Dev had a kind of softness that made people lower their guard without realizing it. His smile was gentle, almost shy, and his eyes carried a quiet innocence—as if he saw the world in softer colors than everyone else. He listened more than he spoke, and when he did, his voice held a warmth that made people feel understood.
He seemed naive at first glance. Trusting. Easy to read.
But that was only what he allowed others to see.
Behind that softness was a mind that noticed everything—the way people spoke, the things they avoided, the silences between words. Dev understood more than he let on. He just chose when to show it.
There was a quiet cleverness in him, hidden beneath kindness, like a blade wrapped in silk.
And perhaps that was what made him dangerous in his own way—
Because even when he looked like someone who needed protecting,Dev was already learning how to survive
Dev was late.
Not just a little late—first-day-of-college, don't-make-a-bad-impression kind of late.
"Shit," he breathed, running faster as the college gates came into view.
His lungs burned, his bag bounced against his shoulder, and his heartbeat refused to slow down. Today was supposed to be perfect. A fresh start. New place, new people—no mistakes.
And yet, here he was.
Already messing it up.
He pushed through the gate, barely slowing down—
—and slammed straight into someone.
The impact knocked the air out of him.
"Sorry—" Dev started immediately, stepping back, trying to regain his balance.
Then he looked up.
And forgot how to speak.
The man standing in front of him was… striking.
Tall—easily over six feet. Broad shoulders that filled out his black shirt effortlessly. His posture was straight, composed, like he wasn't used to being the one getting knocked into.
But it was his face that caught Dev off guard.
Sharp features. Cold, unreadable eyes. The kind of presence that didn't need to say anything to be intimidating.
Dev blinked.
What a handsome face, he thought before he could stop himself.
"Watch where you're going."
The voice snapped him back.
Cold. Irritated.
Dev straightened instantly. "I—I'm really sorry. I didn't see—"
"Clearly," the man cut in, his gaze narrowing slightly.
There was a brief silence, heavy and uncomfortable.
Dev swallowed, suddenly aware of how disheveled he must look—out of breath, hair a mess, shirt slightly wrinkled.
Great.
Perfect first impression.
"Look where you're running to," the man added, tone clipped, before stepping past him without another glance.
Dev stood there for a second, still trying to catch his breath.
"Well…" he muttered under his breath, watching him walk away, "rude."
But even as he said it, his eyes lingered a second too long.
Then reality hit again.
Late.
"Shit—again," he whispered, and rushed toward the main building.
By the time Dev reached his classroom, his breathing had only just started to settle.
He paused outside the door, hand hovering over the handle.
This was it.
First class. First step into the life he had worked so hard to get.
Nervous?
Yes.
Excited?
Definitely.
He exhaled once, steadying himself, then pushed the door open.
The room was already full.
Students sat in neat rows, notebooks open, conversations fading as the door creaked. A few heads turned toward him, curiosity flickering across their faces.
Dev ignored it.
His eyes moved toward the front—
And froze.
No.
No way.
At the front of the class, standing beside the desk, was the same man.
The one from the gate.
The one he had just bumped into.
The one he had called handsome in his head not even ten minutes ago.
Now standing there like he owned the room.
Like he belonged there.
Like—
He was the professor.
Kabir.
Dev didn't know his name yet.
But he would.
Because at that moment, as those same cold eyes met his across the room—
Recognition flickered.
And something else.
Something sharper.
More dangerous.
"Late," the man said, voice calm but firm.
The entire class went silent.
Dev swallowed.
"Yes… sir."
A pause.
Kabir held his gaze for a second longer than necessary.
Then—
"Take your seat," he said.
Simple.
Controlled.
Like nothing had happened.
But Dev knew better.
Because as he walked into the classroom, every step suddenly heavier than before—
He could feel it.
That this wasn't just a bad start.
It was the beginning of something he hadn't planned for.
Something he definitely wasn't ready for.
And somehow—
He had already made an impression.
Kabir found himself stealing glances at Dev, drawn in by the quiet softness of his presence, something almost mesmerizing about the way he carried himself.
And Dev—
he wasn't any different.
More than once, his eyes drifted toward Kabir, lingering just a moment too long before he quickly looked away, as if afraid of being caught.
And then their eyes met.
For a brief moment, everything else faded—the noise, the movement, the world around them. There was something in that gaze… something unfamiliar, something neither of them had ever felt before.
It wasn't just curiosity.
It was heavier. Deeper.
A silent tension stretched between them, unspoken yet impossible to ignore—like the beginning of something neither of them fully understood… but both felt all the same.