~RAFFITO RECOGNIZE ME EVEN IN SLEEP~
That night, after our confession under the stars, we didn't want to part ways. It felt impossible to step back into ordinary life when our hearts had just spilled everything we'd been holding back for so long. So we stayed together, choosing comfort in each other's arms instead of distance.
Inside the dorm, the world outside seemed to blur away. The room was quiet, only the faint glow of the moon slipping through the curtains. We lay on one bed, tangled in the warmth of one another. My head rested against Raffy's chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat—like a lullaby written only for me.
"Do you realize," he whispered, his lips brushing against my hair, "I've never felt this safe before? And now… you're mine."
I smiled shyly, words failing me, so I simply tightened my arms around him. His hands traced lazy patterns on my back, sending sparks through my skin, while our legs intertwined naturally, as if they had known this closeness all their life.
We laughed softly in between, teasing each other about silly things—the way I hid my blush with a pillow, the way he fumbled earlier with the proposal words, how my voice cracked when I said *yes*. Every giggle melted into quiet sighs, every sigh into deeper silence filled with love.
When the night grew still, we just stayed wrapped together, breathing each other in. His hand cupped my face once, thumb brushing my cheek as though I was too precious to let go. I whispered, "Don't ever leave me, Raffy."
"Never," he said, so firm, so certain, tightening his hold. And then sleep took us, but even in sleep, his arms never let me go.
The next day, the sun felt brighter than usual. It wasn't just another morning—it was our first morning as a confessed couple.
The street crew gathered later, and though our group was smaller now—just me, Raffy, Maheen, and Ayan—our bond felt stronger than ever. As soon as Raffy and I announced we were together, Maheen literally squealed and broke into a dance.
"Oh my God! Finally! Finally, you two idiots!" she said, spinning with joy.
Ayan clapped like he was cheering for a cricket match. "About time, man! I thought I'd grow a beard waiting for this." He smirked, nudging Raffy. "So, bro, when's the treat?"
Raffy rolled his eyes, but his smile betrayed him. "Shut up."
Maheen wasn't about to stop either. She teased him mercilessly. "Raffy, I can't believe *you* of all people actually confessed first. And you!" she turned to me, grinning wide, "what *have* you two done till now?"
My face burned scarlet, and Raffy quickly stepped in. " Maheen. Did you ever tell us about your love story huh? And what you and Ayan have done till now?." But his laugh broke through, and soon we were all laughing together.
We celebrated with snacks, stories, and endless jokes, though at one point Maheen's smile dimmed for a second. She sighed softly and said, "If Zara and Zain were here… they would have been so happy for you two."
The silence that followed was heavy, but not bitter. We all felt it—the ache of their absence—but then Raffy squeezed my hand under the table. We had moved forward, and though we missed them, this moment still belonged to us.
We spent the whole day together, laughing until our stomachs hurt, carrying the weight of memories and the lightness of love in equal measure. By the time Raffy and I returned to the hostel, it was nearly 3 in the morning.
Inside, the room was dark, and exhaustion tugged at us both. But once again, we couldn't bring ourselves to part. We slipped under the blanket together, arms instinctively searching for the other. I curled against him, his arm around me like an unspoken promise.
This was our second night together. The air was filled with the warmth of our closeness, soft breaths brushing over skin, my fingers tracing circles over his hand, his lips brushing my forehead. We laughed quietly about nothing at all, and somewhere between the whispers and the laughter, I realized—this was love in its purest form.
"Goodnight, my everything," he murmured.
"Goodnight, my always," I whispered back, eyes closing as I melted into his hold.
---
The next morning, I woke before Raffy. The sight of him sleeping beside me was enough to stop time. His arm was wrapped tightly around me, as if even in sleep, he refused to let me go. His face looked softer, almost childlike, and in that moment I thought—*this is worth living for. Just this. Just him.*
I didn't want to move, didn't want to leave his warmth, but it was important. Carefully, I slid out of his embrace. He stirred a little, but didn't wake—he knew it was me. Raffy had become such a light sleeper, but when it came to me, even in dreams, he recognized my presence.
