Chapter 39

The morning air outside still carried a hint of coolness as they stepped out of the building, but the moment they reached downstairs, that calm shattered.

“ZIVAH!”

Shivani’s voice echoed across the parking area, sharp and dramatic enough to make a few people turn.

She stood near the car, hands on her hips, hair slightly messy like she’d been running her fingers through it out of frustration.

“Do you know what time it is?” she continued, narrowing her eyes as Zivah casually walked toward her like she hadn’t just committed a crime.

Zivah shrugged, completely unfazed.

“Morning time.”

Anamika snorted from beside.

“Wow. Revolutionary.”

Shivani pointed at Zivah accusingly.

“We are going to be late, and you-” she gestured wildly,

“-you look like you just woke up and decided life can wait.”

Zivah slid the car keys between her fingers coolly.

“Life can wait.”

“COLLEGE cannot,” Shivani snapped.

Before Zivah could reply, Eraya stepped in quietly, her voice soft but steady.

“She didn’t mean to… she couldn’t find the keys.”

There was a brief pause.

Then,

Shivani blinked.

“…she what?”

Eraya nodded slightly, almost apologetically.

“She forgot where she kept them.”

A beat.

And then,

Shivani burst out laughing.

“Oh my god- of course she did.”

Anamika leaned forward from the car.

“Wait, seriously? You-the most overdramatic, hyper-alert human being-lost your keys?”

Zivah narrowed her eyes.

“They were strategically misplaced.”

Eraya bit her lip to hide her smile.

Shivani pointed at Zivah again.

“You’re unbelievable.”

“And yet, I’m here,” Zivah replied smoothly, opening the car door.

The teasing didn’t stop even after they got in.

Shivani sat in the back with Anamika still chuckling.

“I cannot believe you made us late because of keys.”

Zivah started the engine.

“I made us late because of important emotional moments.”

Anamika turned toward her.

“…what emotional moments?”

Zivah didn’t answer. She just smiled.

Eraya looked out the window, cheeks slightly
warm.

Shivani’s eyes narrowed.

“…something happened.”

“No,” Zivah said instantly.

“Yes,” Anamika said at the same time.

Shivani gasped dramatically.

“I knew it.”

Eraya laughed softly.

“It’s nothing.”

Zivah glanced at her briefly,
just a second,
but there was something soft in her eyes.

“It’s not nothing,” she muttered.

Shivani leaned forward.

“WHAT is not nothing?”

” Drive, Shivani,” Zivah said flatly.

“I’m not even driving-“

“Then sit quietly.”

“I refuse.”

The car filled with laughter again.

The moment the car stopped outside the college gates, the energy shifted.

Not drastically.
But enough.

Eraya felt it first.

Her fingers tightened slightly in her lap.

The laughter from the car faded in her ears, replaced by a quiet, familiar hesitation.

Zivah noticed immediately.

Of course she did.

She turned off the engine but didn’t get out.

“…what happened?”

Eraya shook her head lightly.

“Nothing.”

Zivah didn’t move.

“…Eraya.”

Her voice was softer now.

Eraya exhaled slowly.

“I just… don’t know how to face everyone.”

A pause.

“…when they know.”

Zivah’s gaze softened.

“Know what?”

Eraya looked at her.

“…about us.”

Silence.

Not heavy.
But real.

Zivah leaned slightly toward her.

“Then don’t face them.”

Eraya frowned.

“What?”

“Face me.”

Eraya blinked.

Zivah’s voice lowered.

“You don’t owe them confidence. You don’t owe them explanations.”

A pause.

“You just… stay with me.”

Eraya’s chest tightened slightly.

“…what if they say something?”

Zivah’s jaw clenched faintly.

“Then they deal with me.”

Shivani, from the back, leaned forward suddenly.

“And if it’s Ananya, I deal with her.”

Eraya turned back quickly.

“Shivi-“

“I’m serious,” Shivani said, her voice sharper now.

“If I see her again-“

“No,” Eraya said softly, placing her hand over Shivani’s.

“I don’t want that.”

Shivani’s expression softened slightly.

“…she hurt you.”

“I know. But I don’t want more fighting.”

A pause.

