Unwritten Chords

Chapter 29: the one where he falls hard.

Authors POV

The library was peaceful, the soft rustle of pages and the faint hum of distant voices creating a calm atmosphere. Adrian sat across from Anya, their English assignment sprawled between them, but their conversation was far more engaging than the task at hand.

"But I really think, using phones for texting people is so low effort," Anya said with a casual shrug, her voice light yet thoughtful. "There’s no feel—like how a love letter is. Handwriting, words, ink… effort. Now, it’s just one click."

Adrian raised an eyebrow, a faint smirk playing at the corner of his lips. "Low effort, maybe. But it’s instant. You can text someone from halfway across the world without even thinking."

Anya tilted her head, considering his words. "True. But convenience often strips away meaning. A letter holds weight. It’s personal—effort makes it real."

Adrian leaned back slightly, a grin teasing his features. "So, you’d rather wait days for a letter instead of a quick reply?"

"Sometimes," she replied with a playful smile. "Letters make you feel more. Besides, waiting adds anticipation."

He chuckled, shaking his head. "You’re stuck in another era you know that?"

"You’re too practical to understand," she said defensively, her tone light but laced with challenge.

"Maybe," he replied, his voice calm. "But that doesn’t mean I can’t write a letter."

"You can’t," she said with a smirk. "Admit it. You should stick to your Instagram DMs."

"I can write a letter," he insisted, his gaze steady on hers.

She raised a brow. "Challenge?"

He gave a confident smirk. "You’re going to lose."

"I won’t," she countered, her tone unwavering.

"What if you did?"

"One thing," she said, leaning closer. "You say it, and I’ll do it."

His smirk deepened. "Back off. You might regret this."

But she was undeterred. "I won’t lose. I’m confident."

"Fine," he said, his voice a quiet challenge. "If you lose, you’ll cheer me up for the basketball finals."

"And if you lose?" she asked with a playful edge,"You’ll take me to Rishi’s restaurant and eat the spiciest thing on the menu."

"You still remember him?" he asked, slightly annoyed but masked it with indifference.

He tried not to roll his eyes, but the hint of jealousy was unmistakable. "Fine," he said, his voice a touch more defensive. "Whatever. Deal."

And with that, they both knew the stakes were set.

Finally the assignment was done.
_______________________________________

The studio was filled with the soft hum of the equipment and the faint rustle of paper as Tyler adjusted the soundboard. Adrian sat in the middle of the room, looking like he’d rather be anywhere else, his usual calm demeanor slightly frayed at the edges. Evan leaned casually against the wall, arms crossed, a playful smirk tugging at his lips. Tyler’s expression was sharper, though his teasing grin was unmistakable.

"Hazel said Anya was at your place last night," Tyler said, his voice light, though laced with mischief.

Adrian sighed, a long, drawn-out sound. "Yeah, she stayed because of the storm—"