The student council room was its usual morning mess—papers rustling, chairs scraping, conversations overlapping in a dozen different directions.
Lyra sat at one of the desks, trying her best to focus on a stack of documents she needed to review. But her concentration kept slipping, thanks to the boy sitting beside her.
Robin, who technically had nothing urgent to do at the moment, had still shown up. And while his presence wasn't new, something about it felt… different. Little things. Like the casual touches that used to be rare—or nonexistent.
Lyra was mid-sentence, pen scratching across the page, when Robin casually reached over and took her hand in his—just like that, like it was the most normal thing in the world.Her pen nearly flew out of her grasp."R-Robin?!"
He turned to her with a calm blink. "Hmm?"
"Your hand…" she whispered, darting a quick glance around the room in panic.
"Oh. Right." He gave her a mischievous smile—then proceeded to interlace their fingers and gently sway them back and forth. "Why? I'm allowed to hold your hand now, aren't I?"
Her cheeks flared red. Again.Why was it so easy for her body to betray her?
Before she could formulate a proper comeback, a voice rang out across the table.
"Ahem—okay, wow. It's been what, a few days? And the PDA level's already off the charts!"
Lyra snatched her hand back, only to find Mei grinning at her like a cat who'd caught something juicy. Next to her, Adam chuckled."I thought it was just rumors," he said. "But nope. Totally real."
"It's not like that!" Lyra blurted, though the blush on her face completely ruined her attempt at denial.
Robin didn't help her escape the situation. In fact, he leaned in closer and whispered right by her ear,"They're not wrong."
"Robin!" she hissed, lightly shoving his arm. He just laughed, entirely too pleased with himself.
After a few minutes, Robin checked his watch and let out a small sigh."Alright, I've got class in a bit."
He stood, stretching slightly, then looked at her with a grin."Don't miss me too much, okay?"
Mei groaned dramatically. "Ugh, look at him! He's gotten so cheesy since you two started dating."
Robin just shrugged, and before leaving, he reached out and gently ruffled Lyra's hair, voice soft but playful. "See you later, babe."
Lyra glared at him—but her reddening cheeks completely undermined the effort.Robin chuckled as he walked out, clearly satisfied.
Left behind, Lyra sighed deeply, trying to bury herself back in her paperwork. But before she could refocus, Mei nudged her elbow again.
"So," she said, eyes twinkling, "what's it like having Robin as a boyfriend? I mean, he used to be annoying, and now he's basically turning you into pudding."
Adam chimed in without missing a beat."Yeah, Lyra. You used to be the cool, unreadable one. Now you're blushing every five minutes. It's honestly our favorite new pastime."
Lyra dropped her head into her hands.She wanted to sink into the floor. Or crawl into a drawer. Or evaporate.
Even Adam had joined in. Adam—neutral, stoic, logical Adam.
Why is this my life, she thought, utterly defeated, while her two so-called friends burst into another round of laughter.
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The Communications building always felt more alive than the other departments on campus. Posters lined the walls—student events, creative showcases, half a dozen seminar flyers tacked onto a crowded bulletin board. Professional cameras sat neatly on shelves in the back, and the energy in the classroom leaned more studio than lecture hall.
Students lounged in loose clusters, chatting, scrolling through phones, or typing furiously on their laptops.
In one corner, a guy with headphones slung lazily around his neck stretched his legs out in front of him, slouched like he owned the place.
Nelson, of course, had been there before the class even started, his expression unreadable and just a little sleepy.
Robin walked in a few moments later, dropped his bag onto the desk, and pulled out the chair next to his friend. As he sat down, Nelson flicked a glance at him—brief, unimpressed—before returning to whatever was on his phone.
But then… something shifted. Nelson squinted. Looked again.
And this time, he turned fully to Robin.
"What's with your face?"
Robin blinked. "My face?"
Nelson set down his pen and studied him. "You usually have that classic Robin thing going on—stoic, lowkey smug, 'I'm cooler than all of you' energy." He waved his hand vaguely like he was painting Robin's aura in the air. "But now? You've got this... glow. Like a girl who just got confessed to under fireworks."
