Two days had passed since Mahnoor and Daemond had shared that initial coffee. They had managed to see each other in passing between lectures and exchanged small pleasantries, but today was the day of their third lecture, and things were about to change.
As Mahnoor walked into the lecture hall, she saw Daemond already seated, his dark blonde hair tousled as he scribbled notes. She took a seat next to him, glancing around at the emptying room.
"Hey," she said, sliding into her chair.
"Hey," Daemond replied with a smile. "Ready for the last class of the day?"
Before Mahnoor could respond, the professor entered the room with a hurried expression and then, just as abruptly, left, muttering something about an emergency. The students exchanged confused glances, some groaning at the sudden turn of events.
"Well," Daemond said, breaking the silence, "I guess that's it for today. Do you want to come over to my dorm and go over some of the material? I've got a few notes and textbooks we could review."
Mahnoor raised an eyebrow, surprised but intrigued. "Sure, that sounds good."
Daemond seemed relieved, his usual reserved demeanor momentarily dropping as he looked at her with a shy smile. "I'm kind of an introvert, so I don't really get many study partners. It'd be nice to have some company."
They made their way to Daemond's dorm, a cozy, if somewhat sparsely decorated, room that looked as if it had been set up with the basics in mind. Daemond cleared a spot on his bed for them to sit and spread out their notes and textbooks.
Mahnoor settled onto the bed, stretching out comfortably as she reviewed the material. After about half an hour, Daemond got up, moving swiftly to prepare some coffee. He pulled out a packet of cookies from a grocery bag and brought them over to the small couch in the corner.
"Coffee and cookies?" he offered with a hesitant grin. "It's not much, but it should help."
Mahnoor accepted gratefully, following him to the couch. As they sipped their coffee and munched on the cookies, their conversation drifted from lecture material to more personal topics. They talked about their families, their plans for the future, and their experiences in London. It felt easy and natural, and Mahnoor found herself enjoying his company more than she had anticipated.
Once the coffee break was over, they returned to the bed to continue their studying. Mahnoor, feeling a surge of emotion and warmth, found herself drawn closer to Daemond. As they sat side by side, she couldn't help but notice how comfortable and content she felt next to him.
Her heart pounded as she contemplated taking a bold step. Taking a deep breath, she called out softly, "Daemond…"
He turned to look at her, his grey eyes meeting hers. With a mix of hesitance and resolve, Mahnoor leaned in, cupping his face in her hands. Their lips touched in a tentative kiss.
For a moment, Daemond was still, frozen in surprise. The kiss lasted only about nine seconds before he gently pulled back, his expression a mix of confusion and discomfort.
"Mahnoor," he said softly, "I'm… I'm gay."
Mahnoor's face fell, a look of frustration crossing her features. "Seriously? You too? Every celebrity I get a crush on is gay! And every guy I try to get close to turns out to be gay! Damn… maybe my type is gay men!? Because every guy I like turns out to be gay! Am I cursed?"
She sighed heavily, her exasperation evident. "Ugh… sorry, Daemond. I'm on my period, and I get super sensual during this time. I kind of kissed you in need… sorry."
Daemond looked a bit taken aback but quickly composed himself. "Uh, um, oh, okay. It's okay; you didn't know. I guess you like gay men? If you want, you can cuddle with me? That's the maximum support I can offer you for your... period situation."
Before Daemond could even finish his sentence, Mahnoor's eyes lit up with a mixture of relief and affection. Without hesitation, she straddled him and clung to him tightly.
Daemond was initially startled but then wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. His polite nature made him offer comfort in the most gentle way possible.
As they sat there together, Mahnoor felt a strange sense of calm. Despite the awkwardness of the situation, Daemond's kindness and understanding were comforting. She snuggled closer, feeling the warmth of his embrace and the soft thrum of his heartbeat.
They stayed like that for a while, wrapped in each other's presence, both finding solace in the unexpected turn of events.