University Courtyard – Late Afternoon
The sun stretched long shadows across the courtyard, draping the engineering block in soft gold. It was that quiet slot between lectures and evening labs—when most students filtered into libraries or startup huddles, half-running on caffeine and ambition.
Sera Marino didn't belong here.
Not geographically. Not reputationally. And yet—there she was.
"Is that Sera?"
"Why would she be near Engineering?"
"You think someone's getting whacked?"
"No way. She's wearing a blazer. If it was murder, it'd be leather."
"Her security's not even visible."
"Exactly."
The whispers trailed her like shadows trying to catch up. She didn't flinch. Her pace didn't change.
Her eyes were already locked on him.
---
It was one of those rare weeks when everything was... still.
No exams. No last-minute project crises.
And, critically—no Ethan.
His best friend and resident human hurricane had left for England two days ago.
Something about "reconnecting with nature,"
which apparently meant helping his grandfather sort koi ponds in the countryside.
No Wi-Fi.
No memes.
No signal.
Ethan had texted once from a moving car:
ETHAN
fish don't like me.
these people drink tea at WAR CRIMINAL TEMPERATURES.
also. no signal soon. if i die. avenge me.
Niv had muted the thread after the second fish picture.
And now?
Now he was sitting on a bench outside the engineering building. Hoodie on. Coffee in hand. AirPods in. The kind of peace that only came when the world forgot he existed.
No assignments due.
No one yelling.
No one watching.
Just golden light.
And stillness
Sera stopped five feet away. He opened his eyes the moment she did.
Niv glanced at her, voice calm.
"You're staring. That's new."
Sera stepped closer, dropping onto the bench beside him.
"You're sitting still. That's newer."
He didn't move. Didn't smirk. Just waited.
And for a second, neither of them said anything.
Not because there was silence.
But because this was the start of something neither could afford to say out loud—yet.
She wasn't nervous.
She didn't get nervous.
But her hand brushed the inside of her coat pocket once—not to reach for anything. Just… out of habit.
Niv didn't comment. Didn't even look directly at her.
He just waited.
So she exhaled and said—
"I was going to wait."
Niv turned slightly toward her.
"For?"
"I don't know. For it to happen. For you to say something. For the universe to drop a neon sign that said go."
"Sounds inefficient."
She laughed. Quiet. Unexpected, even to herself.
He smirked—just a little.
"Also, you're not subtle," he said. "Three library passes. One fake coffee line. And you walked past my lab three times last week."
"Observation isn't stalking."
"You wore sunglasses indoors."
"It was bright."
A pause.
Almost smiling now.
Then she breathed in—and didn't blink.
"So I'm saying it now."
Niv's tone was quieter, but not hesitant.
"Saying what?"
"I want to go out with you."
No dramatics. No games. Just the truth.
He didn't answer right away.
He studied her face—calm, alert, real.
Then let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.
"Yeah," he said. "I'd like that."
Sera smiled. Just slightly.
"I figured."
"I wasn't being subtle."
"No. You were being patient."
His smile was small. Private. Like it wasn't for anyone else.
"You pick the place," he said. "I'll show up. No questions. No games."
She tilted her head.
"Deal. And just so you know—this is the first time I've ever asked anyone out."
He nodded, unsurprised.
"I know."
"You going to make it weird?"
"Not unless you want me to."
She bumped her shoulder lightly against his.
He didn't pull away.
Niv's Apartment
Niv was pacing.
Not fast. Not frantic.
That quiet kind of pacing you do when your body doesn't know where to put the nervous energy—because you're not used to being nervous at all.
His apartment was too clean. He'd vacuumed twice. Wiped every counter. Shoved three Raspberry Pi boards into a drawer like they were evidence.
The hoodie on his bed looked too casual. The button-down in his hand looked like he was trying too hard.
He stared at it anyway, as if it owed him an explanation.
"I fought off three armed men in Beirut," he muttered, "and I'm losing my mind over a date."
He sighed. Then dialed.
The call connected on the second ring. Background wind. Jazz. The voice on the other end came lazy and amused.
"Tell me this is about a body."
"It's not. Shut up. I need advice."
