They got back to work without a word, just the sound of typing and the occasional click filling the room. Every now and then, Lyra stretched her neck or let out a quiet sigh. Robin stayed locked in on his screen.
Thirty minutes later, a ding from Robin's phone broke the silence.
"Food's here," he said, grabbing his jacket. "I'll head down real quick."
Lyra stood too. "I'll come. Need to move a little."
Robin glanced at her. "You sure? You look wiped."
She shrugged. "Sitting around's making it worse. And I'm not about to eat alone while you bury yourself in edits again."
He gave a soft chuckle. "Alright, fair." He waited for her, then headed out.
The night air hit them as they stepped into the campus lobby—cooler, calmer, way better than the stale room they'd been stuck in. Lyra breathed in deep.
"Okay... this feels nice," she said, stretching lazily.
Robin glanced sideways. "No wonder you looked half-dead. You been sleeping at all?"
She gave him a weak smile. "Not really. Too much going on lately."
"Don't tell me you've been running on, like, three hours a night."
Lyra just laughed quietly, didn't answer.
Robin sighed and—without thinking—reached over to gently pat her head. "Don't crash on me."
She froze, eyes wide. He didn't even seem to notice what he'd done.
A few seconds later, it hit him, and he pulled his hand back like he touched something hot. "Uh... reflex."
Lyra stared at him, a small smile creeping in. "That was the first time you've ever touched my head, huh?"
Robin cleared his throat, looking anywhere but at her. "...Probably."
"Huh. Didn't think you'd ever do that." Her smile lingered, but she let it drop.
Robin ran a hand through his hair, suddenly awkward. "Anyway—let's get the food before the driver gives up and leaves."
Lyra chuckled and followed. Still, something about that little moment kept replaying in her head.
Back in the meeting room, they ditched the desks and sat on the floor, way more comfortable. Robin handed her one of the takeout boxes.
"No idea what you like, so I just picked something."
Lyra looked inside, grinning. "You picked this for me?"
Robin gave her a look. "Don't read into it. I just grabbed whatever looked easiest to eat."
She laughed. "Still, kinda sweet."
Finally—her chance to throw some of his teasing back at him.
He rolled his eyes. "Just eat already."
They ate in easy silence, talking a bit here and there—nothing important, but somehow it all felt... lighter.
Halfway through, Lyra laughed under her breath.
Robin looked up. "What?"
"I was just thinking... we were this close to arguing earlier, now we're eating like best friends."
He smirked. "Yeah, well. That's over."
"You're kinda scary when you're mad," she said with a mouthful of bread, cheeks puffed out slightly. "But once it's done, it's like... it never happened."
"Staying mad's a waste of energy," he said, deadpan.
Lyra looked at him with a glint in her eye. "You're nicer than you let on, huh?"
"Don't get carried away."
She laughed again and went back to her food.
A few minutes later, Robin leaned against the wall, staring at the leftovers. "We've still got some stuff to fix tomorrow. After that, we need to make sure all the sponsors get the right info."
Lyra nodded. "I'll help double-check everything. Nothing's slipping through this time."
Robin held out his fist. "Deal?"
She blinked, surprised, then grinned and bumped her fist against his. "Deal."
That night, between late-night edits and cheap takeout on the floor, something shifted.
Just a little, but enough to bring them a little closer than before.
--------
It was well past ten. The once-busy committee room had gone quiet, leaving only Robin and Lyra behind.
Robin typed a few last things, then finally hit save and stretched with a lazy groan."Finally done," he muttered, rubbing his face.
Next to him, Lyra let out a relieved sigh. "Thank God…"
She glanced at her phone and instantly felt more drained."Ugh, it's almost eleven-thirty."
Robin followed her gaze. "Great. Thanks to you, I'm stuck doing overtime for no reason." His tone was light, but the sarcasm was unmistakable.
"Oh, please," Lyra rolled her eyes. "I'm stuck here too, you know."
He just chuckled and stood up, grabbing his bag. "Alright, let's call it a night." Then he looked over at her still cleaning up her desk. "You getting home by car or…?"
"Bus. Like always," she replied, not looking up.
Robin frowned. "At this hour? Buses still running?"
Lyra checked her phone. "There should be one or two left... if not, then I'll grab a cab."
He sighed and shoved his hands into his jacket pockets. "I drove. I'll take you home."
Lyra looked up, surprised. "Huh? It's fine, really. I can manage."
