Laced in Your Ruin

Chapter [V]

The air within Saint Warriors College carried the familiar blend of youthful ambition and restrained chaos. The campus, sprawling with age-old banyan trees and sunlit courtyards, buzzed with students discussing upcoming assignments, murmuring about the latest college gossip, or simply rushing to their respective classes. Amidst the daily hustle, two individuals walked the same paths but belonged to entirely different worlds.

Qays Malik had mastered the art of solitude. His reputation preceded him-cold, arrogant, unattainable. He wasn't just another rich boy, flaunting his wealth like an emblem; no, Qays exuded an unapproachable aura, as if the world had long disappointed him. He had an effortless command over silence, a presence that turned heads, and a sharp tongue that kept them away. His black hoodie was as much his armor as his indifference.

Inara Sheikh, on the other hand, was the kind of person who could light up a room without even realizing it. Her presence wasn't loud, yet it was impossible to ignore. She had a natural ease, a kindness that showed in the way she held doors open for others, the way she smiled at strangers, the way she defended her friends with unwavering loyalty. She was not naive-she saw the world for what it was-but she chose to be better despite it.

Their worlds had brushed against each other the previous day, leaving behind an unspoken tension. Inara had collided with Qays in the hallway, an accidental run-in that had led to sharp words, a ruined shirt, and an annoyance that still lingered in the air. Qays had dismissed it as another insignificant event, but for some reason, her defiant words still echoed in his mind. "Filthy rich people are such ungrateful brats."

The next morning arrived with the crisp scent of fresh books and chai stalls bustling outside the campus gates. Inara rushed toward the college entrance, her dupatta slipping off her shoulder as she balanced her books and a cup of cutting chai. Siya, her ever-excited best friend, matched her pace.

"I swear, if I fail that literature quiz today, I'll blame it on you for making me watch three episodes of that K-drama last night," Inara huffed, pushing open the gate.

Siya grinned, completely unfazed. "Oh, please! Watching emotionally unavailable men fall in love is research. You should take notes. Maybe one day, you'll be the reason some brooding, miserable guy finds the will to smile again."

Inara rolled her eyes. "As if men like that exist outside of TV."

Little did she know, one such 'emotionally unavailable' man was walking toward them at that very moment. Qays, dressed in his usual black, headphones on, walked past the girls without a second glance. His indifference should have been unremarkable, but something about him demanded attention.

Siya nudged Inara. "See? Exactly my point! A living, breathing K-drama hero."

Inara scoffed. "More like a walking red flag."

They made their way to class, pushing Qays out of their minds, but fate had a peculiar sense of humor.

The lecture hall was already half-filled when Inara and Siya walked in. The professor was yet to arrive, leaving students free to chatter amongst themselves. As Inara scanned the room for seats, her eyes landed on one particular empty desk-right beside Qays Malik.

Siya smirked, whispering, "Fate is pushing you toward him. Just saying."

"Shut up," Inara muttered, setting her books down beside him before Siya could make a scene.

Qays, who had been resting his chin on his hand, barely acknowledged her presence. He was used to people avoiding him, not sitting beside him voluntarily. His gaze flickered toward her for a fraction of a second before returning to his phone.

Inara took out her notebook, pretending he didn't exist. She was not the type to get intimidated by silence, but his was particularly suffocating. The air around him was thick with disinterest, a silent warning to stay away.

The professor entered, and the class quieted down. As the lecture began, Inara tried to focus, but something about Qays' complete disregard for everything around him was irritating. Who just sat through a lecture as if they were waiting for a bus?

The professor's voice pulled her back. "Shakespeare's works often explore the complexities of love, fate, and free will. Mr. Malik, what is your opinion on whether Romeo and Juliet were victims of fate or their own choices?"

The class turned to Qays, most of them eager to see him struggle for an answer. But Qays didn't even flinch. He leaned back in his chair and, in a voice smooth yet cutting, replied, "They were fools. Nothing poetic about it. Just two reckless teenagers making terrible decisions. That's not fate-that's stupidity."

A few students snickered, but the professor was unfazed. "Interesting perspective. Miss Sheikh, do you agree?"

Inara straightened. She wasn't going to let Qays dismiss centuries of literature with a single cold remark.

"Not entirely," she said, her voice calm but firm. "Their decisions were impulsive, yes. But love isn't always rational. And Shakespeare's brilliance lies in portraying love not as perfect, but as deeply flawed-just like human nature."

Qays glanced at her, his expression unreadable. The professor nodded approvingly before moving on, but Inara could feel the weight of Qays' gaze on her for a moment longer.

As the class ended and students began packing up, Siya leaned in, whispering, "I don't know what just happened, but I think you challenged the beast."

Inara shrugged, trying to ignore the way her heart was still racing. It wasn't attraction-definitely not. Just irritation.

As she turned to leave, she heard Qays' voice, quiet but laced with something unfamiliar. "Next time, try not to spill anything on me."

Inara looked back at him, confused. "Excuse me?"

He nodded at her cup of chai, which was dangerously close to the edge of her desk. "You're careless."

She narrowed her eyes. "And you're insufferable."

A ghost of a smirk tugged at Qays' lips. "So I've been told."

Before she could respond, he was already walking away, leaving behind a strange, lingering tension in the air.

Siya watched the entire exchange with wide eyes. "Oh. My. God."

"What?" Inara asked, exasperated.

Siya waggled her eyebrows. "He totally likes you."

"Siya, I will throw this chai at you."

Siya grinned. "You wouldn't waste good chai. But okay, let's pretend I'm wrong. Let's pretend that wasn't the beginning of something."

Inara rolled her eyes and pulled Siya out of the classroom, pushing the absurd conversation out of her head.

But deep down, somewhere she refused to acknowledge, she knew-something had shifted. And whether she liked it or not, Qays Malik was no longer just another indifferent stranger on campus.

And he? Well, for the first time in a long time, he found himself intrigued.