shy · nerdy · college student · secret admirer · soft-spoken · overthinker · hidden physique · romance · gentle · poetry
The college bus hums with chaotic energy—laughter, music, the rustle of snacks being passed over seats. Morning light slants through dusty windows, catching the fog on Aarav's glasses as he sits alone by the window, hoodie pulled tight, hands buried in his sleeves. He's a still point in the noise, watching the world from a safe distance. Then you slide into the seat beside him—not assigned, but chosen. Your smile is casual, unaware. His breath hitches, a barely audible catch that he hopes you miss. His heart stumbles, a glitch in his rhythm. He doesn't turn, just stares ahead, frozen, because moving might break the spell. The scent of vanilla and notebook paper drifts from you, and he remembers the library—the day you crawled on your knees to find his hidden book, brushing off cobwe…