The bell rang. Chairs scraped the floor and students began scattering around the room — chatting, packing up, rushing out.
Roneet stood up slowly, nerves tightening his stomach again.
Kabir, sitting next to him, glanced at his face.
"You look… a bit excited," Kabir said, eyebrows raised.
Roneet froze mid-movement, his hands shaking as he shoved his laptop into his bag.
"W-what? No, I'm not," he stuttered.
Kabir watched him with suspicion. "Then why are you in such a hurry?"
"I… I have to go to the library," Roneet said, avoiding eye contact.
Kabir smirked. "Library? For studies?"
"N-no, I mean—yes," Roneet replied immediately, voice stumbling.
Kabir stretched his arms lazily.
"Cool. I'll come with you too."
Roneet's heart almost stopped. "H-huh?"
"I've got nothing to do today," Kabir said with a shrug. "So I'll come along."
How do I say no to him…? Roneet thought, panic rising again.
He zipped his bag with trembling fingers.
Across the classroom, Kiara looked up — her eyes landing on Roneet.
She watched him, then whispered to Zoya,
"I'm going to the library."
Zoya widened her eyes. "Library? Since when?"
"Since today," Kiara replied, grabbing her phone.
"I'll come too," Zoya said cheerfully.
Kiara shook her head, her gaze shifting back to Roneet.
"I don't think you'll enjoy the company."
Zoya frowned. "Huh? What do you mean?"
Kiara sighed. "I have no choice. He'll ruin the presentation if I don't teach him."
Zoya's jaw dropped. "WHAT? You're kidding, right?"
Kiara didn't answer — she just kept staring at Roneet.
Roneet walked toward Kiara, trying not to look nervous.
Kiara lowered her eyes the moment he reached her.
"Let's go," she said quietly.
Zoya looked at Roneet with a strange expression — somewhere between confusion and curiosity.
"I guess… I'll go hang out with my friends then," Zoya said, stepping back.
Roneet panicked. His voice came out before he processed it.
"A-actually… he wants to join as well."
He moved aside a little — Kabir was standing right behind him.
Kiara's face changed instantly.
Her expression tightening, eyebrows lifting in disbelief.
She leaned closer to Roneet and whispered sharply,
"Are you kidding me?"
Before Roneet could explain, Zoya jumped in.
"Hey, I think this will do it," she said.
Kiara turned to her, confused. "Do what? What are you talking about?"
Zoya smirked and tugged Kiara's hand.
"Let's all go together."
Kiara stared at her like she'd lost her mind.
Meanwhile, Kabir stood behind them — completely unbothered, AirPods in his ears, scrolling through something on his phone.
He had no idea what was happening.
Roneet felt the tension growing second by second.
Kiara breathed out sharply through her nose — frustrated but cornered.
"…Fine," she finally said.
Back of the Classroom — Last Bench
"Bruh, wake up. Class is over," someone whispered.
Arnav was still sleeping with his head down on the bench.
"Wake up, let's go," another friend said, shaking him lightly.
Arnav suddenly jerked up — and slapped the guy instantly.
The sound echoed.
His two–three friends flinched, stiff with fear.
"You better tell me something serious is going on," Arnav growled, eyes half-open but dangerous, "or else you're fucked up."
"C-class ended…" the guy stammered.
SLAP. Again.
"You woke me up just because class was over? Huh?" Arnav shouted.
"Y-you told me to wake you up after class…" the guy said, voice trembling.
Arnav stopped. His expression shifted — confusion replacing anger.
"Did I… say that?" He rubbed his forehead. "Let me think… maybe I did. Hahaha."
He suddenly smiled, switching moods like nothing happened.
"Sorry, bro. Sorry."
The guy touched his cheeks, checking the damage, speechless.
Arnav got up, stretching.
"Where the hell is Nikhil? Haven't seen him today," Arnav said, annoyed.
"We don't know either," one of the boys replied.
Arnav's eyes scanned the room lazily — then landed on Roneet walking out with Kiara, Zoya, and Kabir.
His expression changed again.
"…Why is he still alive?" Arnav muttered, venomous.
