Ciro's P.O.V
The night air outside felt cooler than I expected, sobering me up just enough to regret my life choices again. Kenan walked beside me, too close for my liking but saying nothing, which was somehow worse than his usual nonsense.
The streetlights cast long shadows over the pavement. For once, it was quiet between us. I stuffed my hands in my pockets, hoping he'd take the hint and keep the silence alive.
Of course, that was too much to ask.
"Since when were you and Meeka friends?"
"I wouldn't say we're exactly friends. Why?"
He didn't respond.
"I heard your parents set you guys up," I said, nudging his shoulder.
He looked down at me and let out a laugh. "You're gullible."
So it's shoot the messenger now.
"What, you're scared I'll take her away from you?"
"Scared? Of you? If you want, you can go ahead and take her."
I rolled my eyes and walked a bit faster.
"Where did you hear that from, Ciro?"
"From Meeka herself and her friends." I sped up, but it didn't do much since it took Kenan no time to catch up.
"They talked about me?" he asked again, sounding far too amused for my taste.
Of course they did. They talked about every eligible bachelor, some I didn't even know existed. One thing they didn't lie about—they were truly handsome. Yes, I was even shown pictures. If they only knew they were being plotted on.
"Kenan this, Kenan that," I grumbled, kicking at a loose pebble on the sidewalk.
Kenan chuckled beside me, his hands tucked lazily in his pockets like this was just another stroll through the park.
"And what did you say about me, Ciro?" His tone dripped with curiosity, but I could hear the smug edge beneath it.
I scoffed, refusing to look at him. "I said you're a demon spawn. They didn't believe me. Poor them."
He hummed, stepping just close enough that his shoulder brushed mine. I hated how warm he felt, even in the night air.
"If I'm a demon, then what does that make you?" he asked, his voice softer now.
I glanced up at him, ready to spit out something petty, but the words died on my tongue. For a heartbeat, I caught a glimpse of him looking down at me so endearingly.
I looked away quickly. "The unlucky human who has to deal with you for the next five weeks," I mumbled.
Kenan let out a short laugh and nudged my side with his elbow, like he hadn't just cornered me with that stare.
I wanted to shove him, say something clever, anything, but before I could, he reached up and flicked my forehead gently.
"Go inside, Ciro. I've seen you enough for today."
I scowled, rubbing the spot he flicked. "The day is done, you bimbo."
He ignored that, pushing open the dorm gate for me with a mock bow. "After you."
I muttered curses under my breath as I stomped past him, ignoring the warmth in my chest that I'd blame entirely on the alcohol later.
Behind me, I heard him laugh quietly, and for a stupid second, I almost smiled too.
I lay lazily in my bed, tired as ever, or maybe even more so because my day was filled with lectures back to back. I still had to finish my report today since we planned on meeting tomorrow, and I had to send in my draft tonight because tomorrow was the deadline.
I was already exhausted just thinking about it. I stared at the ceiling as Jacob turned over and sat up.
"What happened to you? Woke me up with all your sighing," Jacob mumbled sleepily from the other side of the room.
"I'm tired and I've fallen behind on my work."
"And you wanted to come home at eleven last night," he said, rubbing his eyes.
He wasn't wrong. I even regretted staying out those extra hours.
"Sorry, mother. I need to finish my draft and send it in today."
"I told you to leave it for next semester."
I screamed into my pillow. "I don't want to go today, Jacob."
"Well, don't go."
I sat up and glared at him. "But I have to."
Jacob just waved me off and flopped back onto his bed, already half-asleep again.
Jacob stuck with me through the lectures we had together. I really should have followed his advice and taken this course next semester. I was juggling too much at once and only realized the consequences when they caught up to me.
After our last class, I made my way into the library to my usual spot, the quietest corner I could find. I dropped my stuff on the table and glanced at the seat where Kenan usually sat. It was empty, but his bag and notebook were there, so I figured he had stepped out for a bit.
I hurriedly unpacked everything I needed and spread out my notes. I had an outline ready, so I jumped straight into writing and researching. I only looked up when the chair across from me screeched against the floor.
I gave a small smile without really looking and continued typing. That lasted until my laptop started lagging behind my fingers. What the hell was wrong with it?
My day had been going fine, but of course it had to go downhill now.
I tried to save my work before restarting it, but then the worst thing happened. The screen froze, flickered, and then the whole thing shut down and restarted on its own. When it booted back up, it said it had run into a problem.