Robin gave her a look. "It's almost midnight. You sure you wanna hang around waiting for a bus or some random cab?"
She hesitated. Yeah, she was used to going home alone. But still...
He raised an eyebrow, waiting. "Look, unless you think I'm gonna sell you to some back-alley gang, relax. I'm way too tired for any crime tonight."
"Not exactly a comforting reason," she muttered.
Robin just grinned. "C'mon. Your apartment's on my way home anyway."
Lyra narrowed her eyes. "How would you even know that?"
He smirked. "Seriously? You forget your address is on the committee list? Along with your phone number. If your memory's that bad, I'll bring you brain vitamins tomorrow."
Lyra snorted, but couldn't hide the faint smile tugging at her lips. She was still hesitant, but eventually let out a quiet sigh. "Alright... but no speeding."
Robin flashed a lazy smile, jingling his car keys. "Yes, ma'am. Let's go."
They left the room and walked side by side through the nearly empty halls. Their footsteps echoed softly against the floor.
When they reached the exit, the cool night breeze hit them. Lyra tugged her cardigan a little tighter.
Robin glanced over. "Cold?"
"A little," she admitted.
Without a word, he took off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders—so casually, like it wasn't even a second thought.
Lyra froze. "Wait—"
Robin just slid his hands into his pockets. "Just wear it till we get to the car. Don't argue, I'm too tired to fight."
She stared at him for a moment, then sighed and accepted it without further protest.
They made their way to the parking lot, lit dimly by streetlamps. Campus was almost deserted, just a few students lingering in the distance.
They didn't talk much on the way, but the silence between them was easier now. Comfortable, even.
When they reached the car, Robin opened the passenger door for her.
"Well, aren't you a gentleman," Lyra teased as she climbed in.
Robin rolled his eyes. "Don't let it get to your head."
He shut the door, circled around to the driver's seat, and started the engine. As they pulled away from campus, the streets stretched out quietly ahead of them.
"You look like you're about to pass out," Robin said, glancing sideways.
"Maybe a little," Lyra mumbled, stifling a yawn.
"If you're tired, go ahead and sleep. I'll wake you when we get there."
"You swear you won't drive like a maniac?" she asked with a skeptical look.
Robin sighed, all mock drama. "Trust your chauffeur for once."
Lyra gave a small smile and leaned back into her seat. She didn't fall asleep right away, but she slowly let herself relax.
Robin kept his eyes on the road, but glanced at her every now and then. He didn't even realize he was smiling.
Funny. He'd thought this overtime shift was gonna suck.
And yet, somehow… he didn't mind at all.
--------
Robin's car rolled to a gentle stop in front of Lyra's apartment building. The streets were quiet now, lit only by the occasional streetlamp and the distant hum of passing cars.
He glanced over. "End of the road, Princess."
Lyra stirred awake, blinking as she sat up and stretched. "Huh? We're here already?"
Robin smirked. "Yep. You were out."
Lyra rubbed her eyes. "Was not. Just... resting my eyes."
He chuckled. "Sure. And I definitely didn't hear you snoring."
Her eyes snapped wide open. "Wait—what?! No way. You're messing with me."
Robin's grin turned mischievous. "Hmm, maybe. There might have been a soft little 'hnggg' noise. And some sleep-talking. I think you said something like… 'Robin, don't eat my fries'?"
"Robin!" she hissed, glaring at him.
He burst out laughing, hands up in mock surrender. "Okay, okay, chill. You were perfectly peaceful. Nothing to blackmail you with, unfortunately."
She huffed, pulling off his jacket and holding it out. "Here. Your jacket."
But Robin didn't take it. He just gave her a glance, then turned back to scroll through his playlist, landing on something mellow.
"Keep it. It's cold out. You might need it getting inside."
Lyra frowned. "But—"
"No buts. Just give it back tomorrow at campus," he cut in, calm and final.
She hesitated for a beat, then gave in with a small sigh. "Fine…"
Grabbing her bag, she stepped out of the car. The night air hit her instantly, and before she knew it, she was pulling the jacket tighter around herself.
Before she could shut the door, Robin rolled down his window.
"Don't forget to lock your door, don't scroll on your phone while walking, and maybe don't let strangers in."
Lyra rolled her eyes. "I'm not twelve."
