The first frost of winter touched the edges of the campus lawns, giving a crispness to the mornings that made the steam from hot drinks swirl in the air like ghosts of warmth. The semester was settling into a steady rhythm, yet beneath the surface, currents of change stirred.
Kol woke early, the quiet of the apartment wrapping around him like a familiar cloak. The notebook on his bedside table beckoned, its pages still blank. He had been struggling to find the words lately—not because his thoughts were empty, but because they were tangled, heavy with things he couldn't yet understand.
Across the room, Sara stirred awake, her eyes tracing the ceiling for a moment before landing on Kol. She saw the tension in his jaw, the way his fingers drummed restlessly on the bedspread. She wanted to reach out, to tell him that it was okay to feel lost sometimes. But the words caught in her throat.
---
At breakfast, the apartment was alive with its usual mix of banter and quiet moments.
Lina burst through the kitchen door, a whirlwind of energy despite the chill outside. "Guess what? The college is hosting a winter festival next week! Music, food stalls, competitions—everything!"
Aarav looked up from his sketchpad, a small smile playing on his lips. "Sounds like the perfect distraction."
Kol exchanged a glance with Sara. Neither was sure they were ready to dive into something so loud and crowded, but the promise of new experiences was tempting.
---
The days leading up to the festival were filled with preparations and rehearsals. Mia was in charge of organizing the event's poetry slam, her voice loud and commanding as she rallied the participants.
Rishi, despite his usual competitive edge, surprised everyone by volunteering to help with decorations. Kol noticed the subtle shift in Rishi's demeanor—less confrontational, more focused.
Sara found herself sketching designs for the festival posters, her fingers flying over the pages with renewed energy. The creative spark she thought had dimmed was flickering back to life.
---
One afternoon, Kol and Sara studied in the library when a familiar voice interrupted their concentration.
"Hey, Sara! Kol!" It was Jay, a tall, athletic guy with a confident grin and a reputation for being both charming and a bit of a troublemaker. "You guys coming to the festival? It's going to be epic."
Kol nodded slowly. "We're thinking about it."
Jay's eyes twinkled. "Good. You'll need all the fun you can get. This semester's been brutal."
---
As the festival approached, tensions and excitement rose. Group dynamics shifted—alliances formed and rivalries simmered beneath polite smiles.
Lina and Aarav's quiet connection deepened in stolen moments behind the scenes, their laughter and shared secrets weaving a bond that neither rushed to name.
---
The night of the festival arrived with a sky full of stars and a crowd buzzing with anticipation. Music pulsed through the air as Kol and Sara wandered through the stalls, the warmth of the lights contrasting the cool night.
Sara pulled Kol toward the poetry stage, where Mia was performing a fierce, passionate piece about courage and change. The applause was thunderous, and for a moment, Kol saw a spark of the fearless woman Sara could become.
Later, Kol read a piece of his writing—words that trembled with honesty and hope. Sara's eyes shone with pride, a silent encouragement that touched him deeper than any applause.
---
But not everything was light and laughter.
Rishi's jealousy flared as Kol's writing gained attention, leading to a tense confrontation behind the food stalls. Harsh words were exchanged, but before things escalated, Sara stepped in, her voice steady but firm.
"We're here to celebrate, not compete."
The night ended with uneasy peace, the undercurrent of rivalry still alive.
---
Walking home under the fading glow of festival lights, Kol and Sara's hands found each other again. The quiet between them was filled with possibility.
Sara whispered, "Maybe we don't need to have all the answers right now."
Kol smiled. "Maybe it's enough to just be here. Together."
___
The rooftop was quiet — the kind of quiet that buzzes in your ears because your heartbeat is too damn loud.
Sara stood near the edge, the lights of the city painting her in a warm, golden hue. Her black camisole clung to her skin, the thin straps slipping slightly off one shoulder. The wind tousled her hair, and she looked effortlessly dangerous — the kind of beauty that didn't know it was beautiful, the kind that could ruin a man if he stared too long.
Kol did.
He wasn't even pretending not to.
He moved toward her, footsteps soft against the tiled floor, stopping just behind her.
"Do you always run away when things get loud?" he asked, voice husky.
Sara glanced back at him with a smirk, eyes shimmering. "Do you always follow girls to rooftops?"
Kol chuckled, but it died quickly between them. His gaze fell to her bare shoulder, lingered there.
She didn't move.
Neither did he.
He stepped closer. Close enough that her perfume hit him full force — something floral, something maddening. Close enough that his chest nearly brushed her back. Close enough that the air between them felt thick with something neither of them wanted to admit.
Sara turned, slowly, until they were face to face.
No more teasing.
Just tension.
Her eyes flicked to his lips. Once. Twice.
And Kol leaned in — slow, deliberate — like if he went too fast, he'd scare her away. But Sara didn't flinch. She tilted her chin up, closing the distance with maddening ease. Her lips were slightly parted, breath shaky.
His hand found her waist, fingers tightening when she didn't pull away.
Sara's palm slid against his chest — not to stop him, but to anchor herself.
Their lips brushed.
Soft.
Barely there.
Electric.
Kol's other hand reached up, cupping her cheek, and Sara's eyes fluttered shut.
She whispered, "Kol…"
And then—
"Ohhh shiiit. Am I interrupting a rooftop love scene orrr…?"
Lina's voice rang out like a bomb, and both of them jolted apart.
Kol backed away so fast he nearly knocked over a planter. Sara spun around, hair a mess, eyes wide with panic.
Lina stood in the doorway with one eyebrow raised, an empty cup in one hand and pure mischief in the other.
Sara cleared her throat, cheeks flaming. "We weren't— it wasn't what it looked like."
Kol coughed, running a hand down his face. "Definitely not."
"Right," Lina said slowly, her grin widening. "Because I totally hallucinated you two about to make out like it was a Nicholas Sparks movie."
Sara turned away, crossing her arms over her chest. "You have the worst timing."
Lina gave a mock bow. "It's a gift."
Kol avoided Sara's eyes, but the tension hadn't gone. If anything, it hung heavier now, buzzing under their skin.
Because almost kissing — wanting it that badly and not doing it — was sometimes even worse.
And neither of them could pretend it hadn't happened.
Not anymore