Morning light filtered through the windows, brushing golden edges along the pages of the book in Ayan's hands.
He sat quietly by the window, lost in stillness. Beside him, Vihan shifted with restless energy, his fingers tapping an impatient rhythm against the desk.
Then—footsteps echoed down the hallway.
Both of them turned instinctively.
Aarav and Abhi stepped inside, their presence calm but undeniably magnetic. There was something unspoken in their stride today—something shared and steady, as though they carried the weight of a secret between them.
But Ayan only saw Aarav.
There was a rare stillness in him, a gentle glow on his face that made the morning light seem dim by comparison. The usual flicker of restlessness in his expression had vanished, replaced by something more grounded. Something that tugged at something deep in Ayan's chest.
Abhi, trailing behind, caught the change in their expressions and allowed himself a quiet smile as they made their way toward the window.
Aarav met Vihan's gaze with a subtle nod—silent acknowledgment—but his eyes quickly returned to Ayan.
Ayan's breath stilled.
There was warmth in Aarav's eyes. Not the teasing kind. Something quieter. Sincere. It held him in place.
Feeling overwhelmed by a sudden flutter he didn't understand, Ayan quickly looked down, reaching for the book he'd meant to return. He held it out with both hands, head slightly bowed.
"I forgot to give this back yesterday… everything happened so fast. Sorry, senior," he murmured.
Aarav's smile deepened as he took the book, voice soft. "It's okay. Wasn't that urgent."
Vihan, watching silently, caught the spark passing between them. His lips curled into a mischievous smile. Leaning closer to Abhi, he whispered, "Did Brother just forget I exist?"
Abhi chuckled lowly. "You're not that memorable."
Vihan gasped. "My bad luck. I don't even have a book to return."
Abhi rolled his eyes, but a grin tugged at his lips. Their familiar banter unfolded in hushed tones, their laughter muffled but genuine.
Meanwhile, Aarav and Ayan remained in their own little bubble—silent, delicate, filled with a thousand unspoken things.
Then Abhi spoke, a teasing lilt in his voice, "Brother, I think we owe him a treat."
Ayan's head shot up. "No—that's not necessary."
But before he could finish, Vihan jumped in, voice light. "It is."
Caught between embarrassment and helplessness, Ayan glanced between them, unsure how to refuse without seeming rude.
Aarav noticed the subtle hesitation, his voice gentle. "We won't go far. Just to the university cafeteria… please."
The others turned to him, eyes wide with anticipation.
Ayan barely looked away from Aarav, who watched him with such soft intensity it made saying no feel impossible.
With a tiny nod, he gave in.
Aarav's heart fluttered.
Vihan clapped excitedly, already moving. "Come on, follow me!"
Aarav and Ayan walked side by side, their steps naturally syncing. Behind them, Abhi's phone buzzed. He paused to take the call, his smile faltering as he listened. His gaze darkened slightly—just for a second—before he stopped walking altogether.
Vihan, who had just stepped out of the classroom, suddenly spun back inside, his voice sharp.
"Damn…"
Everyone turned toward him.
Ayan froze, confusion flashing across his face.
Aarav understood instantly. But before he could act, Abhi nudged him sideways—fast.
Caught off-guard, Aarav stumbled. His balance tilted, and before he could steady himself, he tumbled forward—straight toward Ayan.
Ayan gasped and instinctively backed against the wall, eyes shut.
Aarav's hand caught the back of Ayan's head, the other bracing against the wall. He stopped the fall with practiced ease, locking Ayan safely between his arms.
Ayan's eyes fluttered open—met by Aarav's. Close. Too close.
He clutched Aarav's shirt without thinking, his fingers curling tightly around the fabric. His chest pressed lightly against Aarav's. Their breaths mingled. Time blurred.
Aarav's world narrowed to the boy in front of him. The gentle rise and fall of his chest. The soft warmth of his breath. The unspoken question in his eyes.
Abhi, now realizing how hard he'd pushed, winced with guilt—only to relax slightly upon seeing both of them unharmed.
Vihan stood frozen at the threshold ,wide-eyed.
Ayan tilted his face up, unsure of what he was doing—or what he wanted. Aarav's gaze lowered briefly, resting on Ayan's parted lips. His heart squeezed.
