Equilibrium | Nerd! Armin x Popular! OC

Four days.

Four.

They've already exchanged contacts yet she received no calls. No texts.

Nothing.

And Reina wasn't counting.
Of course not.
But the silence? It was loud.

Reina felt it—that something that changed. Ever since the near-kiss, the air between them was tense has been distant. His usual sarcastic replies were replaced by quick glances in the hallway, and when he does respond—for academics, that is, it was just... dry. Like crackers. With no cheese.

She didn't know what pissed her off more—the fact that he was avoiding her, or the fact that it hurt to be avoided.

That night, Hitch dragged her to a small get-together at one of the campus dorm lounges. Reina didn't want to go. Not really. But she needed noise. Distraction. A reason not to text him first.

Hitch promised "a chill vibe, low pressure, just soda and sad indie boys." Reina didn't want soda. She didn't want pressure. She just wanted... peace. A moment to not think.

The room was dim, warm with scattered lamps and muted playlist loops. A couple of students played a card game on the floor. Others nursed cans of Sprite while flirting over beanbags.

Reina scanned the faces casually—until one in particular made her blink twice.

Annie Leonhart.

There she was, arms crossed over her chest, golden hair in a low ponytail, black hoodie sleeves rolled up to her elbows. She looked effortlessly sharp, leaning against the wall like she owned it.

But she wasn't the problem.

The problem was the person standing beside her.

Armin.

He was laughing. Actually laughing. Head tilted back, fingers combing through his hair, eyes crinkling in that soft way Reina knew too well.

Reina froze for a second too long.

"Oh no." Hitch, who followed her gaze, winced. "I didn't know he was gonna be here. You want to bail?"

Reina shook her head, adjusting her hair as she stood straighter. "I'm good."

And by good, she meant livid.

She took a step forward. Then another. Walked right past them like they didn't exist—like she didn't feel Annie's gaze trail after her or the way Armin's laughter faltered mid-breath when their eyes almost met.

Almost.

"Reina," he called behind her.

She paused.

Turned around slowly. Not surprised. Not smiling.

"Oh. Hey." Her voice was unreadable. Calm. Too calm.

He stepped toward her, uncertain. "You came."

Her head tilted slightly. "You too."

He blinked, thrown off by her tone.

She glanced over his shoulder. "Cute hoodie. Yours?"

"What?"

She nodded toward Annie. "Just thought it was just familiar."

"Oh. No—it's not mine. Hers just looks like—"

"Right." Her lips pulled into something like a smile, but it never reached her eyes. "Enjoy catching up."

And she turned.

Only for his hand to catch her wrist, warm and careful.

"Wait. Reina."

She didn't turn right away. Her hand didn't flinch, but her posture tightened. His touch lingered longer than necessary, like he didn't want to let go unless she made him.

"I'm sorry." he asked, voice low.

"Don't be."

"Why won't you look at me?"

Her head turned slightly. Eyes hard.

"I'm looking at you now." She sighed, "What else do you want?" Stern, the tension between them growing thicker and thicker.

Armin just looked away, eyes full of shame he didn't want Reina to see.

"You're the one who disappeared," she said. "You're the one who left things... unfinished."

His hand dropped from her wrist slowly, as if even letting go needed thought.

"I didn't know if I should say anything," he admitted after a beat, voice strained.

"Right." She raised an eyebrow. "That's convenient."

He opened his mouth, then closed it. Looked down. Then back up.

"You're... not exactly someone I thought I could just message like nothing happened."

Her jaw ticked. "Excuse me?"

"You're you, Reina." He gestured vaguely, almost frustrated. "You walk into a room and people turn. You talk, and they listen. You exist, and it's like—like the rules don't apply to you."

She blinked.

He went on. "I didn't know if I even belonged in the same conversation, let alone in the same..." he trailed off, "...fuck, this stupid."

A long pause passed between them.

She stared at him—long, unflinching. "That's your excuse?"

His shoulders lifted in a helpless shrug. "I didn't want to ruin anything by... assuming."

"You didn't want to be seen trying," she corrected sharply. "There's a difference."

He flinched, just barely.

Her arms crossed. "You think I care about leagues? That I've got some... hierarchy of who's worth my time?"

He said nothing.

"That's not humility, Armin," she added. "That's fear. That's you hiding behind a narrative you built for yourself, so you don't have to deal with what's actually in front of you."

Silence.

"You think I'm above you?" she asked, head tilted. "Then stay beneath me."

🤓🖊️

This is where it all starts.

Sorry for the late upload! Expect 2 chapters tomorrow 🫡