The past didn't rush in. It unfolded. Slowly. Like it had been waiting— For him to finally let it in. The corridor was bright. Sunlight streamed through the tall windows, spilling across the polished floor. Voices echoed. Laughter blended with the distant ringing of a bell. A new day. Just another ordinary morning. Or at least— That's what it was supposed to be. Reyansh walked through the hallway, bag slung casually over one shoulder.
Unbothered.
Unaware.
Until—
He heard her.
"…and I'm telling you, if she says that again, I'm not staying quiet this time!"
His steps slowed. Not intentionally. Just— Instinctively. He turned slightly. And there she was. Walking ahead, completely unaware of the world around her. Talking. Of course she was talking.
Animated.
Expressive.
Her hands moving as much as her words. "…like seriously, who even says that?" she continued, clearly mid-rant, her voice full of life. Reyansh didn't even realize when he stopped walking. Just— Watched. Her expressions changed with every sentence. Brows furrowing. Eyes widening. Then narrowing again. "…I swear, people have no sense of—" She stopped abruptly. Turning to her friend beside her.
"…are you even listening to me?"
Her friend blinked.
"…I am."
"You're not."
"I am!"
"You just nodded randomly."
Reyansh almost smiled. Almost. She huffed lightly, then crossed her arms— Only to start talking again within seconds. And that's when— She moved forward. Without looking. Right into him. A soft thud. "—oh!" Her words cut off as she stumbled slightly. Reyansh instinctively steadied her— A hand lightly catching her arm before she lost balance. For a second— Everything stilled. Her eyes lifted. Meeting his. And just like that— Something unfamiliar flickered. "…sorry," she said quickly. Pulling her arm back. "It's okay." Simple. Brief. She nodded once.
Then—
"…you should look where you're going."
He blinked.
"…you walked into me."
For a second—
She just stared at him.
Then—
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"…you were standing in the middle of the way."
"I was walking."
"You stopped."
"…because you were loud."
A pause.
Her mouth fell open slightly.
"Excuse me?"
Reyansh didn't reply immediately.
Just looked at her—
Calm.
Unbothered.
And somehow—
That annoyed her more.
"I am not loud," she said, crossing her arms.
"You were announcing your entire conversation."
"That's called talking."
"That's called broadcasting."
Her friend beside her snorted.
She shot her a look.
"…don't laugh."
Then turned back to him.
"…you're rude."
"And you don't watch where you're going."
Another pause.
Then—
Unexpectedly—
She smiled.
Not irritated.
Amused.
"…fine."
He raised a brow slightly.
"I'll watch where I'm going," she continued.
A small step closer.
"You… try not to stand in people's way."
A challenge.
Light.
Playful.
For a second—
Reyansh didn't respond.
Then—
"…deal."
Her smile widened.
"Good."
And just like that—
She turned.
Walking away again.
Talking again.
Like nothing had happened. But something had. Because for the first time—
Reyansh watched her leave.
Not out of curiosity.
But because—
Something about her stayed.
"…loud."
He muttered under his breath. But there was no annoyance in it. Only something softer. The next few days passed normally.
Or at least—
They should have.
But now—
There were moments. Small ones. Where their paths crossed again. In corridors. Near classrooms. By the stairs. Sometimes just a glance. Sometimes, a brief eye contact. And every time—She reacted the same way. A slight pause. Then, a quick look away. Like she had been caught. Reyansh noticed. Of course he did. And somehow he didn't look away as quickly.
It was during lunch break— That it happened again. The library. Quiet. Still. Almost empty. Reyansh stepped inside, more out of habit than need. His gaze moved across the shelves.
Until— It stopped. There she was. Standing on her toes, trying to place a stack of books on the upper shelf.
"…seriously, why are these shelves so high…"
She muttered under her breath. Stretching a little more. Almost reaching. Almost— One book slipped. Then another. And suddenly— The entire stack shifted. Unbalanced.
"…oh no—"
Too late. The books started falling. Directly toward her. She froze. No time to move. No time to react. And then— A hand pulled her slightly back. A shoulder moved in front of her.
Thud.
The books hit.
Not her.
Him.
A few scattered to the floor. Some against his arm. One against his shoulder. Silence filled the space. Anaya blinked. Still processing.