“Just… stay with me.”

Shivani sighed.

“…fine.”

Then she added under her breath,

“But I’m still mentally punching her.”

Anamika snorted.

“Same.”

Zivah opened the car door.

“Come on.”

The moment Eraya and Shivani entered,
the reaction was immediate.

Not loud.
Not obvious.

But visible.

People stopped talking.
Some shifted in their seats.
A few whispered.

And most noticeably,

space.

Empty space.

The row that was usually crowded?
Now had gaps.

Like people didn’t know how to act.

Or maybe,

they were just cautious.

Shivani smirked slightly.

Leaning toward Eraya, she whispered,

“…this is Zivah’s effect.”

Eraya glanced around.

“…it’s weird.”

“Get used to it,” Shivani said lightly.

Eraya didn’t respond.

She just sat down quietly.

The lecture began soon after.

And slowly,
things settled.

When Zivah and Anamika walked into their class, the atmosphere was… different.

Not silent.
But aware.

Eyes followed Zivah.

Not out of curiosity.

But something else.

Respect.
Fear.
Interest.

Zivah ignored all of it.

She sat down casually.

Anamika beside her, already watching the room like she was waiting for something.

And then,

it came.

A girl approached.

Hesitant.
But curious enough to ask.

“…Zivah?”

Zivah looked up.

“Yes?”

“…is it true?”

A pause.

“That you’re… married?”

The class quieted slightly.

Zivah didn’t hesitate.

“Yes.”

The girl blinked.

“…to her?”

Her tone wasn’t outright rude.

But it carried something.

Doubt.
Judgment.

Zivah’s expression changed instantly.

Her posture straightened.

Her voice dropped,

cold.

“Yes.”

A pause.

“And she’s my wife.”

The emphasis was clear.

Sharp.

Protective.

The girl shifted slightly.

“I just meant-“

Zivah leaned back slightly.

“You don’t need to mean anything.”

Silence.

Anamika stepped in casually.

“But if you’re confused, let me simplify-“

She smiled sweetly.

“They’re married. They’re happy. And your opinion is not required.”

A few people looked away immediately.

The girl nodded quickly.

“Right- I wasn’t-“

She walked away.

Fast.

Zivah exhaled slowly.

“…wow.”

Anamika frowned slightly.

“What?”

“That was scary.”

Anamika rolled her eyes.

“I wasn’t even trying.”

Zivah smirked.

“That’s the problem.”

A pause.

Then,
Anamika nudged her lightly.

“…you said it very easily.”

“What?”

“My wife.”

Zivah stilled slightly.

Just for a second.

“…she is.”

Anamika smiled softly.

“I know.”

Then she grinned.

“But the way you said it?”

A pause.

“Terrifying. Romantic. Slightly obsessive.”

Zivah scoffed.

“I’m not obsessive.”

Anamika raised a brow.

“You lost your mind over keys this morning.”

“That was different.”

A beat.

Then,

Anamika burst out laughing.

Zivah groaned.

“Stop.”

“You’re down bad.”

“Shut up.”

“You’re in love.”

Zivah didn’t deny it.

She just looked away slightly,
a small smile forming despite herself.

“…I know.”

And somewhere,
in another classroom,
Eraya sat quietly.

Still adjusting.
Still learning.

But no longer alone.

Not even for a second.

Lunch had always been… easy.

Not loud in a chaotic way, but full. Full of voices overlapping, food being shared, small jokes slipping between sentences, and that quiet comfort of knowing you belonged at the table.

Today,
it still was.
But with a new layer.

When Shivani and Eraya reached their usual table, the bench felt a little too empty.

Shivani dropped her bag dramatically on the seat.

“…okay, where are those two?”

Eraya sat beside her, placing her bag down more gently.

“…maybe they’re still in class?”

Shivani leaned back, stretching her legs.

“…no, Mika would have dragged Zivah out five minutes early.”

A pause.

“…unless Zivah was being dramatic again.”

Eraya smiled faintly.

“…she always is.”

“Excuse me, I am not-“

The voice came from behind them.

Zivah.

And right beside her,
Anamika, already laughing.

“-you were just talking about me, weren’t you?”

