(Okay, so sometimes in some chapters I'll show the translations and sometimes not, so just pretend they're talking in different language)
Roshni had been Anvi's best friend since childhood, their bond built on years of shared secrets, laughter, and an unshakable love for music. While their interests had evolved over time, one thing remained constant—their mutual obsession with K-pop, especially Enhypen and NCT.
From their earliest days of discovering the groups to late-night fangirling sessions, they had grown into the kind of fans who streamed performances together, analyzed every comeback detail, and defended their idols with unwavering devotion. Their conversations were filled with inside jokes about their biases, debates over the best eras, and wild dreams of meeting them one day.
To anyone else, it might have seemed excessive, but to them, it was more than just being fans. It was a part of their friendship—an unspoken language of excitement, support, and shared dreams that only they truly understood.
.
As always, the initial wave of excitement settled of meeting each other, Roshni and I linked arms and strolled towards the main building, seamlessly falling into step like we always did. Our conversation naturally drifted to them.
"I swear, Roshniiiii," I sighed dramatically, hugging my laptop to my chest. "Sweet Venom should be illegal. Did you see the way Sunoo smirked during his part? I swear my soul left my body."
Roshni groaned. "And Heeseung? Don't even get me started. That cowboy hat? That stare? That man was born to ruin lives. But I'm falling for Niki everyday."
We clutched each other's arms, fake-swooning like two lovesick fools.
"I don't understand," I whined, sitting in our seats together. "Why do they do this to us? We're just two innocent girls trying to live our lives, and then—bam!—Enhypen decides to destroy us first thing in the morning."
"Innocent sure!" Roshni chuckled to herself as she clicked on a new tab on her laptop screen to open a certain familiar website.
Tumblr.
The word 'innocent' would be ashamed of its own innocence.
My eyes widened as I looked around then to her, who has her brow raised to show me a particular post from an account. My account, and the post which had the top five comments from her account.
Even though, people on those sites didn't know about our actual friendship but were surely known as the fanfiction writer besties.
I defended myself at the post, "that's what I can't explain it to you."
The post was about their recent still monster performance with small cuts on their faces and I had captioned the collages of the pics with 'I can lick their wound until they heal.'
Roshni rolled her eyes, "I never allowed you to lick my husbands' wounds. I am still here for them."
"They are mine too...but look at them. Bro, they are looking extra handsome in this come back." I said with a dramatic expression while staring at my own laptop screen.
We had submitted our assignments just earlier and then when we had to go through the overview of the project details from last year of our computer science engineering course, here we were in our own world.
Roshni nodded solemnly. "It's a personal attack at this point. They know what they're doing."
We sighed dramatically in sync before breaking into laughter.
"And in both the songs," Roshni continued, eyes sparkling. "The performance was insane. The stage presence? The fits? Like, excuse me, who gave them permission to be that perfect?"
I groaned, reliving the visuals in my head. "I swear, if I don't see them live at least once in my life, I might actually die from the sheer injustice of it all."
Roshni's grip on my arm tightened. "No, but same. Imagine actually breathing the same air as them. Seeing them up close—Heeseung, Jungwon, Sunghoon, all of them right there on stage?"
A dreamy sigh left both of our lips at the same time.
I turned to her with serious eyes. "We have to make it happen. Just once. Just one time in this lifetime."
Roshni nodded as if making a silent promise. "Manifesting it from this moment onwards."
We both clasped our hands together in a prayer-like gesture, whispering under our breaths, "Please, please, please, let us see them live at least once."
Then she smirked. "Although... I still can't believe you dreamed about Sunghoon that night instead of Heeseung."
I playfully shoved her. "Excuse you, I love all seven of them. They are my husbands too."
Roshni snorted. "Yeah, yeah. You should start planning how to divide your time equally among them. But, remember maknae line is always mine and 02z yours but we will share Heeseung."
I grinned. "Don't worry, I already have a strategy."
We both closed our laptops and went to leave the classroom where had our last class.
.