...
Unaware of the tension behind the door, Vihan and Abhi stood at the threshold shielding it.
"Move."
A stern, unwavering voice cut through the moment, sharp and authoritative, snapping everyone to attention.
Aarav and Ayan froze. Their longing paused. They both squeezed closer, as if trying to disappear.
Vihan, standing at the door, shifted uncomfortably. His eyes flicked toward the figure who had just emerged.
"Oh! Senior Arun... You're not attending your practicals?"
As expected, it was Arun who stood before them, his expression cold and unyielding, with a face that seemed carved from stone.
He dismissed Vihan's question with nothing more than a piercing look. Then, He stepped forward with quiet dominance, clearly intending to enter.
But Abhi blocked his way.
"This isn't your palace, Young Master... It's our class. So if we ask something, please answer."
For a brief moment, the room crackled with the vague rivalry between them.
Arun froze, his body taut with tension, eyes narrowing.."Call Ayan out."
Abhi, unbothered by the demand, let his eyes soften, though a curious glint lingered as he met Arun's stormy gaze."I'm not here to serve you."
Arun squeezed his eyes shut for a moment, clearly holding something back.
Then he stepped closer to Abhi, the tension thick between them—but before the situation could escalate, Vihan interjected quickly.
"Ah... Senior, I saw him heading toward the library. You should check there."
Arun's gaze lingered on Abhi for a moment longer, unreadable but thick with unspoken tension. Then, with a sudden sharpness, he turned and walked away.
The room seemed to exhale a collective breath.
Abhi, on the other hand, wore a look of casual playfulness, as though he had just claimed a small victory. "Didn't even say thank you."
Vihan felt a wave of relief as the tension eased. He turned to Abhi with a weary smile and shook his head in exasperation.""You keep testing his limits…"
A pause."... Brother, are you really sure Senior won't harm you?"
Abhi smacked Vihan lightly on the head, silencing him instantly, "Shh..."
He then moved backward, discreetly pulling the door just enough to peek inside at Aarav and Ayan.
Vihan, unable to contain his curiosity, leaned in with Abhi, peeking through the small gap between the door and Abhi's body.
The sight of Aarav and Ayan—so close and seemingly lost in each other's presence—made their intrigue grow stronger. They struggled to hold back their giggles.
The realization struck Aarav first. Embarrassment flushed across his face as he withdrew his hand from Ayan's soft hair and backed away.
Ayan, still against the wall where he'd been rooted, was lost in the lingering warmth of Aarav's presence.
Breaking the silence, Aarav hesitantly asked, "You aren't hurt, right?"
His eyes scanned Ayan's face for any sign of discomfort.
Ayan looked at him with moist, flickering eyes. He gave a small nod. "Hmm... I should go. Brother might get worried."
He adjusted his bag, lingering just a second longer, heart full of something he couldn't say aloud.
Then he walked out.
All eyes trailed after Ayan until he disappeared through the doorway.
...
A sudden storm.
Karan appeared in a burst of energy. He clutched the threshold with sweaty palms, gasping. "All okay? ... The lecturer had to attend a meeting, so our class got canceled. I tried to stop him, but I couldn't."
Vihan calmly nodded at Karan. "Everything's under control."
Karan, sensing the comfort in Vihan's demeanor, let out a deep sigh. His posture relaxed as the tension melted away.
---
Elsewhere on campus, Arun strode tensely toward the library, his heavy steps echoing through the stiffened corridors.
"Brother Arun!" A soft familiar voice.
Arun froze mid-step. For a moment, his expression was unreadable, then his eyes softened with relief as he scanned Ayan from head to toe.
Ayan, breathless from running, hurried toward him, feeling vulnerable with his pounding heart. "I'm sorry, Brother. I went to the restroom. But... your class?"
A sweet smile crossed Arun's lips."It's been canceled. Let's go home—I have to go somewhere after that."
And then he turned and strode away, his thoughts elsewhere.
Ayan exhaled softly, relief washing over him as he uncrossed his nervously interlocked fingers.
Quickly, he hurried to follow Arun, staying a step behind, careful not to disrupt his brother's silence.