THE BOY I WAS NEVER SUPPOSED TO WANT

SHARED AIR

The next morning came too quickly.

Maya had barely slept. The room was still unfamiliar, and every sound in the apartment had kept her awake. She heard doors opening, water running, and footsteps moving through the hallway. Everything reminded her that she was living in a strange place with people she barely knew. When she finally got out of bed, sunlight was already filling the room. She got ready quietly, packed her bag, and checked her phone before leaving her room.

Noah was standing in the kitchen. He looked relaxed, as if the apartment belonged entirely to him. Maya walked past him and checked the refrigerator again. It was still almost empty. The cabinets held only a few forgotten items.Noah noticed her looking around. He asked about her classes and learned that she would not be leaving until later. Before she walked out of the apartment, he told her that she would need groceries. Maya insisted that she could handle things on her own.

However, his words stayed in her mind because he sounded completely certain. There was no teasing or arrogance in his voice. He was simply stating a fact.

That afternoon, Maya returned with several grocery bags. She placed them on the kitchen counter and began unpacking everything carefully. She bought only simple things such as bread, rice, canned food, and other basic supplies. She wanted to prove to herself that she could take care of everything alone.

Noah entered the kitchen and quietly watched her organize the groceries. When one of the bags slipped from her hand, he reached out and stopped it from falling. The moment lasted only a second, but Maya still noticed it.He did not make jokes or unnecessary comments. Instead, he simply observed her as she finished putting everything away.

When he finally spoke, he told her that she did not have to do everything immediately. Maya explained that she disliked depending on other people. Noah seemed to understand that more than she expected.As she walked away, Maya became aware of his presence again. He was not doing anything unusual, yet the kitchen suddenly felt smaller whenever he was nearby.

Later that night, Maya sat at her desk and tried to study. Her books were open, but her attention kept drifting away. The apartment had become quiet, and somewhere outside her room Noah was still awake.He was not loud or distracting. He simply existed within the same space, and for some reason that made it difficult for her to relax completely.

Eventually, she closed her books and leaned back in her chair. The sounds outside had become familiar already. She found herself listening for them without realizing it.

The first week passed quietly. During those days, Maya slowly learned Noah's habits. He woke up early, returned late from practice, and spent very little time talking. Every morning he made coffee but rarely finished it. At night, soft music sometimes came from his room before everything became quiet again. Maya told herself that none of this mattered.Still, she noticed everything.

One afternoon she was studying alone in the library when Noah sat across from her. Neither of them spoke very much. They simply shared the same table while other students passed by. Several girls recognized Noah and looked at them with curiosity, but Maya ignored the attention.

When she finally left the library, dark clouds had covered the sky. Rain began before she reached the entrance, forcing many students to stop and wait.

Noah appeared beside her carrying an umbrella. Without saying much, he started walking back toward the apartment, and Maya followed him.

The rain became heavier along the way. Strong winds pushed water under the umbrella, soaking their sleeves. As Maya stepped onto the wet pavement, she nearly lost her balance.

Noah quickly caught her arm before she could fall.

For a moment, neither of them moved.

The cold rain continued falling around them, but Maya only noticed the warmth of his hand. When she looked at him, his expression seemed different. He no longer looked distant or careless. There was something softer in his eyes that she could not understand.

He released her, and they continued walking.

Back at the apartment, Maya returned to her room. She sat at her desk, but her thoughts kept returning to that moment in the rain.

She had promised herself that she would never trust someone like Noah Carter. She came to the university to avoid pain, not create new feelings.

Yet with each passing day, the walls she had built around herself were becoming weaker.

Across the hallway, Noah sat alone in the dark living room. For the first time in years, he found himself thinking about someone before going to sleep.

And that frightened him more than he wanted to admit.