Mahnoor strode into the nearly empty university common room, her heels clicking softly on the floor. Usually, this place bustled with students from every department, but today it was just her and... the quiet guy absorbed in his laptop. She noticed him every now and then, always tucked in a corner, alone, with his eyes fixed on a screen. She could tell he was focused, maybe even serious, but something about his almost nerdy, quiet demeanor intrigued her.
She sighed, flopping onto the nearest couch. Her mind wandered back to her own friend group, now fractured and scattered after a petty fight. She missed the chatter, the banter, the comfortable presence of her friends. Today, though, she'd have to make her own entertainment. And this guy—well, he seemed interesting enough. Besides, her next lecture wasn't for another two hours.
Glancing over at him, she noticed the faintest glimmer of a smirk on his face, probably directed at something on his screen. "Alright," she thought, straightening her posture and making her way over. She plopped down on the couch beside him, leaning forward and peering at his laptop.
"Hey, which department are you in?" she asked, making her presence known.
The guy looked up, slightly startled, as if pulled out of a trance. His gaze flicked up to meet hers, and for a second, he just stared, seeming to assess her, before he finally replied, "Computer Science, final year."
Mahnoor raised her eyebrows, feigning surprise. "Oh, a senior! And here I was, thinking you were some genius prodigy." She grinned and added, "I'm in second year. LLB."
A small smile tugged at the corners of his lips. "You're not too far off, then," he said. There was a pause before he looked back down, apparently unsure of what to say next.
"So, we're practically strangers who have, what, never even exchanged names?" she teased, leaning back with a curious glint in her eyes.
He blinked, as if realizing something. "Right. I'm Raemond," he said, his voice quiet, but steady.
"Mahnoor," she responded, holding out her hand as if she were sealing a deal.
Raemond hesitated for a moment before shaking her hand, his grasp firm yet oddly gentle.
Mahnoor tilted her head, sizing him up with a sly grin. "You're cute, Raemond."
That took him by surprise. His cheeks flushed slightly as he adjusted his glasses, obviously flustered. "And… you're sexy, Mahnoor." His voice wavered ever so slightly, and before he could help it, he looked away, breaking the eye contact in embarrassment.
Mahnoor laughed softly, leaning in closer. "You can't just call me sexy and then look away," she said, her voice teasing but her gaze intense.
Raemond chuckled, his smile broadening, though he still didn't quite meet her gaze.
"Ohhh, you're definitely a shy one, aren't you?" she said, taking his chin and gently turning his face to meet hers. "Cutieeeeee," she cooed, her teasing tone drawing him further into her charm.
Mahnoor leaned back on the couch, a playful spark in her eyes. "Hey, you wanna hang out?" she asked, her voice light yet persuasive. "We could grab lunch at this food truck I love. It's not far."
Raemond blinked, surprised at the sudden invitation. He hesitated, then nodded. "Uh, okay. Sure."
"Perfect!" Mahnoor said, her excitement almost infectious. She practically bounced off the couch, adjusting her bag over her shoulder. "Do you drive? Or should we walk?"
He stood up, a bit stiff but with a slight smile. "I have a bike," he murmured, motioning toward the door.
Minutes later, they were weaving through the city streets on his motorcycle, Mahnoor gripping his waist, her laughter ringing out as the wind whipped around them. Despite his reserved nature, Raemond felt an odd thrill having her so close, her excitement blending with his own.
They arrived at the food truck, a modest but vibrant spot with a menu plastered on its side. Mahnoor led the way, ordering without hesitation. "Two orders of cheesy fries, a loaded pizza, and a chocolate ice-cream milkshake," she said, glancing at him with a grin. "Trust me, you'll love it."
He nodded, smiling slightly as he took out his wallet, but she held up a hand. "This one's on me," she insisted, flashing him a wink.
As they settled at a nearby bench with their food, the aroma of melted cheese and freshly baked pizza filled the air. Mahnoor didn't waste a second, diving into the fries with an enthusiasm that made Raemond chuckle. He picked up a slice of pizza, savoring the rich, gooey flavors.
For a while, the two of them were so focused on eating that neither of them said a word. It was a comfortable silence, filled with shared bites and glances. But just as Raemond was about to finish his first slice, he felt the pizza shift, and before he knew it, the toppings slid off, leaving a streak of sauce on his chin.
Mahnoor looked over, her laughter bubbling up. "Well, aren't you a mess?" she teased, leaning closer.
Raemond's cheeks reddened as he fumbled for a napkin, but Mahnoor shook her head. "Hold still," she murmured, her voice soft yet somehow teasing.
Before he could react, she leaned in, her eyes locked on his as she closed the distance between them. Her lips grazed his chin, tasting the sauce as she licked it off gently. Raemond's breath hitched, his mind a blur. Her lips traveled to the corners of his mouth, her touch light yet electrifying, leaving him frozen in place, entirely caught off guard.
Mahnoor leaned back, her gaze amused as she caught his wide-eyed, slightly stunned expression. "Mmm, not bad," she murmured, smirking as she picked up another fry. "Though maybe next time, try not to wear your food."
Raemond finally managed a blink, his voice a little rough. "I... I'll keep that in mind."
She laughed, popping another fry into her mouth, clearly entertained by his reaction.
The sun hung high in the sky, casting a warm glow over the food truck area, where Mahnoor and Raemond were still seated at their bench, half-finished plates in front of them. As Mahnoor took another bite of her cheesy fries, she glanced sideways at Raemond, who was still trying to regain his composure after her unexpected and playful kiss.
"So, what are your plans after you finish your degree?" Mahnoor asked, trying to break the slight tension that hung in the air. She genuinely wanted to know more about him.
Raemond hesitated, his gaze dropping to his half-eaten pizza. "Um, I'm thinking about doing my master's," he said, fumbling over his words. "In… uh, cyber security."
"Oh, that's cool!" Mahnoor exclaimed, her eyes lighting up. "I'm actually planning to specialize in computer and technology law for my master's."
Raemond looked up, a spark of interest in his expression. "Really? That's great! We could be a team!" His excitement was palpable, and as he spoke, the corners of his eyes crinkled with genuine joy.
Mahnoor couldn't help but grin back at him. "You are so cute, Rae! God!" She leaned in closer, cupping his face with her hand, forcing him to maintain eye contact. The intensity of her gaze made his heart race. "I could kiss you right now," she said, her voice teasing yet sincere.
His cheeks flushed again, and he stammered, "I, uh… um, really? Why? I mean, no girl has ever even looked at me like this." He glanced away, clearly flustered, a faint hint of disbelief coloring his tone.