Focus, Emma,” Ryan said, tapping his pen against the open book.
Emma sighed, leaning back in her chair. “We’ve been studying for three hours. My brain is done.”
The library was almost empty now, the soft hum of the air conditioning filling the silence between them. Papers were scattered across the table, but neither of them was really paying attention anymore.
Ryan glanced at her. “Finals are next week. You’re the one who said we had to take this seriously.”
“I know,” she said, smiling faintly. “But maybe… we need a break.”
There was something in her tone that made him pause.
“What kind of break?” he asked.
Emma leaned forward slightly, resting her chin on her hand. “The kind where we stop pretending we don’t feel this.”
Ryan’s grip tightened on his pen. “Emma…”
“Don’t,” she interrupted softly. “Just for a minute. No rules. No overthinking.”
The tension between them had been building for weeks—late-night study sessions, lingering glances, hands brushing a little too long. It was always there, just never spoken.
Until now.
Ryan slowly closed his book. “This is a bad idea,” he said, though his voice lacked conviction.
“Probably,” Emma admitted. “But it doesn’t feel wrong.”
Silence.
Then he stood up, walking around the table until he was right in front of her. For a second, neither of them moved.
“You’re distracting,” he said quietly.
Emma smiled. “You noticed.”
He let out a soft laugh, shaking his head. “Hard not to.”
The moment stretched—uncertain, electric.
Then, without thinking too much about it, Ryan reached for her hand. Emma stood up, their distance disappearing in an instant.
It wasn’t rushed. It wasn’t reckless.
Just close.
Too close to ignore.
For a brief moment, the world outside didn’t exist—no exams, no pressure, no consequences. Just the quiet rhythm of two hearts finally giving in to something they had been holding back.
After a while, Emma stepped back, catching her breath, a soft smile on her lips.
“Break over?” Ryan asked.
She picked up her book again, trying to act normal. “Yeah… probably.”
But neither of them could focus anymore.
Because some distractions… change everythin
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