Ariyan lay sprawled on his bed, his gaze fixed on the ceiling, lost in thought. A heavy sigh escaped his lips, and he groaned, dragging a hand down his face. With an exaggerated grunt, he sat up, ruffling his hair in frustration.
"Ahhh… Who cares right now?" he muttered, his voice tinged with irritation.
He pushed himself off the bed and shuffled to the window. The campus grounds outside were alive with energy. Students darted across the soccer field, others engaged in badminton matches, while some lounged on benches with books or in animated conversations. His eyes caught a boy in sportswear sprinting across the field, a soccer ball tucked under his arm. The boy paused, his chest heaving, and looked up directly at Ariyan's window. With a playful gesture, he motioned as if to ask, What happened to you?
Ariyan smirked and responded with a series of exaggerated facial expressions and hand gestures. I don't know. Nothing much… just collapsed.
The boy rolled his eyes, his body language screaming mock disbelief. Ah, you and your useless body. Stay put—I'll come see you.
Ariyan chuckled softly, his mood lifting slightly as he turned his attention back to the vibrant scene outside. The cheerful sounds of laughter and playful shouts drifted up to his room, blending into a symphony of campus life.
Behind him, the door clicked open. A familiar, lively voice broke his reverie.
"Hey, how's it going, kiddo?" Dr. Aisha strolled in, a lollipop wedged in the corner of her mouth as usual. Her movements were brisk as she rummaged through a nearby drawer.
Ariyan turned, his eyes narrowing at the candy. "Aaah… When did you quit smoking?" he teased, a sly grin tugging at his lips.
Dr. Aisha shot him a sideways glance, smirking. "Who said I quit?"
"What?!" Ariyan's jaw dropped in mock horror.
Before the conversation could escalate, the door opened again, and Miss Rina entered, balancing a bag in one hand and a book in the other. Her expression was calm but focused.
"Ariyan, here's your bag. I brought something for you to eat as well," she said, placing a black plastic bag on the table with a gentle thud.
Ariyan raised an eyebrow. "You didn't have to. I'm fine, really. I was about to head to the canteen anyway." Then, curiosity flickered across his face. "But since you insisted… let's see what's inside."
He opened the bag to reveal a steaming box of vegetable noodles. The fragrant aroma immediately filled the room, and his eyes lit up.
"Woo…! Smells amazing," he exclaimed, his mouth watering.
Miss Rina's lips curved into a faint smile. "I should head back now," she murmured, turning toward the door.
"Wait!" Ariyan called, stopping her mid-step. Picking up a fork, he deftly split the noodles into two portions.
"Miss Rina," he said softly, his tone sincere, "this is for you. I know you haven't eaten anything since this morning."
Rina froze, her cheeks tinged with pink. She glanced at Ariyan, who was gazing at her with an earnest expression. After a moment of hesitation, she scowled lightly, trying to mask her flustered state.
"What the hell? What do you expect from the job… and it's lunchtime
anyway!" she stammered.
Ariyan smirked knowingly. "Ah, too many details. I'm not buying your excuses." He held up a forkful of noodles, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Just eat."
Caught off guard, Miss Rina reluctantly leaned in and took a small bite. Before she could say anything, the door burst open with a loud bang, and Aki Anvaya, the boy from the soccer field, strode in.
"Haa.aa.y.y…" Aki's voice cracked as his eyes darted between Ariyan and Miss Rina, who was still mid-chew.
Dr. Aisha, who had been quietly observing from the corner, burst into laughter. "Shad, did you forget I'm here too?"
Miss Rina's face turned crimson as she stepped back, visibly flustered. Aki pointed at them, his expression a mix of mock innocence and curiosity.
"Am I interrupting something?" he asked with a sly grin.
Dr. Aisha's tone was playful yet firm. "Totally." She turned to Rina, a mischievous smile tugging at her lips. "You two make such a perfect couple, actually."
Ariyan stifled a laugh as he watched Rina's reaction. She looks so cute like this, he thought. That's what it's like to win without even playing the game.
"Shut up!" Rina snapped, her voice rising in embarrassment as she rubbed her face. Regaining her composure, she glared at Aisha. "I'm not listening to your ridiculous jokes ."
Unbothered, Aisha leaned against the desk with a relaxed demeanor. "But I wasn't joking. It's true." She winked and gave a thumbs-up.
Rina grabbed a pen from the table and hurled it at Aisha, hitting her square on the forehead.
"Ow!" Aisha yelped, rubbing her head with an exaggerated pout.
Straightening up, Rina addressed the boys with a sharp look. "I have things to do, so I'm leaving. And you two? Your enjoyment is officially canceled. Today's cleaning duty is yours."
Aki saluted dramatically. "Yes, ma'am!"
With a final sharp look and a smirk, Miss Rina exited the room.
Dr. Aisha shrugged, still rubbing her forehead. "Okay, boys. I've got somewhere to be. Enjoy your conversation." She left as well, leaving the two friends behind.
Aki turned to Ariyan, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Wow, dude. That was awesome!"
"Shut up," Ariyan muttered, rolling his eyes.
Aki's grin widened. "By the way, what's with the wheelchair?"
"Ah, nothing much. I just collapsed. What about you?" Ariyan asked.
"Same old, boring stuff," Aki replied with a shrug. Then his tone turned serious. "Hey, why don't you move to the city? It'd make it easier for you to balance work and college."
Ariyan nodded thoughtfully. "You're right. I've been considering it. Do you know any good places?"
Aki's grin returned. "I do. Let's check it out after class."
Ariyan smirked, feeling a rare sense of anticipation. "Let's do it."