He grinned. "Can't be too careful. I'd hate to wake up tomorrow to a news alert: 'College girl vanishes after late-night committee work,' and I'm the last person who saw you."
"You're so dramatic," she muttered.
"Yup," he said, totally unbothered. "Go on. I'm not leaving until I know you got in okay."
She paused, then gave him a tiny smile. "Thanks for the ride, Robin."
He gave her a casual nod. "Anytime. Perks of having a personal driver."
Shaking her head, she gave him a half-hearted wave and headed toward the building.
Robin watched her until she disappeared into the lobby. Only then did he let out a slow breath and lean back against his seat.
He glanced at the passenger seat—still faintly warm from where she'd been.
A smile crept up without him realizing.
Then, with a quiet chuckle and a shake of his head, he started the engine and drove off into the night.
--------
"Hey, Lyra!!" A cheerful voice rang out across the walkway. A girl in a pastel sweater and her signature mini skirt waved enthusiastically from a distance.
Lyra, who had been sprinting like an athlete being chased by time itself, hit the brakes at the sound. Still gasping for air, she turned her head. "Suzie…"
"You okay?" Suzie asked, her brows furrowing with concern as she spotted the sweat lining her friend's forehead. "Why are you in such a rush?"
Lyra struggled to catch her breath, but managed a tired smile. "I… overslept, hehe…"
Suzie glanced at the slight mess in Lyra's hair and instinctively reached out to fix a few strands. "You've been staying up too late thinking about the festival, haven't you?"
She crossed her arms with a sigh, her voice dipping into Big Sister Mode. "Seriously, Lyra. You need to stop pushing yourself so hard. You'll burn out."
Lyra let out a soft laugh. Suzie was always looking out for her. But if only she knew the real reason...
--------
A Few Hours Earlier
Her alarm had been going off for who-knows-how-long before it finally pierced through her dreams. Lyra blinked blearily, squinting at her phone screen.
"Wait—it's already nine?!"
Sleep vanished instantly. She shot up in a panic—only to trip over her blanket and nearly faceplant.
'Why didn't you wake me up earlier?!' she cursed the alarm in her head.
If alarms had feelings, hers would probably be sulking right now, considering how many times it had tried to warn her.
Of course, this was entirely thanks to last night. She didn't get to bed until past midnight—after spending way too much time working with a certain guy from Media & Publicity.
No time for regrets now. She grabbed a towel and darted to the bathroom. Fifteen minutes later, she emerged with half-wet hair and dove for the first outfit in sight: an oversized t-shirt and jeans.
Hair? Rushed but passable. She ran to the kitchen next.
'Breakfast… breakfast…' she mumbled, yanking the fridge open and praying something edible would jump out.
A half-eaten loaf of bread stared back at her. Good enough. She grabbed two slices and started buttering them at lightning speed.
Just then, her phone buzzed on the counter.
Mei: Hey, you overslept huh? Don't tell me you're still at your apartment?
Mei: Robin's already here btw…
Mei: Or maybe you're intentionally late so he worries about you more?😏
Lyra rolled her eyes mid-bite. 'Does she have nothing better to do?' she groaned, already stuffing her things into her bag.
She jammed her feet into her sneakers and bolted out the door.
--------
Now, remembering that ridiculous morning, she gave herself a half-smile.
Compared to her own chaotic look, there was Suzie—sweet, stylish Suzie, always looking like she stepped out of a magazine.
'No wonder Walter picked her…' The thought came out of nowhere, and she wasn't sure she liked it.
"Lyra?" Suzie's voice snapped her back to reality.
"Ah—yeah." Lyra shook it off and checked the time. "I should get going. Catch you later!"
Before Suzie could say another word, Lyra had already dashed off again.
Suzie tilted her head, watching her leave with a puzzled look.
--------
"Lyraaa!!" Mei's voice cracked through the room as she waved like crazy.
Lyra let out a long sigh, then pulled out a chair and sat down. "Morning, Mei. Morning, Adam."
Adam peeked at her over his coffee. "Morning… You look like you just ran from a thief or something."
Lyra rolled her eyes. "Seriously… I'm tired."
"So what happened? Why'd you sleep in?" Mei asked, raising an eyebrow.
Lyra shrugged, tired. "Remember that mess I told you about? Had to fix it last night." She rested her head on the table for a sec.
Adam raised an eyebrow. "Okay, but why did you get home so late? What time was it?"
