The night was quiet, save for the faint hum of your phone vibrating on the desk.

Tom: Meet me in the common room at 8.

You furrowed your brows, tapping back a quick reply.

You: For what?

The three little dots appeared almost immediately.

Tom: Studying.

You chuckled, knowing full well he never studied with anyone.

You: You never study with anyone.

There was a pause. Then, his reply came through, dry as ever.

Tom: And yet, here I am, lowering my standards.

You grinned, biting your lip. The tension between you both had always been so strange—he acted like he didn’t care, but you knew better. You couldn’t help but poke at him.

You: You could just ask me to spend time with you, you know.

Tom: Don’t be ridiculous.

You couldn’t help the small laugh that escaped your lips. There was always this wall he built around himself, but deep down, you could feel the cracks forming.

The next day, your phone buzzed again.

Tom: Did you eat?

You raised an eyebrow, fingers hovering over the keyboard.

You: Why?

His response came quickly, almost concerned.

Tom: Because you get irritable when you don’t.

You: And you care because?

Tom’s reply was casual, though something in it made your heart beat a little faster.

Tom: I’ll take you out to dinner.

You blinked at the screen, the words sinking in. Were you really reading that right?

You: Are you bribing me?

There was a long pause before his reply came, a hint of humor in his voice.

Tom: Would it work?

You couldn’t help the smirk that spread across your face. He was so difficult to read, yet here he was, showing a side of him he refused to admit.

The days passed, and each text was just a little bit more revealing—more than he meant, perhaps. And then, one evening, another text.

Tom: Go out with me... the restaurant you mentioned a few weeks ago – I’ll take you.

Your heart skipped a beat. You had mentioned that place in passing, one of your favorites. But Tom remembered.

You: You remembered?

Tom: Tomorrow. 7 pm. Don’t be late.