"Can I say no?" Finn asked to skip the studies part. Imagining reading the complete syllabus crept his hair up and shook his head repeatedly.

However, "NO." A sharp yet sweet tone poured a bucket of cold water on his wishes.

​​

Grounding his teeth, he ordered, "Then I will teach self-defense to you."

Anyway, he didn't get to see what he desired. Instead, she excitedly asked, "Really? Deal. Every day for an hour after classes."

Finn: ".."

He saw her eyes dazzling and anticipating to learn instead of behaving lazy and crying to avoid it. 'I know nothing about Furball yet.' He thought.

"What is your exercise format?" He again expected her to say yoga or school children exercise as she won't come out for any form of physical activity.

"Aerial hammock." She answered and got back to her favorite hot chocolate licking off the chocolate from her lips.

Finn: "..."

Finn who imagined himself rolling up and down in the aerial hammock choked on his coffee and coughed until his eyes had turned red. Now he understood why the girl in front of him was so flexible in cheerleading dance during soccer and has a great shape which she covers in layers of clothes.

"Don't cry to me if you break your arms while learning from me." He said to scare her but saw her roll her eyes. "I am green belt, Brother Vin said I can go up to blue or red but Alan is worried I might break my forearm so Alan will be mad if he gets to know I am learning again."

Finn: "..."

He realized he will lose in everything he guesses about her. 'Sigh.' He flicked on her head with a spoon seeing her drowning in hot chocolate, "My chauffeur, you better take me to college on time."

Aria's left paw almost reached him in annoyance but he slipped, "Furball is purring."

Then two started to banter all the way to college and to the class. One who hardly saw his face sat with him and started to enjoy his company and vice versa.

Similarly, the duo almost stayed together all the time in college, then in the villa, for cooking, for learning, maybe studies, or her self defense.

Finn liked how easily he understood when Aria explained hence he didn't require revising anything. He would get back to his gym and jog in the night while Aria designed the outfits and enjoyed the night with video calls to her friends and her fiance.

Everything was good, both enjoyed each other's company and they weren't stuck to the routine but planned outings, watched movies, and enjoyed weekends too.

As though the torturous six months never existed, three months passed just like that.

It was in the afternoon and summer season. The warm clothes were on rest, the students were donning the best dresses from their closets. Country S's summer is only two months before returning to coldness so the summer is like a celebration.

Aria wasn't in extravagant dresses but in her simple style. The white plain top had full sleeves with loose bell sleeves. Designed by her, the shoulder had only a small strap and hooped open arms perfect for the summer.

She had matched with white shorts which had autumn leaves. The wide brown belt hugged her small waist giving a glimpse of her curves. The long legs were sporting the casual white shoes completing her whole look.

Finn and Aria were used to the eyes they grab and the more eyes on Aria which especially increased in summer. Aria was rigorously preparing for the project and the presentation skipping her lunch.

So he concentrated on pressuring the girl to have a pen held by her lips and another stuck on her ear while her hands were tapping the keyboard at the speed Finn could never imagine his fingers to work.

"Alia, it's lunchtime. Let's go." He asked Nth time.

"Ess almo dun…" He heard her say with her pen between her lips. Pulling the pen away, "What!?"

"It's almost done," Aria said with a cute pout of her lips.

Hearing it for the Nth time, he shrugged his hand and placed the pencil on her other ear, and went to grab lunch from the canteen.

He brought some light food for themselves so that she could fill her stomach planning to eat dinner early.

Aria who saw his hands knew he was bringing for her too and heard her stomach grumble announcing its presence. She smiled sheepishly at him after seeing his hands.

She just looked like a little school girl happy about seeing candy but her expression suddenly changed to surprise as a mesmeric smile crept on her face.

That smile, her sparkling eyes, and her face glowing with happiness froze Finn abruptly. He wasn't seeing her smile for the first time but he couldn't understand why he was finding it hard to look away.

The sun looked dim for him looking at her. He could feel his heartbeats speeding seeing her dropping her things down and running towards him.

That dainty little girl had a smile to be transfixed on her.

In those mere ten seconds, he had felt there was nobody in the world other than her and him. Time seemed to be slow-moving looking at her. He felt weirdly content which he hadn't felt for anybody.

He had almost felt like she was going to embrace him but she passed by him beaming, "Alan..."

Finn could feel his heart weighing down as his gaze followed her and turned to see the mystic man. That man's captivating smile appeared too when she went to him.

"Alan…" Aria never had enough of calling his name and jumped on her toes throwing herself on that man's tall frame.

Alan wrapped a hand around her tiny waist and another gently rubbed her head as he balanced himself pressing his feet on the car behind him when she excitedly hugged him.

"I missed you." Aria sang rejoicing in his arms feeling ecstatic to have him at her reach.

Even though that man looked cold to everyone, he was full of warmth to her. Even though she seemed unemotional to many, her every emotion was only for that man.

That scene was so good to watch but Finn suddenly felt his heart completely empty. Like somebody stole a part of him.