Chapter 36

Abhimanyu

I knew I was being a coward.

After everything that had happened that night, after everything I had confessed—after breaking apart in front of her—I just vanished.

I had no explanation for it.

Maybe it was fear. Maybe it was shame. Maybe I just didn’t know how to face her anymore.

I had spent years burying my pain so deep that no one could reach it. And yet, in one moment, she had unraveled everything.

And now, I didn’t know what to do with myself.

I had skipped school for days, ignoring calls, ignoring everything. My father didn’t care enough to notice, and my mother... well, she had stopped asking a long time ago.

I spent most of my time in the park, sitting on the same bench, staring at nothing. Thinking about everything.

I told myself I didn’t care. That it didn’t matter.

But deep down, I knew I was waiting.

For her.

For Subhi.

And when I finally saw her walking toward me, my heart stopped.

I should have looked away, should have left before she could reach me. But I couldn’t move.

She stood in front of me, her eyes searching mine, full of emotions I wasn’t ready to face.

I had expected anger, frustration—maybe even pity.

But all I saw was something I didn’t deserve.

Concern.

I swallowed hard, trying to find words, but nothing came. The silence stretched between us, heavy, unspoken.

And then, she did something I didn’t expect.

She sat down beside me.

Close enough to feel, but not close enough to push me.

She didn’t speak. She didn’t demand answers. She just sat there, her presence calm, grounding.

And for the first time in days, I felt like I could breathe.

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