*Lyric's POV*
It had been a few days since Valentine's Day, and Lyric was still shaking her head every time she thought about the pearl chain incident. "Sweetheart," she muttered to herself, smirking. The thought made her laugh quietly, and then she shrugged it off. That was it, they didn't even exchange numbers, no follow-up, just a funny story to tell Mara.
That afternoon, Lyric was sitting in her room, the soft hum of the air conditioner keeping the room comfortable. She was flipping through her notes from morning lectures when Mara, her roommate and best friend, leaned casually in the doorway, phone in hand and a grin that immediately made Lyric suspicious.
"You're not going to like this," Mara said, half teasing, half amused.
Lyric raised an eyebrow. "What are you talking about?"
Mara waved her phone. "He asked for your number."
Lyric froze, pen hovering above her notebook. "Excuse me?"
Mara laughed, a little too loudly. "Dax. The guy from Valentine's Day, the one who bought the pearl chains and made you call him sweetheart. He asked *me* for your contact. Said he wanted to message you."
Lyric blinked, unsure if she should laugh or roll her eyes. "He asked *you*? What is he, twelve?"
"He's definitely not twelve," Mara said, smirking. "But apparently, he doesn't do the whole awkward approach thing. He thought I'd be safer."
Lyric shook her head. "I can't believe this," she muttered, trying to act unimpressed, though her stomach did a little flip. "Fine. Give me the phone."
Mara handed it over, still grinning. Lyric stared at the screen, her thumb hovering over the keypad. The message from Dax read:
*Hey. Lyric, right? Mara said I should reach out. Thought I'd say hi.*
Lyric stared at the words, blinking. She didn't reply immediately, instead letting her fingers hover over the keys, debating how to respond. After a long, dramatic pause, she typed:
*Hi. You're the pearl chain guy, right?*
Almost instantly, a reply came.
*Guilty as charged. Should I apologize for the chaos, or just embrace it?*
Lyric laughed quietly, shaking her head. *Embrace it,* she typed back.
The conversation unfolded slowly at first. Dax had a way of typing that felt casual but intentional, the kind of confidence that made her smile without her meaning to. He teased lightly, never crossing boundaries, and somehow, she found herself responding in kind.
*So… do you always get into trouble on Valentine's Day, or was I just lucky?* she wrote, trying to sound unimpressed.
*Depends on what you call trouble,* he replied. *I think today was mostly fun chaos. You laughing at me is definitely trouble.*
Lyric rolled her eyes at her desk. "Trouble?" she murmured, smirking at her phone. "Sure, Dax." She typed back quickly, *I'll give you chaos, but laughing at you? Not my style… yet.*
The banter continued, playful and light. Lyric found herself enjoying the conversation more than she expected. It was easy, no pressure, no hidden expectations. Mara's laughter echoed faintly from the corner of the room as she hovered, pretending to do something on her laptop but clearly listening in.
As the sun dipped lower outside her window, Lyric realized they had been messaging for over an hour, just two people exchanging jokes and getting to know each other in a slow, careful way.
It was the kind of interaction she had almost forgotten could exist. No drama, no demands, just words that made her grin and a quiet excitement she couldn't quite explain.
Finally, Dax typed: *Alright, I should let you get back to your notes. But… I'll message again soon, if that's okay.*
Lyric paused, considering. *Sure. Don't make it a habit,* she typed back, the words half teasing, half genuine.
He replied almost immediately: *No promises.*
***
It had been a few days since Dax reached out through Mara, and Lyric had to admit that their messages were entertaining. Not that she would ever call it anything more than that. She reminded herself constantly that falling for someone like Dax was risky. Still, reading his playful texts made her smile more than she expected.
When Mara suggested they all meet up on campus for coffee, Lyric agreed reluctantly, telling herself it was just to hang out like friends. After all, she and Dax had already met during Valentine's Day at the hostel. That day was a memory of laughter, chaos, nothing else.
Seeing him waiting near the campus café, leaning casually with his usual grin, Lyric waved. "Hey," she called, stepping forward.
"Lyric!" he said, walking over with a friendly nod. "Good to see you again. You survived the pearl chain apocalypse, I hope?"
Lyric laughed, shaking her head. "Barely. I've got Mara to thank for my survival."
For the next hour, they walked around campus, talking about lectures, cafeteria food, and the little quirks of student life. There was a natural ease in the conversation, the same playful rhythm that had grown between them over text. They teased each other, laughed at inside jokes, and found themselves bumping into each other accidentally in hallways, each encounter punctuated with quick smiles and friendly nudges.
Sometimes, Lyric caught herself laughing at his jokes more than she normally would, and occasionally she felt a flutter she quickly dismissed. She wasn't falling for him. Not now. He was just… fun to be around.
Mara stayed nearby, giving them space but clearly enjoying the show. She smirked knowingly when Lyric flicked a playful kiss at Dax, and he returned it with one of his own, laughing as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Over the next several weeks, these casual meet-ups became normal. Hugs became a greeting. Blown kisses turned into a silly habit. Light teasing escalated into inside jokes. Each meeting felt easy, comfortable, and completely unplanned.
Lyric kept reminding herself to stay cautious. She knew the kind of people she got attached to, and falling for someone like Dax was dangerous. Still, she couldn't deny the warmth she felt when he smiled her way or the small excitement in her chest when he sent one of his playful texts.
It wasn't love.
Not yet.