The bathroom door swung open, releasing a small cloud of steam as I stepped out with a towel slung over my shoulders. My hair was damp, clinging to my forehead, and my shorts were the only thing I had bothered to put on.
All I wanted was to sit down, relax for five minutes, and not deal with anything or anyone.
Unfortunately, I should have known better.
Kruti was on the couch, her legs curled up beneath her, pretending to read a book. I say pretending because the moment I stepped into the room, I felt her gaze land on me. Her body was too still, too focused, and I knew she wasn't reading a single word on that page.
"Is it just me," her voice broke the silence, "or is this house suddenly turning into a modeling runway?"
I stopped mid-step and shot her a glare. "Don't start."
"What?" She set her book down on her lap, tilting her head as if she were genuinely curious. "You're the one walking around half-naked like you're auditioning for a fitness commercial. Not my fault you're distracting."
I sighed, running a hand through my damp hair. "I just got out of the shower."
"And yet you chose violence," she quipped, her lips twitching with a barely suppressed grin.
"Violence?" I raised an eyebrow.
"Yes, because this," she gestured dramatically at me, "is a personal attack on my ability to concentrate."
I ignored her, walking to the couch. She didn't stop staring. In fact, her grin widened, and I could feel my irritation rising by the second.
"Kruti," I warned as I dropped onto the other end of the couch, picking up the TV remote.
"Yes, dev?" she replied sweetly, scooting a little closer.
"Don't."
"Don't what?"
"You know what."
"Oh, come on." She leaned toward me, her grin now positively wicked. "You're the one who walked out like this. What am I supposed to do? Ignore it?"
"Yes."
But, of course, she wasn't going to let me off that easily. "I had no idea professors came with... bonus features." she teased, her voice laced with mock surprise.
I clenched my jaw, focusing on the TV. Maybe if I didn't engage, she'd get bored and leave me alone.
"Dev."
I didn't respond.
"Devansh."
Silence.
"Professor Singhania," she said in a singsong voice.
I turned my head sharply to glare at her. "What?"
"Oh, good, you're listening." She smiled sweetly before her eyes dropped to my chest.
"This isn't a compliment. It's harassment," I deadpanned, though I could already feel the heat rising to my face. "I swear I need to call the purush helpline!"
"Oh my God," she gasped, her grin widening. "Are you blushing?"
"No." My response was immediate, sharp, and unconvincing.
"Yes, you are!" She sat up straighter, her eyes gleaming with amusement. "Professor Grumpy is blushing! This is amazing."
"Kruti, I'm warning youâ"
Before I could finish, she poked me. Right in the middle of my chest.
"What are you doing?" I asked, my patience already wearing thin.
"Poking you." She grinned like a child who had just discovered a new toy. "Boop."
"Stop it."
"Why? You're not stopping me." She poked me again, this time on my shoulder.
"Kruti, I'm serious."
"Serious about what?" Poke.
I grabbed her wrist, holding her hand away. "Enough."
"Make me," she challenged, her grin turning smug.
I stared at her, my grip tightening slightly. "I don't have the energy for this."
"That's okay," she said, freeing her wrist easily and poking me again. "I have enough energy for both of us."
I groaned, leaning back against the couch. "Why are you like this?"
"Because it's fun," she said, poking me again for good measure. "And you're so easy to mess with. Look at you, all grumpy and blushing."
"I'm not blushing," I muttered, though the heat rising to my face betrayed me.
"Oh, you so are," she said, giggling now.
I closed my eyes, pinching the bridge of my nose. "Go away."
She reached out again, and I instinctively stepped back, but she followed, relentless. "You know, for someone who's so intimidating in class, you're surprisingly easy to fluster."
I opened my eyes just in time to see her pull out a sheet of stickers from the drawer. My stomach sank.
"What are you doing?" I asked warily.
"Improving your look," she replied, peeling off a bright yellow smiley face sticker.
"Don't you dareâ"
Before I could finish, she slapped the sticker onto my chest.
"There," she said, leaning back to admire her handiwork. "Much better."
I looked down at the sticker, then back at her. "Are you serious?"
"Very." She peeled off another sticker, this one shaped like a heart.
"Kruti, I'm warning youâ"
But she ignored me, sticking the heart right next to the smiley face.
I groaned, running a hand through my hair. "Why do I put up with you?"
"Because you love me," she said confidently, sticking another sticker on my shoulder.
"I'm seriously questioning that right now," I muttered.
"Oh, you love me," she said, peeling off another sticker. This one was a star.
"Kruti, I swearâ"
She stuck the star on my cheek, bursting into laughter.
"That's it," I said, grabbing her wrist again. "You're done."
"Am I?" she asked innocently, wiggling her fingers.
"Yes."
"No." She broke free easily, sticking another heart on my other pec.
I glared at her, but she only laughed harder. "You're so much fun to mess with."
"You're insufferable," I muttered, reaching up to peel off the stickers.
"Don't!" she said, grabbing my hand. "They look cute!"
"I am not cute," I growled.
"Oh, you are," she said, poking my chest again. "Adorable, actually."
I gave up, letting my head fall back against the couch. "You're impossible."
"And you're stuck with me," she said, leaning against my shoulder.
For a moment, the room was quiet except for her soft giggles. I sighed, finally peeling the stickers off one by one.
"Hey!" she protested.
I held up the stickers. "This is ridiculous."
"No, it's fun," she said, reaching for them.
I held them out of her reach. "You're done."
She pouted, crossing her arms. "You're no fun."
"And you're a menace," I said, standing up.
She smiled up at me, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "You love it."
I didn't respond, but the corner of my lips twitched slightly as I walked away.