"What the hell is wrong with this thing?" I typed furiously on the keyboard as if that would help, but it didn't do anything.
I sank into self-pity. My work wasn't saved and I had been working on it for tomorrow. I'd given myself until ten tonight to submit the draft, but now my laptop had decided to betray me.
I rested my head against the back of the chair and let out a big sigh.
"Kenan, I give you the right to kill me," I groaned, sticking my hand out toward him dramatically.
"You're not even worth killing."
I lifted my head and flipped him off. "In this moment, yes. Otherwise, I'll do it myself."
I tried restarting the laptop again, but the same error popped up.
I stared up at the ceiling. Maybe I really had jinxed myself this morning.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Kenan push his chair back and pull his laptop from his bag. He placed it in front of me without a word.
I squinted at him. "What's this?"
"A computer. Use it."
I looked at the sleek screen like it was some forbidden fruit. "Are you sure? There's no hidden requirement or weird condition, is there?"
Kenan raised a brow, utterly unimpressed. "Ciro. Just get your work done."
"You can take it back, really, I can figure something out—"
He pushed it closer until it bumped my hand. "No. You're hopeless. Just use it."
I huffed but opened it anyway, my fingers hovering over the keys. "Fine. But I officially owe you for this."
He leaned back in his chair, looking far too smug. "Good. I'll make sure to collect it later."
I ignored that and got back to typing, though I still threw suspicious glances at him every few minutes, half-expecting him to demand something absurd as repayment.
A few hours later, once I hit save on the last paragraph, I slumped back in my chair with a relieved groan. Kenan watched me pack up his laptop with all the patience of a saint or a demon masquerading as one.
I finished my report, sent in my draft and everything was looking up now.
"Done?"
"Barely survived, but yes," I said, sliding his laptop back to him like it was made of gold.
"We should get yours fixed before you lose whatever is left of your sanity," he said, standing up and gathering his things.
"You're coming with me?" I asked, surprised.
Kenan rolled his eyes but didn't bother denying it. "I have nothing else to do," he said, shrugging his shoulders.
I snorted. "But what place is open? Isn't it better to buy a new one?"
"If you can fix something, why not fix it?"
The laptop was two years old I could replace it. But seeing as he was fighting for the rights of the laptop, I said nothing.
He nudged my shoulder with his as we left the library together, his bag slung casually over one shoulder and my broken laptop tucked under his arm. I mumbled my thanks, pretending not to notice how easy it felt walking next to him.
He drove us to the mall. It was almost eight and the mall wasn't as dead as I expected it to be.
When we went into the electronics store, Kenan left me to go talk to someone at the counter. I began to look around. I came across some new updated models from my previous laptop. Figuring I didn't want to use that brand anymore, I came across the same model Kenan was using. I liked how the keyboard felt and it drew me in. I looked at the price tag and smiled a little. He talks cheap but has expensive taste.
I left it alone and went to meet back up with Kenan.
He was still at the counter and a worker was looking at it. I stood at a distance and noticed the worker's expression. It most definitely couldn't be fixed. I smiled, as long as I could get the information off it, I was good. I didn't mind buying something new.
I approached Kenan. "Can it be fixed?"
Kenan shook his head. "It's a brand defect for the laptop to do that, so no."
Considering I only bought the laptop because it was rose gold, I didn't feel too bad.
"Thanks for trying to get it fixed," I said as I held the newly bought laptop in my bag.
"As a thank you, here." I held out the small candy I'd grabbed from the sample basket near the store's checkout. It was probably some generic mint, but it was all I had on me.
Kenan looked at the candy, then at me, then back at the candy. His lips twitched. "Seriously? That's my reward for saving your academic career?"
"You're so dramatic." I pushed it into his palm before he could protest. "Take it or give it back."
He unwrapped it slowly, his eyes never leaving mine, an infuriating smirk tugging at his lips. "You're cheap."
I don't think giving out free candy should be considered cheap.
"You owe me coffee."
I scoffed, but there was no real bite to it. "Sure."
He laughed, popping the candy into his mouth. For a second, I caught myself watching him. How his eyes crinkled at the corners when he really laughed.
We left the store together, the mall's overhead lights flickering on as closing time crept closer. Outside, the night felt softer than before, or maybe I was just too tired to care.