Maya walked into campus with her backpack slung over one shoulder, scanning the courtyard as if she had urgent business elsewhere. Aveed spotted her from across the quad and immediately fell into step behind her, pretending to check his phone.
Maya noticed but didn't react. Cold. Very cold. Good, let's keep it that way, she thought, though her mind betrayed her, replaying moments from their last coffee outing.
Near the benches, Tara was chatting with a few classmates when Aryan approached. "Hey, did you hear?" Tara whispered, just loud enough for Aryan. "Maya and Aveed went out for coffee yesterday. Alone."
Aryan raised an eyebrow, smirk tugging at his lips. "Oh, really? Alone?" His tone was calm, controlled — but inside, he felt a flicker of irritation.
Tara giggled, oblivious. "Yeah! They were laughing so much. Maya looked… I don't know… soft? Cute? It was kinda hard not to notice."
Aryan nodded slowly, keeping his expression neutral, though the news stuck in his mind. Coffee alone. Huh.
Back in the courtyard, Maya kept her distance from Aveed, walking fast as if she had no idea he was there. Aveed, undeterred, slowed to her pace, smiling. "Ignoring me today?"
Maya gave a faint shrug. "Maybe." Then turned her attention to a poster, pretending to be absorbed.
Aveed chuckled, leaning slightly closer. "Alright… 'maybe' it is. But I'm not giving up that easily."
Maya rolled her eyes, but the faint pink tint on her cheeks betrayed her composure. He's impossible.
Classes rolled on, and at lunch, Maya found herself sitting across from Aryan. He leaned back, casually prodding her with questions. "So… coffee yesterday. How was it?"
Maya smirked, enjoying the subtle discomfort in his calm demeanour. "Fun. Different. You wouldn't understand."
Aryan laughed, but the flicker of jealousy didn't escape him. "Oh? Try me."
Maya's playful grin widened. "Maybe another time. For now, I'm just enjoying the present company."
Meanwhile, Aveed and Tara bumped into each other in the hallway. "Hey," Tara said lightly, watching him. "Maya seems… distant today."
Aveed frowned slightly. "Yeah, I noticed. I need to clear a few things up with her."
Tara tilted her head, smiling knowingly. "Just be careful. I think someone's watching your every move." She waved subtly toward Aryan, who had passed by.
Aveed sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. Of course. Aryan. "Noted."
After classes ended, Maya left with Aryan toward the library, tossing playful comments his way. Aveed trailed a few steps behind, catching glimpses of her teasing. She didn't know he was noticing every little smile and tilt of her head, storing it all in his mind.
Aryan kept a cool exterior, but Tara's earlier revelation replayed in his head. Coffee. Alone. With him. Noted. He forced a casual shrug, but the flicker of jealousy remained.
The day had dragged on endlessly for Maya. Even the last lecture couldn't shake the mix of excitement and anxiety twisting in her stomach. She didn't know why, but her phone kept buzzing with messages from Aveed — short, pleading ones that made her both laugh and groan. Why am I even considering this?"
"Please, Maya. I just… need you. Coffee. Five minutes. That's all."
She snorted. Five minutes with him? She could feel herself melting already. Nope. Not giving in.
She typed back, "Aveed… you're ridiculous. I have work. I'm not coming."
"Work can wait. You can't. Not today."
Maya raised an eyebrow. "Oh really? And what makes you think I'll just drop everything because you 'can't wait'?"
"Because…" His text paused. She knew that pause. That was Aveed trying to sound suave but failing. "…because I really need you here. And I might do something stupid if you don't."
Maya rolled her eyes. "Stupid how?"
"…I'll be sad. Really sad. And I'll haunt you all week in texts."
Her lips twitched into a small smile. Damn him. He was annoying and cute all at once. She typed, finally: "Fine. Five minutes. But only because I pity you."
The evening air was cool, and the streets were quiet. Maya tried to act casual, hands in her pockets, but every step beside Aveed felt… charged.
"So," Aveed began, pretending to glance at a shop window, "I didn't think you'd actually agree. I mean… walking here with me. Risky choice."