We burst into another fit of laughter as we finally reached our usual spot—an open corridor where sunlight streamed in, casting warm patterns on the tiled floor.
For a moment, we simply stood there, leaning against the railing, watching students pass by. The afternoon was already shaping up to be one of those golden, fleeting moments—the kind that felt so simple yet so special at the same time.
Roshni sighed. "Wouldn't it be crazy, though?"
I turned to her. "What?"
"If we actually got to meet them. Not just see them on stage, but, like... cross paths with them. Talk to them."
A strange shiver ran down my spine.
The thought had crossed my mind so many times before, but now, hearing Roshni say it out loud, it felt like a distant wish, which never gonna be fulfilled.
It felt like a whisper of something just beyond the horizon.
I chuckled, shaking my head. "That would take a miracle."
Roshni grinned. "Well, miracles happen when you least expect them."
I laughed, rolling my eyes. "Manifest harder, then."
She bumped my shoulder playfully. "Oh, you have no idea how hard I'm manifesting."
As we leaned against the railing, watching the bustle of students around us, Roshni suddenly turned to me with a knowing look.
"I saw your posts last night, The Queen Fate World Tour ah, I loved their concert but" she said, raising an eyebrow. "You were going off about their health again, weren't you?"
I sighed, rubbing my nape. "Of course, I did. Have you seen how exhausted they look lately? It's insane. I even also posted demanding a hiatus for them."
Roshni nodded in agreement. "I saw that and then posted one too. And, honestly? You're right. As much as I want to see them all the time, it's more important that they actually take care of themselves."
I let out a deep breath. "Exactly. I mean, yeah, I'd miss them so much if they went on hiatus, but at the end of the day, they're human. They need rest, too. I can wait for them. We all can."
Roshni smiled softly. "Yeah... our love can wait."
I grinned. "Yes. Our love. Not just the crazy screaming kind, but the kind that actually cares, you know?"
She nudged my shoulder. "I know. And honestly? I think they do feel it. They may not see every single post, but they know there are fans like us who truly care about them as people, not just idols."
I smiled at that thought, a warm feeling blooming in my chest. "I really hope so."
Roshni linked her arm through mine. "They do. And one day, we'll get to tell them ourself."
I blinked at her, caught off guard. "Really? Do you think we can ever meet them?"
She pout a little, "I know, it's a bit distant dream but still what's the harm to think of us succeeding our career and then going together to meet them at the concerts and fan meets."
I laughed, shaking my head. "At this rate, you should start charging for all this manifesting."
She grinned. "No need. We should hope and think positively."
I chuckled. If not Enhypen, I have someone else to focus on.
The classroom buzzed with chatter as Roshni and I settled into our seats, waiting for the class to begin. The soft hum of students setting up their laptops, flipping through notes, and exchanging sleepy conversations filled the air. I absentmindedly tapped my fingers against my keyboard, still caught in the haze of last night's late-night fangirling session.
But then—he walked in.
🎵Just a little bit - Enhypen🎵
Aryan. White t-shirt. Denim jeans. A simple look, yet somehow making my heart race like he had just stepped straight out of a romantic drama.
I didn't even have to look directly at him to feel the shift in the air. The moment he entered, my entire focus unknowingly gravitated towards him. My pulse quickened, my fingers hesitated over the laptop keys, and I instinctively straightened my posture.
Beside me, Roshni didn't miss a thing. She caught the change in my demeanor instantly, her lips curling into a slow smirk. With an exaggerated motion, she reached out and shut both of our laptops.
I snapped my head toward her, startled. "What—"
She just grinned knowingly. "You're not going to get anything done right now anyway."
Before I could protest, her gaze flickered past me, following the very reason for my sudden breathlessness.
Aryan and Vivek had made their way toward us, effortlessly slipping into the seats beside our bench, as if drawn by some unspoken pull.
And then it happened. Aryan's warm brown eyes met mine, and in that fleeting second, everything else—the classroom noise, the lingering exhaustion, even Roshni's barely-contained amusement—faded into a soft blur.