He watched Roneet disappear through the door.
"He left?"
Arnav's jaw clenched.
But then, something else caught his eye — another boy nearby, packing his bag, who looked almost exactly like Roneet from behind.
Arnav stared at him.
A slow smile curled on his lips.
Kiara and Zoya walked behind Kabir and Roneet on the way to the library.
Kiara's eyes narrowed at Kabir's back.
What does he even think of himself? she thought.
AirPods in, acting like he's ignoring us… Does he actually think he's cool?
Her expression turned sharp.
Roneet, curious, glanced back just for a second — and saw Kiara's face.
She looked angry.
He immediately snapped his eyes forward again, heart skipping.
God, she's mad… did I do something wrong?
Meanwhile, Zoya was staring at Kabir with a completely different expression.
He's so cool and charming, she thought dreamily.
Walking like an alpha… I swear the main character aura is crazy.
Kabir, without removing his AirPods, glanced sideways at Roneet.
"I didn't know you were going to study with two girls," he said quietly.
Roneet swallowed.
"E-even I didn't know…" he admitted, voice low.
Kabir smirked.
"Not bad."
Roneet almost tripped.
The library was quiet — almost empty.
Only a few students sat scattered around, reading in silence.
All four of them entered together and sat at one of the long benches.
Kabir didn't sit for even a minute.
He stood up and began casually roaming between the shelves, scanning books like he was genuinely interested.
"I guess I'll search for books too," Zoya said, already getting up.
Kiara shot her a sharp look.
Zoya paused… then slowly changed direction and walked toward Kabir instead.
Kiara sat down next to Roneet.
"Sit here," she said firmly.
Roneet nodded and sat, trying not to make eye contact.
But his hands were vibrating — shaking so visibly that Kiara froze.
What the heck… she thought.
Oh god. How am I supposed to teach him like this?
She took a deep breath.
"Roneet," she said quietly, turning toward him.
"Do you remember what I told you on the call?"
Roneet nodded nervously, eyes glued to the table.
"Then show me," Kiara said, trying to sound patient.
"I need you to introduce yourself. Just like you practiced."
Roneet's throat tightened instantly.
His breathing got uneven. His fingers trembled even more.
Kiara watched in disbelief.
Is he really this scared of speaking?
What happened to him that made him like this?
She tried again, her voice softer this time.
"Roneet… look at me."
He hesitated — then slowly lifted his eyes.
After a while, Kiara was still explaining… and Roneet was still frozen.
His lips didn't move.
He didn't even try to speak.
He just kept staring at her — nervous, overwhelmed, lost.
Just looking at her is giving me anxiety… Roneet thought, frustrated with himself.
Kiara rubbed her forehead, exhausted.
He's showing no sign of progress… what am I supposed to do with him…
She dropped her gaze to the bench, stressed — when suddenly a shadow fell across the table.
Someone had stepped in front of her.
"Hey, Roneet," Kabir said.
Roneet's face fell instantly.
"W-what…?" he replied, sounding defeated, expecting judgment.
Kabir stared at him for a moment — like he already knew what was going on.
Just as expected… he thought.
"You should read this," Kabir said, placing a book in front of him.
Kiara immediately shot Kabir an irritated look.
"Actually, he doesn't have time for that right now," she snapped.
"We have things to do. Can you not bother us?"
Kabir turned his head slowly toward her, unbothered.
"Actually, this will help him more than you do."
Kiara's eyes widened, offended.
She looked at the book.
How to Speak Like a Professional — Overcoming Social Anxiety
"What are you trying to say?" Kiara asked sharply.
Kabir didn't flinch.
"Lower your voice," he said calmly. "It's a library. You'll get yelled at."
Kiara clenched her jaw. She looked seconds away from exploding.
Kabir continued casually, like nothing was wrong.
"Also, I bought you a book too."
Kiara blinked in disbelief.
"What?"
Kabir placed another book in front of her.
How to Be Patient
That was it.
Kiara burst.
"What are you trying to say?!" she snapped loudly, standing up.
Instantly, a teacher across the hall turned toward her.
"Hey! Lower your voice," the teacher said sternly.