He paused. Then grinned. "Wait. I know this look."
Robin rolled his eyes. "Do you?"
Nelson leaned back, folding his arms, eyes sparkling."So she finally said yes, huh? Lyra."
Robin gave a tiny shrug, casual as ever. But the small smile tugging at his lips gave him away.
Nelson let out a triumphant bark of laughter."Ha! Knew it! I knew it!" He slapped Robin's shoulder like he'd just scored a goal. "Finally! No more of that brooding, subtle-hand-holding phase. You've officially crossed into actual boyfriend territory!"
Robin sighed, as if regretting every life choice that led him to confide in Nelson."I wasn't brooding. I was waiting for the right moment."
"Oh, totally. And that 'right moment' just happened to be inside a parked car, under falling snow?" Nelson gave an exaggerated swoon. "So romantic, man. You're basically the main lead in a winter drama special."
Robin narrowed his eyes. "Do you want me to regret telling you?"
Nelson only laughed harder. "Nope. I'm genuinely happy for you, dude."This time, the pat on the shoulder was more sincere. "Really. You look... good. Lighter."
Robin didn't deny it.Because honestly? Nelson wasn't wrong.
Something had shifted. There was a weight that wasn't there anymore. And for once, he was actually looking forward to the days ahead.
Nelson leaned back in his chair again, grin firmly in place."So. Double date when? I can bring someone—purely in the name of emotional support, obviously."
Robin scoffed, but the corner of his mouth curled upward.He knew Nelson wasn't going to let up anytime soon.
But you know what? That was fine.Let them know. Let the whole world know.
He was happy.
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Lyra had just settled at one of the window-side tables in the campus café, hoping for a quiet lunch break, when a familiar shadow fell across the table.
Without hesitation, Robin pulled out a chair and sat down like it was already reserved for him—well before Lyra had even cracked open her notebook.
"Wait—" she blinked, slightly startled. "When did you get here?"
He leaned back, all ease and mischief. "Ever since I saw my girlfriend sitting all alone. I mean, what kind of boyfriend would I be if I let you eat lunch solo?" he said dramatically.
Lyra gave a quiet huff, trying to keep a straight face. "I'm fine on my own. Besides, I haven't even—"
But before she could finish the sentence, he was already waving at the waiter, rattling off their order like he ran the place. Even more boldly, he ordered for her.
She raised an eyebrow. "I can order for myself, you know."
Robin didn't flinch. "I know exactly what you like. And don't pretend you weren't going to order the same thing again."
He wasn't wrong. He knew her usual, down to the drink. They'd shared enough meals before dating that he could probably predict her choice in his sleep. Still, she was still getting used to this version of him—the more playful, openly affectionate one now that he was officially hers.
Their food didn't take long to arrive. Robin picked up his fork, then turned to her with a look far too pleased with itself.
"Alright, open up," he said suddenly, holding out a forkful of pasta.
Lyra blinked. "Excuse me?"
He raised his brows. "I'm feeding you."
Her cheeks immediately flushed. "I can feed myself."
"Oh, I'm sure," he said, smug. "But now that I've committed to this romantic gesture, I'm not backing down. So unless you want to sit here like this forever…"
He kept the fork hovering stubbornly in front of her, his expression daring her to give in.
Lyra gave him a glare—one that clearly had no real fire in it—and after a long moment of internal debate, leaned in with a grumble and took the bite.
Robin grinned. "There we go. Now I know you're really my girlfriend."
"You're insufferable," she muttered, burying her smile behind her napkin.
He let out a quiet laugh, then paused mid-chew. His gaze flicked to her lips.
"Wait—hang on."
Before she could ask why, he reached out and gently wiped the corner of her mouth with his thumb, brushing away a tiny streak of sauce. The touch was soft, but it froze her completely.
Their eyes met, and for a beat, neither of them said anything. There was something deeper in his gaze—warm, focused, a little too intense for casual teasing.
"There was sauce," he said quietly.
Lyra looked down immediately, biting her lip. "You could've just used a napkin..."
Robin gave a crooked smile. "Yeah, but this way was cuter."
She didn't answer. She couldn't. Her brain was busy trying to calm her heart down.