I barely had time to process the way my heartbeat stuttered before Aryan reached into his bag and, without a word, pulled out a chocolate bar. Holding it out to me, he said, as casually as ever, "For you."
My brain stalled.
I blinked at him, lips parting slightly in surprise. What?
"For me?" I echoed dumbly, my voice softer than I intended.
He nodded, and I hesitated for only a second before reaching out, my fingers brushing lightly against his as I took it. The tiny, almost accidental touch sent an embarrassing jolt up my arm. Why does this feel like a scene straight out of a romance drama?
From the corner of my eye, I saw Roshni practically vibrating with excitement, barely holding back a squeal. She nudged me slightly, grinning. "Aren't you lucky? Getting bribed with chocolates before class even starts?"
I turned to Aryan, struggling to find words. "Thank you...but you didn't have to."
He simply shrugged, leaning back against the desk with that dangerously charming smile. "I know. But you love chocolates."
Oh. My. God.
The way he said it—so effortlessly, like it was the most natural thing in the world to remember little things about me—made my brain short-circuit for a solid five seconds.
Vivek, completely invested to the moment unfolding, snickered and leaned towards Aryan. "Dude, at this rate, you're going to make it more obvious and official."
Aryan only chuckled, his gaze still fixed on me. "Maybe, if someone allows, then sure!"
Roshni gasped dramatically, covering her mouth in mock surprise before turning to me with a teasing glint in her eyes. "Oh? Maybe?"
My face was on fire at this point. Quickly, I unwrapped the chocolate and took a bite—partially to distract myself, partially to keep from grinning like an idiot. Also, why to let the chocolate melt in my bag like my heart is melting inside my ribcage?
But as the sweetness melted on my tongue, I couldn't ignore the other kind of warmth settling in my chest.
I let the rich sweetness of the chocolate melt on my tongue, but it wasn't just the taste that left me dazed—it was him.
Aryan. Sitting right beside me, so effortlessly charming, so devastatingly warm, making me feel like the main character in a story I never expected to be in.
I had spent years obsessing over idols, dreaming about meeting them, imagining scenarios where I'd be the lucky fan they noticed. But when Aryan was near, all of that faded into the background, like a song playing softly in another room—still there, still a part of me, but no longer the only thing that mattered.
Because he made me want to be here, in this moment, fully present.
With him around, I didn't just want to exist in a world of screens, music videos, and fanfiction. I wanted to live my story. I wanted to excel in my studies, carve out a future that was entirely my own, and maybe—just maybe—build something real with him.
It was a terrifying thought, the way my heart prioritized him in a way it never did with anything else. K-pop had always been my escape, my comfort, my dream. But Aryan was real, and the thought of a future where he was a constant presence in my life stirred something deep within me—a longing that was different from the one I felt for my idols.
A future where I wasn't just Anvi, the fangirl.
But Anvi, the dreamer. The achiever. And maybe—if fate was kind—Anvi, his.
I shook my head quickly, trying to push away the ridiculous thoughts before they could spiral further. It was just a Cadbury, just Aryan being sweet in the way he always was. It didn't mean anything.
Right?
But then, as if the universe itself was playing along with my thoughts, Aryan leaned slightly closer, his voice dropping just enough to send a shiver down my spine.
"By the way," he murmured, watching my reaction with amusement, "your dress looks nice today."
I nearly choked on the chocolate.
I muttered a small thanks before hiding a shy smile as I watched my reflection at the glass window. My pink top with the denim pant with the same shade as his.
.
The classroom had settled into a quiet hum of concentration, with only the professor's voice filling the air. I was focused, my fingers poised over my notebook, scribbling down key points as the lecture progressed. Beside me, Aryan was just as attentive, his brows slightly furrowed as he absorbed the details of the new topic—cloud computing.
Then, the professor posed a question.
Aryan moved first, raising his hand with the confidence he always carried being the topper, but before he could even speak, the professor's gaze landed on me.
