HOW TO UNLEARN YOUR SENPAI

There is one couple on this campus that everyone knows. Rose Williams and Leo Carter. Born in Leeds. British. Raised in Leeds. Leeds University's most famous couple. Leo — 21, final year, Business Management, Football captain, 6ft tall. Black hair, grey eyes, cold face. A cold English guy to the world. Girls in Leeds call him Ice Prince. He never smiles, never talks to juniors. Except for one person. Rose — 20, second year, Psychology, blue eyes, blonde hair. The sweetheart of the whole campus. Small, cute, but very smart. And they have one rule that has kept them together for one year. The 8:30 AM Rule. 8:30 AM. Leeds morning. Foggy. Cold. You can see your breath in the air. The old stone buildings are covered in fog. Students are running to their 9 AM lectures with coffee. Leo's black Audi is parked in front of Rose's Student Halls. Building 3B. Sharp. Punctual. Engine on, heating on. Like always. For one year, same spot, same time. Never late. Not even when it snowed last December. He checks his watch. 8:29 AM. Black coat, black shirt, cold face that makes every girl turn. But his eyes are only on one door. Rose's door. At 8:30 sharp, the door opens. Rose comes down, sleepy, half-awake, her big cream oversized hoodie loose — actually his hoodie that she stole last year — blonde hair messy, pink backpack on one shoulder, holding a half-eaten toast, one shoelace untied. She expects to open the door herself. But Leo is already out. He walks around, tall, black jacket, cold face, long steps. Every girl walking to class stops and looks at him. But he only opens the passenger door for her. "You're late, sweetheart." His voice is low. "I'm literally on time," Rose mumbles, but she smiles. A big, sleepy, cute smile. Because this is their ritual. This is Leo. She gets in. The car is warm. Smells like his cologne and her strawberry hand cream. He leans in, so close she can smell him, and fastens her seatbelt for her. His fingers brush her cheek. Cold, but safe. "Did you tie your shoelace? No. Toast is not breakfast, Rose," he says, and bends down to tie her white sneaker lace, right there in front of her dorm where everyone can see. Rose looks at him, at his perfect side profile. Her heart beats fast. "I dreamt of you again," she whispers. That makes him stop. He looks up at her. The coldest boy at University of Leeds — his cold expression finally breaks. Just a little. Just for her. A soft, private smile that no one else ever gets to see. "You dream too much, Rose Williams." "Only about you, Leo Carter," she whispers back, touching his cold cheek. He catches her hand, kisses her palm, soft and quick, full of love. Then he closes the door and gets into the driver's seat. He starts the car. The Audi moves smoothly through the foggy campus road. His right hand finds hers, interlocking fingers. Big hand, warm. "Did you sleep well?" he asks, eyes on the road. "I slept, but you were in my dream again. You made me stand in the rain," she says, leaning on his shoulder. "I would never make you stand in the rain. I would stand in the rain for you. You know that," Leo says, thumb tracing circles on her palm. Outside, the foggy morning of Leeds passes by. Students on bicycles, the clock tower showing 8:35 AM. But inside that black Audi, it's just them. No classes, no campus, no one else. Just Rose and Leo. And their 8:30 AM rule that has kept them together for a year. And will keep them together for many more. Leo stops at a red light. Looks at her messy hair, her sleepy blue eyes. "You are wearing my hoodie again," he says. "It looks better on me," Rose says proudly. "It does," Leo whispers, and leans in to kiss her forehead at the red light, while the fog covers Leeds behind them. And Rose smiles, because she knows — no matter how cold the world is, her 8:30 AM will always be warm. Because Leo will be there. Always.