So instead, she stabbed a piece of her pasta and pretended to concentrate on her food.But secretly?
She didn't mind at all.
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After they finished eating, Robin waved down the server and paid the bill—without even giving Lyra a chance to pull out her wallet.
"You do know I can pay for myself, right?" she asked, giving him an incredulous look.
Robin simply grinned, slipping his wallet back into his coat. "I know. But as your devoted boyfriend, it's my sacred duty to spoil you."
Lyra let out a soft sigh, clearly outmatched. There was no point arguing with someone so annoyingly smooth.
Once they stepped outside, a soft chill wrapped around them. Light snow was still falling, layering the campus in quiet white. Lyra instinctively tightened her scarf around her neck—until something else warmed her hand.
Robin casually reached out and laced his fingers through hers, then tucked both their hands into the deep pocket of his coat.
She turned, surprised. "Huh?"
He looked over with a shrug, his expression calm. "Your hands are cold."
Lyra tried to pull her hand back, but his grip was firm, steady. "I can warm them up myself…"
Robin chuckled. "Yeah, but this way's better."
Her breath caught a little. Her face, already pale from the cold, flushed a warm, telltale pink.
They walked slowly down the campus sidewalk, snow dusting their hair and coats. Robin gently swung their joined hands as they moved, like he was savoring each quiet second.
"You're still shy," he murmured after a moment.
Lyra blinked. "What?"
He glanced at her with a soft smile. "You still get flustered when I hold your hand… or touch you… or even tease you a little. Makes me wonder—when will you finally get used to it?"
She scoffed lightly, but her fingers squeezed his just a bit tighter.
"I don't know," she admitted. "Maybe when my heart stops racing every time you do."
Robin paused for half a second before a soft laugh escaped him. "So your heart still races?"
Lyra instantly regretted saying anything. "I didn't say that!"
But Robin was already leaning in, close enough that his voice brushed against her ear.
"I hope it never stops," he whispered. "Because mine still does. Every time I see you."
That did it. Her cheeks flushed red, her lips parted in stunned silence.
Maybe one day, she'd get used to this.To the warmth of his touch, the weight of his gaze, the way he made her feel seen—completely.
But for now?
She was happy right here, beside someone who meant the world to her, walking through the falling snow that softened the world into something quiet… and perfect.
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They kept walking, hand in hand, snow crunching softly beneath their feet, when Robin casually tossed out, "Come over to my place this weekend."
Lyra stopped mid-step. "Wait, what?"
He turned toward her, like he hadn't just dropped an unexpected invitation out of nowhere. "My place. I've invited you before, haven't I?"
"I-I know, but… why all of a sudden?"
Robin shrugged, the picture of calm. "Don't want to spend the weekend with me?"
Of course she did. Who wouldn't?
Ever since they started dating, every moment together had been easy—fun, even when he was teasing her endlessly. Especially then. And if she were being honest, she liked that. A lot.
Still…
"Your house," she repeated, more to herself than to him. "Which means… your parents."
He nodded. "Yeah. But they'll be busy. Probably won't be home till late."
That was supposed to be comforting. It wasn't.
Lyra's brows drew together. "Wait—so you're inviting me over when there's no one else home?"
Robin's grin immediately turned wicked. "What? Afraid I have ulterior motives?"
"I never said that!" she blurted, her voice already pitching up.
He chuckled, clearly entertained. "You're the one who brought it up. Sounds like you had something in mind."
"I didn't—!" she started, then paused, trying to salvage her dignity. "I was just clarifying. It's kind of a big step, okay? I've only met your parents once and that was, like, a five-second awkward wave."
"Funny," Robin mused. "You didn't seem to hesitate when you invited me over that one time—when your place was completely empty."
Her brain froze. "T-That was different!"
"Was it?" he said lazily. "It was raining hard, just the two of us, and you generously offered your warm, cozy apartment as shelter. Very classic romcom energy."
Lyra groaned. "It was pouring! You would've been stuck in traffic forever! If anything happened, I'd feel responsible. You were a festival committee member too, remember?"
He nodded thoughtfully. "True, true… So if I wasn't on the committee, you'd have let me drown in the rain?"