"…what just—"
Then she looked up. Reyansh stood in front of her. Closer than ever before. His hand still lightly holding her wrist. His shoulder— Now taking the impact meant for her. For the first time she became this aware of their height difference. For a second— Neither moved. Neither spoke. Because suddenly— Everything felt different.
"…you okay?" he asked.
Her voice didn't come out immediately.
"…you just—"
She looked at the scattered books.
Then back at him.
"…you got hit."
"I've had worse."
Simple. Like it didn't matter. But it did. Because he didn't have to do that. And yet— He did. Her grip tightened slightly around his sleeve.
Without realizing.
"…thank you."
Soft.
Genuine.
Reyansh nodded once.
Then—
"…you should be more careful."
She blinked.
"…you just saved me and you're scolding me?"
A faint hint of something appeared in his expression.
"…I'm just saying."
She exhaled lightly.
"…still. Thank you."
This time— He didn't look away immediately. And neither did she. Because something had changed. Not big. Not obvious. But enough— To make both of them notice. Even if they didn't understand it yet.
It didn't happen all at once. It never does. It started small. So small— That neither of them noticed when it began. But somehow— It stayed. Anaya found herself looking for him. Not intentionally. Not consciously. Just— Automatically.
In the corridors.
Near the stairs.
Outside classrooms.
And every time she spotted him—
Something shifted.
Not loud.
Not obvious.
Just—
A quiet awareness.
"…why do I keep seeing him everywhere?"
Her friend glanced at her.
"…because he studies here?"
Anaya frowned.
"…I know that."
"Then?"
She hesitated.
"…nothing."
But it wasn't nothing. Because now, she noticed things. The way he walked, unhurried. The way he spoke, only when needed. The way he looked at people, like he understood more than he said.
"…he's weird."
Her friend smirked.
"…you mean interesting."
"I did not say that."
"You didn't have to."
Anaya rolled her eyes. But didn't deny it again. Reyansh noticed too. Of course he did. The way her voice always reached him before she did. The way she filled spaces without trying. The way she looked— At everything. Like the world was something to talk to.
"…she doesn't stop talking."
Arya leaned against the desk beside him.
"…then stop listening."
Reyansh didn't reply. Because he didn't want to.
Their first proper conversation didn't happen dramatically. No sudden moment. No big reason. Just— Another ordinary day. Or so it seemed. Anaya stood near the notice board. Trying to read something pinned too high again.
"…why are all important things always placed where short people suffer?"
A voice came from beside her.
"…maybe it's intentional."
She turned instantly.
Reyansh.
Again.
"…you?"
"…me."
A small pause.
Then—
"…are you following me?"
He raised a brow slightly.
"…you're the one who walked into me first."
She narrowed her eyes.
"…that was one time."
"Library."
"…that doesn't count."
"It does."
A pause.
Then—
Unexpectedly—
She smiled.
"…okay, fine."
She stepped slightly aside.
"…since you're already here, help."
He glanced at the notice.
Then—
Without a word—
Reached up.
Effortlessly pulling it down to her eye level.
She blinked.
"…show off."
"You asked for help."
"I didn't ask for attitude."
A faint hint of amusement crossed his face.
"…you get both."
She shook her head.
But her smile didn't leave.
"…what's your name?"
The question came casually.
Like it didn't matter.
But it did.
"Reyansh."
She nodded slowly.
"…Anaya."
"I know."
She froze.
"…you know?"
A small pause.
"…attendance list."
A lie.
But an easy one.
She seemed to accept it.
"…right."
Silence followed.
Not awkward.
Just new.
"…you're quiet," she said suddenly.
"…you're not."
She let out a small laugh.
"…fair."
Another pause.
Then—
"…thank you. For the library."
He nodded once.
"…don't mention it."
"I already did."
A faint smile. And just like that— The conversation ended. But something remained. Because now they had names. Now they had words exchanged, they weren't strangers. And somehow that changed everything. Days passed. And slowly, without realizing— They started adjusting. Waiting. For those small moments. A glance. A line. A pause. Anaya started smiling more when she saw him. Reyansh started noticing when she wasn't around. Neither said anything. Neither admitted anything. But both—Felt something. Unfamiliar. Unnamed.
And quietly—
Without permission—
Without awareness—
They started falling.
Together.