Chapter 5: The Morning After

The sunlight slipped lazily through the half-closed blinds of the dorm room, painting long golden lines across the white-washed walls. Sara groaned as she stirred beneath the sheets, pulling the blanket higher over her head as if she could block out the memories that kept replaying like a damn movie scene.

She could still feel Kol's fingers brushing her waist. His breath, so close to her skin. The way their lips had nearly touched. It had been magnetic. Dangerous.

And utterly unforgettable.

"Ughhh," she groaned again, burying her face into the pillow.

From the other side of the room, Lina was already awake, sitting cross-legged on her bed with a banana and her phone in hand. She looked over her screen with a smug smile.

"Good morning, almost-kissed-a-boy," Lina sang.

Sara flipped the pillow over her face. "Don't."

"Oh, come on. I didn't think you'd turn into a romantic drama lead overnight. Honestly, I'm proud."

Sara peeked from under the pillow. "We didn't kiss."

"You almost did. And the tension? I could feel it from the damn stairwell. If I didn't walk in, you two would've been ripping each other's clothes off."

Sara shot up. "We would not."

Lina only raised her eyebrows.

Sara groaned again. "It was just a moment. People have moments."

"Yup. Sexual, soul-shaking, kiss-me-now-or-I'll-combust kind of moments."

Sara didn't respond. Because she couldn't.

---

Across Campus - Kol's Dorm

Kol stood in front of the mirror, toothbrush hanging from his mouth, staring at his reflection like it owed him an explanation.

He couldn't get her out of his head.

The way she looked at him like she wanted to close the distance just as much as he did.

The softness of her skin under his fingertips. The way her lips had parted right before Lina barged in and snapped him back to earth.

Kol spat into the sink, splashing water on his face. His roommate, Aarav, walked out of the bathroom, towel around his neck and an amused look on his face.

"You look like you got hit by a freight train. Party that wild last night?"

Kol shook his head, reaching for a towel. "It was...something."

Aarav raised an eyebrow. "That 'something' have a name?"

Kol hesitated.

"Sara."

Aarav smirked. "Ah, the sarcastic one with killer eyes and zero patience. Nice."

Kol grabbed his hoodie. "It wasn't like that."

"Dude, I've seen you around girls. You don't look at anyone the way you looked at her last night. You were practically undressing her with your eyes."

Kol glared. "Shut up."

"Hey, I'm just saying. Sparks, man. And if you don't make a move soon, you're gonna combust."

Kol didn't reply. But deep down, he knew Aarav was right.

---

Cafeteria - Later That Morning

The dining hall buzzed with energy, students spilling into booths and swapping hangover horror stories. Kol slid into a booth with Aarav, who immediately began scoping out the food line.

Across the hall, Sara and Lina entered. Kol saw her instantly. Like gravity.

She was in a cropped hoodie and joggers, messy bun perched on her head, and yet Kol thought she looked better than anyone in the damn room.

Sara saw him too. Their eyes met.

And held.

She looked away first.

"Someone got awkward," Lina whispered.

"Shut up."

They grabbed their trays and walked toward an empty table, but before they could sit, Aarav called out, "Hey, join us! Plenty of room."

Kol shot him a look. "Dude."

But it was too late.

Sara hesitated, but Lina, of course, beamed and dragged her along.

The four of them sat, the tension so obvious it might as well have been its own person at the table.

Small talk sputtered.

Lina asked Aarav something about music. Aarav, flirty without even trying, leaned in as he answered. Lina pretended not to blush.

Kol picked at his food. Sara sipped her coffee.

Every once in a while, their eyes would meet.

And dart away.

Finally, Kol leaned back, running a hand through his hair. "So. About last night..."

Sara almost choked on her drink.

Lina perked up. Aarav smirked.

Sara cleared her throat. "What about it?"

Kol looked directly at her, voice low. "Just...wanted to make sure you're okay."

Sara blinked. That wasn't what she expected.

"Yeah. I'm fine."

"Good. Me too."

Silence.

Aarav clapped his hands. "Wow, thrilling. We should bottle this tension and sell it."

Everyone laughed, even Sara.

But under the table, her foot brushed Kol's.

And neither of them moved.

---

Later That Day - Campus Lawn

Kol sat under the old oak tree near the east lawn, headphones on, sketchbook open. He wasn't even drawing. Just scribbling lines and names.

Sara.

Sara.

Sara.

"Earth to brooding artist."

He looked up to see Sara standing above him, arms crossed.

"You skipped Econ."

Kol shrugged. "Didn't feel like sitting in a room pretending I could focus."

She sat beside him, careful not to meet his eyes.

"You don't have to be weird, you know."

Kol closed the sketchbook. "I'm not. Are you being weird?"

"Maybe."

A pause.

"Look," she said, voice softer, "last night was...a thing. But we don't have to define it."

Kol leaned back against the tree. "Right. We'll just pretend it didn't almost happen."

Sara looked at him, and for a split second, she didn't hide it. The want. The fear. The mess of it all.

Then she smiled, faint but real. "Exactly."

But her fingers played with the hem of his sleeve. Barely touching.

And Kol let her.

Neither of them said a word.

Because pretending was easier.

For now