Chapter 26: 24

Chapter Twenty-Four

"Do you like me in the same way as I like you?"

✧ P R E E T ✧

"So, are you with someone?" Ibrahim, the guy I had just become friends with fifteen minutes ago, asked me, an ounce of genuine curiosity lying over his face that he couldn't quite hide.

"Yeah, kind of." His face immediately fell, and he clicked his tongue.

"Oh, I lost my shot then." I was a little taken aback by this sudden flirt. I was bonding with this guy thinking I genuinely made a friend, until he started hitting on me.

"Never mind, we can stick around as friends until I get rid of him." He joked, followed by laughter.

I looked at him, astonished. "What makes you think that you can get rid of him?"

"The fact that he left the beautiful lady to herself. Unfortunate. I would never do that to a pretty woman like you" Ibrahim might be saying this with a light, sly smile on his face, indicating that all of this was just a play; wasn't it the truth?

Deven did leave to god-knows-where and didn't show up till now.

"Oh, please, cut the crap." I rolled my eyes and waved my hand in the air once.

"Alright alright." He raised his hands as if in surrender. "I was just kidding, by the way. Don't want to be labelled as the homewrecker." I followed his strong gaze which led to the ring on my finger.

The one Deven gave me.

"Oh, that's not- Never mind " It's better if he thinks that I'm married or engaged or whatever. I don't find it necessary to tell him about the whole thing right now. I didn't know him at all before these fifteen minutes.

After an exchange of five to seven minutes, I started getting a little anxious and my mind wandered where he might be and why is he not here.

As much as I tried to avoid him, I cared for him. A lot.

Did he feel bad about what I had done?

But what if he didn't even notice?

I was confused about what to believe. The Deven I know or the letter I read. They both were leading on different paths, contradicting each other. My heart inclined more towards Deven wanting to hear his explanation about it. But the logical mind was more practical.

I kept looking around between the conversation, for Deven. I tried spotting him, hoping I would succeed.

"I think I'll go find him," I uttered blankly between the conversation, and it sounded a little rude.

"Um, sure but did I say something wrong?" Ibrahim asked and I shook my head negatively.

"No, no, I'm scared actually. He was here but now he is nowhere to be found. My heart won't rest in its place till I see him." I admitted honestly with a gentle smile.

"People in love. I get you. But do you need help? I will try to search for him, just show me his picture once." I nodded. The more the merrier.

The realisation of Deven having my phone, which has a picture of him in it, hit me a little too late. "Actually,- no wait,"

I opened my bag and searched for the Polaroid picture of us I had kept in my purse that day finding no other place. Later on, I let it be there because I somewhat liked it.

"Here." He showed a thumbs-up, and we parted ways, trying to find Deven in this noisy party. I just want to go home, at this point.

Making my way through the partying people, muttering an 'excuse me' every five seconds because someone or another was becoming a hindrance in the process.

I will make sure to never go to any of these parties Neava brings up again. First of all, she flew away with Rushaad, leaving me alone, and secondly, she might have the capacity for this.

Fuel to my frustration was how disappointed I was. I had expected something else for tonight; I thought it would be special with Deven; something could happen, but he went all Mr. India.

I put extra effort into dressing up for this.

I let out a deep breath and leaned on the wall, massaging my temple with closed eyes.

After that short break, I continued my research. My eyes narrowed in slits as I looked at the specific location. There was a man-whose outfit, height and body looked very similar to Deven- cornering another man seemed familiar, but his face wasn't visible.

I rushed towards them, my eyes widened at the sight and I covered my mouth with a hand, a reflex which I didn't register in my mind.

Ibrahim.

"Calm down buddy-Preet," He shouted as soon as he noticed me, and took a step back and then there was Deven busy towering him again.

What the fuck man.

"Deven," I held his shoulder, pulling him back from messing things up. He turned his head to look at me and all the burning rage morphed into a smile. "What the hell is wrong with you? What are you doing?"

Why is he even starting a fight with him?

His smile transformed into a huge grin for no reason.

He has gone nuts.

"Look at her; she's so gorgeous, man," He claimed confidently, his hand indicating towards me and eyes towards Ibrahim.

I was able to connect the dots when the sharp smell of alcohol hit my nose. Even his body language was a little meeky, unstiffened and not stable.

"No, you're not allowed to look." He raised his finger pointing towards Ibrahim in an authoritative tone, who just couldn't hold a chuckle.

"He's drunk." I nodded at his words and looked at him apologetically. "He didn't hit you or something?"

"No, no. You were just in time. He was about to get a little aggressive when I informed him that you were looking for him."

"I'm so sorry-" I was cut off by the person next to me, poking my arm which he had held securely.

"Why are you sorry?" Deven asked me, tilting his head and pointing his index finger towards me.

