The buzz from the morning hadn't died down.
If anything, it had only grown louder.
Every corridor in St. Teresa seemed to echo with one name—the five. Their dramatic entry had already become the highlight of the day. For some, it was admiration. For others, intimidation.
For Nisha, it was… irritation.
"People are literally obsessed," she muttered, glancing at a group of girls whispering nearby.
Ruhi walked quietly beside her, still taking everything in. "They're just… different."
"Yeah," Nisha scoffed. "Rich."
Ayaan adjusted his bag nervously. "Let's just not get into anything, okay? First day."
Nisha smirked. "Relax. I don't start things."
"—You finish them," Ayaan completed.
She grinned.
Before the conversation could continue, a voice interrupted.
"New students?"
They turned to see a senior leaning casually near the staircase, watching them with a knowing expression.
"Yeah," Nisha replied.
"Welfare batch?" he asked bluntly.
Ayaan nodded hesitantly.
The senior gave a small sigh. "Then you should probably know what you're walking into."
Nisha raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Enlighten us."
He gestured toward the main block. "The five you saw this morning?"
Ruhi instantly looked down.
"Ishaan Srivastav," he began, "heir to a pharmaceutical empire. He's charming—too charming. Don't fall for it."
Ruhi blinked slightly.
"Bunny," he continued, "Jaipur royalty. Hot, cold, and completely unpredictable. He doesn't care about anyone."
Ruhi's fingers tightened on her bag.
"Shivaay—topper. Smart. Observes everything. Dangerous in his own way."
Ayaan swallowed.
"Mia—fashion empire heiress. Cold as ice."
Nisha smirked. "Figures."
"And Ria," he paused, "she's different. Sweet. But still… one of them."
Silence settled for a moment.
"They run this place," he finished. "And they don't like people who don't belong."
Nisha crossed her arms. "Good thing I don't care."
The senior chuckled softly. "You will."
And then—
"Hey!"
The voice cut sharply through the hallway.
All three turned.
The five stood there.
Exactly like before.
Effortless. Untouchable.
Watching them.
"Looks like your introduction is about to get practical," the senior muttered before walking away.
Ayaan's heart dropped. "We should go."
"We are going," Nisha said, but her tone wasn't backing down—it was gearing up.
Ruhi felt her heartbeat pick up.
"New admissions," Ishaan called, his voice smooth yet commanding. "Come here."
Nisha didn't move for a second.
Then she sighed. "Let's just finish this."
They walked toward them.
Each step felt like crossing an invisible line.
"Well," Ishaan said, tilting his head, eyes scanning them, "the welfare batch."
Nisha's jaw tightened.
Ayaan gave a polite nod.
Ruhi stayed silent.
Mia looked them up and down. "They don't even try, do they?"
"Relax," Ria said softly. "It's their first day."
"Exactly," Bunny muttered. "And already in our way."
That did it.
"We weren't in your way," Nisha snapped.
Shivaay's eyes flickered with interest.
Ishaan smiled slowly. "She talks."
"I don't stay quiet when someone's being rude," Nisha shot back.
"Careful," Mia said coolly. "You don't know who you're talking to."
Nisha stepped forward slightly. "I don't need to."
The air shifted.
Even Ayaan felt it.
This wasn't normal.
This wasn't safe.
"Name?" Ishaan asked casually, but there was an edge beneath it.
"Nisha."
"Confident," he said. "I like that."
"Don't," Bunny said flatly.
His voice cut through the moment.
Cold. Final.
And somehow—
Ruhi looked up.
Her eyes met his.
For a second, everything around her faded.
His gaze was intense, unreadable… almost intimidating.
She immediately looked away, her cheeks warming.
Why was she nervous?
"Your name," Bunny said suddenly.
Ruhi froze.
"I—Ruhi," she said softly.
"Louder."
"I'm… Ruhi," she repeated, slightly clearer.
He watched her for a moment.
Too long.
Then looked away.
"Too quiet," he muttered.
But his tone wasn't mocking.
It was… something else.
Ruhi didn't understand it.
Nisha did notice something, though—and it annoyed her even more.
"Are we done?" Nisha said sharply. "Or do you always call people just to judge them?"
Mia smirked. "Attitude on day one. Interesting."
"Self-respect," Nisha corrected.
Ayaan whispered, "Nisha, please…"
But she wasn't stopping.
"We came here to study. Not to entertain you," she continued.
Shivaay crossed his arms slightly, observing her closely now.
Ishaan chuckled. "You're bold. I'll give you that."
"I don't need your approval."
Silence.
A dangerous kind.
Ria stepped forward gently. "Hey, it's okay—"
"Ria," Shivaay said calmly. "Let it be."
She hesitated, then stepped back.
Nisha took a breath.
"We're leaving."
No one stopped her.
For a second.
Then—
"Go," Bunny said.
Everyone glanced at him.
Even Ishaan raised an eyebrow slightly.
Nisha didn't question it.
"Come," she said, pulling Ruhi along.
Ayaan followed quickly.
As they walked away, the tension slowly released—but not completely.
"Unbelievable," Nisha muttered. "First day and already acting like they own everyone."
"They kind of do," Ayaan said nervously.
"Not us," she snapped.
Ruhi stayed quiet.
Her mind wasn't on the argument.
It was stuck on something else.
That look.
That voice.
"Too quiet."
She shook her head slightly.
Why did that bother her?
Back at the corridor—
"Well," Ishaan said, watching them leave, "that was entertaining."
Shivaay nodded. "She's not ordinary."
Mia crossed her arms. "They'll learn their place."
Ria looked thoughtful. "Or maybe… we'll learn something too."
Bunny said nothing.
But his gaze lingered in the direction Ruhi had walked.
Just for a second longer.
And for the first time—
Something unfamiliar flickered beneath his calm, cold exterior.
Not interest.
Not yet.
But not indifference either.
And somewhere between pride and defiance—
A story had just begun to take shape.