Tanya chasing after him? Nothing. 

Her voice trembling as she asked why he was avoiding her? Nothing.

The way her hand pressed against his chest, feeling the heartbeat he had no control over? Still nothing.

That was what he needed to believe.

But as he lay on his bed that night, staring at the ceiling, he couldn’t shake the memory of her eyes—wide, desperate, demanding answers he couldn’t give.

Because the truth?

The truth was dangerous.

The truth was that every second he spent near her, every glance, every accidental touch, made the walls he had built around himself crack.

And if they fell… he wasn’t sure he’d survive it.

The next morning, Aarav did what he did best.

He avoided her.

He made sure to take a different route to class, skipped his usual spot in the cafeteria, and kept his headphones in whenever he passed by her friend group.

It should have worked.

But of course, Tanya Kapoor never let anything slide.

He was standing by his locker, shoving books into his bag when he felt it—her presence.

He didn’t even have to turn around to know it was her.

The air around him changed.

And then, a second later—

“Aarav.”

His grip tightened around his bag strap. He exhaled slowly before turning. “What?”

Tanya was standing there, arms crossed, looking way too determined for eight in the morning.

“Are you planning to run away from me forever?” she asked.

He kept his expression blank. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Tanya scoffed. “Oh, really? Then tell me why you’ve been acting like I don’t exist.”

Aarav shut his locker. “Maybe because I’m busy?”

“Liar.”

His jaw tightened. “Tanya—”

“No. You don’t get to do this.” Her voice was quieter now, but no less firm. “You don’t get to pretend like I’m just imagining things.”

Aarav swallowed hard, looking away. “You’re making this into something it’s not.”

Tanya took a step closer. He could feel the warmth of her body just inches away.

“Then look me in the eyes,” she challenged, “and tell me you feel absolutely nothing.”

Silence.

His throat was dry. His heartbeat was too loud.

Tell her.

Tell her she meant nothing.

That she was wrong.

That her presence didn’t affect him.

That he wasn’t falling.

But his lips wouldn’t move.

Tanya exhaled, shaking her head. “I knew it.”

And then, before he could stop her—

She stood on her toes, leaned in, and whispered,

“Sooner or later, Aarav… you won’t be able to lie to me anymore.”

His breath caught.

And just like that, she turned and walked away. Leaving him standing there.

Heart pounding.

Mind spinning.

Walls cracking.

Aarav didn’t move for a long time. Her words echoed in his head, looping over and over.

 

She was right.

No matter how hard he tried to fight it…

He was losing.

And the worst part?

He wasn’t sure if he even wanted to win anymore.