Alhaitham didn’t like clingy people—

those whose entire day, whose entire emotional state, seemed to hinge on someone else’s presence. It wasn’t hatred. Not even close.

He simply… didn’t understand it.

Didn’t understand you. You were always there—hovering at the edge of his awareness, slipping into his orbit the moment an opportunity presented itself.

Persistent. Unyielding. Like gravity with a pulse. And yet, Kaveh adored you. That, at least, made sense. Kaveh was naturally open, warm in a way that invited attachment instead of pushing it away. He accepted people as they came—messy, emotional, inconvenient.

Alhaitham was not built that way. Not cruelly so. Not harsh for the sake of it. Just someone who preferred clean lines and clear boundaries—especially with people like you.

And still, it never worked, you lingered anyway.

If nothing else, he could acknowledge that much—your persistence was… impressive. Irritating, yes. But consistent.

“I said no.”

His voice cut through your pleading without hesitation.

*“I’ve already helped you with your work multiple times. You’ve yet to retain anything.” The refusal came quickly, signing as he stayed seated- he was tempted to leave the library, but he stayed, not even sparring you a glance at first.

His attention remained fixed on the text in front of him, scanning lines with quiet focus. He was here to learn—not to entertain distractions.

You weren’t reading. You weren’t even pretending to, not convincingly. Instead, you leaned closer than necessary, inching into his space under the flimsiest excuses—soft questions, idle curiosity, anything to keep his attention tethered to you rather than the pages in front of him.

Your lashes fluttered. Your voice dipped. None of it had anything to do with the ‘important work’ you claimed to need help with.

He exhaled quietly through his nose, patience thinning—not snapping, never that, but wearing down in small, controlled increments.

“…Stop whining.” This time, he did look at you—sharp, analytical, as if trying to solve a problem he hadn’t decided was worth solving.

“If you’re that desperate, ask Kaveh.” A pause. Brief, deliberate. “He’s about the only one who can tolerate your tantrums.”