The umbrella barely shielded them from the soft drizzle that lingered after last night’s rain, but neither of them seemed to mind. The air carried that earthy scent of wet soil and faint smoke curling out of nearby tea stalls. Puddles shimmered in the uneven road, reflecting flashes of the pale morning light and the occasional rickshaw that rolled by.

Hiten held the umbrella slightly tilted, just enough to keep Aarya dry even though it left his own shoulder damp. Aarya noticed the way droplets clung to his sleeve, darkening the fabric, and felt a pang of guilt.

“You’re getting soaked,” she said quietly, almost as if admitting a secret.

He glanced sideways at her and smiled. “Better me than you.” His voice was low, steady — a kind of warmth she hadn’t expected.

Her chest tightened, and for a moment she didn’t know what to say. The words hung between them, as steady as the raindrops tapping on the umbrella. She looked down, hiding the small smile tugging at her lips.

They walked a little further in silence. Hiten’s gaze flickered back every so often, as if to check she was still right beside him, as if making sure she wasn’t slipping away. Every glance met hers for the briefest heartbeat before both looked forward again, pretending it hadn’t happened.

“Hey,” Aarya finally whispered, her voice so soft it almost disappeared beneath the patter of rain. “Thanks for breakfast… it was really nice.”

Hiten’s smirk softened into something gentler. “I meant every word,” he replied, his tone carrying more weight than she expected. He paused, looking at her for longer this time. “I like mornings like this.”

Aarya blinked, her breath catching in her chest. Mornings like this… with him, she thought. The realization scared her — not because it felt wrong, but because it felt right. Too right. Her heart thudded against her ribs, her mind racing: Are we moving too fast? Or… is this just the way things were meant to be?

Their hands brushed once, twice, grazing lightly as they adjusted their pace. Both paused, their fingers twitching with the temptation to hold on. Neither did. Yet neither pulled away fully either. The tension in the air was almost unbearable, wrapped up in small silences and the rhythm of their footsteps.

The quiet was broken in an instant.

A sharp car horn blared, startling them both. Tires screeched against the wet road as a car sped around the corner, its tires slicing through a muddy puddle. The splash leapt high, and Aarya instinctively stepped back, but too close to the road.

Before she could react, Hiten’s hand shot out. He gripped her wrist firmly and pulled her toward him. The world blurred for a second — rain, noise, her quickened breath — until she stumbled against his chest.

Her wide eyes met his. His arm was steady around her, protective, though the faint tremor in his voice betrayed the thundering of his own heartbeat.

“You’re safe,” he whispered.

For a long moment, they didn’t move. The world around them — passing cars, hurrying pedestrians, raindrops sliding off the umbrella — all faded. Aarya could only hear the sound of her own heartbeat pounding in her ears.

Safe… she repeated in her mind, the word sinking deep. Why does it feel like I can finally breathe when I’m with him?

Slowly, carefully, they stepped apart, though neither let go of the other’s hand right away. When they finally did, their palms felt strangely empty. They continued walking toward school, their steps softer, slower, each one heavy with unspoken words.

The streets grew quieter as they neared the school. More students appeared along the path, groups of friends laughing, calling out to each other. But for Hiten and Aarya, the noise felt distant, like background music to something only they were experiencing.

Aarya stared down at her shoes, her mind restless. Are we too close? Are these feelings just fate? Or am I overthinking everything?

Hiten’s thoughts mirrored hers. He kept his face calm, but inside he was struggling. Something’s changing between us. I feel it. But is it too soon? Still… how can something feel this natural if it isn’t meant to?

When they finally reached the school gate, they slowed down, almost hesitating. The clamor of the campus surrounded them — students rushing in, the chatter of teachers, the faint echo of the morning bell. But to them, it all felt far away, irrelevant compared to the fragile, quiet space they’d shared on that walk.

Aarya turned to him, her eyes softer than she intended. “See you after class?” she asked, almost shyly.

“Of course,” Hiten replied, his voice carrying warmth that lingered between them even after the words ended.

They stood for a moment longer before parting, their hands brushing one last time in a way that felt deliberate. Both of them walked away, but each turned back once. Their eyes met briefly, smiles tugging at their lips, hearts racing in sync.

Neither of them knew what the rest of the day would bring. But both felt it: something was beginning. Something inevitable.

A sudden moment made their hearts race… and neither knew what it meant. Click Next to see what happens next?

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