A pause. Then Ishaan's voice sharpened with delight.
"Oh. Oh no. Is this a feelings problem?" "Wait. Is this the Sera Marino date? Oh my god. It is, isn't it?"
"I will hang up."
"No no no—wait. Wait. I'm invested. Breathe. We're doing this."
"Alright. Lead with strength. Look her in the eye and say: 'I'm not like other men. I know six ways to kill with a wine glass.'"
"…What."
"Sorry. That sounded better in my head. Forget it. Try this: Don't open with family trauma. That's second-date material."
A second voice entered the call—precise, unimpressed.
"Sir, that's terrible advice."
Ananya. Always listening. Always ready to intervene.
"Right, sorry," Ishaan muttered. "Where was I?"
"Sticking to socially functional behavior," Ananya said, dry as ever.
Ishaan's voice shifted.
"Okay. Real talk, baby brother."
"Don't try to be someone you're not. You're weird. You're smart. You're terrifying. She said yes to that."
"Let her talk. Listen. And if you don't know what to say—ask her something real."
"Like?"
"Like... what scares her. What she'd be if she weren't her. What she wanted before the world made her play god."
Niv was quiet for a long second.
"…That's actually good."
"I know. I'm evolving. Ananya says it's the magnesium."
"Also, don't tell Mom or Dad," Ishaan added. "Mom'll send perfume and antique bangles. Dad'll ask for fingerprints and blood type."
"Noted."
"Last thing."
A pause.
"Be honest. And maybe... let yourself be liked."
"You've been fighting ghosts for years. Let someone see the human part for once."
Click.
Niv stared at his phone. Then nodded to no one.
"…That actually helped."
Then he went to change. Again.
Sera's Penthouse
Sera Marino stood in front of her closet like it had personally offended her.
A rust-orange tank top was in her hand. Three rejected jackets were already on the bed. A fourth hung half-on, half-off a hanger behind her.
"It's just a date," she muttered.
She'd walked into cartel meetings with murderers and smiled. She'd worn white to funerals, laughed while men flinched at her name.
But now? Now she was considering pastel.
She tossed it aside immediately.
I look like a hostage.
She tried black. Too sharp. Leather? Too warlord. A green overshirt? Too casual. Nothing looked right.
She tried again. Rust-orange tank. Black jeans. Bomber jacket. Simple. Real. Not armor.
She looked in the mirror.
Still me. Just... a version of me he might meet halfway.
Her phone buzzed. Jaime, checking in. She didn't answer.
He'd seen her outfit already. Said nothing. Just gave her a look and nodded once.
She exhaled slowly.
"Okay," she whispered to her reflection. "Let's see what scares you, Marino."
Then she grabbed her keys, locked the door, and walked out into the night.
Amusement Park Entrance – Early Evening
Location: Old Town District, Private Lot Converted to Public Night Carnival
The sun had dipped just low enough to bathe the park in gold.
Lights buzzed to life along game booths. Music floated from rusted speakers. Kids screamed. Popcorn burned. The carousel creaked in rhythm like an aging machine refusing to die.
Sera arrived first.
She hated that she had.
Punctuality was usually a power move. But now it just felt like exposure.
She stood near the entrance, pretending to scroll through her phone. Jacket half-zipped. Hands in her pockets—not cold, just busy.
Jaime was nearby, naturally. Blended into the crowd like he belonged there. She didn't look for him.
Tonight, she didn't want backup.
She just wanted—
"Hey."
She turned.
Niv was walking toward her. Hoodie on, sleeves rolled, white tee underneath. Slightly out of breath. Hair tousled like he'd fought gravity to get it just messy enough.
He looked… underdressed. But exactly right.
Like someone who didn't belong here— and somehow belonged with her.
Sera raised an eyebrow.
"You're late."
He scratched the back of his neck, a little sheepish.
"I was overthinking my socks."
She smiled. Couldn't help it.
A balloon popped in the distance. Someone cheered. The world kept spinning.
"You look... casual. That's a rare build." Said Niv
"You look like you're still deciding if you're allowed to have fun."
"I'm working on it."
She nodded once.
"Good. Because I'm going to destroy you at everything."