The room was drenched in a heavy silence, the air still thick with the aftershocks of what had just transpired between them. Javier only stopped after what felt like an eternity — ten, maybe fifteen minutes of relentless intensity that left Mahnoor completely numb, her body absolutely spent. She had nothing left to give, her limbs feeling heavy, her mind clouded with the echoes of pleasure and exhaustion. Her breath was shallow and uneven, and she let herself collapse against him, her weight completely surrendered to his form.
Javier, still holding her gently but firmly, could feel the shift in her. She was beyond exhaustion, her body trembling slightly in the aftermath of everything. His strong arms wrapped around her protectively, the earlier dominance melting into tenderness. He guided her slowly, helping her lay down fully on the bed, moving with care to not startle her sensitive form. He laid beside her, pulling the soft sheet over both of them, tucking her in with a tenderness that contrasted sharply with the intensity that had come before.
Gently, he guided her head onto his arm, positioning her so that she could nestle against his chest. He kept her grounded, his fingers lightly tracing the outline of her arm, helping her even out her breathing. Every soft touch was deliberate, meant to soothe her frayed nerves and steady her senses. Javier knew she needed time, space to recover, and he was willing to give her that, content to simply be there with her in the quiet that followed.
For what seemed like an hour, perhaps more, they lay like that, the stillness of the night wrapping them in a cocoon of serenity. Javier didn't speak. He just held her, his own heart slowing from the adrenaline and heat of what had transpired, his body finally calming alongside hers. Every now and then, he would glance down at her face, her eyes shut as her breathing slowly returned to normal. The flush on her skin had faded, replaced by a soft, contented glow. There was a peace in this silence, a rare, unspoken understanding between them that words would only complicate.
At around 2 am, the stillness began to feel too thick, too weighty, and Javier could sense the shift in the room. He turned his head slightly, his lips grazing her forehead before he spoke softly, "Hey… you feeling okay now?" His voice was low, careful not to disturb the quiet too much.
Mahnoor stirred slightly, her eyes fluttering open as she slowly came back to reality. She was exhausted, but the warmth of his body against hers and the weight of the blanket had given her a sense of calm she hadn't expected. She nodded against his chest, not trusting her voice just yet. Javier smiled to himself before asking, "What do you say we go out and get something to eat? I know a place, it's my favorite."
Mahnoor looked up at him, blinking sleepily, her curiosity piqued. She raised a brow slightly, her voice barely above a whisper, "At 2 am?"
Javier chuckled, "It's the perfect time, trust me. This place serves these huge, cheesy chicken burgers. I'm talking the works — abundant loaded fries and this insanely rich chocolate ice cream shake. None of that reduced-size stuff you get at other places. It's exactly what you need right now."
For a moment, Mahnoor just stared at him, still processing the abrupt shift in conversation. But as the thought of food slowly sank in, her stomach growled in agreement. She smiled faintly, shaking her head at his suggestion but finally nodding. "Okay… that actually sounds amazing."
Javier grinned, pleased that she agreed. He carefully shifted out of bed, standing beside it as he stretched briefly, his muscles still tense from the evening's exertions. He turned to her, his eyes softening as he realized the practical issue at hand. "You're gonna need something to wear," he said with a half-smile, motioning to the remnants of her torn dress scattered on the floor. "Give me your dorm key, and I'll grab your nightclothes."
Mahnoor sighed, realizing the extent of the damage. She shifted in bed, reaching for her purse, which lay on the nightstand. She handed him her dorm keys, her fingers brushing against his palm for a moment before pulling away. "Flip-flops too," she added, "I don't think my feet can handle heels right now."
Javier chuckled, giving her a reassuring nod. "Don't worry, I'll get everything." He threw on his night suit quickly and slipped out of the room, heading toward her dorm with purposeful strides. The cool night air was a sharp contrast to the heat of the room he'd just left, and as he walked, Javier couldn't help but let his mind wander to everything that had happened between them in the last few months.
There was so much left unsaid between them, so many things simmering under the surface that they both seemed determined to ignore. Maybe it was because their time was limited now, the looming reality of their visas expiring in just a few days hanging over them like a countdown clock. His flight back to Spain was in three days, and Mahnoor's was only two days after the farewell event. The thought weighed heavy on him, but he pushed it aside, focusing on the task at hand.
When he returned to the dorm a few minutes later, he found Mahnoor still lying in bed, looking much more relaxed. He handed her the nightclothes and flip-flops without a word, watching her as she slowly dressed. Even in the simple act of putting on clothes, there was something ethereal about her, something that made his heart clench in a way he didn't want to admit.
Javier leaned against the doorframe, taking her in, his eyes roaming over her as she moved. There was a tenderness in his gaze that he hadn't shown before, an unspoken admission of something deeper. He was crumbling inside, emotions and words fighting to escape, but he knew better than to let them out. Not now. Not when they were both on the verge of going their separate ways.
Once Mahnoor was dressed, she turned to look at him, her expression softening as she caught the look in his eyes. Neither of them spoke for a moment, the silence stretching between them like a fragile thread, ready to snap at any second. She opened her mouth to say something, but Javier shook his head slightly, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
"Let's go," he said quietly, holding out his hand for her to take.
She took it, her fingers wrapping around his as they left the room together, the unspoken words between them hanging in the air, heavy and unresolved. But for tonight, that was enough, before their paths separated perhaps forever.