Maya smirked, pretending to look at a lamppost. "Risky for whom? Me or you?"
"Definitely me," he said, nudging her shoulder lightly. "I might get too nervous and spill everything."
"Everything?" she asked, arching a brow, pretending she wasn't curious.
"Yeah… like how Tara and I are just friends." He said it casually, as if dropping the fact on the sidewalk was no big deal.
Maya's stride faltered slightly, but she masked it with a cough. "Just friends, huh?"
"Exactly. Totally innocent. But…" He leaned a little closer as they walked, voice soft. "I like… well, someone else. Someone very much."
Maya's heartbeat jumped. Did he mean…? She looked down at her shoes, suddenly very interested in the cracks in the pavement.
Aveed noticed the pause, a little satisfied. He didn't clarify further. Let her wonder. Let her stew.
By the time they reached his apartment, Maya had composed herself—or at least tried. He held the door open. "After you, Miss Pity-Me."
She shot him a glare. "Pity? That's not why I came, you know."
"Sure, sure," he said, ushering her in. "Coffee's brewing. Sit, relax… try not to look like you're plotting revenge for something I haven't done yet."
They sat on the couch, mugs steaming between them. Aveed leaned back, letting the tension linger. "So. About Tara. She's cool, right? Friendly. But… nothing more."
Maya tried to act nonchalant, but a tiny pang of jealousy passed through her. She picked at her sleeve. "Hmm. Right. Cool. Friendly. Got it."
He caught the pause and smirked inwardly. "Friendly, yes. But you? You're… different."
She choked a little on her coffee. "Different how?"
"Different… in a way that matters." He leaned back, voice soft, teasing, but didn't confess. Just let her imagination do the rest.
Maya tried to act casual, but the heat creeping up her neck betrayed her. "Uh huh… right."
Aveed grinned. "Yep. Totally right. Casual, friendly… innocent. And yet here we are."
They sipped their coffee in silence, each lost in thoughts, hearts thudding a little faster than the other, both aware of something unspoken but thrilling hanging in the air.
Aryan leaned back in his chair, tapping his pen nervously against the desk. Something felt off. Maya hadn't shown up for the group study, and that little smile she'd given him that morning felt… different now.
He texted her. No reply. He called. Voicemail.
"What the hell is she up to?" he muttered, eyes scanning the classroom. Then Tara walked past, smirking knowingly.
"Looking for someone?" she asked casually.
Aryan froze. "What do you mean?"
"Oh, come on," Tara said, teasing. "Maya's with Aveed. Coffee at his place. Heard it straight from… reliable sources."
Aryan's chest tightened. "What?"
Tara just raised an eyebrow, enjoying every second of his panic. "Yep. You might want to move… fast."
Aryan didn't wait for more. He bolted out of the classroom, backpack bouncing against his back, heart hammering. The thought of Aveed getting close to Maya—maybe even confessing—made him nearly see red.
As he ran, his mind raced. She's mine. I… I need to stop this. Now.
He didn't notice the passer by staring, didn't hear the school bell. Nothing mattered but reaching Aveed's place before anything happened.
The apartment smelled faintly of coffee and old books. Maya was perched on the edge of the sofa, notebook in her lap, nervously twisting the pen between her fingers. Aveed stood by the counter, leaning casually but with an unusual tension in his shoulders.
"Look, Maya," Aveed said, finally, "Tara and I… we're just friends. Nothing more. I don't want you thinking otherwise."
Maya blinked, relieved yet suspicious. "Yeah… I know. You said that before, but it's different hearing it now. From you."
Aveed smiled faintly, a little too warmly. "I mean… I've known you for a long time, Maya. And, well… it's complicated. But I—"
Before he could go further, the door clicked open. Aryan strolled in, calm and casual, holding a book as if he had planned to borrow it.
"Hey," Aryan said, voice easy, too easy, like nothing mattered. "Hope I'm not interrupting."
Maya looked up, a blush creeping across her cheeks. "Oh… Aryan. Uh, no, it's fine."
