Chapter 5 - Canteen Chats

Aria's POV

I sat beside Ivy, the faint buzz of the classroom fading as she casually asked why I was late. It wasn’t an interrogation, just a simple question, and I felt a wave of relief wash over me. She didn’t pry. Why would she? We had known each other for less than a week, after all. There was no need for anything deeper, and somehow, that was exactly what I needed.

Even though I didn’t share anything personal, just talking felt good. Sometimes, even the smallest exchanges lift the weight of unspoken thoughts, and for once, I didn’t feel like a burden. I was a chatterbox, sure, but only to those who matched my energy, those who listened—like Mr. Eclair. Why was he listening to me? Did I say something wrong? Did I make him uncomfortable by bringing up the touch earlier? My mind spiraled with questions. I shook my leg, a nervous habit when overthinking, but Ivy quickly nudged my shoulder, pulling me from my thoughts.

"Stop shaking your leg. You're disturbing me," she said, half amused.

"Okay," I replied, my voice flat, though I knew it wasn’t about the leg-shaking. It was about the swirling thoughts in my head.

Then it hit me. Did Mr. Eclair wink at me? I looked back over my shoulder. There he was, sitting behind me again, like the first day. I met his gaze for a split second before quickly turning back around. It’s normal, I reasoned. It must’ve been a mistake, right? He didn’t seem like the type to be flirty. Still, the thought lingered. Maybe I was overthinking this, like everything else.

As the lecture ended and the bell rang for break, a sudden, light tap on my shoulder caught me off guard. It wasn’t a hand , but a pen—just a quick, playful poke. I turned to find Ray looking at me with an expression I couldn’t quite read. Of course, after today’s incident, I thought, I didn’t expect him to ever touch me again.

I raised an eyebrow, a silent question hanging in the air: What was that for?

For a moment, I stayed frozen, unsure if I should speak or not. I didn’t want to make things awkward.

Ray must’ve caught the hesitation in my eyes. With a shrug, he casually spoke up. "No big deal. Just noticed you were lost in thought," he said with a grin, his tone light and teasing.

Why did you look back? He asked.

I couldn’t help it. My brain was overthinking again. To make things less weird, I winked back at him—playfully, just to defuse the tension, hoping it didn’t seem too strange. So he gets to know that his wink didn't made me uncomfortable and he shouldn't think too much of it.

I glanced at Ivy and Elio. They both exchanged confused looks, probably trying to figure out what was going on between us. Ray seemed to notice their confusion too, and with his usual sarcasm, he said, “Huh, you and your nonsense.”

I couldn’t help but smile. He was pretending to be annoyed, but I could tell it was all in good fun. His teasing had a way of making everything feel casual, but somehow, more comfortable too.

Just as things were settling, Elio, of all people, suggested, "Hey, how about we have lunch together?" His suggestion surprised me. After our somewhat awkward first interaction, I didn’t expect him to extend an invitation. But there it was, a genuine offer. Ivy immediately agreed, and before I knew it, I was nodding too.

Ray and I exchanged a glance. Something about the way we looked at each other felt different now—easier, warmer. It was as though the small talks from the morning had created an unspoken bond between us. We’re talking with our eyes now, I thought, a small smile creeping up my face.

Ray seemed pleased, like he was relieved that I agreed to Elio’s lunch idea. I couldn’t be sure, but it felt like it might have been his idea all along. Maybe he didn’t want me to know that, and that was fine. Who cares who came up with the idea? I liked it too. Lunch with four people felt less awkward than just two.

As we entered the canteen, Ray asked me, “What will you have?”

I glanced at my tiffin box, still packed with food. “Nothing, thanks,” I replied. I wasn’t hungry for anything else.

Ray didn’t push it. I almost wished he had—just a little, like I was secretly hoping someone would insist—but I quickly reminded myself not to expect too much. It was just a small interaction. How could I expect him to make me a priority so soon?

Meanwhile, Ivy was already ordering her juice. I couldn’t help but smile at how she was always on her diet kick, her endless quest to be "healthier." I liked that about her, though—she was dedicated to something, no matter how quirky it might seem.

The boys were off grabbing food, and as we waited, I found myself talking to Ivy. It was surprisingly easy to chat with her—comfortable, even. The casualness of it all was a welcome change.

 Ray came back holding a chocolate pastry. He offered it to me. I stared at it for a second, confused. I had already said no, hadn't I? But then his eyes met mine, and a slow realization dawned on me. In the morning, I’d mentioned how much I loved chocolate pastries, and here he was, bringing me one without hesitation. I took it from him, silently acknowledging the thoughtful gesture. He listened. That was something special.

We ate, laughed, and talked—simple, easy moments that made the rest of the day feel light. Even Elio wasn’t so bad. It wasn’t like I’d call them friends yet. Past experiences had made me cautious, but this was a new environment, and I was willing to give them a chance.

By the end of the day, I felt like I had found something—someone—to pass the time with in this college. It felt good.

____________

Later, back in my room, my phone buzzed. It was a new group chat—one Ivy had set up, adding Ray and Elio’s numbers. She was quick to bond with them, in a way I struggled to. But that’s Ivy. Always friendly, always connecting.

A message popped up. "Please send the picture you clicked, Aria, with Ivy."

I clicked on the profile—it was Ray. I saved his number ,though I didn't expected him to message me directly. I sent the pictures, the ones that had caused a bit of chaos at home.

And then, a personal message from him:

"Heyyy"

I looked at the picture he had cropped and sent back to me. It was a shot of me glancing over my shoulder while the others were peering curiously at our photo. Ray’s face was in the frame too, looking at me, but Ivy and Elio were cut out. I hadn’t noticed how candid the photo was until now. The chaos those pictures caused was enough for me to avoid them forever, but this one? It felt... different.

Without thinking, I responded with a ❤️.

His reply was a 🤗.

Maybe he wasn’t just erasing my anxiety with a simple gesture—maybe he understood it. The weight of the day, the little moments we shared, started to make sense. I wasn’t alone in my overthinking. Maybe he wasn’t either.

For the first time, I was looking forward to tomorrow.

Ray's POV

As soon as I sent the cropped photo to her, I didn’t expect her reaction. A heart. A simple ❤️. Was she always this kind, or was she just surrounded by so much anxiety that it masked her true nature? I didn’t know, but I wanted to. I’d seen parts of her personality unfold today. She was complex—just like me. She shared her thoughts openly, while I kept mine hidden. It was a difference, but also something that drew me in.

I sent her the 🤗, hoping she’d understand what I was trying to convey. Maybe she would realize that I wasn’t just trying to send a picture, but a message—one that said, "I’m here. I see you." Whether she picked up on that or not, I didn’t know. But I hoped she would.

Today had been good. For once, there was no drama at home. No yelling between Mom and Dad. Even Jay listened to me. And I met Aria. Something about her felt different, like there was a connection I hadn’t expected but now couldn’t ignore.

Tomorrow? I couldn’t wait to see her again.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***