The campus felt charged that week, like everyone was holding their breath, waiting for something to change. For Kol and Sara, every glance and half-smile was loaded with unspoken feelings they both desperately tried to ignore.
Walking into the library, Kol caught Sara's eye across the room. She was sitting with her notebook, scribbling something fiercely, her brow furrowed just like the day they'd studied together last semester. That memory, simple but intimate, hit him hard — the way her hair fell over her face, how she'd laughed at his terrible joke, how he'd wanted to reach out and brush that hair away.
He shook his head. No. Not now.
___
She noticed Kol watching her, heart pounding like the first time they'd shared that accidental touch over the economics textbook. She looked away quickly, cheeks flushed, reminding herself: He's just a friend. Just a friend.
But her fingers trembled as she closed her notebook.
She remembered their rooftop conversation, the almost-kiss, the way his voice had softened when he'd called her by her name. That night haunted her thoughts, the line between friendship blurring with every heartbeat.
---
Meanwhile, Lina and Aarav
The tension from their argument earlier in the week hadn't fully faded, but it had opened a new door. They spent hours texting, sharing little pieces of themselves — hopes, fears, silly memes to lighten the mood.
One afternoon, Lina surprised Aarav by showing up at the practice room where he played guitar, holding two cups of coffee.
"I figured you could use a break," she said with a small smile.
Aarav grinned, the weight on his shoulders easing for a moment. "You always know how to find me."
They sat close, the music mingling with quiet laughter. For Lina, it was the first time in a long while she felt like maybe she could trust someone completely.
__
One evening, Kol found Sara waiting for him near the dorm entrance, the golden hour sunlight casting a halo around her.
"You looked lost in thought in class today," he said, trying to sound casual.
Sara shrugged, biting her lip. "Just... a lot on my mind."
Kol nodded, understanding more than she said.
They started walking together, the silence comfortable but charged.
Suddenly, Kol stopped and looked at her seriously. "Sara, do you ever think about us? About what this could be?"
Sara's breath hitched. She opened her mouth, then closed it.
"I... I don't know," she whispered.
Kol reached out slowly, fingertips brushing hers.
Sara didn't pull away.
Her eyes met his, wide and vulnerable.
For a heartbeat, the world paused — and then reality rushed back in.
Sara stepped back, voice barely audible. "I can't."
Kol nodded, swallowing the disappointment. "Me neither. Not yet."