2 years earlier

“Oh, hi,” I muttered, even though I didn’t want to talk to anyone. One word. One choice. The first unimportant event, that wasn’t so unimportant.

“Do you have a lighter?”

Well, of course I do. I am sitting in a smoking room with a cigarette between my lips.

“Oh, yeah. Here.” I hand him my favorite black lighter. It was a merch item from a small band I really liked. But as I hand it, his friend takes it from me first and sits next to me. Too close. Whatever.

“My name is Kai, and this is my friend Romi.” Kai smiled—dimples. And that buzzcut with cheetah patterns. Yep, cheetah patterns.

“I’m Prajakta, but it’s hard to pronounce, so people just call me Jaky.” I smoked some more and started heading out, just as Maya walked in. I hugged her and apologized for making her wait.

“Oh, you’re the guy from before!” Maya was talking to Kai. She knew him.

“I met him at my workplace! He is a new student.” That makes sense. Kai and her make small talk. Maya was still talking, but I could feel his eyes on me. Not in a sweet way. More like I was an answer to a question he hadn’t asked yet.

“There is a party, just a few blocks from here. You all should come,” another person chimed in. One thing about smoking areas—they’re sociable.

Maya doesn’t smoke, so I made her get out of there as soon as possible. Kai and Romi followed us back out. After saying bye to a few friends and paying our tab, we stepped into the chilly night. I pulled Maya close.

“We don’t know much about this place; we’re new here, you know. Can you ladies help us get to the party?” And there they were again—his dimples.

No big deal.

We nodded and walked ahead, the two of them trailing behind us. Romi was quiet, but his eyes… I couldn’t read them. And Kai—he was still smiling. Maybe it was the drinks. Or maybe it was something else.

As we walked, I felt it—the warmth of a body too close. Kai was right beside me, brushing my shoulder every few steps. Too close. I should’ve stepped away. I didn’t. I just kept talking to Maya, pretending not to notice.

The pedestrian light turned red. We stopped at the crosswalk.

“Can I hold your hand?” he asked suddenly.

What.

I turned, giving him a look. Skeptical. Sharp.

“Um, no? Why would I do that?”

“Please?” His smile didn’t falter, dimples carved deep like he thought they were enough to win me over.