As soon as Hamza stood up and walked after Shumaila, the entire group grinned knowingly at each other.
"Well, that took long enough," Rudra muttered, crossing his arms as he watched them disappear down the hallway.
"Finally," Sneha exhaled dramatically, leaning back against the bench. "I was starting to think they'd never get to this point."
"Did you see Shumaila's face?" Komal giggled. "She looked like she was about to combust."
"Hamza too," Siddarth added, smirking. "That man is completely gone for her."
Akansha shook her head with a satisfied smile. "Let's give them a little privacy. This moment has been months in the making."
Aarav grinned. "And let's be honest… whatever happens next is going to be hilarious."
....
A real hug.
Not teasing. Not dramatic. Just… real.
Shumaila's body tensed for a split second before melting into the warmth of his embrace.
"Shumaila…" His voice was low, deep—softer than she had ever heard before.
She swallowed hard, feeling her pulse drum against her skin.
"Do you forgive me?" he asked quietly, his arms still wrapped around her.
She hesitated—only for a second—before giving a small, almost imperceptible nod.
Hamza exhaled in relief. His grip on her tightened briefly before he slowly pulled away. But instead of letting go completely, his hands found her cheeks, cupping them gently.
Shumaila froze.
She could barely process the warmth of his palms against her skin before her mind short-circuited completely.
Because Hamza was smiling.
Not his usual smirk. Not a teasing grin. A genuine, soft smile.
"Good," he murmured. "Now, about my confession…"
Shumaila's eyes widened in pure panic.
Oh no.
"What's your response to that?" he asked, tilting his head slightly, his thumbs brushing against her cheekbones.
Shumaila's brain blanked.
She knew what he was talking about. Of course, she knew.
But her fight-or-flight instincts kicked in immediately.
"Huh? What confession?" she blurted out, turning red in real-time.
Hamza blinked. Then he chuckled—a deep, amused sound that sent a shiver down her spine.
"Really?" he mused. "You're gonna pretend you don't know what I'm talking about?"
She nodded aggressively. "Absolutely. No idea."
She tried to step back—to escape—but Hamza's grip on her waist was faster.
In one swift motion, he spun her around and pulled her flush against his front.
A back hug.
Shumaila squeaked.
"You sure about that?" Hamza whispered against her ear. His voice was husky, teasing—but also firm.
She wanted to die. (just die atp gurl)
Her entire body stiffened as she felt the heat of his breath against her skin.
"You know exactly what I mean, Shumaila," he murmured. His arms tightened around her waist, grounding her. "And I meant every word."
Shumaila stopped breathing.
She squeezed her eyes shut, willing the ground to swallow her whole.
And then… the final blow.
"I love you," he whispered.
Shumaila's heart exploded.
Her face turned an alarming shade of red.
"I love you," he repeated, his voice steadier this time. "And I know you feel something too. Otherwise, you wouldn't be reacting like this."
She was officially malfunctioning.
"I—" she sputtered, refusing to turn around, her breath uneven.
She needed to escape. Immediately.
With every ounce of dignity she had left, she jerked her elbow backward—hitting him right in the stomach.
Hamza groaned, but his grip loosened just enough for Shumaila to sprint away at full speed.
"Shumaila!" he called after her, laughing breathlessly. "You can't run forever!"
She didn't look back. She couldn't.
The moment Shumaila burst into the dorm, panting, red-faced, the girls immediately knew.
Komal gasped dramatically. "OH MY GOD. DID HE KISS YOU?!"
"WHAT?!" Shumaila screeched. "NO!"
Akansha smirked. "But something happened."
Sneha narrowed her eyes. "Spill. Right. Now."
Meanwhile, at the boys' dorm, Rudra was grinning at Hamza like an idiot.
"Dude. What happened?"
Hamza just leaned against his desk, smiling.
"She admitted she cares."
Aarav raised an eyebrow. "And?"
Hamza's smile widened. "She ran."
Rudra cracked up. "SHE RAN?"
Hamza chuckled. "She literally elbowed me in the stomach and sprinted away."
Rudra whistled. "Damn. That bad, huh?"
Hamza leaned back, stretching his arms behind his head. "Nah. She'll come around."
Rudra snorted. "And what makes you so sure?"
Hamza's grin turned knowing. "Because I felt it. When I held her. When I whispered it."
He exhaled. "She feels it too. She's just too stubborn to admit it."
Rudra nodded, impressed. "Damn. The man's confident."
Hamza grinned. "Give her time. I'll wait."