Maybe it was the way Tanya had looked at him last night, her voice trembling with something real—something that hadn’t been there before. Maybe it was the way her presence still lingered in his mind, like a song stuck on repeat.

Or maybe it was the fact that, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t ignore her anymore.

But no one knew.

To everyone else, Tanya Kapoor was still chasing after Jay Shah.

And that was the worst part.

Because no matter how much Tanya’s words haunted him, no matter how much he hated the way his heart reacted to her now—

She wasn’t supposed to be looking at him.

She was supposed to be looking at Jay.

And as far as the world knew, she still was.

When Aarav walked into the campus café the next morning, he wasn’t expecting to see Tanya.

But there she was.

Sitting across from Jay, laughing at something he had said.

Aarav came to a sudden halt near the entrance, gripping his phone a little too tightly.

They looked… close.

Too close.

Jay was leaning forward on the table, an amused smirk playing on his lips, while Tanya was smiling—genuinely smiling. And something about it made Aarav’s stomach twist uncomfortably.

He didn’t understand it.

Didn’t want to understand it.

“Tanya’s so persistent, isn’t she?”

Aarav turned sharply toward the voice.

Two students were standing near him, chatting as they watched Jay and Tanya from a distance.

“She’s been after Jay for so long,” one of them whispered. “You have to admit, she’s got guts.”

The other one chuckled. “Yeah, but I don’t think Jay actually likes her like that. He just enjoys the attention.”

Aarav clenched his jaw.

They didn’t know.

No one did.

No one knew that Tanya had stopped chasing Jay.

That she had turned around.

That she was looking at him now.

And yet, here she was—still sitting next to Jay, still laughing with him, still making everyone believe that he was the one she wanted.

Aarav’s fingers curled into fists at his sides.

Why did that bother him?

Why did it feel like he was watching something he wasn’t supposed to?

He should walk away.

He would walk away.

But just as he turned, Jay suddenly threw an arm around Tanya’s shoulders.

And something inside Aarav snapped.

Jay wasn’t stupid.

He could feel the weight of a certain someone’s gaze from across the café.

And he smirked.

Tanya had no idea what he was up to.

She was too busy stirring her coffee, too lost in her own world to notice the way Aarav was practically glowering at them.

Jay, on the other hand, noticed everything.

The way Aarav had frozen the moment he saw them together. The way his expression darkened when he casually leaned closer to Tanya.

And now, just for fun—Jay threw his arm around her shoulder.

Tanya jolted slightly, looking up in confusion. “What are you doing?”

Jay grinned, tightening his grip just a little. “Testing something.”

Tanya narrowed her eyes. “Testing what?”

Jay didn’t answer. He didn’t have to.

Because at that exact moment—Aarav walked over.

Aarav had no idea what he was doing.

One second, he was standing near the entrance, convincing himself that it didn’t matter. The next—his feet were moving on their own. 

Before he could stop himself, he was standing right in front of them.

Jay looked up, completely unfazed. “Oh? Didn’t expect to see you here.”

Aarav ignored him, his eyes fixed on Tanya. “Can we talk?”

Tanya blinked, surprised. “Now?”

“Yes.”

Jay raised an eyebrow. “Dude, we’re in the middle of something.”

Aarav barely spared him a glance. “It won’t take long.”

Tanya hesitated, then nodded. “Okay.”

Jay let go of her shoulders with a teasing smile. “Try not to scare her away.”

Aarav didn’t bother responding.

He was already leading Tanya outside.

The air was crisp, carrying the soft hum of the city in the background.

Tanya crossed her arms. “What’s wrong?”

Aarav hesitated for a moment.

What was wrong?

Why had he dragged her out here like this?

He exhaled, running a hand through his hair. “Are you still chasing Jay?”

Tanya frowned. “What?”

“You heard me.”

She stared at him for a long moment. Then, realization dawned.

She smiled.

No—she smirked.

And for some reason, that made Aarav even more irritated.

“You’re asking,” Tanya said slowly, tilting her head, “because everyone still thinks I am.”

He clenched his jaw. “That’s not—”

“I see.”

Aarav exhaled sharply. “Tanya.”

She laughed lightly. “Are you jealous?”

His expression stiffened. “No.”

She took a step closer. “Then why do you care?”

His breath hitched.

She was too close.

Too dangerous.

But before he could step back, she smiled again.

This time, it wasn’t teasing.

It was soft. Honest.

And just like that—Aarav forgot how to breathe.

Because in that moment, there was no Jay.

No rumors.

No misunderstandings.

Just her.

And the way she was looking at him now—

Like he was the only one she wanted to chase.