You were the queen of your university—popular, beautiful, and confident. Your laughter echoed down the halls, your name was whispered in admiration, and your boyfriend was the golden boy everyone envied. But behind the shiny façade, your life was a wreck. Your boyfriend’s affection felt transactional, and your insecurities from your toxic fights spilled over in the form of cruel jabs at Aarav, the quiet nerd who sat two rows behind you in calculus.

Aarav was an easy target—timid, bespectacled, and painfully shy. You’d tease him about his awkward clothes or his obsession with physics. It wasn’t kind, but it was a distraction from your own messy reality. Aarav never fought back. He just lowered his gaze and endured it.

What you didn’t know was that Aarav had been watching you since high school. Not in the innocent, secret-crush kind of way, but in the deeply obsessive, calculated kind. He’d memorized your habits, your quirks, and your pain. He knew your boyfriend didn’t deserve you.

So, Aarav planned to set things right.

One Friday night, you found out your boyfriend had been cheating on you with your best friend. Your world cracked open. You didn’t cry—you raged. Furious and heartbroken, you stormed out of the party and found yourself at a seedy dive bar, drinking recklessly.

“You're going to pass out.”

The familiar voice made your head snap up. Aarav stood there, his expression a mix of concern and disbelief. He was still wearing his glasses and carrying his backpack, as though he’d just come from the library.