𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿'𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝘃 :

The air was thick with anticipation.

Alizeh sat on the edge of a bed-not her own, but somewhere unfamiliar. The room was dimly lit, the golden glow of a bedside lamp casting long shadows on the walls.

And then-he was there.

Azael.

Sitting across from her, watching her with an expression she couldn't quite decipher. His blue eyes held something intense, unreadable, and his brown hair was slightly tousled, as if he had just run his fingers through it.

He exhaled slowly, voice deep and deliberate.

"Do you want something, Princess?"

She swallowed hard. Why did his voice feel like it could unravel her?

Her fingers curled against the bedsheet. She shouldn't say it. She shouldn't even think about it.

But she did.

Her gaze flickered to his, her pulse hammering.

"I want you to touch me."

Azael's expression shifted, his blue eyes darkening.

"Where?"

The word sent a shiver down her spine.

Slowly, Alizeh got up from the bed. Her breath was uneven, her hands trembling as she closed the small distance between them.

Azael didn't move. He just watched.

She reached for his hand.

And then-she placed it down there.

Azael inhaled sharply, his fingers twitching under her touch.

The tension in the air was unbearable.

His gaze locked onto hers, his jaw tightening as he slowly leaned in. Closer.

Just as his fingers started to move-

The doorbell rang.

Alizeh's eyes snapped open.

Her chest rose and fell rapidly as reality crashed back in.

A dream.

It was just a dream.

Her body was still warm, her heart still pounding as if the moment had been real.

She sat up, pressing her fingers against her temples. The air in the room felt too still, the weight of the dream lingering like a heavy fog.

The doorbell rang again.

She blinked, realization setting in. Someone was actually at her door.

Still dazed, she swung her legs over the edge of the bed and stood up. The soft fabric of her Korean pink pajama set brushed against her skin as she moved, her bare feet making no sound against the floor.

She ran a hand through her hair, trying to shake off the dream.

It didn't help.

Taking a deep breath, she made her way to the door and pulled it open.

And then-she stopped breathing.

Azael.

Standing at her doorstep.

The early morning light made his features sharper, more intense. His blue eyes gleamed with something unreadable, his brown hair slightly tousled. He wore a blue - shirt, the first few buttons undone, and the way he stood there, casually leaning against the doorframe, made the air thick between them.

She kept looking at him without blinking her eyes.

Not believing he was really there

The silence stretched

Then-he smirked.

"Itna hot lag raha hoon kya?"

(Do I look that hot?)

Heat crept up Alizeh's face.

Her lips parted, struggling for words. "I-Sir, aap yaha-"

(I-Sir, you here-)

Before she could finish, Azael moved.

His hand came up, his fingers pressing lightly against her lips.

"Shhh."

Her breath caught in her throat. The touch made her feel butterflies in her stomach.

And then, in a lower, more deliberate voice, he murmured,

"No 'sir.' Only Azael."

Her breath hitched.

And before she could process the shift in the air, he took another step forward.

The soft click of the door behind her made her realize-he had shut it.

She swallowed hard, stepping back.

He followed.

Another step.

Then another.

With every backward step she took, he closed the distance.

The air around them shifted, the silence louder than any words could ever be.

And then-her back hit something.

The bed.

Alizeh's breath hitched.

Her eyes widened, realizing a second too late.

She stumbled-

And-

Fell onto the mattress.

The next thing she knew, Azael was above her.

The room felt smaller. Or maybe he was just too close.

His body hovered above hers, caging her in-his weight pressed into the space around her, the mattress dipping under his presence.

The steady rhythm of his breathing was the only sound filling the silence.

Alizeh's pulse stammered.

He was watching her-closely, intensely, as if waiting for something.

Azael's fingers reached out, brushing a loose strand of hair from her face.

Slow. Gentle. Unreadable.

Alizeh's breath stalled.

The tension in the air was unbearable.

Closer.

His blue eyes flickered to her lips.

Her lashes fluttered shut.

And then-

He leaned in.

His breath fanned against her skin, sending a shiver down her spine.

Her heartbeat was deafening, loud, uncontrollable.

Azael moved lower, his lips just inches away-

And then-

Her phone blared in the silence.

The sharp ring cut through the charged air like a blade.

Alizeh gasped, her eyes snapping open.

For a moment, neither of them moved.

Then-Azael exhaled, low and slow.

His forehead rested against hers for just a second before he pulled away.

His blue eyes found hers again, something unreadable swirling in their depths.

Then-his lips twitched into that infuriating smirk.

"Tumhari best friend ki call aa rahi hai, pickup karo."

(Your best friend is calling, pick up.)

Still breathless, Alizeh fumbled for her phone. Her hands were shaking.

The moment she pressed 'answer,' Aria's voice practically exploded through the speaker.

"Kya hua? Itni tez saans kyun le rahi ho?"

(What happened? Why are you breathing so heavily?)

Alizeh's eyes widened.

Her brain froze.

