author's Note: hello to anyone reading this story. please vote and don't be a silent reader. I will aim for weekly short updates so I can finish the story as soon as possible.

After Seyon met this strange woman named Thiya in the bookshop and they unfortunately tore the book into two halves, they had to read the book together. As other copies were not readily available and neither of them had the patience to wait to read their favourite book. Though he was annoyed by her brusque, domineering attitude and called her a villainess, the demanding girl who always asked him to meet up at the coffee shop of her choice to read the book, he was charmed by the bookish enthusiasm they shared.

Spending time with her proved they had more in common than they thought. Slowly, he came to know that she wasn't terrible, only assertive about the things she loved. By the time they finished the book, they were on friendly terms and not going for each other's throats. Or complaining about their current situation of having to read together. What was frustrating turned out to be fun. More so when they discovered they were of the same age and had the common goal of joining the Indian police force.

One fine Sunday, a couple of days after they completed reading the book, Amma wanted to know this new friend he was constantly meeting with. She was surprised, knowing the new friend he made was a girl. Which never happened before. That piqued her interest, and he decided to indulge her. Thiya was considerate enough to visit his house when he told her about this.

"Watch your step." He caught Thiya by the waist as she tripped over his threshold.

Amma rebuked him not to hit on her. Her theatrics were absolutely comical, though delivered in that stern yet dramatic tone. "Kadavule, guys these days can't keep their hands off! My son isn't an exception? Seyon, get away from her!"

"Amma, Thiya is beautiful and sophisticated but it doesn't mean..." He trailed off, feeling the ladies' eyes on him. "I was only helping her!"

When Thiya was leaving later that evening, she asked him if he was hitting on her. He slyly asked if she would want that. She shook her head, smiled disbelievingly, and left.

After that he run into her a couple more times, in the same bookstore and book cafe. Several run-ins in a week. Who was he kidding? He purposely visited those places, wishing for a run-in. So those weren't exactly run-ins.

They would talk in elaborate about Sherry Maran and their personal lives. It's then he learnt Thiya lived alone. She was the estranged daughter of a well-known politician. He was hesitant and wanted to keep his distance from such an illustrious lady, but couldn't. They met more frequently and their friendship soared.

It was strange. None of the few girl pals from college knew him this closely. He even shared his exam preparation plans and materials with her. She generously shared hers. Studying together became a new norm, also laughing over nonsensical movies that drove the crowds wild. Horse riding on the weekends, placing lousy bets at the horse races, and travelling in a packed metro to visit various kovils.

They'd even go for a morning run together. She'd often pant and complain that it was the hardest part of becoming a cop. Though he laughed, he would encourage her in whatever way he could. It wasn't needed, though. She was optimistic on her own. A woman who could turn her flaws into stepping stones to success.

On a bright afternoon, he was at her place, studying together. He couldn't concentrate at all, his mind going through the moments he spent with her. The time he spent with her seemed to zoom by in milliseconds. To think it was time to leave again, already. It was aggravating. Not seeing her face for another twenty-four hours felt like sheer agony. Yet he urged his feet to move, pretended he didn't feel any of those emotions.

She watched him leave from her balcony, consumed by similar feelings, unbeknownst to him. As usual, they waved at each other until he reached the end of the street, when it started raining suddenly. With a mighty shout, she signalled for him to come back.

"Seyon, come back! You can't get sick when you have an exam."

Was the rain a blessing? It bestowed on him with more of her precious company. His steps were swift and light as he raced back to her side.

It rained cats and dogs throughout the evening, late into the night. There was a complete blackout. The watchman noticed him overstaying. Everyone in the apartment complex had a problem with a young man visiting a young woman's place. They have had it for a while. A small mob now gathered outside her apartment.

Thiya valiantly drove them off. "Can't a guy and a gal be friends? We are only studying. Go, get a life."

Seyon chuckled to himself. They spent some quality moments at her home that evening. She made him chai and dinner. Now that he reminisces, he thinks the attraction between them naturally grew from then on. Attraction is a pretty shallow term. It was adoration. Irrevocable love. Something only one soul can invoke in another. A sublime, universal feeling.

After dinner, they did the dishes together. Thiya sat on the edge of the sofa, while he sat cross-legged on the rug, the apartment still bathed in hues of amber from the emergency solar lamp. It was still raining.

"Seyon..." she gingerly spoke without glancing at his face. "I invited you in because you're a good guy. I — I never brought anyone in."

That brought a smile to his face. Seyon Harith was no longer immune to the vile lady's charm. She already had his heart in a vice.

After her declaration, the emergency lamp went off; the room plunged into pitch darkness. In her haste to light a candle, Thiya tripped on her feet. He was there close by, to catch her by the waist again. He could hear her heart racing as he whispered to her not to be clumsy in her own home.

He wouldn't be around to catch her. Her face was on flame hearing that. He could see traces of red on her cheeks after they successfully lit the candle.

He was unaware of her thoughts. And she was thinking this might be the first time a guy made me blush. Her heartbeat was so erratic, it was alarming. Why was she drawn to this haughty guy who picked a fight with her over a book? Why didn't their association end there? After they read that damn book? They'd met during spring and it was the end of the south-west monsoon. It was as if it was fate. They were meant to be in each other's lives somehow.

This had been ongoing for some time. She couldn't take her eyes off of him while he studied. That razor focus made him look more attractive pleasing to the eyes; he'd be brattish otherwise, which had a charm of its own. It was delightful when he'd keep her company, but she'd feel his absence when he left. The longing would be worse when she would bid him goodbye for the day.

