Chapter 5 — Misread Signals

The campus was unusually quiet that afternoon, the sun dipping low and casting long golden shadows across the pathways. Arjun walked slowly, his backpack slung over one shoulder, but his mind was far from the serene scenery. Every thought revolved around Rayan Kapoor—his calm smile, the way he had read Arjun’s notebook with such attention, the subtle warmth in his eyes that left Arjun both elated and nervous.

He barely noticed when Aarav appeared on the same path, pretending to tie his shoelaces but obviously watching him. A flicker of irritation, and an unexpected pang of protectiveness, surged through Arjun. “Does he always have to be around?” he muttered to himself.

Shaking off the thought, Arjun turned into the library, hoping for some quiet space to focus. To his surprise, Rayan was already there, seated at a corner table, a stack of books neatly arranged beside him.

“You’re early again,” Rayan said without looking up, his voice calm but carrying that unmistakable warmth.

“I… I wanted to get some work done,” Arjun replied, his voice quieter than intended. His heart raced as he approached.

Rayan finally lifted his gaze, and their eyes met. For a moment, the library seemed to shrink around them, the distant whispers of other students fading into nothing.

“You’re improving,” Rayan said, his tone even, but there was an undercurrent of something—concern, curiosity, perhaps even… anticipation.

Arjun’s chest tightened. “I… I think I’m starting to understand what you mean about… opening up. But it’s hard.”

Rayan leaned forward slightly, his eyes softening. “I know. And I don’t expect it all at once. But hiding everything won’t help either. Sometimes… vulnerability is the only way to grow.”

The words hit Arjun with a force he hadn’t expected. He looked down at his notebook, fingers curling around the pen, wishing he could write something that would capture exactly how he felt. Instead, he managed only a small, hesitant smile.

Just as he began to relax, his phone buzzed. A message from an unknown number lit up the screen. It was a text from Aarav, playful but unnerving:

Looks like someone’s been getting extra attention from Mr. Kapoor 😉

Arjun’s stomach twisted. He had no idea Rayan could see the message, but in the back of his mind, he feared that any innocent glance or shared moment could now be misinterpreted.

Rayan noticed the sudden tension in Arjun’s shoulders and the way he avoided eye contact. “What’s wrong?” he asked quietly.

Arjun opened his mouth, then hesitated. Words caught in his throat. He didn’t want to seem jealous, didn’t want to give Aarav any power over his feelings. But the truth spilled out anyway. “I… I don’t like him paying so much attention to me. It… it makes me uncomfortable.”

Rayan’s expression softened, and he reached across the table, lightly touching Arjun’s hand. The gesture was subtle, almost imperceptible to anyone else in the library, but for Arjun, it felt monumental. A small, grounding reassurance.

“Don’t worry,” Rayan murmured. “I notice things too. And I’d rather you focus on yourself, not on him. You’re the one I want to see improving, in every way.”

Arjun’s breath caught, a warmth spreading through him, both thrilling and terrifying. He wanted to trust the words, but the lingering tension of jealousy, vulnerability, and fear of exposure made him hesitant. Yet something in Rayan’s calm, steady gaze told him that maybe… just maybe… he could let himself feel.

By the time Arjun left the library, dusk had settled over the campus. The world seemed softer somehow, the shadows longer, the colors more vivid. He clutched his notebook to his chest, thinking of the unread poem, of Rayan’s words, of that fleeting touch on his hand.

For the first time, he admitted to himself that he didn’t just want to be seen—he wanted to be understood.

And he wanted Rayan Kapoor to see him, fully, without barriers.

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