"Exactly, you should be sorry." I turned his hand and made his finger pointing himself.

"I'm not." He smiled, sheepishly.

"Yes, you are. Say sorry to him." I glared at him, trying my best to maintain strictness in my voice. Because all I knew was how I was melting in his soft, cute, drunk tone.

"There's no need. No big de-." Ibrahim interjected, and my glare, which passed to him, made him shut instantly.

Deven turned my face towards him by holding my jaw, gently.

"Say sorry, Deven," I repeat with sternness.

"Sorry," His eyes were stuck on me.

"Not to me; to him."

He stayed silent, lowering his head and avoiding the daggers I was throwing at him.

"Deven," I called his name in a warning tone.

"Sorry." A mere whisper was heard.

"But did he say something? Why was he about to hit you? He's not the type to start a fight," I shifted my gaze to Ibrahim.

"It's better if he answers that. I'll get going. You should take him home too. He's very drunk." I nodded.

"I'm not!" The mentioned person shouted and decided to show us how he could stand firmly, only to stumble. Both of us ignored him.

"Yeah. Sorry for what happened. And it was nice meeting you." He flashed a smile back to me.

"Also, I think you should not get rid of him." With a wink, he left making me stand there confused. I turned towards Deven who just drank a shot kept on the counter.

"That's enough, Deven." I searched the glass from him and kept it aside. Removing my arm from his two-step security with both hands, I held his palm and dragged him with him. "Let's go home."

"Let's go, wifeyyyy," he tripped over something in excitement and ended up hitting his chest with my back.

I increased my pace and got him out of the messy party after a lot of struggles.

It clicked me after settling inside the car how I should inform Neava before leaving once. What if she wants to tag along?

"You have my phone." I forwarded my hand, asking for it, but got a clap in return.

"You have my heart." I left an exhausted sigh, but still, the smile escaped my control.

"Give me my phone."

"Give me my heart." He retorted with a cunning smile, raising my phone in the air. I could never get it back from him, he's too tall.

"Deven," I said sweetly, "Please?"

And for once, he listened to me and placed my phone in my hand. I called Neava thrice but she didn't pick it up once. I called Rushaad who picked up at the last ring.

"Hey," The background music was louder than his cracking voice.

"Hey, Rushaad, I'm leaving with Deven, he's drunk. Do you guys want a ride?" I asked and watched Deven suspiciously counting something on his fingers.

"No, You should leave. I have my car, I will drop Neava home. She doesn't look like she wants to go yet."

"Alright." I hung up and turned towards Deven. "Wear your seatbelt."

"No." I wasn't in the mood to have a banter with him which doesn't end in less than fifteen minutes.

"Fine." I moved closer to him, unbuckling the seatbelt I made him wear. I started the car and bombarded Deven with all the questions."And what's with you? Why did you pounce on him? How did you get drunk? Where were you the whole time?"

He looked at me and pouted.

"Toooooo many questions." He added. "And also, are you wife to question me like that-Oh, you are. Fake. Haha." He asked the first question in a very heavy bold voice, almost trying to be Amitabh Bachchan and let out the last haha in a Santa Claus tone.

The variations of the tone are crazy.

"Okay, why did you get mad at him?" I repeated my question. I wanted to know if there was a reason or if it was just because he was drunk.

"Which one?" He asked and my brows furrowed.

"How many people did you get mad at today?" He fixed his imaginary collar proudly.

"Secret."

"Okay, just tell me about the last one?"

"I was jealous." He admitted and I turned to look at him just for a second.

"What for?"

"I saw you; laughing, chatting with him." Sober Deven should learn something from the drunk one. This one is so good at communicating they blandly told me what was going on.

"So you'll hit him?"

"But I didn't." He replied

"But that was your intention." I retorted.

"But I didn't." I kept staring at him with a neutral face. This version is a lot more annoying than the sober one.

"Whatever." Within the next five-minute ride, where I thought he was quiet, he dozed off.

I woke him up and took him to the house by giving my shoulder support because he couldn't walk straight for once while mumbling I'm not drunk.

My foot.

Upon reaching the bedroom, I pushed him to the bed. "Now, go to sleep."

I waited for two minutes with my hands folded below my chest, waiting for him to close his eyes. And another two minutes were wasted where I made sure he didn't open his eyes and trick me.

I turned to the washroom when I was satisfied only to find a tug at my wrist pulling me back to face him, dangerously close this time. Oh, man. I had to keep my hand on his chest to maintain some distance. His intense gaze was arousing goosebumps all over my naked arms.

"I have a question." He asks in a very soft tone.

"Yes?" I took a step back, getting severely affected by the intimacy. Unlike me, he didn't seem bothered by that and instead took a step ahead, towering over me again.

