Until forever...

Chapter 6: The Unraveling

The presentation on Monday went off without a hitch. Maya and Ethan were the perfect team in front of the class, balancing each other out in ways that had even their professor nodding approvingly by the end of it. As they finished, there was a sense of accomplishment that filled the air, one that Maya usually thrived on. But this time, it felt... different.

Ethan stood beside her, casually leaning against the desk as their classmates filtered out, some giving them compliments on the presentation. Maya gathered her things, aware of his presence in a way that was becoming unsettlingly familiar.

“You nailed it,” he said, his voice low enough that only she could hear.

Maya looked up, offering a small smile. “We both did.”

He held her gaze for a second longer than necessary before standing straight and swinging his bag over his shoulder. “So... are we celebrating this A, or do you have more efficient plans lined up?”

Maya raised an eyebrow, biting back a smile. “Celebrating? You really are trying to push your luck.”

Ethan chuckled, but there was a softness behind his eyes. “Come on, you know you want to. Just one drink. I won’t even suggest lunch this time.”

She hesitated, the word “no” ready on her lips. But something stopped her. Maybe it was the thrill of having successfully pulled off a tough assignment, or maybe it was Ethan’s easy charm that was starting to wear her down. Either way, she found herself nodding before she could overthink it.

“Fine. One drink.”

Ethan’s grin was triumphant, but he didn’t gloat. “You won’t regret it. There’s this little bar just off campus that’s quiet around this time. Let’s go.”

---

The bar Ethan had in mind was nothing like the crowded, chaotic places Maya had assumed he frequented. Instead, it was a cozy spot tucked away on a side street, with soft lighting and a handful of patrons quietly enjoying their drinks. They grabbed a small booth by the window, and Maya felt a wave of unexpected relief wash over her.

This wasn’t some wild night out. It was just... nice. Too nice, maybe.

Ethan slid into the seat across from her, his usual smirk toned down, replaced with something more genuine. He ordered a beer, and after a moment of indecision, Maya ordered a glass of wine.

“So,” he began, leaning back in his chair, “what does the great Maya Gupta do for fun? Or is it all work, all the time?”

Maya snorted softly, swirling her wine. “Contrary to what you might think, I do have hobbies. I just... prioritize.”

“Of course you do,” Ethan said with a chuckle. “But seriously, outside of acing every class, what’s your thing? Reading? Netflix binges? Secret DJ career?”

Maya laughed at that, caught off guard by his guess. “You know, you’re not as funny as you think.”

“That’s not a denial.”

She shook her head, smiling despite herself. “Fine. I like reading, okay? And, yes, the occasional Netflix binge. Happy?”

“Very,” he said, taking a sip of his beer. “What’s your go-to genre? Don’t tell me it’s some serious, intellectual stuff.”

“Actually...” Maya paused, debating whether to admit it. “I like romance novels.”

Ethan’s eyebrows shot up, his smile widening. “Romance? Really?”

“Shut up,” she said, rolling her eyes. “It’s escapism, okay? I deal with reality all day long.”

“No judgment,” he said, holding up his hands. “I just didn’t expect that. I thought you’d be more into biographies of world leaders or something.”

Maya laughed again, more freely this time. “I have layers, Walker.”

Ethan’s eyes softened at her words, his smile fading into something more thoughtful. “Yeah,” he said quietly. “I’m starting to see that.”

For a moment, the conversation stilled, the air between them charged with something Maya couldn’t quite define. She sipped her wine, suddenly aware of how close they were sitting in the intimate booth, how the usual snark between them had given way to something warmer, something that scared her.

She cleared her throat, determined to steer the conversation back to safer ground. “What about you? What’s Ethan Walker’s hidden talent?”

Ethan grinned, leaning forward slightly. “Well, I can’t say I’m a secret romance novel aficionado, but I’ve got my own weird hobbies.”

“Like?”

He took another sip of his beer, as if weighing whether to share. “I write. Sometimes.”

Maya blinked, not expecting that answer. “You write?”

Ethan shrugged, suddenly looking a bit self-conscious. “Yeah. Just random stuff. Short stories, some poetry. Nothing serious.”

She stared at him, trying to reconcile the image of Ethan as the bad-boy slacker with the guy who wrote poetry in his spare time. “That’s... surprising.”

“Surprising how?” he asked, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

Maya searched for the right words. “You don’t seem like the... introspective type.”

Ethan chuckled, though it was softer this time, almost self-deprecating. “That’s the point, right? No one really is what they seem.”

Maya looked at him, really looked at him, and for the first time, she saw past the cocky exterior, the easy grins, and the bad-boy charm. There was more to Ethan, something deeper, and it both intrigued and terrified her.

They talked for a while longer, the conversation shifting from writing to favorite books to random childhood memories. The ease between them felt natural, and by the time they were finished, Maya realized she had completely forgotten her earlier reservations about spending time with him.

As they left the bar and walked back toward campus, the cool night air brushing against their skin, Maya felt a strange mix of emotions. She had spent so long keeping her guard up around Ethan, convinced that she had him all figured out. But now, she wasn’t so sure.

He stopped at the corner where they’d usually part ways, shoving his hands in his pockets. “So, I guess we’ll see each other around?”

Maya nodded, feeling a little awkward all of a sudden. “Yeah. Definitely.”

Ethan lingered for a second longer, as if debating something. Then he gave her a small smile. “Night, Maya.”

“Night,” she echoed, watching him walk off into the night, his figure slowly disappearing into the darkness.

As she stood there, alone on the quiet street, Maya felt the familiar sense of order slipping away, replaced by a growing uncertainty. Something was shifting between her and Ethan, something she wasn’t sure she was ready for.

And she had no idea what to do about it.