Zivah said, sliding into the seat next to Eraya like it was the most natural thing in the world.

“Always,” Shivani replied without missing a beat.

Anamika sat across from them, shaking her head.

“You guys are impossible.”

Zivah turned slightly toward Eraya.

“…how was class?”

Her tone softened automatically.

Eraya blinked once, then shrugged lightly.

“…honestly?”

Zivah tilted her head.

“Hmm?”

“…boring.”

A beat.

And then,

all of them burst out laughing.

Shivani clutched her chest dramatically.

“Wow. The scholar has spoken.”

Anamika pointed at Eraya.

“I need this recorded. She said boring.”

Zivah leaned closer, whispering just enough for her to hear,

“…you’re evolving.”

Eraya laughed softly.

“…maybe.”

Zivah smiled at that.
Not big.
But enough.

Shivani crossed her arms, suddenly remembering something.

“Wait- more importantly-“
She leaned forward.
“Why were you two late?”

Anamika immediately raised her hand.

“I would like to present the official explanation.”

Zivah groaned.

“Don’t.”

Anamika ignored her.

“So- apparently- our dear Zivah had a very emotional morning-“

“It was not emotional,” Zivah cut in.

“-and in the middle of all that, she forgot where she kept her car keys.”

A pause.

Then Shivani dramatically turned slowly toward Zivah.

Eraya bit her lip, trying not to laugh again.

Zivah sighed dramatically.

” As I said They were strategically misplaced.”

Shivani slapped the table lightly.

“Oh my god, you are unbelievable.”

Anamika nodded.

“She checked everywhere except the actual place they were kept.”

Zivah pointed at her.

“I checked the bowl.”

“You threw a pillow on the bowl,” Eraya said quietly.

Silence.

Then,

Shivani burst out laughing again.

“I cannot- I actually cannot-“

Zivah rolled her eyes.

“Okay, laugh all you want, but we are going to have bigger problems starting tomorrow.”

Anamika leaned back.

“Oh yes.”

Shivani straightened.

“…what bigger problems?”

Anamika clasped her hands together like she was about to deliver breaking news.

“The inter-college basketball championship.”

Eraya blinked.

“…what?”

Zivah groaned, dropping her head slightly.

“…don’t remind me.”

Shivani’s eyes widened.

“Wait- that’s starting already?”

Anamika nodded.

“Practice starts from tomorrow.”

Zivah lifted her head, already looking tired.

“Early morning practice.”

She raised one finger.

“Then classes.”

Another finger.

“And then late afternoon practice again.”

A pause.

“And we have to stay back after college.”

Eraya’s fingers stilled slightly on her plate.

“…everyday?”

Zivah nodded, glancing at her.

“Yeah.”

There was a small silence.

Not heavy.
But noticeable.

Then Zivah added,

“So-“

She turned toward Shivani.

“-you’ll have to take Eraya home safely in your car.”

A beat.

Shivani blinked.

“…what do you mean safely?”

Anamika immediately covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.

Zivah leaned back.

“I mean safely.”

Shivani narrowed her eyes.

“Excuse me- are you implying I’m not safe?”

Zivah tilted her head.

“I’m implying you’re reckless.”

“I am not reckless!”

“You once drove with one hand while eating chips.”

“That was skill.”

“That was a public hazard.”

Eraya laughed softly beside them.

Shivani turned to her dramatically.

“Eraya, tell her I’m a good driver.”

Eraya hesitated.

“…you reach home.”

Anamika choked.

Zivah smirked.

“Exactly.”

Shivani gasped.

“That is betrayal.”

Zivah leaned slightly closer to Eraya.

“See? I’m just concerned.”

“…for me or for the car?” Shivani shot back.

“For her,” Zivah said instantly pointing at Eraya.

There was no hesitation.
No teasing.

Just,
certainty.

Eraya’s eyes flickered toward her.

Just for a second.

Then back to her plate.

Shivani noticed.
Anamika noticed too.

They didn’t say anything.

But they noticed.

Shivani leaned back, crossing her arms.

“Fine. I’ll take her home.”

Then she added with a smirk,

“But if anything happens, I’m blaming you.”

Zivah raised a brow.