This format of ours continued till my back hit the wall, and he kept both of his hands on each side, caging me. His eyes locked into mine as if trying to find an answer to the unasked question.

"Do you not like me?" I gulped.

"I do." I immediately responded, my voice steady and watched him shaking his head, lowering his head with a smile that didn't seem happy to me. It was just like a coating, the real thing beneath seemed sad, almost defeated.

"Not in the same way as me." His voice was slurred because of the alcohol, but the meaning hit me with crystal clarity. His eyes looked at me with a mix of hurt and hope "Do you like me in the same way as I like you?"

My breath hitched as I wasn't sure if I was interpreting his words in the way he meant to tell them. My throat tightened as his words hung heavy in the air, patiently waiting for his answer.

"How do you like me?" I managed to mumble slowly, lowering my gaze unable to meet his. After what felt like an eternity, he let out a heavy breath.

"I like you in a way that makes me wish I could stop because sometimes it hurts too much to want someone who doesn't feel the same" His voice was laced with tenderness, as if one wrong word and the game was over.

"Who said I don't feel the same?" I raised my eyes from the ground daring to look back into his. I didn't know where I got this confidence from, but something inside me shifted.

The way he sounded, it meant how he thinks everything is one-sided, and he is...unwanted or something, I guess. And somewhere I felt that I was responsible for him feeling that way.

He froze, his eyes widening slightly as if he didn't expect me to say that. "I..." I stuttered feeling the heat rising in my cheeks. "I like you too." The words come out in a rush, almost like if I missed a fleeting moment then I lost it all.

I don't know if I just saw it, but his blue eyes, which have dipped a little because of the astonished smile on his face, just sparkled a little.

His hand found its way to my cheek as he brushed it gently. Staring at his wide smile, a tiny one twitched at the corner of my lips, and my stomach felt all giddy.

I can't believe I said it.

"You don't know how long I've been waiting to hear that." He tapped my nose once and I scrunched it.

"But you will forget it tomorrow," I replied, my voice was not that pleased. I managed to finally accept my feelings towards him openly, and the sad fact is he's not going to remember it the next morning.

"No force in the world can make me forget that you like me too," The tipsy voice of his was a complete contradiction of his statement. Trust me, he is going to not remember this.

"Okay. Let's see."

None of us were ready to move our eyes, even for a mere second. It was like the world, the consequences, everything around us had faded. It was just us with our heartbeats syncing with each other, like an indication of how we were meant to be.

"I'm just saying if this was a movie... If, this would be the part where I kiss you. Not saying we should-unless you want to- but just saying.." His voice kept cracking as he was justifying what he was just saying.

I couldn't help but break into a soft chuckle as I reached out, cupping his cheeks in my hand. With a playful gesture, I pressed his cheeks and gave them a light shake. My heartwarming at his endearing expression.

"We will," I said and took a pause, which made him look at me curiously. "But..."

"There's always a but." He mumbled in a heavy voice like he was just waiting for it to come.

"You're drunk. And I want you to remember it as well." Gathering all the courage I hold in my heart, I raised my toes to match him who already had bent a little for me and placed my lips on his cheek. After a few seconds, I pushed him lightly, feeling shy.

"I guess this works for now?" His ears turned red and it was a sight to watch. Seeing Deven blush is something I hadn't expected.

"It does." He could barely keep his eyes open. He jumped into the bed and lay still on his back.

"I can't believe she kissed me. Best day of my life." He yelled so loudly that I had to cover my years. I think he is having that same gushy feeling as me, and he's just loud enough to give a reaction, or maybe drunk enough.

"I love you, R." My body froze, and a cold shiver ran across my spine as I heard this coming out from him, loud and clear. I had forgotten about everything in the last few moments I spent with him. Everything was erased from my mind, that's the effect he has on me.

"W-who is R?" I hesitantly asked, sitting beside him. My fingers automatically crossed behind my back as I waited for an answer. He will not tell me anything when he's sober.

"Somebody I like a lot for years." He muttered under his breath and laid with a satisfying smile.

"So, you like her for years?" I asked with a low and cracking voice. And here I was back to the square, getting confused about what was happening.

"I love her..." He opened his eyes to look at me. Taking a deep breath, he scanned my face with furrowed brows. "You look like her." His voice had clear amusement in it.

"What?" This escaped my lips when my mind stopped trying to comprehend what he meant. It was getting very messy to understand.

"But I'll always love her." With that, he dozed off.

The fuck just happened?

✧

I NEED your views on this chapter.>>>

Drunk Deven took one step ahead and two steps back? Poor guy 😭

Preet, she's just a confused, overthinker, which is not helping ik.

So what will happen next? Any guesses?

Don't forget to vote on the chapter, I had to spare a lot of time, managing things for writing this one. 🫶🏻