Azael was still there. Watching her. Smirking.

She turned away from him and blurted out the first thing that came to her mind.

"K-kuch nahi... Treadmill use kar rahi thi. Tumhe pata hai na, exercise karti hoon."

(N-nothing... I was using the treadmill. You know I exercise.)

The second she said it, she knew how stupid it sounded.

Azael let out a soft chuckle behind her.

Amusement. Pure amusement.

She could feel his eyes burning into her back.

"Alizeh..." Aria dragged out her name, suspicious. "Is waqt kaun exercise karta hai?"

(Who exercises at this hour?)

Alizeh squeezed her eyes shut.

"Is waqt matlab? Abhi toh subah ke saath baj rahe honge na?"

(What do you mean by this hour? It must be around seven in the morning, right?)

Silence.

Then-

"Achha? 7 baj rhe?" (Oh? It's 7?)

Alizeh froze.

Her eyes darted to the clock.

9:13 AM.

Her stomach dropped.

Aria's loud laughter rang through the phone. "Meri innocent friend, tu toh gayi!"

(My innocent friend, you're doomed!)

Alizeh groaned, gripping her forehead.

And then-

Aria's tone suddenly changed. A little too casual.

"Waise sunn, gussa mat karna, par maine Azael ko tumhare apartment ka address de diya."

(By the way, don't get mad, but I gave Azael your apartment address.)

Alizeh's heart stopped.

"K-kya?!" (W-what?!)

"Haan, actually, wo tumhe pick karne gaya hai."

(Yeah, actually, he went to pick you up.)

Alizeh's gaze slowly-very slowly-shifted back to Azael.

He was still there. Leaning against the dresser. Arms crossed. Watching her.

Like he was enjoying this entire thing.

Alizeh gulped.

Aria continued talking, completely unaware of the storm she had just created.

"Aaj wo ek party de raha hai. Uski mom ka operation achche se ho gaya, toh usne mujhe bataya, phir tumhara address manga toh maine de diya."

(He's throwing a party today. His mom's surgery went well, so he told me, then asked for your address, so I gave it.)

Alizeh's head was spinning.

Azael was here-not because of some random coincidence. But because Aria sent him.

Aria kept going, her voice cheerful.

"Aur waise bhi, maine socha tumhare paas party ke liye dress nahi hoga, toh tu uske saath shopping chali jaana."

(And anyway, I thought you might not have a dress for the party, so you can go shopping with him.)

Alizeh blinked.

What?

Shopping?!

With Azael?!

Alone?!

Before she could even process that information, Aria dropped the final bomb.

"Shopping se seedha Azael ke ghar aajana, theek hai?"

(After shopping, just go straight to Azael's house, okay?)

Alizeh stiffened.

"K-kya?" (W-what?)

"Haan! Main aur Maaz yahan thodi help kar rahe hain preparations mein. Tu bas shopping se seedha idhar aana. Yahi se hum dono parlour chale jayenge, ready hone ke liye. Samjhi?"

(Yeah! Maaz and I are helping with preparations here. Just come straight after shopping. From here, we'll go to the salon together to get ready. Got it?)

Alizeh opened her mouth. Closed it. Opened it again.

Her brain was refusing to function.

Azael's deep chuckle filled the silence between them.

She could still hear Aria's voice on the phone, rambling on about party details.

But all Alizeh could focus on was the man standing in front of her-

The same man who was just inches away from kissing her moments ago

And now-

She had to spend the entire day alone with him.

Her breath hitched.

Azael pushed himself off the dresser and took a step toward her.

His blue eyes locked onto hers.

His smirk widened.

And then-he spoke.

"You have ten minutes. Get ready and come downstairs. I'm waiting."

Alizeh stood frozen as he turned, sliding on his black glasses with effortless ease, the sharp angles of his face growing even more unreadable. Without another word, he walked toward the door-calm, controlled, devastatingly confident-leaving behind nothing but his lingering presence and the rapid thudding of her heart.

The door clicked shut behind him.

Her entire body went still.

Ten minutes?!

She barely processed his words before her thoughts went into overdrive.

So much had happened.

And now-

She was almost kissed by her professor.

Wait.

Almost kissed?!

Her heart was still racing.

Her mind was still reeling.

And her day with Azael was just beginning.

IN A DARK ROOM -

A dimly lit room. Shadows flicker against the walls, stretching and shifting like silent ghosts. A SINGLE LAMP casts a dull glow over a sleek black chair positioned near a table. The air is thick with tension, suffocating, the kind that makes it hard to breathe.

A MAN sits in the chair, his posture deceptively relaxed. But his fingers, tapping rhythmically against the armrest, betray the storm brewing inside him. His other hand grips a phone tightly against his ear. His voice, low and menacing, slices through the stillness.

MAN [in a slow, threatening tone]

"Kya tumne abhi tak pata nahi lagaya?"

(Haven't you found out yet?)

A long pause. His sharp jaw tightens, his grip on the phone hardens. His patience is wearing thin.