Aveed's gaze flicked toward the door, recognition sparking, but he stayed composed. "Hey, Aryan. You're just in time. Coffee?"
Aryan smiled, a little too smoothly, sliding past the doorframe. Play it cool, he told himself. Inside, his chest hammered. What is he saying to her right now? Don't let him hint. Don't let him say it. Not like this.
He set the book down on the table and leaned casually against the wall, watching. To Maya, he looked calm. Polite. Totally unbothered. But every word Aveed said felt like a knife twisting inside him.
Maya laughed at something Aveed said, and Aryan's jaw clenched. Aveed's tone softened, almost hesitant, as if he wanted to say more but stopped himself. Aryan's stomach dropped.
Stop him. Stop him now, Aryan thought, fingers tightening around the edge of the table. He smiled at Maya. Play it cool. Act like nothing's happening.
"You two seem… serious," Aryan said lightly, voice teasing, but his mind was racing. I can't let him say it. Not now. Not ever.
Aveed chuckled nervously. "We were just… catching up. Coffee, you know?"
Aryan nodded, eyes flicking between them, lips tugging into a relaxed grin. Yet his thoughts were a storm: Don't let him slip. Don't. She can't know… not yet.
Maya, oblivious to the tension inside Aryan, smiled at him, a small, mischievous glint in her eyes. Aryan's heart sank and soared at the same time. He had to stay calm. Had to play it cool. But inside… inside, he was anything but calm.
Aryan stood up first, giving Aveed a casual nod. "Well, I should probably get going. Lots of work waiting for me…" His tone was light, but his eyes lingered just a second too long on Maya.
Maya giggled, grabbing her bag. "Yeah, I should head too. Thanks for the coffee… and the life lessons, Aveed." She winked, a little mischief in her eyes.
Aveed laughed softly, trying to keep his composure. "Anytime. Glad you survived my profound insights."
Aryan waved, sliding past the door with his usual calm, cool demeanour. Inside, though, he was fuming just a little. How close had Aveed gotten? What exactly had been said? Play it cool, Aryan, he reminded himself. Totally casual. Totally fine.
Maya paused at the door, glancing back at Aveed. "See you… soon?" she teased lightly.
Aveed's chest tightened, but he forced a relaxed smile. "Yeah… soon."
As the door clicked shut behind them, the apartment felt suddenly emptier. Aveed sank onto the sofa, rubbing the back of his neck. He hadn't said what he wanted, not fully. He'd hinted, but Aryan's presence had stopped him.
Outside, Maya walked alongside Aryan. She tried to act casual, laughing at something he said. But inside, her thoughts were a mess—Aveed's words, his tone, the way he had looked at her…
Aryan noticed the subtle distraction, the tiny flush on her cheeks, and smirked faintly. "Something on your mind?" he asked, teasing but careful.
Maya shrugged, pretending to be nonchalant. "Just… thinking about all the philosophical debates we had with Aveed. Deep stuff, you know?"
Aryan chuckled, masking the storm inside him. "Yeah… deep."
They continued walking, laughter floating lightly between them, but the tension of what had just happened at Aveed's apartment lingered, unspoken. Both knew things were shifting, subtly, dangerously, and neither of them could ignore it…
Maya's POV
Maya lay on her bed, phone in hand, the soft glow illuminating her face. Her thumb hovered over the keyboard for a moment, then she typed:
"So… coffee today. You really do know how to trap someone in your philosophical lectures, Aveed."
Seconds later, her phone buzzed.
Aveed: "Trap? I thought I was enlightening. Besides… you seemed to enjoy it more than you're letting on."
Maya bit her lip, a small smile tugging at her lips. She couldn't believe she was blushing over texts. "Enlightening, huh? Sure, I'll give you that… maybe. But don't think I'll let you off that easily next time."
Aveed: "Oh? Is that a challenge? Because I might just accept."
Her heart skipped a beat. His playful tone, the subtle tease—it was driving her crazy. She typed back quickly:
"You really think you're that charming?"