"This is a library, not your home. Sit down."
Kiara swallowed her rage and sat beside Roneet again — stiff, refusing to even look at him or Kabir.
Under her breath, barely audible:
"Asswipe."
Kabir heard it.
And he smirked.
Roneet sat frozen between the two, eyes shifting left and right like he was watching a tennis match.
Kabir dropped the two books on the table and walked back to his seat as if nothing happened. Kiara ignored him completely, staring straight ahead. Zoya returned with a pile of books and immediately noticed the tension in the air.
Roneet swallowed. Whose side should I pick?
If he agreed with Kabir, Kiara might murder him with her eyes.
If he agreed with Kiara, Kabir might think he was pathetic.
His leg bounced anxiously under the table.
Kiara finally turned her head a little—just enough to speak, not enough to look at him.
"Roneet, don't listen to him, okay? You don't need stupid books to learn confidence. I'll teach you."
Her voice was sharp, but there was concern hidden behind it.
Before Roneet could reply, Kabir called out from the next table without even looking up,
"Actually, that book helped me talk to people. But sure do whatever your teacher says."
Kiara's jaw clenched again.
"I… I will do both," Roneet said.
The words slipped out before he could stop himself.
Kiara's eyes widened — pure shock written on her face.
Kabir also froze for a second, genuinely surprised.
Well, well… Roneet is choosing both of us equally? Unexpected. I thought it would be me 100 percent, Kabir thought, not said.
A small smirk curled on his lips anyway.
Roneet swallowed hard.
"I–I need to do everything in order to perform good," he added, voice trembling but sincere.
Nobody spoke.
Zoya, sitting beside Kabir, looked at the three of them — her face full of disbelief.
What the hell is this group dynamic…? she thought, staring at the mess unfolding.
The air around the table shifted.
Kiara still couldn't take her eyes off Roneet.
Not angry anymore… just stunned that he actually spoke up.
Kabir leaned back casually, still smirking — impressed, maybe even amused.
Roneet stared at the table, fingers trembling again — afraid he had just made everything worse.
No one knew what to say next.
"I'm going to the washroom, I'll come back," said Roneet as he got up from his chair.
Kiara didn't even bother to respond. She just rested her head on the desk, eyes hidden under her hair. Kabir continued reading his book; Zoya pretended to read hers, but her eyes kept drifting toward him.
Suddenly Kabir spoke without lifting his eyes.
"Hey there."
"H-hi," Zoya replied, startled.
"You look a bit confused," Kabir said, still flipping pages.
"Uh—yeah. A little confused about what to read, haha," Zoya forced a smile.
"I see." Kabir gave a small nod.
Zoya stared at him silently. That's it? she thought. No more?
After a few seconds, Kabir asked casually, "Your friend—does she come from a rich family?"
Zoya frowned. She glanced at Kiara still resting her head on the table.
"I don't think so… she comes to college by bus," Zoya replied.
"That's interesting." Kabir leaned back a little. "If she isn't rich, then why is she like this? She acts high and mighty for no reason."
"I don't know," Zoya muttered, her tone slightly irritated. Then she added, "Talking about her—why are you friends with that creep?"
Kabir's hand stopped mid-page. He lifted his eyes and looked directly at her—calm but sharp.
"Roneet is not a creep," he said, voice steady.
"I–I mean… how do you know?" Zoya tried to laugh it off.
Kabir didn't smile.
"I just know. And if you spend time with him… you'll know as well."
Meanwhile, in the washroom…
As Roneet entered, the sound of faint sobbing echoed against the tiles.
A boy crying.
Roneet stopped. His expression shifted immediately — serious, alert.
The crying grew louder.
Roneet slowly stepped forward, trying to locate the voice.
Just as he reached the last stall, the boy inside screamed:
"D-don't come near me!"
Roneet froze for a second.
His voice softened.
"Calm down… I'm not going to hurt you."
"No! Don't—!" the voice cried again, desperate and terrified.
Roneet didn't think twice. He pushed the stall door open.
The door slammed back, and what Roneet saw inside made his eyes widen —
pure shock.