He glanced at me briefly before turning back to the road, his smile never once faltering. “You don’t talk much, do you?” he asked gently. Not judgemental, just curious.
Heat rushed to my cheeks, my throat closing immediately, the familiar ache of words clawing up but never making it past my lips.
He chuckled lightly, eyes flicking back to me. “Are you shy?” I shook my head so fast it probably looked ridiculous.
His brows lifted, like I’d surprised him. Then slowly, carefully, his hands left the wheel at a red light, and he signed.Sign?His smile softened, eyes meeting mine.I can sign.
My breath caught. I stared, lips parted, and for a second I didn’t even realise my fingers were moving until I signed back, shaky, clumsy.You can sign?
His grin widened, bright and easy, as his hands moved with far more confidence than mine.Yeah. My sister’s deaf. I learnt sign for her three years ago when she was adopted into the family. It was so hard but so worth it. Glad I could use it with someone else.
An unfamiliar feeling crept up in my chest, and I tried my best to push it aside as his lips parted to speak again.
“Where do you live? I completely forgot to ask. Not kidnapping you, I promise.” He joked with a small chuckle. A sound that was so low yet soft, enough for me to feel my entire face burning as I collected myself to sign back.
The sterling.
His eyes widened a bit as he quickly turned back to the road. “That building? Seriously?”
I shrugged, hugging his jacket closer. He glanced at me again.Just luck.
He huffed out a laugh, shaking his head like he didn’t believe me, but let it slide. “Just luck, huh?” He spoke as the car slowed down at another red light. His attention then shifted to me.
Don’t look impressed. You attend Silverwood, you probably own a palace.
That made him grin. Wide. He chuckled under his breath and muttered, “A few.”
I gave him a look, one that saidexactly.My point proven.I’m here because of luck and a scholarship.
“Scholarship?” His eyebrow raised, voice laced with shock. I nodded once. “To Silverwood?!” He leaned back against the seat, throwing his hand over his heart like he’d just been blessed. “You’re the scholarship girl? Oh my God, what an honour to be in your presence.”
My cheeks warmed instantly, again. It’s like every time he opens his mouth, my body reacts in a way it never does.
His grin stretched wider, like he found my embarrassment more adorable than anything. “You’re basically a genius. They don’t give one away at all. But you? You got one. Wow. Please, tutor me.”
I probably look like a tomato right now, but that didn’t matter. I was curious about something, so I lifted my hand to sign to him again.What do you study?
“Me?” His brows shot up like no one had ever asked him before. “Medicine.”
My lips parted.You’re a genius, too.
That made him laugh, shaking his head. “I guess so. I did skip senior year, but compared to you? Not even close.” He glanced at me with a crooked smile. “What about you? I bet it’s some hardcore brain stuff.”
I hesitated, fingers tightening around his jacket, before finally signing it out.Computational neuroscience. Psychology, math, and neurobiology mixed. I also got in at seventeen.
He slammed his palm against the wheel dramatically. “Ge—fucking—nius,” he said, glancing at me for a second before turning to the road. “Scholarshipandskipped senior year? Look at you, one-upping me.”
I turned toward the window, biting my lip, hiding the smile that threatened.
“Don’t even argue,” he said quickly, catching the way my shoulders shook. “Scholarship girl, computational neuroscience girl, got in at seventeen… you’re literally the smartest person I’ve ever had in my car. My IQ just went up by, like, ten points from you breathing in here.”
I pressed my fingers lightly against my burning cheeks, hoping he wouldn’t notice, but my heart wouldn’t slow down. It was pounding so loud it almost drowned out the rain.
Without even realising, we came to a sudden stop. He parked in front of my apartment building, rain still thundering against the roof of his car. Before I could even lift up his jacket to return it, he spoke first.
“Keep it,” he said casually, like he hadn’t just saved me from drowning out there. “Give it back whenever, or don’t. No big deal.”
My grip tightened around the jacket, and so did my chest. I could feel it again; it just wouldn’t go away.Thank you,my fingers then paused. I never got his name.
