Mahnoor chuckled, enjoying the effect she had on him. "Are you saying I'm a man?" she teased, raising an eyebrow and leaning back a little, clearly enjoying his discomfort.
"Nuh-uh! I mean, no! I'm just… I'm awkward, you see?" He fidgeted slightly, rubbing the back of his neck, his usual confidence evaporating under her playful scrutiny.
"Yeah, I see," she replied, a smile creeping onto her lips. "But you know what? It's actually attractive seeing you squirm like this." She relished the effect her words had on him, and the way he blushed only made her more intrigued.
Raemond looked at her, his expression shifting between embarrassment and the beginnings of a smile. "Attractive? Really?"
"Absolutely," Mahnoor affirmed, her tone playful yet serious. "You've got that whole 'lost puppy' vibe going on. It's adorable."
His smile widened, but he couldn't help but shake his head in disbelief. "I don't think anyone has ever called me adorable before."
"Consider it a first!" Mahnoor declared, pointing her fry at him triumphantly. Then she leaned back, a playful pout on her lips. "But for now, we have important business."
"Important business?" he asked, confusion flickering in his eyes.
"Food!" she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "I'm definitely kissing you later because right now—" She took another generous bite of cheesy fries, "—food!"
Raemond chuckled, shaking his head in amusement as he watched her dig back into her meal. She was utterly captivating, with a confidence that seemed to fill the space around them. For a guy who had always felt out of place, this connection felt new and exciting, like a world opening up just for him.
Mahnoor continued to munch happily, her eyes sparkling with delight. "You know, we really could be a great team," she said between bites, wiping her fingers on a napkin. "Imagine it! You doing your thing in cyber security while I tackle the legal side. We'd be unstoppable."
Raemond nodded slowly, the idea settling in. "Yeah, that would be pretty cool," he said, allowing himself to envision the possibility. "I mean, working on projects together? That sounds… fun."
"Exactly! And with your skills in hacking and my knowledge of the law, we could really make a difference. Protect people from cybercrime while staying within the legal boundaries." Her enthusiasm was contagious, and he found himself growing more and more animated.
"Yeah, like working on cases that involve data breaches or privacy violations," Raemond added, feeling more comfortable now, the initial awkwardness fading. "We could help people who've been affected."
"Right!" Mahnoor beamed. "And I can already picture it: 'The Dynamic Duo of Cyber Law!'"
Raemond laughed at the ridiculousness of it. "Now you're just being silly," he said, shaking his head, but his smile betrayed how much he loved the idea.
"Silly? No, I'm serious!" she insisted, leaning closer once more, her expression earnest. "We could totally brand ourselves. Think of the possibilities!"
Raemond felt a warmth spread through him as he listened to her, something he hadn't expected when he'd first met her. "You really believe in this, don't you?" he asked, touched by her enthusiasm.
"Of course! I believe in us! We can be anything we want to be!" she declared, her confidence radiating off her. "And I believe that we're going to be great friends, maybe even more."
Raemond's heart raced at her words. Could it be possible? "More?" he echoed, his voice slightly shaky.
"Yeah, why not?" she said with a nonchalant shrug, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "I mean, we get along well, don't we? I like having you around."
"I like having you around too," he admitted, the warmth in his chest growing. He found it hard to keep the grin off his face, the prospect of a friendship—or something more—thrilling him.
"Then it's settled!" Mahnoor declared, her eyes glinting with mischief once again. "Just you wait until later. I'm definitely going to kiss you, and it's going to be epic."
Raemond's heart skipped a beat at her declaration. "You really think so?" he asked, trying to sound more confident than he felt.
"Of course! Just think of it as a promise," she said with a wink, and with that, she dove back into her food, savoring each bite as if it were the most delectable treat.
He watched her, a blend of disbelief and delight coursing through him. For so long, he had hidden in the shadows, avoiding interactions, believing that he would always be just the quiet guy in the back of the room. But with Mahnoor, everything felt different. He felt seen.
As they continued eating, Mahnoor began to talk about her favorite law professors and the bizarre legal cases they studied, her enthusiasm infectious. Raemond found himself laughing more freely, losing the remnants of his earlier awkwardness. He felt alive in a way he hadn't before, like the world was unfolding right before him.
"By the way," Mahnoor said suddenly, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "What's your secret? Why are you so good at your studies?"
Raemond shrugged, a small smile creeping onto his lips. "I just… I guess I really enjoy it. And I try to keep my head down. People don't really notice me, so I can focus."
"Notice you?" she exclaimed, clearly disbelieving. "How can anyone not notice you? You're adorable, and you have the kind of brain that's super impressive!"
"Adorable, huh?" he replied, feeling warmth flood through him again. "You're just saying that."
"No, I mean it!" she insisted, her gaze steady. "I think you're great, Raemond."
He felt himself blush under her gaze, a mix of gratitude and surprise swelling within him. "Thanks, Mahnoor. That means a lot coming from you."
Mahnoor grinned, clearly pleased. "Just wait until later, Rae," she said, her tone a mix of teasing and promise. "You'll see just how much I mean it."
With that, the conversation flowed easily, the food vanishing almost as quickly as their initial shyness had. Each shared laugh and playful exchange made Raemond feel more at ease, but the thought of her kiss lingered in the back of his mind, making every moment they spent together feel charged with possibility.
As they finished their meal, Mahnoor leaned back, a satisfied smile on her face. "Okay, now I'm ready for that kiss," she teased, licking her lips playfully.
Raemond felt his heart leap into his throat, a mix of anticipation and anxiety swirling within him. "Really? Like, right now?"
Mahnoor's laughter rang out, bright and clear. "Maybe later," she said, her tone conspiratorial. "But for now, let's finish this and get back to class. We've got work to do, future partner!"
With that, they stood up, the plates cleared away, and Mahnoor took his hand for a moment, squeezing it tightly before letting go, leaving him breathless as they headed back toward the university.
Later that night, the air was thick with anticipation as Mahnoor stood in front of her dorm room, the dim light casting a soft glow around her. She felt a rush of excitement mixed with nerves. After their lunch together, a spark had ignited between them, and she was eager to explore it further. Glancing at her phone, she checked the time; it was getting late, but her thoughts were consumed by Raemond.
After texting him to come over, she paced the room, her heart racing. She heard the soft knock on the door, and she rushed to open it, her smile widening as she saw him standing there. He looked a bit awkward, dressed in a fitted black shirt that accentuated his toned frame and grey shorts that showed off his legs.
"Hey, come in!" she said, stepping aside to let him enter.
Raemond shuffled into the room, his eyes darting around, taking in the walls adorned with posters and the cluttered desk filled with books and notes. "Uh, thanks for inviting me," he said, rubbing the back of his neck, his usual shyness evident.