Aveed: "I don't think. I know."
Maya rolled her eyes but couldn't stop smiling. Her mind wandered to the afternoon, how close he had been, how his words had lingered…
"Stop being so… annoyingly confident," she typed.
Aveed: "Annoying? Or dangerously attractive?"
Maya groaned, tossing the pillow over her face. "You know exactly what you're doing."
Aveed: "Maybe. But maybe I just wanted you to notice."
Maya's fingers froze. That hint, so small, yet it made her chest tighten. She typed carefully, pretending to be indifferent:
"Noticed. Happy now?"
Aveed: "Very. But I think you should come over tomorrow. More coffee. More enlightenment."
Maya felt a flutter she couldn't hide. She typed back with a teasing grin:
"You're relentless, you know that?"
Aveed: "Only for the right person."
Her thumb hovered over the screen. Right person. Could he mean her? The thought made her pulse race. She shook her head, telling herself to play it cool. "We'll see," she typed, with the tiniest smirk.
---
Aveed's POV
Aveed leaned back in his chair, phone in hand, a small smile tugging at his lips. She was playful, teasing, but beneath that… he could feel the tiny cracks, the blush, the way she bit her lip in texts. It was addictive.
He typed carefully, not wanting to scare her off but wanting her to feel the pull.
Aveed: "We'll see? Oh, I like a little mystery. Keeps me on my toes."
He waited for her reply, watching the bubble appear and disappear as she typed… and then paused.
Maya: "Don't get used to it. I might just ignore you next time."
Aveed: "Challenge accepted. But you know, ignoring me might be… difficult."
Her reply was almost instant.
Maya: "Hah. I'll see about that."
He grinned, feeling that warmth in his chest he hadn't realized had been there all along. He liked her—more than he had expected, more than he could admit out loud.
Aveed: "Goodnight, Maya. Dream of coffee and lectures, maybe me too."
Maya: "You're impossible. Goodnight, Aveed."
He stared at the screen for a moment, heart racing, before putting the phone down. He knew one thing for sure—he couldn't keep pretending. Not for long.
Aryan sat in his room, frozen, mind spinning faster than he could control. Maya. At Aveed's apartment. The thought hit him like a punch to the chest. His stomach knotted, heart hammering, hands trembling.
And then it hit him. Not just panic… not just fear. I… I love her. I've always… I've always loved her. The realization was sudden, almost cruel, like someone shining a spotlight on the truth he had been too blind to see. All the little things—her laugh, the way she leaned into him during conversations, the warmth in her eyes—everything clicked into place.
His chest tightened, and a wave of regret washed over him. Why didn't I see it before? Why did I let it slip? Every memory of Maya with Aveed twisted inside him, sharp as knives. She could be laughing with him, getting close to him… and I didn't even realize how much she meant to me until now.
His hands clenched into fists, trembling. Panic rose like fire in his veins. No. I can't let this happen. I can't. I can't just sit here while he—while anyone—takes her from me.
The room felt too small, the darkness pressing in, suffocating. He ran a hand through his hair, muttering under his breath, pacing like a caged animal. Every thought screamed: I love her. I've always loved her. And I can't hide it anymore.
He imagined her smiling at Aveed, imagined her leaning in, imagined losing her before he even admitted it to himself. And that fear… that raw, suffocating fear, ignited something he couldn't ignore: determination.
Aryan stood abruptly, jaw tight, chest burning. I have to tell her. I have to tell her now, before it's too late. I can't wait. Not another second. Not after realizing… not after knowing I've loved her all along.
For the first time, panic turned into resolve. The realization of his feelings was no longer just terrifying—it was undeniable. Maya wasn't just someone he liked. She was everything he hadn't admitted to himself… until tonight. And now he knew.
I love her. Always have. Always will.
Sleep finally came, but it was restless and filled with dreams of what-ifs and maybes. His tears dried on his pillow, but the ache didn't. By morning, Aryan would wake with the same truth burning inside him—one he could no longer ignore, one he could no longer deny.