully. "History."
"Strength?"
"Mind my own business."
He burst out laughing — loud enough for the class to look.
Aira hid her face behind her notebook. "Stop laughing!"
He nudged her arm. "I actually like that one."
"You like everything as long as it annoys me."
"True."
She rolled her eyes but couldn't hide her smile fast enough.
And Reyhan noticed.
Of course he did.
His voice dropped slightly — softer, teasing, but not mocking.
"I saw that."
"No, you didn't."
"I did."
"You didn't."
"Aira."
The way he said her name sent a warm jolt down her stomach.
She exhaled. "Fine. Maybe I smiled."
"Because of me?"
She paused.
She shouldn't say yes.
She wouldn't say yes.
She—
"No."
He grinned. "Lies."
Before she could respond, the bell rang.
Aira shot out of her seat like someone fired a starter gun.
Reyhan slung his bag over his shoulder. "See you after lunch, partner."
"We are NOT partners."
"We are."
He winked. "The universe said so."
Aira stomped away, mentally screaming into a pillow.
Sia rushed to her side. "Girl, WHAT is going on between you two?"
"Nothing!" Aira whisper-yelled. "Absolutely nothing!"
Zayden joined them, confused. "Then why were you smiling at him?"
Aira stopped walking.
Sia stopped walking.
Zayden stopped walking.
Aira whispered, horrified at herself,
"…I don't know."
Deep, deep inside her soul, she knew one thing with painful clarity:
Rule #4 had been violated beyond repair.
RULE #4: Never get paired with Reyhan Malhotra.
Because when you're forced to talk to him…
you start hearing your own heartbeat.
And that was dangerous.
Very dangerous.
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