MAN [his voice drops lower, more dangerous now]

"Main tumse ek baar pooch raha hoon... aur mujhe sirf ek jawab chahiye."

(I'm asking you once... and I only want one answer.)

He listens, but the response on the other end isn't what he wants. His fingers curl into a fist. A crystal glass sits beside him, still half-filled with whiskey.

In one swift motion, fueled by raw fury, he SNATCHES the glass and SMASHES it against the wall. Shards scatter across the floor, a few landing dangerously close to his feet.

His breath is heavy, controlled rage simmering beneath his skin.

MAN [voice shaking with anger]

"Main tumhe ek week aur deta hoon... ek week."

(I'm giving you one more week... one week.)

He leans forward, elbows resting on his knees, his voice like a slow-burning fire.

MAN [deadly whisper]

"Is baar mujhe jawab 'haan' mein chahiye." (This time, I want the answer to be 'yes.')

A dangerous silence follows.

MAN [voice cold as ice]

"Agar tujhe apni jaan pyari hai."

(If you value your life.)

With that, he CUTS the call.

For a moment, there is nothing but the sound of his breathing. Then-

A LAUGH.

Low at first, then building. It is unhinged, chilling, the kind of laughter that makes the air turn cold. He tilts his head back, running a hand through his hair as he revels in the sheer thrill of the chase.

MAN (smirking, whispering to himself)

"Abhi jitna chupna hai, chup jao..."

(Hide as much as you want for now...)

He leans forward again, eyes dark and glinting with obsession.

MAN [grinning, almost lovingly]

"Lekin jaldi hi... main tumhe dhoondh lunga."

(But soon... I'll find you.)

He exhales slowly, picking up a shard of broken glass, twisting it between his fingers.

MAN [whispering, voice dripping with possessiveness]

"Aur phir... tum sirf meri hogi."

(And then... you'll be only mine.)

The lamp flickers. His lips curl into a smile.

CUT TO BLACK.

ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ-

Azael leaned against his car, effortlessly scrolling through his phone, the soft evening light casting shadows over his sharp features. There was something inherently captivating about the way he stood-relaxed, yet exuding a quiet dominance that made it impossible to ignore him.

Dressed in a crisp blue shirt, the sleeves lazily rolled up to his forearms, he looked... too good. Annoyingly good. The kind of good that made Alizeh pause mid-step before she even realized what she was doing.

Her gaze lingered.

The way the fabric of his shirt stretched slightly across his chest, the way his tousled brown hair fell over his forehead, and-most dangerous of all-the way his blue eyes remained focused on his phone, completely unaware of the way he was affecting her. Or worse, completely aware and just choosing to ignore it.

She swallowed.

Damn.

She hadn't even noticed just how unfairly attractive he looked today. Broad shoulders, lean frame, that casual air of confidence-it was almost as if the universe had conspired to make her suffer.

She was still staring.

And worse, her mind was slipping into places it really, really shouldn't be.

Okay, Alizeh, stop it. Look away. Look away before-

Snap.

The sharp sound of fingers clicking snapped her out of her thoughts so suddenly that she almost flinched.

Her gaze shot up, and there he was-watching her, smirking, those blue eyes now locked onto hers with unmistakable amusement.

"Now that you're done eye-fucking me," he said smoothly, his voice rich with arrogance, "can we leave? Or should I give you some more time ?"

Alizeh's breath caught in her throat.

Her entire body heated-not just her cheeks, but everywhere. Not because of the words themselves, but because of the way he said them. Slow. Teasing. Like he knew exactly what had been going through her mind.

Which, unfortunately, he probably did.

For a split second, she couldn't even form a response.

Then, her pride kicked in.

Rolling her eyes dramatically, she crossed her arms, tilting her head slightly.

"How obsessed are you with yourself?" she shot back, raising an eyebrow in challenge.

Azael chuckled under his breath, shaking his head slightly as if she amused him beyond measure. He didn't answer. He didn't need to answer.

The way he looked at her said everything.

Alizeh huffed, deciding she was done with whatever game he was playing. Without waiting for him to open the door, she strode past him, yanking it open herself before slipping into the front seat with just the right amount of attitude.

Azael let out a low laugh, the sound deep and maddening, before sliding his phone into his pocket. His movements were unhurried, calculated, as if he had all the time in the world.

With one smooth motion, he stepped into the driver's seat, his presence filling the space beside her. The car was quiet, the only sound being the soft hum of the engine as he started it.

And then-just before shifting gears-he turned his head slightly, throwing her a look that sent an involuntary shiver down her spine.

"Shopping, then," he murmured, amusement still evident in his voice.

Alizeh refused to meet his gaze.

Because if she did, she wasn't sure she could stop her mind from spiraling into thoughts she really didn't need to be having right now.

So instead, she turned her face toward the window, pretending to be entirely unbothered, even as her heartbeat told an entirely different story.

And with that, they drove off.