The morning light spilled gently through the curtains, wrapping the room in a soft, golden hue. Everything felt slower, quieter—as if time itself had paused to let them stay in this moment just a little longer.
Havana stirred first, blinking into the light, her head still resting on Levi's chest. His arms were still around her, one hand lazily tracing up and down her spine. She could hear the steady thump of his heartbeat beneath her ear—calm, soothing, real.
There was a warmth between them—not just from the shared body heat under the covers, but from the unspoken closeness that had settled in overnight. Their legs were tangled, their breaths synced, and neither of them felt any rush to move.
Levi opened his eyes, looked down at her, and offered a sleepy smile.
"Morning," he whispered, voice rough with sleep.
Havana smiled back, shy but content.
"Morning."
They didn't speak much. They didn't need to. Instead, they let the silence stretch comfortably between them, filled with shared glances, light kisses, and the occasional lazy laugh when one of them shifted and pulled the blanket too far.
The world outside would catch up eventually—but for now, The moment is theirs
Just a bed that held the scent of the night before.
After lazing around for some minutes, wrapped in each other's warmth, the pull of the day slowly crept in. Havana let out a soft sigh, stretching under the sheets as Levi brushed a kiss against her forehead.
"Come on," he said with a playful grin, "if we stay here any longer, we might never leave."
She chuckled, eyes still half-closed, but nodded. "Fine... but you're not getting out of this bath without me."
They slipped out of bed and made their way to the bathroom, still wrapped in that quiet intimacy.
There was laughter as soap was shared, kisses stolen between rinses, and touches that were gentle now—more about care than heat. They washed each other like a ritual, as if tending to something sacred.
And when they stepped out and toweled off, they were lighter, smiling, as if the water had carried away every doubt with it.
Refreshed, they got dressed—ready to face the day, but still carrying the softness of the morning with them.
After getting dressed, they left the apartment together, walking side by side in comfortable silence. The morning was cool and calm, and the cab ride to campus passed with soft conversation and a few quiet smiles.
Once they arrived, they stood at the point where they'd go separate ways—Havana toward her office, Levi to his lecture hall.
"See you later?" he asked casually.
"Yeah," she nodded, adjusting her bag. "Come by when you're done."
"I will."
They shared a small smile—familiar, easy—and with that, they went their separate ways, both knowing they'd see each other again later.
Levi didn't make it back to Havana's office as early as he'd promised.
After his last lecture, he got caught up in an unplanned meeting with one of the faculty assistants. They were assigning student partners for a departmental field trip—a tradition meant to help freshmen bond and get familiar with campus life. Levi had to pick a partner, confirm his availability, and attend a short briefing about the trip's purpose and schedule.
By the time everything was sorted out, the sun had started to dip a little lower in the sky. He checked the time, muttered a quiet, "Damn," and quickly made his way across campus toward Havana's office.
He hoped she wouldn't be too annoyed. But he knew her well enough by now—she might tease, but she'd understand.
Levi's assigned partner for the field trip was a girl named Amira—a name that already carried a kind of rhythm to it. But it was her presence that truly stood out.
She was striking the moment she stepped into the room. Tall, with smooth caramel-toned skin that seemed to catch the light effortlessly. Her body was full and curvy in a way that turned heads—hourglass-shaped, with a confident posture that suggested she was used to attention. She wore her fitted jeans and tucked-in blouse like they were tailored just for her, every step purposeful and poised.
Her hair was thick and natural, styled into a soft, voluminous afro puff that crowned her face beautifully. Full lips, naturally tinted, curled into a half-smile as she introduced herself. Her eyes were almond-shaped, deep brown, and sharp—like she saw more than she said. Long lashes framed them, drawing you in without trying too hard.
There was something playful in her voice, too—smooth, a little teasing. When she spoke to Levi, there was an easy charm to her, as if she knew her effect and didn't mind letting it linger.
Levi took it all in without showing much, but it was hard not to notice. Amira had that kind of presence—the kind that filled a space even before she said a word.
Levi finally made it to Havana's office, offering a short, apologetic smile as he stepped inside.
"Sorry I'm late. Got caught up with the field trip thing," he said, tossing his bag on the couch.
"It's fine," Havana replied casually, though she gave him a brief look, half expecting more. He didn't say much else, and she didn't push.
They headed home together, talking about small things—classes, campus noise, and what to eat. The walk and cab ride were quiet but comfortable. Nothing seemed out of place.
The next day on campus, Havana was coming out of her building when she spotted Levi by the student center. He wasn't alone. Standing with him was a girl she hadn't seen before—tall, curvy, undeniably attractive. Havana slowed her steps just enough to take in the scene.
The girl laughed at something Levi said, touching his arm lightly. He smiled in return—not too much, but enough. There was an ease between them.
Havana felt a flicker of something sharp twist in her chest. Jealousy.
She looked away before either of them could spot her, walking off without saying anything. All through the day, it sat quietly in the back of her mind, that image of them talking, the way the girl stood a little too close.
Later that evening, they were back at the apartment. Levi dropped his bag by the door and kicked off his shoes.
"Long day?" he asked, stretching.
"Mhm," she replied, not looking up from her phone.
She said nothing about what she saw. But the silence between them wasn't quite the same—it was quieter than usual. Not angry, not cold. Just... held back.
And Levi, unaware of what lingered behind her eyes, went about his evening like everything was normal.