"Anvi, why don't you answer this?"
I blinked, caught off guard. The topic was new, but I wasn't completely clueless. I took a steadying breath, recalling the little knowledge I had gathered from my tech blogs and late-night research. Carefully, I pieced together an answer, making sure to sound confident even as my heart pounded a little.
When I finished, there was a brief silence before the professor nodded, a small smile of approval forming on his face.
"Well done, Anvi. That was a great explanation."
I exhaled, relief washing over me as I sank back into my seat. Roshni was the proudest bestie at the moment. The professor turned to continue the lecture, and I reached for my pen again, ready to return to my notes—
But then—pat, pat.
A gentle touch landed on my head from behind.
"Good girl."
My entire body froze.
That voice. That warm, teasing voice.
Aryan.
The two simple words sent a rush of warmth through my chest, making my heart do a tiny, unexpected flip.
I could feel the smirk in his tone, the casual affection behind the gesture, as if he had done it without even thinking. But I was thinking. Too much.
I swallowed, my fingers gripping my pen a little tighter as I tried to fight the giddy smile threatening to break free.
Roshni, of course, did not help the situation. She turned her head slightly, her eyes twinkling with pure mischief as she wiggled her brows at me.
I glared at her. She grinned harder.
Meanwhile, Aryan had already returned his attention to the lecture like nothing had happened. Like he hadn't just single-handedly thrown my brain into chaos with two words and a simple pat on the head.
I sighed internally, staring down at my notebook, trying to will my heartbeat back to normal.
This boy was going to be the death of me.
The last class of the day was supposed to be a practical. But with the professor absent, the room was filled with a low murmur of laughter and idle chatter. I took out my phone, dialing my mother to let her know I would be heading home early. As soon as she picked up, I heard the usual warmth in her voice.
"Hello, Anvi, how was your day?"
I smiled, leaning back in my chair. "It's good, Mumma. The professor is absent, so I'm heading back now."
She paused for a moment, then her tone softened with concern. "Are you feeling okay, Anvi? You didn't skip any meals, did you?"
Yeah, of course, she would ask that knowing my habit of always skipping meals to maintain my weight. As if I'm going to debut next week.
I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't hide the grin that tugged at my lips. "Yes, Mumma. Everything's fine. Roshni and I ate lunch together, remember?"
She hummed in approval. "Oh, right! Did she like the noodles I made?"
Before I could answer, Roshni snatched the phone from my hand, her voice practically squealing through the speaker. "Aunty, it was amazing! Seriously, I need that recipe. I could eat it every day!"
I chuckled as I heard my mother's amused reply, and I rolled my eyes playfully at Roshni as she continue her chatting with her like they always did. She handed the phone back to me, looking way too pleased with herself.
"Thanks, Mumma. Bye bye," I said before ending the call.
Roshni grinned, clearly satisfied with herself. "I swear, your mom makes the best food. I might start coming over just for lunch," she teased.
Aryan and Vivek, who had been joking around across the room, turned their attention to us as the conversation shifted. Vivek leaned forward, raising an eyebrow. "What are you two whispering about?"
Roshni waved him off with a teasing smirk. "Nothing. Just discussing food."
Aryan chuckled, shaking his head. "You two and your obsession with food and music..."
Just then, Priyansh and Dhruv, two of our classmates who had been too busy with theie=r sports discussion, started chiming in from the other side of the room. They were always a bit quirky, and today was no different.
"Hey, we were watching some K-pop last night," Priyansh said with a laugh, scratching his head. "But we can't remember the song... or the group."
Dhruv added, "Yeah, what was your favorite group, we tried to search, it was that one group with, um, the name... I don't know, something like... comma?"
Priyansh's eyes widened. "No, no, it's full stop!"
I rolled my eyes, clearly offended by their cluelessness. K-pop was life, and they were treating it like a passing trend.
"No, it's slash!" Priyansh insisted, as if that made any more sense.