"That's not the point!"
Robin shot her a sly glance. "The point is… you've been looking out for me for a while now, huh?"
"No, that's not—!"
He leaned in slightly, voice dropping into that too-casual, too-dangerous tone. "Then why're you so suspicious about being alone with me now?"
"I'm just being cautious!"
"Cautious about what?" His brow arched. A smirk tugged at his lips. "About being really alone?"
Her face lit up like a firecracker. "That's not what I meant!"
Robin burst out laughing, utterly delighted. "Okay, okay. If you're that nervous, I'll give you a house tour first. Or we could chill on the couch, talk, watch a movie. I promise not to do anything…"
He paused dramatically.
"Unless you make the first move."
"ROBIN!"
His laughter echoed down the street, unbothered and unrepentant. Lyra could only bury her face in her scarf, wondering—yet again—why she kept falling into his traps so easily.
And worse…Why she secretly kind of loved it.
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Lyra only had one class that day, and it wrapped up by eleven. But instead of heading home, she found herself sitting on a bench near her department, eyes glued to a pile of Student Council's paperwork. No meetings this week—thankfully—so she could finally breathe. Everything else in her daily routine was business as usual.
Campus was still buzzing with late-morning energy—students rushing to class, lounging in shaded corners, or chatting in small groups.
Amid the noise, a familiar voice called out, "Hey, Lyra!"
She looked up and smiled. "Arlo! Wow, it's been a while. You've been super busy lately, huh?"
The guy in the navy hoodie nodded, dragging a hand through his messy hair. "Don't even ask. Fourth semester is brutal. Anatomy and physiology feel like writing a whole novel, and the endless labs... when am I supposed to sleep?"
Lyra let out a soft laugh and patted his arm. "Yikes. Hang in there, though. It'll pass eventually."
Arlo's expression shifted—still smiling, but with a hint of curiosity now. "Hey, so... I heard you're dating that guy from Comms?"
She gave a little nod and an even smaller smile. "Yeah, I am."
"No way! Finally!" Arlo grinned like he'd just won a bet. "Took you long enough. I'm really happy for you, you know? Feels like you found someone who gets you."
He looked more excited than Lyra did. "Hope he makes you happy."
"Thanks, Arlo," she said warmly. "I think… for once, life's starting to feel like it's on my side."
But of course, Arlo couldn't resist teasing. "So? Where is this mysterious boyfriend of yours? Skipping lunch with you today?"
Lyra let out an exasperated sigh. "Why is everyone suddenly teasing me? First the Student Council's members, now you?"
She cleared her throat, trying to play it cool. "He still has class. Probably done soon."
Arlo gave a knowing nod, though that mischievous smile didn't fade. "Okay, okay. But be honest—what have you two been up to? Any juicy stories yet?"
Lyra paused, mentally flipping through memories. "Nothing crazy, really. Just the usual—grabbing food, walking around, talking... that kind of thing."
Clearly not satisfied, Arlo leaned in. "C'mon. Nothing spicy at all?"
Her cheeks flushed pink, and Arlo laughed at her reaction. "You're just like Mei now," she muttered, half annoyed.
"Can you blame me? I've known you since high school and you've never acted like this. It's kind of entertaining."
Lyra crossed her arms, her voice a little firmer now. "He's not like most guys. Robin's… different. He's thoughtful. Gentle. He doesn't just think about one thing, you know?"
Arlo blinked. "Wait—was that shade? Are you saying I'm not thoughtful and gentle?"
She gave him a sly smile. "You said it, not me."
He laughed, hands raised in mock surrender. "Alright, alright, I get it. You're totally smitten."
Lyra couldn't help it—she laughed too. "Maybe I am. But you wouldn't understand."
"Ouch," Arlo teased. "Look at you. Two weeks into dating and already acting superior."
"Then maybe go find someone and stop stringing people along or flirting with every girl in sight," she shot back playfully.
They both burst into laughter again, like old times. Maybe because Arlo was the kind of friend who didn't hold grudges, didn't stir up drama, and always knew how to keep things light.
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*** TO BE CONTINUE ***