“If anything happens, I’ll deal with you.”

Anamika burst out laughing.

“Wow. Threats over lunch.”

“Love language,” Zivah muttered.

Eraya smiled.

Small.
Soft.

But real.

And for the rest of lunch,
the teasing didn’t stop.
The laughter didn’t fade.

But somewhere between the chaos,
between the jokes,
between the playful arguments,

Zivah’s eyes kept drifting back to Eraya.

Just checking.
Just noticing.

Making sure,

she was still okay.

By the time they reached the apartment building, the sky had already softened into evening.

Not dark yet.
Just golden.
The kind of golden that made everything feel slower.
Warmer.

The four of them walked into the lobby together, still carrying leftover laughter from the car ride.
Shivani was talking dramatically about how Zivah had “emotionally attacked” her driving skills while Anamika nodded beside her like a disappointed witness.

“I still don’t understand,” Shivani continued, pressing a hand to her chest,

“why she said drive safely like I’m some criminal.”

“You are,” Zivah replied immediately.

“I drove perfectly fine last week.”

“You hit a speed breaker so hard my soul left my body.”

“That was one time!”

Anamika burst out laughing while Eraya quietly smiled beside Zivah.

Then the conversation slowly shifted.
Practical.

Anamika leaned against the elevator wall slightly.

“So tomorrow onwards… how are we doing this?”

Zivah sighed dramatically.

“Unfortunately, basketball has decided to ruin my life.”

“It’s one month,” Anamika reminded.

“One month, too long.”

Shivani rolled her eyes.

“Drama queen.”

Zivah ignored her and looked toward Eraya.

“We’ll probably have to go separately from tomorrow.”

Eraya nodded lightly.

Shivani immediately picked up the idea.

“Oh right. Me and Eraya can come together in my car.”

“And after college,” Anamika added, “you both come back together too.”

Zivah frowned faintly.

“…drive slowly.”

Shivani gasped again.

“OH MY GOD.”

“She’s starting again,” Anamika muttered.

“I drive perfectly fine!” Shivani defended.

“You turn corners like you’re in an action movie.”

“That is confidence.”

“That is attempted murder.”

Eraya laughed softly at that.
And the sound alone made Zivah glance at her automatically.

Always automatically.

Shivani pointed at Zivah accusingly.

“You know what your problem is?”

“What?”

“You act like Eraya is made of glass.”

Zivah looked toward Eraya again.

Then answered quietly,

“She’s precious. There’s a difference.”

The teasing stopped for one second.

Just one.

Because even after all this time,
the sincerity in Zivah’s voice still caught them off guard.

Eraya looked down slightly, hiding the small warmth spreading across her cheeks.

Anamika smiled softly.

“…okay that was disgustingly cute.”

“Very,” Shivani agreed dramatically.

Zivah rolled her eyes.

“Both of you leave.”

“Gladly,” Shivani replied.

The elevator opened.
And slowly the four of them separated toward their apartments.

The moment the door shut behind them, the energy changed again.
Quieter.
Softer.

Zivah threw herself dramatically onto the couch.

“I don’t want practice.”

Eraya placed her bag down calmly.

“You haven’t even started yet.”

“I already hate it.”

“You like basketball.”

“I like winning.”

Eraya chuckled softly.

Zivah groaned, throwing an arm over her eyes.

“And now I’ll have to wake up early.”

“…you already wake up early for college.”

“Yes, but emotionally this is different.”

Eraya smiled faintly at that and walked toward the kitchen.

She poured water into a glass before turning back toward her.

“It’ll be okay, Zivi.”

The nickname slipped out naturally now.
Warmly.
Softly.

And every single time,
every single time,
it still affected Zivah.

She peeked from under her arm dramatically.

“…say that again.”

“No.”

“Cruel.”

Eraya laughed under her breath.

“Go freshen up.”

Zivah sighed loudly but stood up anyway.

“Fine.”

Then while walking toward the room she added dramatically,

“If I collapse from exhaustion tomorrow, tell people I was brave.”

“You won’t collapse.”

“You don’t know my struggles.”

“I do,” Eraya replied calmly.

“…they involve forgetting keys.”