Lyra yawned quietly. "Around 10:30…"
Mei, who was sipping her juice, nearly spat it out. "WHAT?! Ten-thirty?! What took you so long?" Her eyes went sharp.
Lyra exhaled, already bracing for the questions. "Chill, I wasn't abducted by aliens. Just had to work late fixing my screw-up."
Adam gave her a doubtful look. "Alone?"
Mei leaned forward, poking Lyra's arm. "Or… with someone?"
Lyra ignored her and pulled a neatly folded black jacket from her bag. "By the way, I should probably return this."
Mei's eyes lit up instantly. "Wait—whose jacket is that?"
Lyra clutched it nervously. "Robin's."
Adam and Mei just stared at her for a beat.
Then Mei burst out, "LYRA! YOU'RE WEARING ROBIN'S JACKET?!"
Some students nearby glanced over, curious. Lyra grabbed Mei's arm. "Shh! Don't freak out! It's not what you think!"
Adam chuckled. "Okay, before Mei jumps to conclusions, wanna explain?"
Lyra took a deep breath and said, "After work, I was about to catch the bus alone, but Robin said he had his car and offered to drive me home. When we got there, he made me take his jacket since it was late and cold."
Mei covered her mouth, eyes wide. "So he didn't just drive you home—he gave you his jacket?! Lyra, this is straight out of a romantic movie!"
Lyra rolled her eyes. "Mei, seriously. It's just a jacket. And Robin wasn't acting weird or anything."
Mei just grinned. "Still, that means he cares! And don't tell me your heart didn't skip a beat when he handed it to you."
Lyra opened her mouth to deny it but then closed it again. Yeah, she'd felt something… though she wasn't sure what.
Seeing Lyra hesitate, Mei gave her a playful nudge. "Aha! I knew it! You've got feelings, don't you?"
"No!" Lyra said fast.
Adam shook his head with a small smile. "Hey, come on, let her be. It's early."
Mei huffed. "You guys are so clueless! This is totally the start of something!"
Lyra stood up quickly. "Enough. I'm gonna return this jacket before Mei's imagination runs wild."
Mei threw up her hands, smiling. "Fine, fine. But I want a full update later!"
Lyra ignored her and headed out to find Robin.
--------
Before heading out to look for Robin, Lyra suddenly felt the urge to hit the restroom first.
Not because she needed to, but just to fix herself up a little. She wasn't sure why, but some weird feeling pushed her to do it.
Standing in front of the big mirror, she let out a soft sigh. Her eyes scanned her reflection — messy hair, tired face, and way-too-casual clothes for today.
An oversized tee and jeans.
She bit her bottom lip. A little regret crept in. If only she hadn't overslept, maybe she could've picked something better.
But what's the point?
She quickly shook her head, brushing the thought away.
"Why should I even care?" she whispered.
After all, she was only meeting Robin—the guy who stuck with her late last night, talked about everything, and even lent her his jacket.
Lyra stared at herself one more time, then exhaled deeply. Whatever. It doesn't matter. She gave her cheek a gentle tap to snap herself out of it and left the restroom.
Not long after, her eyes caught sight of Robin sitting on a bench outside the faculty building, scrolling through his phone, completely relaxed.
Without hesitation, Lyra walked over slowly.
"Here's your jacket…"
Robin glanced at it, then raised an eyebrow. "Wow, returning it this fast? I thought you'd keep it for a week."
Lyra snorted. "Why would I? Besides, Mei's already lost it over this jacket."
Robin chuckled, taking the jacket casually. "Let me guess—she's cooking up all kinds of scenarios about us?"
"That's exactly it," Lyra sighed. "She thinks it's some kind of romantic drama scene."
Robin smirked, draping the jacket over his shoulder. "Hmm... so if this were a drama, I'm the lead guy?"
Lyra crossed her arms. "Cut it out. This isn't a drama."
Robin just laughed. "Alright, alright. Thanks for returning my jacket. Now it smells like your soap."
Lyra froze. "What?"
Leaning back on the bench, Robin wore a mischievous grin. "Just saying it smells nice. Don't worry, I won't ask which soap you use."
Lyra gave him a sharp look. "I really have to go now."
Robin chuckled softly. "Okay, okay... have a great day, princess."
Lyra rolled her eyes but couldn't stop a small smile from creeping onto her face as she walked away.
Robin watched her leave with a quiet smile of his own.
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*** TO BE CONTINUE ***