But ever since yesterday—since that fleeting moment in the library, since Aarav’s fingers had lingered against hers, his heartbeat betraying him—she couldn’t get him out of her head.

He felt something. She was sure of it.

Yet, he kept pushing her away.

She sat in the college café, her fingers tapping against her iced coffee as she debated whether to bring it up. Esha sat across from her, scrolling through her phone, oblivious to Tanya’s inner storm.

Finally, Tanya exhaled and set her drink down. “Esha…”

“Hm?” Esha didn’t look up.

Tanya hesitated for a second before deciding—she couldn’t keep this to herself anymore. She needed to say it out loud.

“I think… I’m in love with Aarav.”

Esha’s fingers froze over her phone screen. Slowly, she lifted her gaze, eyes widening. “Wait. What?”

Tanya swallowed. “I like Aarav. A lot.”

Esha blinked rapidly, as if trying to process the information. “When—how—wait, start from the beginning.”

Tanya let out a small laugh. “It’s not like it happened overnight. I just… never realized it before.” She ran a hand through her hair. “I was so busy chasing Jay, thinking he was the one I wanted, that I didn’t even notice Aarav. But now that I do, I can’t stop thinking about him.”

Esha leaned forward, suddenly invested. “And? What about him?”

“That’s the problem.” Tanya sighed. “I don’t know. One second, I feel like he sees me, really sees me. And then the next, he’s cold, distant, like I don’t matter at all.”

Esha studied her carefully. “You think he likes you?”

Tanya nodded without hesitation. “Yes.”

Esha raised an eyebrow. “And you’re sure it’s not just in your head?”

Tanya shot her a look. “I know what I felt, Esha. He reacts to me, even when he tries to hide it. Yesterday, in the library… when I touched him, his heartbeat—” She stopped, shaking her head. “He’s trying so hard to pretend he doesn’t care, but he does.”

Esha let out a low whistle. “Damn.”

Tanya groaned. “I don’t know what to do. I feel like I’m running toward him, but he’s running the other way.”

Esha smirked. “Then run faster.”

Tanya narrowed her eyes. “That’s your advice?”

Esha shrugged. “Look, if you’re sure about your feelings, then go for it. But if he doesn’t want to accept it, that’s on him.” She leaned back in her chair. “Make him admit it, Tanya.”

Tanya exhaled. “That’s exactly what I plan to do.”

The next day, Tanya spotted Aarav near the basketball court.

He wasn’t playing—just standing near the bleachers, talking to Daksh.

She took a deep breath and walked toward them. This time, she wasn’t going to hold back.

She was done waiting.

As she got closer, she saw Aarav stiffen slightly, as if sensing her presence. He turned his head just a little but didn’t meet her gaze.

Daksh, however, noticed her immediately and smirked. “Tanya Kapoor. To what do we owe the pleasure?”

Tanya ignored him, her eyes locked on Aarav.

Aarav finally glanced at her, his expression unreadable.

“Can we talk?” she asked, her voice steady.

Daksh raised an eyebrow, looking between the two of them before grinning. “I’ll leave you two lovebirds alone.” He patted Aarav on the shoulder before walking away.

Aarav let out a slow breath and turned fully toward her. “What is it?”

Tanya stepped closer, searching his face. “Why are you avoiding me?”

Aarav didn’t flinch, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes. “I’m not avoiding you.”

Tanya let out a humorless laugh. “Right. You just happen to disappear every time I’m around. You act like you don’t care, but I know you do.”

Aarav’s jaw tightened. “Tanya, don’t—”

“No.” She stepped even closer, her voice quieter but firm. “You don’t get to do this. You don’t get to act like I don’t matter to you when I know I do.”

Aarav’s breath hitched, but he quickly masked it. “You’re imagining things.”

Tanya’s heart clenched. “Am I?”

She reached out before she could stop herself, lightly pressing her palm against his chest.

His heartbeat was fast. Too fast.

Just like yesterday.

Aarav immediately grabbed her wrist, but he didn’t push her away. His fingers curled around her skin, his grip firm but hesitant.

Their eyes met.

For a moment, everything else faded. The basketball court, the students around them, even the sound of their own breathing—it all disappeared.

“Tanya…” His voice was barely above a whisper.

Her lips parted. “Just admit it, Aarav. Please.”

Aarav’s grip tightened slightly before he abruptly let go. He took a step back, shaking his head.

“I can’t.”

Tanya felt like the ground had been pulled from beneath her. “Why?”

Aarav didn’t answer. He just turned around and walked away.

Tanya stood there, frozen.

Her chest ached, but she wasn’t giving up.

Not yet.