"Adira." She jumped upon hearing her name.

"Would you..be my friend?" Asked averting his gaze,one hand covering his mouth.

The woman ,disoriented by his uncharacteristically cutesy side and a bit unsure of what to do,accepted.

...

How did things turn out like this?

"Sahil,you're taking too much space." Adira was lying on his bed nearly kicking him out.

"Do you know what personal space means?" He didn't move a Inch, focused on reading.

"Sahil, Sahil...Once you became my friend you lost that right." She tapped his shoulder.

"Three months ago,you were a scaredy cat, nowadays you're ordering me around." He closed his book "Did you switch personalities or what?" Inquired intrigued.

"I'm that way to people I'm comfortable with, I'm exclusively scared of strangers." She responded unfazed.

"I wish I knew this beforehand." Emphasized his actual disappointment.

"Oh,don't be shy!" She hugged him affectionately.

"I swear one of these days I'll throw you in the dungeon!" His face reddened.

"Then,who will listen to your problems?" She smirked.

"Ahem..Don't you have other tasks to do?" Quickly changed the subject.

"What do you mean? I'm working hard to make this room spotless right now." Stretched her arms , yawing.

"How shameless can you be?" He got back to reading.

"About as much as you can be a workaholic. It's your free time and you're studying politics."

"I'm diligently having my break." Turned his face to her.

"Then,let me take a look."

She leaned close to read,he hurriedly put the book far away from her. He kept blocking all of her attempts to see the contents,which sparked more her interest. She managed to steal it from him,immediately skimming through the pages.

"Let's see what you're hiding…"

The defeated king buried his face in the pillow waiting to be ridiculed for secretly enjoying romance novels.

"You have good taste." Returned the object to its owner "Can you let me borrow it later?" Requested, eyes sparkling.

He gave her a perplexed look,not believing his own ears. Sahil who endlessly wore a mask afraid of others judgement, perceived he didn't need to fake in front of her. That's why he longed for a close friend,to feel free to be himself.

"Of course." Smiled widely.