If this was an ailment of the heart, it grew worse. She'd be eager to glimpse his face the next day as soon as possible. He wasn't perfect, per se. And he wasn't her type; although she'd say she didn't have a type. She never had a crush of any sort, even on her favourite TV stars or favourite fictional characters. Here she was falling for him, swooning over his every gesture of kindness and every movement of a strand of his hair.

Unaware of his thoughts about her, she concluded she wouldn't have a chance with him. They fought at first glance. Seyon Harith — he hated her guts, after all. Though they were currently on friendly terms, meant nothing. What were the odds of him falling for her?

***

In the library one winter morning, Seyon found her immersed in her reading. With slick deftness, he caught her wrist, dragged her out to a secluded corridor.

"What's wrong, Seyon?"

Ignoring her perplexed stare and the query, he hugged her close. She fit perfectly in his arms. Her head could rest on his shoulder, but she rested against his chest, taking in his scent — something that was him, and a mix of musk and cedarwood.

"Do you dislike it?"

His breathless whisper tickled her ears. She put her arms around him. "No, I like it very much."

"I love it," she wanted to add, but refrained. Their first hug, pleasant, like the warmth of the spring after winter.

"When I do this?" His one hand gripped her waist and pulled her to him. Pressed chest to chest, with barely any space between them, she could feel her heartbeat speed up. Thiya Arun having butterflies was a first, yet it seemed to happen a lot around Seyon these days. The pleasant tingling in her chest — naming the feelings only made her head spin.

"Sey...on. Give a girl a warning." She croaked, clinging to him, her eyes closed. It was part embarrassment, part fear that if she opened her eyes, this moment might disappear.

"I love you, Thiya. I'm mad about you. Just — just don't marry the guy your family chooses. Pick me."

She pulled away a little to glance into his eyes.

"Huh, where did this come fro—"

Her words were cut off as he kissed her, full on the lips.

"Huh... Hey... Oh!"

"Who jumps to kiss without waiting for the other party to respond after a confession?" She asked him after their kiss ended. Their first kiss. It was soft, but firm enough to make its intention clear.

He smirked. "I could tell you loved me."

"Huh, since when?"

"Just now when you were hugging me. When I held you, silly. Your eyes, the way you reacted to my touch. How your heartbeat sped up when I pulled you close."

"Sh-shut up. Don't elaborate!" Her face went up in flames again. He smiled, albeit goofily.

"You asked for it!"

"Jerk."

"But you love me."

"Huh. I..."

She loved him, of course. She loves how straightlaced he was, how he took care of his mother after his father's demise. How he was strong, optimistic and ambition driven. Righteous to boot too, though he can be a grump and annoy the hell out of a person. She wrinkled her nose and chuckled. He poked her cheek.

"Hey, I'm waiting for your response."

"Seyon... I... love you."

She smiled, glancing into his eyes. He chuckled, a more cheerful than ever.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Well, you didn't tell me either. I thought I would confess after our exam."

"Me too. But Arun told me you're marrying this random guy."

"What... I'm marrying no one. You know I moved out of my family, right? My bro contacts me, but none of my family cares..."

Her face fell despite herself. Seyon touched her cheek.

"It's okay. They will come around. I'll always be here with you."

"Always?"

He kisses her forehead.

"Always."

"Why me, Seyon? You see, my own family thinks I'm a weirdo. They don't love me enough to miss me, you know? You called me a villainess and yet—"

He cupped her cheek. "Because you're you. Well, I called you a villainess, but never really meant it, I guess. We fought when we met and I bet you thought I was an annoying guy."

"Haha. I still do."

"Silly. And you still love me?"

"Yes, because you're you. I see you for who you are. I see your merits too and I love your flaws. And because... no reason. Because I think it's meant to be. Because I can't imagine my life without you."

"Yeah..." He hugged her fiercely again, sighing, one hand at the small of her back, fingers of the other entangled in her hair. "Same reason, Thiya. Same reason, my love."

"Hehe. I love you, Seyon."

"Love you too, baby."

"You're calling me baby already?"

She giggled from still within their embrace, reaching up to brush the back of his head. He sighed.

"Couldn't help it. I've been suppressing my feelings for a while now."

"Oh, Seyu, me too."

"Heh, nice short name. I never liked people breaking my name, but if it's you... Ugh, I just want to thrash Arun now. He gave me quite the scare."

Just then Arun emerged from behind the stacks of book cases, clapping his hands. "Well, I had to play cupid, but hey, i didn't expect you'd kiss my sister. That's not allowed. But then what did I expect from you? Seyon, your lack of tact in matters of the heart is quite apparent."

Seyon snorted. "Huh, didn't you approve of me when you thought of playing cupid? Of course, I'd kiss my girlfriend whenever I want!"

"Shameless!" Arun commented while Thiya blushed slightly again before laughing out loud. "Haha, oh, shut up, Seyon. Anna is only teasing."

Arun nodded and smiled, the corners of his eyes filled with happy tears. "Take care of my sis and never leave her."

***

"Seyon! Thiya!"

Seyon and Thiya jolt out of their memories when they hear Soham and Mira calling their names for the umpteenth time.

"Are you guys still here with us?"

Seyon catches his breath and chuckles at Mira's innocent question. "I am now."

Thiya, realising she zoned out while seated on the living room carpet looking like an idiot, skitters into the kitchen to make some tea, coffee or any beverage that'd help her calm down. Reliving those memories in vivid detail, her face must have turned red as a beet, just like when Seyon first kissed her.

***

AN: Phew I worked super hard on this! Somehow I'm satisfied how it came out! If anyone's reading, do vote and comment. thanks for reading