Roshni snorted, shaking her head. "You guys are hopeless. It's not slash or full stop. Don't try your luck with trying to remember the name, Priyansh." There was something, Roshni was hinting onto which I was yet to catch onto.
I sighed, letting my forehead fall into my hand. Why are these two suddenly interested in Kpop? To insult the boys like other classmates do?
But before Roshni could make a sarcastic comment, Aryan, who had been watching the entire exchange with a amused smile, leaned a bit closer to me.
"It's Enhypen, right, Anvi?"
His voice was soft, just loud enough for me to hear, and it sent a wave of warmth through me.
My heart skipped a beat, my stomach doing a nervous flutter. He remembered. He remembered my favorite group, and it sounded so natural, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
I managed to swallow the lump in my throat before responding, my voice coming out a little quieter than I intended. "Yeah. It's Enhypen."
There was something in the way he smiled at me—a soft, knowing smile—as though this moment wasn't just about the group, but about us. It wasn't just a casual comment. Aryan had remembered the one thing that mattered to me the most in that instant.
I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, trying to gather my thoughts, but before I could get a word out, Priyansh and Dhruv were still going on, completely oblivious to the sudden tension that had settled between Aryan and me.
Meanwhile, Aryan's gaze was still fixed on me, and my thoughts were completely derailed. His attention, even in something as simple as this, made everything feel ten times more significant. I could feel my face heat up, and I quickly turned my attention to the table in front of me, trying to hide the stupid smile spreading across my face.
Roshni, of course, noticed immediately. She shot me a look, raising an eyebrow with a mischievous glint in her eyes. I knew what she was thinking, and I knew she would never let me live this down.
But right now, with Aryan sitting so close, with his voice still echoing in my mind, I couldn't bring myself to care.
As I was still trying to process Aryan's casual yet heart-racing comment, a voice chimed in from behind me, pulling me out of my thoughts.
"NCT!"
I turned around to find Zara, our class representative, casually plopping herself onto the bench in front of me. She sighed dramatically, her shoulders slumping as if the weight of the world had suddenly landed on them.
Zara, always the picture of grace and composure in public, was the total opposite when she was with us—cheerful, kind, and a little bit of a drama queen. Being the daughter of a famous politician came with its perks, sure, but it also came with a ton of pressure.
"Ugh, I swear, being class rep is like being sentenced to death," Zara groaned, looking completely defeated. "I can't even go a minute without some random student asking me to settle their personal drama."
I couldn't help but chuckle at her frantic, over-the-top delivery. Zara was always so serious when it came to her duties, but with us, she was just another one of us—an easygoing, fun-loving friend who didn't have to pretend to be perfect all the time.
"You've been dying every day since the semester started," I teased. "You should get an award for surviving this long."
Roshni laughed, nodding in agreement. "Honestly, Zara, your CR life is truly the stuff of legends."
Zara rolled her eyes, but I could tell she was amused. "You have no idea," she said, looking both ways dramatically as if sharing state secrets. "Since the morning meeting, it's been non-stop."
She paused for effect, leaning closer to us as if about to reveal something shocking. "Guess what I found out in the meeting today? There's going to be a political guest speaker for the upcoming cultural fest, and I got the scoop. But that's not the best part." She lowered her voice even further, making us lean in instinctively. "I heard they're trying to bring in some money from the event."
"Are you serious? Who?" I asked, curiosity peaking. "How come you heard the money part?"
Roshni hit the back of Zara's head, "This stupid girl is always too excited to know every secret and as soon as she heard about money related stuff, her excitement was at its peak. But, seriously, how?"
Zara shrugged with a sly grin. "I can't say too much, but let's just say I heard it while I was watching two student's nonsense."
Before we could spiral further into itt, Zara sighed, slumping back into the bench. "And that's just one of the hundred things that happened today. Being class rep means listening to every single complaint, running errands for everyone, and never having a moment of peace. Sometimes I wish I could just ditch it all and be a normal student."
We all laughed, the tension of the earlier conversation dissolving. Despite everything, Zara always had a way of making light of even the most stressful situations.