Zivah stopped mid-step and turned slowly.

“That betrayal was unnecessary.”

Eraya laughed again.

And Zivah decided instantly,

she could live through any practice if it meant hearing that sound.

When Zivah came out after showering, her damp hair falling slightly over her forehead, she expected Eraya to still be reading quietly.

What she did not expect,
was the sight waiting for her.

Eraya sat against the headboard with a book open in her lap.

Brownie rested comfortably against her stomach, tucked into the crook of her arm like he was participating in the reading session too.

The lamp beside the bed cast soft golden light across her face.

And for a second,
Zivah genuinely forgot what she had walked in for.

Because somehow,
Eraya looked like home.

The thought hit her suddenly.
Quietly.
But deeply.

Eraya looked up from the book.

“…what?”

Zivah blinked once like she’d been caught staring.

Then immediately walked toward the bed.

Without a word,
she picked Brownie up.

Eraya frowned softly.

“…Zivi.”

“No.”

Then she closed the book too.

“Nap time.”

Eraya stared at her in disbelief.

“You just kidnapped Brownie.”

“He knows what he did.”

Eraya laughed softly.

“And my book?”

“Also guilty.”

“That doesn’t even make sense.”

“It doesn’t need to.”

Before Eraya could protest again, Zivah gently pulled her legs toward herself and sat down near them.

Almost automatically now,
her hands moved to Eraya’s calves.
Slowly massaging.
Carefully.

The familiarity of it melted something inside Eraya instantly.

At first,
weeks ago,

this used to make her nervous.

The attention.
The care.
The tenderness.

Now,
it felt like breathing.

Zivah glanced up slightly.

“…hurting?”

Eraya shook her head softly.

“…not these days.”

Zivah smiled faintly at that.
And there it was again,
that small quiet pride she always carried whenever Eraya felt even slightly better.

“Good,” she murmured.

The room slowly quieted.
Only the sound of pages shifting from the fan’s breeze and Zivah’s fingers gently pressing against tired muscles remained.

Eraya looked down at her.

Sometimes she still couldn’t understand it.
How someone could care this naturally.
Without expecting something back.
Without making her feel guilty for receiving it.

“Zivi?”

“Hm?”

“…I want to sleep.”

Zivah looked up immediately.

“Then sleep.”

But Eraya shook her head lightly.
A small smile forming.

“…I need you for sleeping.”

Silence.

Complete silence.

Zivah blinked once.
Then twice.

And then,
she lit up.
Actually lit up.

“…really?”

Eraya laughed softly at her expression.

Within literal seconds,
Zivah had moved.

One arm wrapped around Eraya’s waist.
The other behind her shoulders.
Pulling her carefully into herself.

“There,” she murmured proudly.

“…problem solved.”

Eraya laughed quietly against her shoulder.

“You reacted very fast.”

“Of course I did.”

“You didn’t even think.”

“I don’t need to think when it comes to hugging you.”

Eraya’s smile softened.

The room grew quieter after that.

Gentler.

Zivah continued lightly stroking her hair while Eraya slowly melted into her hold.

After a while, Eraya spoke again.
Voice quieter now.
Sleepier.

“…I’ll miss you.”

Zivah’s fingers paused slightly.

“What?”

“In the afternoons.”

A pause.

“You’ll stay back after college now.”

The words were simple.
But soft in a way that made Zivah’s chest ache.

She looked down at her carefully.

“…Eraya.”

Eraya’s eyes stayed half closed.

“…hmm?”

Zivah leaned down and kissed her forehead slowly.
Tenderly.

“I’ll come back before you even wake up from your nap.”

Eraya smiled faintly at that.

“Promise?”

“Promise.”

And because she trusted her,
completely now,
Eraya relaxed instantly.

Her breathing softened.
Her fingers loosened lightly against Zivah’s shirt.

And within minutes,
she fell asleep in Zivah’s arms.

Zivah stared at her for a long time after that.

At the peacefulness on her face.
At the way she unconsciously moved closer even in sleep.
At the trust hidden in every little action now.

Then quietly,
almost like a secret,
Zivah whispered against her hair,

“…I’ll always come back to you.”

