Chapter 8: A Growing Attraction

As the days went by, Kairus and Avyanna grew closer, their connection deepening through shared moments of study and quiet companionship. The library became their sanctuary, a place where they spent hours poring over books, exchanging notes, and occasionally stealing glances at each other when they thought the other wasn’t looking.

The warm scent of aged paper and ink filled the air as they sat side by side, the soft glow of the desk lamps casting a golden hue over their focused expressions. Sometimes, when Avyanna struggled with a passage, Kairus would lean in just a little too close, his voice low as he explained, his breath warm against her cheek. She would hold her breath for a second before looking up, their eyes meeting in a brief yet intense moment before she hurriedly looked away, her heart pounding.

Even outside the library, their routine intertwined effortlessly. Avyanna often stayed late at the café, where the hum of quiet conversations and the occasional clink of coffee cups provided a comforting backdrop to her studies. Kairus had started accompanying her there too, at first as an excuse to continue studying but eventually simply because he enjoyed being around her.

One evening, as the clock neared midnight, the café had emptied out except for a few lingering patrons. Avyanna let out a deep sigh, stretching her arms above her head, and Kairus chuckled softly.

“Tired already?” he teased, closing his book for a moment to look at her.

She shot him a playful glare. “Says the guy who nearly fell asleep on his notes yesterday.”

He smirked, tilting his head slightly. “That was different. You were boring me with that history lecture.”

She rolled her eyes but smiled, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. The light from the café's hanging lamps softened her features, making her look almost ethereal in the quiet glow. Kairus found himself staring a little too long before snapping back to his notes, clearing his throat.

“The recitation is tomorrow,” Avyanna said after a pause, her fingers tracing absent patterns on the wooden table. “I guess we should stay up all night to study?”

Kairus exhaled dramatically. “All night? You trying to kill me?”

She laughed, the sound light and melodic, and Kairus felt an odd sense of warmth settle in his chest. He didn’t mind losing sleep—not if it meant spending more time like this, with her.

"Fine," he said, pretending to be reluctant. "But only if you promise to buy me coffee when I start dozing off."

Avyanna smirked. “Deal.”

“I’ll serve you coffee then,” Kairus said with a slight grin, standing up as if to make good on his words. That was when Avyanna suddenly remembered—this wasn’t just any café. It was his café.

She gasped, narrowing her eyes at him. “Wait a minute… You’re serious? Does this mean I can have it for free?”

Kairus crossed his arms, tilting his head slightly as if considering it, before shaking his head firmly. “Nope.”

Avyanna pouted. “Oh, come on! Just one cup?”

“No way,” Kairus scoffed. “Do you have any idea how much you’re already getting for free? The water, the air conditioning, the Wi-Fi…” He counted each one off on his fingers, his expression exasperated yet amused.

Avyanna leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. Oh… The business-minded spirit of this person. Unbelievable.

She tapped a finger against her chin, pretending to be deep in thought before flashing him a teasing smile. “Alright then… How about a discount? Hmm? 75% off?”

Kairus let out a mock gasp, pointing an accusatory finger at her. “You! No! No discount!”

Avyanna burst into laughter, the sound light and infectious. Kairus tried to hold his serious expression but failed, his own lips twitching into a smile.

As she waited for her coffee to be served, her phone suddenly vibrated against the table, the screen lighting up with an incoming call. It was Huan-Yue. She quickly picked up, pressing the phone to her ear.

“Hello?”

“Are you at the apartment?” Huan-Yue’s voice came through, slightly muffled.

Avyanna leaned back in her chair, glancing at Kairus, who was behind the counter, preparing the coffee with an effortless ease. “I’m at the coffee shop, stu—”

“Eh? Study? With whoooo?” Huan-Yue’s teasing tone was immediate.

Avyanna hesitated for a fraction of a second, her gaze flickering back to Kairus, who, despite seeming focused on the coffee machine, had the faintest smirk on his lips—he had definitely heard that.

“Uhm… Just, you know…” Avyanna cleared her throat. “A classmate.”

Huan-Yue gasped dramatically on the other end. “Ohhh, a classmate, huh? And which classmate exactly? Someone I know?”

Avyanna rolled her eyes, though a small smile played on her lips. “Mind your own business.”

“Oh my god, it is someone I know! Wait, wait, let me guess—”

Before Huan-Yue could start her guessing game, Avyanna quickly cut her off. “I’ll call you later, okay? Studying, remember?”

Huan-Yue groaned. “Fineee, but this conversation isn’t over!”

Avyanna chuckled as she hung up, shaking her head.

“Who was that?” Kairus asked, placing the steaming cup of coffee in front of her.

“Just my friend,” she said, wrapping her hands around the warmth of the cup.

Kairus raised an eyebrow. “Let me guess—they were asking about me?”

Avyanna nearly choked on her first sip. “W-What? No! Why would you assume that?”

Kairus shrugged, a smirk tugging at his lips. “Because you look guilty.”

Avyanna scowled playfully, stirring her coffee a little too aggressively. “You’re unbelievable.”

Kairus only chuckled, taking his seat across from her once more.

“Here’s your coffee, now pay,” he said mischievously, making sure to say it loud enough for the whole café—what little was left of it—to hear.

Avyanna shot him a glare just as Huan-Yue’s voice erupted from the phone.

“Avyanna, who’s that?!”

She groaned, realizing her friend had heard everything. “You know what—” She started to respond, but her words faltered when she saw Kairus’ hand stretched out in front of her, palm up, fingers curling in a slow beckoning motion. His expression was unreadable, but his message was crystal clear: Pay, human. Pay.

Avyanna gaped at him. “Are you serious?”

Kairus wiggled his fingers impatiently. “Business is business.”

She huffed, reaching into her pocket to pull out some cash, grumbling under her breath as she handed it over. “Unbelievable.”

“Thank you for your patronage,” Kairus said smoothly, slipping the money into his pocket with a victorious smirk.

From the phone, Huan-Yue’s laughter rang out. “Ohhh, I knew it! You’re with him, aren’t you?”

Avyanna nearly slammed her forehead against the table. “Goodnight, Huan-Yue.” She ended the call before her friend could continue her interrogation.

Meanwhile, Kairus leaned back in his chair, sipping his own coffee with an amused glint in his eyes. “So, are you finally admitting that I’m your favorite classmate?”

Avyanna shot him a look. “Keep dreaming.”

She glanced outside, her gaze lingering on the silent street beyond the café window. The world was asleep—only the occasional flicker of a streetlamp and the distant hum of passing cars disturbed the stillness of the night. There was something strangely comforting about it, as if time had slowed just for them.

Inside, the air was warm with the rich aroma of coffee, the quiet hum of the espresso machine, and the soft scratching of pens against paper. Kairus sat across from her, flipping through his notes with his usual nonchalant ease, though every now and then, she caught him stealing glances at her.

Avyanna sighed, resting her chin on her hand. “This is nice.”

Kairus looked up. “What is?”

She gestured vaguely to the café, the quiet, the warmth surrounding them. “This. Studying, late nights, coffee… the peace.”

Kairus smirked. “Are you saying you enjoy my company?”

Avyanna scoffed, rolling her eyes. “Don’t push it.”

He chuckled, shaking his head before turning back to his notes. But for a moment, a fleeting second, his expression softened—as if he, too, was aware of the quiet magic in the air, in the shared space between them.

And so, beneath the dim café lights and the hush of the sleeping world outside, they continued—studying, teasing, and sharing unspoken moments, wrapped in a warmth neither of them dared to define just yet.