Aira realized she missed Reyhan before she realized she'd been looking for him.
It happened between classes—
that brief moment when she paused, scanned the corridor, and felt something settle only when she spotted him leaning near the notice board, scrolling on his phone like he always did.
He looked up.
Met her eyes.
Didn't wave.
Didn't smile big.
Just tilted his head slightly, like there you are.
That was enough.
Later that day, Reyhan walked her halfway to her block before stopping.
"I've got a meeting," he said.
"Won't walk you all the way today."
Aira nodded.
"Okay."
But she hesitated. Just a second too long.
Reyhan noticed.
"You'll be fine, right?" he asked gently.
She smiled.
"Yeah. I just—"
She stopped herself.
He waited.
"I've gotten used to you being there," she finished honestly.
Reyhan's expression softened—not proud, not smug.
Just quiet.
"Me too," he said.
They stood there for a moment, neither of them moving.
"Text me when you reach," he added.
She raised an eyebrow.
"Are you turning into that person?"
He shrugged lightly.
"Apparently."
Aira laughed as she walked away, but the smile stayed longer than usual.
That night, she opened her notebook.
Didn't write a rule.
Just wrote one line.
I didn't miss him loudly.
But I missed him.
She closed the notebook and placed it aside.
Some feelings didn't need dramatics.
They just needed honesty.
RULE #83: Don't pretend you don't miss them.
Because missing someone quietly
is still missing them.