A thrill ran through my body like liquid fire, surging through every nerve, setting off a chaos I both feared and craved. My heart pounded against my ribcage like a wild drum, and my palms grew clammy, betraying the storm within. I could almost feel adrenaline screaming in my veins, urging me forward, daring me to lose control.

The butterflies in my stomach were relentless, performing a wild ballet-twisting, flipping, tumbling-completely unstoppable. I tried to tame them, to calm my racing thoughts, but it was pointless. And maybe that was the point. Maybe this fluttering, this thrill, this obsession creeping into my mind was supposed to be wild, unrestrained.

I've always been a dreamer, someone who drifts between fantasy and reality. I read dark romances until the night stretches thin, living in the dangerous, intoxicating worlds of my favorite characters. But this-this wasn't fiction. This was real. Raw. Frighteningly close. Adrit. The mere thought of him left me restless, craving, and terrified all at once.

I'll admit it-physics is not my thing. My mother reminds me daily that I'm dull in it. Maybe she's not wrong. But it's not that I hate physics. I just need connection, a spark, something that makes the lifeless numbers breathe. My previous teacher? Pure torture. I could read the textbooks faster than he could explain them, and still, nothing would stick. Studying all day? Not my style. I read when the mood strikes, or when I feel a connection with the subject. And not a moment before.

Sleep? Non-negotiable. Eight hours minimum. My body demands it; my brain craves it. And my study habits swing wildly-some days, fourteen hours, immersed completely in numbers and theories. Other days? Not a single minute. Most people might call me extreme, inconsistent, lazy even. But I don't care. Life is too short to be chained by monotony, rules, or other people's expectations.

I'm naturally drawn to the unknown, the fierce, the mysterious. Those who defy patterns, challenge boundaries, or live with fire. That's why I adore dark romance-the thrill of danger, the pull of desire, the intoxicating unpredictability. Books are my addiction, my energy source, my escape from the mundane. Give me a Rina Kent novel, and I could disappear for hours, lost in her dangerous worlds. People might pity me for being "addicted," but they don't get it. These worlds invigorate me-they fuel my imagination and remind me that life is meant to be felt fully.

Sometimes, I wonder if people see me as normal. Normal people with normal routines. But normal bores me. I don't want to live like a clock ticking away. I want sparks. I want chaos. I want intensity. And maybe that's why I'm drawn to him-Adrit. That calm, magnetic presence, with a spark hidden beneath the surface.

So, when I left for tuition today, I wasn't just walking to a lesson. I was stepping into a battlefield of emotions, where every glance, every word, every heartbeat mattered. And yes-there was Adrit.

The path to their house is barely a minute, but my mind stretched it into an eternity, imagining all the possible scenarios. Would he smile? Ignore me? Or tease me-just enough to make my cheeks flush and my thoughts spin? My hands fidgeted with the straps of my bag, twisting them into knots I didn't know how to untangle.

I opened the door and was immediately greeted by Sarala aunty, a warm, grounding presence. "Hi aunty," I said, trying for a casual, effortless smile.

"Hey, sweety, why are you standing on the doorstep? Come in." Her voice was soothing, calm, and for a fleeting moment, my racing heart slowed-though not by much.

We exchanged smiles, and I sat beside her, noticing the television flickering in the background. Thank goodness, not the endless, mind-numbing serials my mother obsesses over. At least here, some semblance of quality existed.

"Your mother told me you're weak in physics," she said gently, "Your father also came by."

I nodded, guilt settling like a heavy stone. "I know, aunty. I... I'm really numb," I admitted, staring at the floor. There's something about speaking your weaknesses aloud-it makes them heavier, realer, suffocating even.

"Don't take tension, sweetie. Adrit will help you. I'm sure you'll improve." Her hand brushed my head-a simple, maternal gesture. Comforting, yes, but it only amplified the nervous storm inside me. I wanted to vanish into quiet shadows, but reality wouldn't let me. I had to face him.

She smiled, serene and knowing, then added, "You can go to Adrit's room. Rimi is also there. Third room on the first floor."

Rimi. My stomach twisted. Clingy. Attention-seeker. Unwanted. Why did she have to be here? I had imagined this moment as mine alone-a private encounter with physics and maybe a fleeting glance at Adrit. Now, a barrier existed, a burden I hadn't accounted for.

I told myself not to overthink. Breathe. Focus. The stairs loomed ahead-not just a path, but a corridor of anticipation, longing, and uncontrollable chaos.

Each step carried me closer to the unknown, closer to him. The butterflies refused to be tamed, my heart ignored my pleas for calm, and my mind danced between rationality and desire. Every scenario played out: embarrassment, excitement, teasing, danger, temptation. And yet, beneath it all, thrill reigned supreme.

Halfway up, I paused. My gaze drifted to the window overlooking the garden. The afternoon sun cast golden lines across the tiles, and for a second, I wished I could melt into that light, hide from everything, from myself. But my feet moved on. One step, another, until the door loomed large.

Finally, I reached it. And there he was. Adrit. Calm, magnetic, impossibly enticing. Waiting. Every inch of me wanted to freeze, to retreat,but I stepped in anyway.

My brain screamed, It's just tuition. Just physics.

But my heart knew the truth. This wasn't just physics. This was temptation. Desire. The sweet, dangerous thrill of obsession I had only ever felt in books until now.

Rimi's presence buzzed at the edges of my awareness-clingy, annoying, perfectly positioned to test my patience. But I had bigger concerns than her antics. Adrit. Every detail about him-the calm in his eyes, the quiet confidence, the faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips-was a spark ready to ignite.

I tried to focus on my textbooks, to anchor myself to something concrete, but my mind refused. I could hear every soft sound: the turning of a page, the scratch of a pen, the faint hum of the ceiling fan. Every little noise felt amplified, every glance shared a secret I wasn't ready to decipher.

I took a deep breath. Focus. Control. But even as I told myself this, adrenaline spiked higher. My chest tightened, and for a fleeting moment, I imagined throwing caution aside, surrendering to the thrill of his presence, losing myself completely in the moment.

"Ritika?" Adrit's voice broke through my spiraling thoughts, calm but with an undertone that made my stomach flip. I nodded, barely trusting my own voice.

Rimi giggled beside him, a sharp, piercing sound that made me clench my jaw. She was already in her world, pretending to be part of mine. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes, instead forcing myself to focus. Adrit. Physics. Survive.

The lesson began, numbers and formulas blending into a haze, but my attention kept darting toward him. Every smile, every small gesture, every casual glance felt magnified, set on fire. I was aware of everything-my pulse, my breaths, my heartbeat trying to escape my chest.

And somewhere, deep inside, I knew this was just the beginning. The path ahead promised chaos, excitement, and maybe-just maybe-the start of something unforgettable.