"Well, at least you've got us," I said, smiling at her. "And hey, this surprise guest speaker thing might make all your struggles worth it."
Zara flashed us a grin, her usual bright personality resurfacing. "I suppose. But you all are lucky—no one expects you to save the world every other day."
I grinned, shaking my head at her. "I think we'd prefer to be just as normal as you, thank you."
After a moment, we all stood up, gathering our things. The class was winding down, and it was time to head home.
Roshni nudged me as we walked out the door. "What if our university invites Enhypen to our fest? Well, never mind. They would gather the whole money from the students."
"But, what if?" I dwelled on it as she shrugged, knowing it's a stupid thought.
.
The classroom had finally emptied, and I was gathering my things when I noticed Aryan standing near the door, adjusting his bag, preparing to leave. My heart skipped a beat. There was something about him, something that made the air around me feel charged, even when he was just walking out of class.
As I was about to step out, I heard his voice calling my name.
"Anvi," Aryan said casually, walking up to me as we exited the building, his brown eyes catching mine with that familiar warmth. "I'm heading to the parking lot. I'll be driving to the railway station. Want a lift?"
For a split second, I stood frozen. The thought of being in the car with him, the two of us alone, even just for a short ride, made my pulse race. I almost wanted to say yes, to take that chance, to be with him even if just for a few more minutes. My hand was already reaching for my bag when I heard the unmistakable sound of a bus pulling up to the stop.
The timing felt almost poetic, as if fate was giving me a little nudge.
I hesitated, and before I could make any decision, I saw the bus doors open, and I knew—I had to take the bus.
"Aryan," I called out, suddenly feeling embarrassed at how quickly I was about to change my mind. "I... I think I'll take the bus today."
I'll take the bus...like always.
He blinked, clearly surprised by my decision. "You sure? I'm going to the same way, Anvi. It's not that far." His voice had a soft edge to it, almost like he was coaxing me to stay, to accept his offer.
For a moment, I hesitated, the temptation of sitting beside him in his car almost too much to resist. But then I saw the bus again, waiting for me, and I had to make the choice.
I gave him a quick smile, trying to act nonchalant. "Thanks, but I'll be fine. I'll see you later."
Then, as if to cover up the awkwardness, I threw in a loud "Bye!" and practically ran towards the bus, not wanting to look back.
I heard his chuckle from behind me, and it made my heart flutter despite myself. "You're crazy, Anvi," he called after me, but his voice was laced with amusement, the sound of his laughter carrying all the way to the bus.
I made it to the bus and quickly slid into an empty window seat, sinking into the comfort of my decision—until I looked out the window and saw him still standing there, watching me.
Our eyes met across the distance, and for a moment, time seemed to slow. I wasn't sure if it was the way the sun caught his face or the way his gaze was so focused on me, but my breath caught in my throat.
He smiled—his signature smile that always seemed to make my heart race—and waved. The kind of wave that wasn't just a casual gesture. It was deliberate, confident, almost flirtatious. I couldn't help but wave back, my heart pounding in my chest.
As I raised my hand, the bus doors closed, and the engine hummed to life. But for some reason, that moment—his smile, the way he waved so handsomely—was still in my mind as the bus started moving. My face felt warm, and the familiar, nervous energy that only Aryan seemed to invoke bubbled up inside me.
The bus sped away, but all I could focus on was the look he had given me, the smirk that lingered in my mind.
I glanced out the window, hoping to calm my racing thoughts, but there he was again in my mind, that smirk, the way his eyes crinkled when he smiled. And even though I had made the decision to take the bus, a tiny part of me regretted not getting that lift.
I sighed to myself, shaking my head. Maybe next time.
🎵I feel like I'm falling into a feeling I'm feeling for the first time
Just a little bit, just a little bit
The world is falling apart
Just a little bit, just a little bit
Pulled by your gravity, my universe is disappearing
Filled with you one by one
I believed I knew everything in the world
I didn't know (just a little bit, just a little bit)🎵
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