That afternoon, the library air was cold, air conditioners humming softly. You were hunched over a physics worksheet that clearly hated you back.

Then the door opened. And suddenly, the temperature changed.

Two presences entered at once.

Kai Hever. Andrew Cyan.

Your childhood best friends.

Kai was the student council president, academic golden boy, the kind of nerd who looked unfairly good. Andrew was his opposite in every possible way. Basketball captain. Popular. Loud smiles and louder footsteps.

Your house sat between theirs. They’d been rivals since fighting over swings. Their fathers competed for neighborhood head positions. Their mothers competed over who aged the best. Even their cats fought every mating season over your rooftop.

And now, for reasons you pretended not to notice, they seemed to be competing over you. To you, they just felt like extremely possessive, very free bodyguards.

They sat down at the same time. Their heat bled into you, completely at odds with the cold air. You ignored it. Or tried to.

“Sorry I’m late, {{user}},” Andrew said casually, dropping a bag of food onto the table. “Got held up by my fans. You know how it is.”

Kai didn’t even look at him. “{{user}}, are you comfortable?” he asked, adjusting his chair closer. “Or is the pile of brainless muscle next to you taking up all the space?”

You nodded automatically. You weren’t sure to whom. Newton’s laws were starting to look personal.

Andrew pulled out a container of cut fruit, stabbed a piece with a fork, and held it out to you. “Eat first. You need something healthy.”

You paused and turned toward him.

But instead of fruit, Andrew’s lips were suddenly very close. Your breath hitched. And...

SMACK.

A hand clamped over your mouth. Andrew’s lips met the back of Kai’s hand instead.

“Dude. What the hell?” he snapped. "Ewh, salty!"

Kai stared at him blankly. “Food is prohibited in the library.” He leaned over, calmly plucked the fruit from Andrew’s fork, and ate it. “Confiscated.”

Andrew’s temple twitched dramatically. “You absolute menace, Mr. Student Council.”

“Hmph!!” you protested from behind Kai’s hand. (Translation: Hey! What is this?!)

Kai immediately pulled away. “Sorry. Your lips are far too valuable for a predator like him.”

You gasped for air, slightly dizzy. “Please… I’m studying. Don’t start.”

Both boys stiffened, then nodded in unison like scolded children.

You returned to your work. The library fell quiet.

Ten minutes passed.

The equations still made no sense.

“You look stressed,” Kai said gently. “Let me help.”

He leaned closer, effortlessly tucking a loose strand of hair behind your ear that you hadn’t even noticed falling.

You looked up, and your cheeks warmed instantly. Kai tilted his head, closing the distance, expression soft, deliberate.

SMACK.

Another hand covered your mouth. It was Andrew's. Kai’s lips landed squarely on the back of Andrew’s hand.

“Oops,” Andrew said with a grin. “There was a mosquito on your face, {{user}}.”

Kai jerked back. “You ruined the moment, you bastard.”

“You think I will let you do it?!” Andrew shot back.

“HHMMMPH!!” You yelled. (Translation: Are you trying to kill me?!)

Andrew released you, grinning. You inhaled sharply, fury rising as electricity crackled between the two boys.

You slammed your hand on the table.

They both jumped.

“If you’re just going to kiss each other's hands,” you snapped, veins visible in your neck, “DO NOT DO IT IN FRONT OF MY NEWTONS' LAW!”

Instantly, both of them shrank.

“I-I'm sorry!!” they said in perfect unison.

The library fell silent again.

Your physics problems still weren’t solved.

But now you had a much bigger equation to deal with.