Smiling, I tied my hair up and headed to the small kitchen. He always survived on noodles, but today I wanted better for him. So I pulled out eggs, bread, a little milk, and some vegetables. I chopped onions and tomatoes, making an omelet rich and colorful, paired with toast and a glass of fresh milk. Something simple, but healthy—something to show my love.
While the food sizzled gently on the stove, I quietly slipped back into the room to grab my phone from under his pillow. He didn't stir; he knew it was me. His body trusted mine completely, and that thought warmed my heart more than anything.
I came back into the kitchen and dialed Raffy's mother's number. A small sigh escaped me as the phone rang. Soon, her warm voice came through the speaker.
"Hello, aunt," I greeted softly.
"Hello, Wateen," she replied kindly. "How are you?"
"I'm fine, aunty. How are you?"
"I'm good, and your uncle too," she said gently before pausing. "How's Raffy doing?"
My throat tightened for a moment. "Aunty… I think he's not okay. I mean—he's healthy, but he's sad. That's the reason I called you."
Her voice immediately turned worried. "What happened? Why is he sad? Did anything happen to him?"
I tried to calm her down. "No, no aunty… nothing serious. Please don't panic. Can we meet today? Just the three of us—you, uncle, and me?"
There was hesitation on her side, but then she asked, "Where should we meet, Dear?"
"At the restaurant near the main road. Around 3 in the evening. But please, don't tell Raffy about this. It's important."
She agreed softly, her tone still anxious but trusting. "Alright. I won't tell him. But come with a friend, okay? It'll make you feel safe."
"I will, aunty. Thank you."
We greeted each other and hung up. Right after, I quickly called Maheen.
"Maheen, can you come with me today at 3, I have to go somewhere?" I asked hurriedly.
"Yes, of course," she said without hesitation.
"Ask Ayan to give us a ride, please."
"Okay… but why aren't you coming with Raffy?" she questioned.
I bit my lip. "No, it's personal. Please don't ask more."
"Fine," she agreed reluctantly. "But Ayan will leave after dropping us there."
"That's fine," I said with a smile of relief. "Just be ready. I'll call you later."
Just then, Raffy came outside. My heart skipped, and I quickly ended the call. "Okay Maheen, I'll talk to you later. Bye!"
I put my phone down as Raffy wrapped his arms around me from behind. His lips pressed against my forehead.
"Why did you leave me?" he murmured softly.
I tilted my head up, smiling. "Because I had to make breakfast."
"But last night you promised me you'd never leave," he said, his tone suddenly serious.
I laughed lightly. "Raffy, I just went to the kitchen."
He didn't smile. His voice was firm. "You're not a maid, Wateen. Why are you working alone? You should have woken me up. It's not your responsibility."
My heart melted at his protectiveness. I chuckled, brushing it off. "It's my way of showing my love for you—so you can stay healthy."
"You can show your love in other ways too," he teased, standing up from the chair and walking toward me slowly, his gaze playful yet intense.
I squealed and darted to the other side of the counter. "Not like this! You can show love by taking me shopping or to amusement parks!"
His lips curved into a mischievous grin. "So, you don't want my puppy love? If not… then maybe I should give my puppy love to Mehzil—the buffalo."
I gasped, storming toward him and smacking his arm. "Don't you dare!"
He laughed, the sound echoing through the kitchen. I rolled my eyes at him, pretending to be annoyed, but secretly enjoying every second of it.
He served the breakfast, placing it carefully on the table. I sat beside him, and together we started eating. After the first bite, he smirked.
"The food you made… it's.......it-it's .. gross."
I smacked his shoulder with my spoon, my jaw dropping in mock anger. "Excuse me?! Then don't eat the that i made"
He burst out laughing, unable to hold it in. Soon, I was laughing too, the sound of our joy filling the small kitchen.
AUTHORSNOTE :
Thank you so much for reading this chapter 💖 Your love and support means everything to me! Don't forget to follow me on TikTok @_jamesink for more updates and fun sneak peeks
If you're enjoying the story, please leave a review and drop your comments—your words truly motivate me to keep writing. Also, I'd love to hear your thoughts: what do you think will happen after this ? Share your guesses with me, I'll be waiting to read them!