~ONE ROOM~
The wheels touched the runway with a soft jolt, and just like that—we were in Switzerland. The world outside the airplane windows looked like a painting, the kind you'd never get tired of staring at. White. Endless white. Snow kissed the rooftops, mountains stood tall like silent guardians, and the sky carried that soft glow of winter mornings.
As we stepped out of the plane, the cold wind slapped against my face like icy knives. My half-sleeved blue-and-white jumpsuit suddenly felt like the worst decision of my life. The fabric was long enough to skim past my lap, but not long enough to keep me warm. I shivered instantly, hugging myself.
Beside me, Raffy wasn't doing much better. His white shirt and light jacket looked stylish in theory—but in Switzerland's freezing air, it was nothing. He stuffed his hands in his pockets, his jaw tightening against the cold.
Zara was too busy gasping dramatically at the snowy mountains, and Maheen was spinning with her arms stretched out like a scene from a music video. Ayan sneezed so loudly it echoed across the runway, while Zain just laughed, shaking his head.
And Raffy? He glanced at me, noticed me trembling, and his expression shifted. The snow, the view, even the biting wind didn't matter to him in that moment—only I did.
Our eyes met, and for a second, it was like the world paused. My world wasn't the snowy paradise we had just stepped into—it was the quiet fire burning in his gaze.
I wrapped my arms tighter around myself, trying to pretend I wasn't freezing, but my teeth were already chattering.
Before I could complain, Raffy sighed, peeled off his jacket, and tossed it over my shoulders.
"Wear it before you turn into an ice cube," he muttered, not even looking at me.
I blinked at him. "But… then you'll freeze."
He smirked, shoving his hands back into his pockets. "I can manage. You clearly can't."
I wanted to argue, but the warmth of his jacket against my skin shut me up. My lips curved into the tiniest smile I couldn't hide.
Behind us, Zara's voice came sharp and teasing, "Ufff—look at him, sacrificing for his girl already!"
I shot her a glare. "Zara, shut up!"
Maheen giggled, Ayan chuckled, and even Zain added fuel with a knowing grin. Meanwhile, Raffy just rolled his eyes and kept walking, but I noticed the faint red climbing his ears.
Dragging our suitcases through the crisp air, we finally made it out of the airport and into the city. The snow-covered streets glittered under the pale morning light, every corner looking like something from a postcard.
Zara clapped her hands together dramatically. "Okay, first mission—find the *perfect* hotel."
Maheen, ever the excited one, squealed. "And all of us staying together in one room, right?"
Ayan groaned. "One room? Seriously? You guys snore like tractors."
Zain smirked, tossing his arm casually around Ayan's shoulder. "Relax. It'll be fun. Like a sleepover, except in Switzerland."
I couldn't help but laugh at their bickering as we dragged ourselves into a cozy hotel that looked like a wooden cabin from the outside, with fairy lights glowing in the snow. The receptionist gave us a warm smile as we all crowded the counter.
"One big room, please," Raffy requested before anyone else could speak, his tone so firm that the rest of us just stared at him.
The receptionist nodded politely, handing over the keys. Soon enough, we were trudging upstairs, luggage wheels clattering on the wooden floor.