chapter 4

The morning sun painted the university campus in warm shades of gold.

Students hurried through the gates, some carrying books, others coffee, while laughter echoed across the lawns.

Near the parking area, a familiar black Rolls-Royce stopped.

The driver stepped out and opened the rear door.

Disha walked out, dressed in a crisp black shirt with rolled-up sleeves, charcoal trousers, and polished boots. A silver watch rested on her wrist, matching the rings on her fingers. As usual, her face carried no expression.

She adjusted the strap of her bag and walked toward the main building.

Students instinctively moved aside.

No one wanted to block Disha Roy's path.

Not because she demanded respect.

Because her presence demanded it on its own.

"OI!"

A loud voice echoed through the campus.

Everyone turned.

KTJ came running at full speed, nearly slipping on the pavement.

"Dishaaaa!"

Without warning, she threw an arm around Disha's shoulders.

"You ignored all my messages last night!"

Disha kept walking.

"You sent me ninety-three messages."

"Ninety-four."

"..."

"The last one was 'Good night, baby.'"

Star arrived beside them, carrying an iced coffee.

"You forgot the next one."

KTJ blinked.

"I sent another?"

Star unlocked her phone.

"'Why aren't you replying? Are you alive? Blink twice if you're kidnapped.'"

Somi joined them, smiling softly.

"You really need a hobby."

"I have one."

"What?"

"Annoying Disha."

Disha sighed.

"I noticed."

The four friends walked together, their completely different personalities somehow fitting perfectly.

During the first lecture...

The professor introduced Maya to the class.

"This is Maya Nair. She recently transferred from South India. I hope everyone makes her feel welcome."

"Good morning," Maya said with a gentle smile.

Several students smiled back.

Unlike Disha's intimidating aura...

Maya naturally made people feel comfortable.

The professor pointed toward an empty seat.

"You may sit there."

Coincidentally...

The seat was directly behind Disha.

Maya hesitated before quietly taking her place.

Throughout the lecture, Disha never turned around.

She listened carefully, took notes, and ignored everything else.

Maya, however, couldn't help noticing something.

Everyone described Disha as arrogant.

Yet...

She never interrupted the professor.

Never used her phone.

Never disturbed anyone.

She simply studied in silence.

'She's... different from what everyone says,' Maya thought.

The lecture ended.

Students immediately filled the hallway.

Maya was putting her notebook into her bag when a few pages slipped from her file.

"Oh..."

Before she could bend down...

A hand picked them up.

She looked up.

It was Disha.

Without saying a word, Disha handed over the papers.

"Th-thank you."

Disha simply nodded and walked away.

No smile.

No conversation.

Nothing.

Maya stared after her.

"She's strange..."

Outside the classroom...

KTJ suddenly appeared.

"Maya!"

"You survived your first lecture!"

Maya laughed.

"I did."

"So? Did Disha scare you?"

Maya shook her head.

"Actually..."

"She helped me."

KTJ froze dramatically.

"...What?"

"She picked up my papers."

Star looked mildly surprised.

"That's rare."

Somi smiled knowingly.

"Disha isn't rude."

"She just doesn't know how to express herself."

KTJ nodded repeatedly.

"Exactly!"

"She's like an angry cat."

"I am standing right here," Disha said flatly.

"See?"

KTJ whispered loudly to Maya.

"Angry cat."

Even Star looked away to hide a tiny smile.

Lunch break arrived.

The four best friends sat under a large banyan tree instead of going to the cafeteria.

It was their usual place.

Peaceful.

Away from crowds.

Maya was about to eat alone on another bench.

KTJ immediately waved.

"Maya!"

"Come here!"

Maya walked over.

"Are you sure?"

"Of course!"

She sat beside KTJ.

For a few minutes...

Everyone ate quietly.

The silence wasn't awkward.

It was comfortable.

Finally, Maya spoke.

"I've always wanted friends like this."

KTJ looked at her.

"Hm?"

"You four feel like family."

Star looked toward Disha.

"We are."

Somi smiled softly.

"No matter how busy life gets... we'll always make time for each other."

Maya listened quietly.

There was something beautiful about them.

They argued.

Teased one another.

Annoyed each other endlessly.

Yet the affection between them was impossible to miss.

KTJ suddenly grinned.

"Let's play a game."

Star sighed.

"This never ends well."

"Everyone has to tell one embarrassing fact about themselves."

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"Too late."

KTJ pointed at Somi.

"You first."

Somi smiled helplessly.

"When I was twelve... I cried because my science project broke."

KTJ burst into laughter.

"My turn!"

She proudly declared,

"When I was ten, I climbed onto my roof because I thought I could fly with an umbrella."

Maya's eyes widened.

"...Seriously?"

"I broke my arm."

Star quietly sipped her coffee.

"No one was surprised."

Everyone laughed.

Even Disha's shoulders shook slightly.

It was almost invisible.

But Maya noticed.

'She... almost laughed.'

"Your turn," KTJ said, pointing at Disha.

"No."

"You have to."

"No."

KTJ folded her arms.

"I'll tell Maya about the teddy bear."

Disha immediately looked at her.

"...Don't."

Maya blinked.

"Teddy bear?"

Star smirked.

"Oh..."

"This should be interesting."

Somi chuckled softly.

KTJ grinned like she'd won a championship.

"Our fearless, cold, terrifying Disha still sleeps with the same black teddy bear she got when she was seven."

Silence.

Maya looked at Disha.

Disha's ears had turned slightly red.

"I'll kill you."

KTJ laughed so hard she nearly fell off the bench.

"I told you!"

"The angry cat is embarrassed!"

For the first time...

Maya heard it.

A quiet laugh.

Not from KTJ.

Not from Somi.

Not from Star.

From Disha.

It lasted only a second.

But it completely changed her impression.

Maybe...

Behind all those walls...

There was someone capable of smiling.

Someone who simply didn't know how to let people see it.

Maya smiled to herself.

'Perhaps she isn't made of darkness after all.'

Disha noticed Maya looking at her.

Their eyes met briefly.

Neither of them spoke.

But for the first time...

Disha didn't immediately look away.

The distance between darkness and light was still enormous.

Yet, without either of them realizing it...

The first tiny bridge had begun to form.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***