He could feel it in the way his heart reacted whenever she was near. In the way her words looped in his mind even when he tried to forget.

"Sooner or later, you won’t be able to lie to me anymore."

She had said it with so much confidence. Like she knew he was already unraveling.

And maybe… maybe she was right.

He hadn’t planned on seeing her today.

But there she was.

At the campus café, standing at the counter, her hair in a loose ponytail, wearing a soft pink sweater that somehow made her look even more like a walking distraction.

Aarav didn’t know why he stopped.

Maybe it was the way she laughed at something the barista said.

Maybe it was the way she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, completely unaware of how many heads she turned.

Or maybe… it was just her.

Whatever the reason, he found himself standing outside, watching her from a distance.

And then—

She stumbled.

The tray in her hands tilted dangerously. The cups wobbled.

Before he could think, he moved.

One hand caught her waist. The other steadied the tray.

Tanya gasped, eyes flying up to meet his.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

His fingers still pressed against the fabric of her sweater, feeling the warmth of her skin underneath.

Too close.

Too much.

But he couldn’t let go.

“Aarav?” Her voice was breathless.

His grip tightened for a fraction of a second before he forced himself to step back.

“Careful,” he murmured.

She stared at him, visibly flustered. “I—I didn’t see you here.”

He shrugged. “I was just passing by.”

Total lie.

Tanya studied him for a second before suddenly thrusting a cup toward him. “Here.”

Aarav frowned. “I didn’t order anything.”

“I know.” She smiled. “I got an extra one.”

His fingers brushed against hers as he took the cup.

Warm. Soft. Dangerous.

“You got an extra one… for me?” His voice was quieter than he intended.

Tanya’s expression didn’t change, but she glanced away. “I mean… it would’ve gone to waste otherwise.”

Liar.

Aarav exhaled. “Thanks.”

They sat at a small outdoor table, the air crisp but not too cold.

Tanya talked—about class, about Jay’s latest embarrassing moment—but Aarav barely processed her words.

All he could focus on was her.

The way she tucked her hair behind her ear.

 

The way she took small sips of her drink, her lips curling slightly at the taste.

The way she smiled without realizing how much it messed with him.

She looked… happy.

And for some reason, that made him happy too.

He didn’t understand it. Or maybe, he did.

Maybe he had been trying not to understand it for too long.

“Aarav?”

Her voice pulled him back.

He blinked. “Huh?”

She narrowed her eyes. “You’re spacing out.”

“No, I’m not.”

“Yes, you are.” Tanya leaned forward slightly, studying him. “Are you sick? Did you not sleep?”

Aarav shook his head. “I’m fine.”

Tanya squinted at him suspiciously. Then—without warning—she reached forward and pressed the back of her hand against his forehead.

Aarav froze.

His breath caught.

She was close. 

Too close.

He could smell the faint scent of vanilla from her sweater. Could see the way her lashes curled slightly at the ends.

Tanya made a face. “No fever.” She pulled back, satisfied. “But you still look tired. Get some rest, okay?”

Aarav didn’t answer.

He couldn’t.

Because in that moment—watching her sip her coffee, completely oblivious to what she had just done to him—

He knew.

It wasn’t admiration. It wasn’t nostalgia.

It wasn’t just something.

It was her.

It had always been her.

And now, it was too late to stop it.

Aarav barely heard the rest of the conversation.

His heart was still racing.

His mind still reeling.

He needed to leave. Needed to clear his head.

But as Tanya laughed at something on her phone, completely unaware of the hurricane inside him—

Aarav realized one thing with painful clarity.

There was no running away from this anymore.