The alarm rang at exactly 5:15 a.m.

A soft sound.

But in the quiet apartment, it still felt loud enough to disturb the peace wrapped around them.

In the next morning Zivah’s eyes opened instantly.

Not fully awake yet,
but aware enough to reach toward the nightstand blindly and shut the alarm off before it rang again.

Silence returned immediately.
Soft.
Warm.
Sleepy.

For a few seconds, Zivah didn’t move.
She just stayed there.

Because Eraya was still asleep in her arms.

Curled slightly toward her.

One hand loosely resting against Zivah’s hoodie from last night, her breathing slow and even.

Brownie was half trapped between them again.

Zivah stared at the sight with sleepy fondness.

“…traitor,” she whispered quietly to the teddy.

Then her gaze returned to Eraya.
And softened instantly.

Even after everything,
every confession, every moment, every day spent together,
she still wasn’t used to this.

To waking up beside someone she loved.
Someone who loved her back.

Carefully, so carefully, she leaned down and pressed a soft kiss against Eraya’s hairline.

Lingering for a second longer than necessary.

Then slowly she slipped out of bed.

The room was still dim when she walked toward the washroom, trying her best not to make noise.

But despite her efforts,
Eraya still stirred.

By the time Zivah stepped out after freshening up, dressed in her practice clothes with slightly damp hair, Eraya was blinking sleepily at her from the bed.

“…Zivi?”

The sleepy way she said the nickname nearly ruined Zivah emotionally before sunrise.

Zivah immediately walked back toward the bed.

“What happened?” she asked softly.

Eraya pushed herself up slightly against the pillow.
Her hair was messy.
Eyes still heavy with sleep.

“What time is it?”

Zivah sat beside her instantly.

“There’s still time before college,” she murmured gently.

“You should sleep.”

Eraya frowned faintly.

“But you’re awake.”

“I have practice.”

At that, Eraya’s expression softened.
Like she had suddenly remembered.

“…right.”

Zivah brushed a few strands of hair away from her forehead.

“Go back to sleep.”

But Eraya shook her head lightly.

“I’ll make breakfast for you.”

The sentence came out naturally.
Softly.
Like it was obvious she would.

And something in Zivah’s chest tightened painfully with affection.

Because months ago,
Eraya barely spoke about herself.
Barely asked for things.
Barely rested.

And now here she was,
half asleep,
thinking about making breakfast for her.

Zivah cupped her face gently between her palms.

“You don’t need to do that.”

Eraya blinked slowly.

“But you’ll leave hungry.”

“I’ll survive.”

“That’s not convincing.”

Zivah laughed quietly.
Soft enough not to fully wake the morning.

Then she leaned slightly closer.

“Eraya.”

“Hm?”

“You’re sleepy.”

“…a little.”

“So sleep.”

Eraya looked at her for a few seconds.
Long enough for Zivah to notice the quiet softness in her gaze.

The trust.
The affection.
The comfort.

Then slowly,
Eraya relaxed back into the pillow again.

“…okay.”

Zivah smiled faintly in victory and pulled the blanket properly over her.

“There.”

For a moment neither of them spoke.
The room stayed still.
Warm.
Quiet.

Then Eraya whispered softly,
almost sleepily,

“…I love you.”

The words were so gentle that they almost blended into the silence.
But Zivah heard them perfectly.
Every single time.

Her entire expression softened instantly.

Without thinking, she leaned down and kissed Eraya’s nose lightly.

“I love you more.”

Eraya’s lips curved into the smallest smile.

“No.”

“Yes.”

“That’s not possible.”

Zivah grinned slightly.

“Watch me.”

Eraya let out the softest sleepy laugh.
And god,
Zivah wished she could stay.

But practice existed.
Unfortunately.

She stood reluctantly, grabbing her bag from near the chair.
Then turned back one last time.

Eraya was already curling back into the blanket.
Eyes drifting shut again.
Brownie tucked against her chest.

Home.

That’s what she looked like.

That’s what she was now to Zivah.

Zivah stood there for a second longer than necessary.
Just looking.
Memorizing.
Loving.

Then quietly, before leaving the room, she whispered,

“Sleep well, love.”
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