Chapter 10

Ayaan sat on the edge of his bed, his mind racing, still replaying the moments from the party. It felt like his body was still buzzing with the memory of her—her lips, the warmth of her skin, the way her breath hitched when he got too close. He couldn't stop thinking about the kiss, how it had caught him off guard but felt so right at the same time. But now, after everything, there was something about the way she pulled away so quickly that unsettled him.

She had left the party shortly after they kissed, disappearing into the crowd. And for a few minutes, Ayaan had tried to track her down, scanning the sea of people. He had almost barged through the door to the quieter part of the building, but it was already too late. She was gone. No one had seen her leave, and that only made his frustration worse.

Trying to shake the thoughts, he had gone back to the party, but his usual charm and playful attitude felt off. He danced with a few girls, letting himself get caught up in the rhythm of the music, but his eyes kept scanning the room, hoping to see her again. Hoping to somehow find a way to figure out what had happened between them. But she never returned.

The next day, he couldn't focus on anything. His mind kept wandering back to Naina—her nervousness, her soft yet firm lips, the way she had looked at him with those wide eyes, filled with a mix of uncertainty and something else he couldn't place. And he couldn't shake the image of her from his head, dressed in that cropped top and jeans that outlined her body in a way that made his chest tighten. He hadn't been able to stop himself from staring, and now, that image of her was burned into his brain.

At cricket practice, his teammates were talking about random things—nothing of real consequence—but their mention of a party was enough to send his thoughts spiraling back to the night before. He was just about to grab the ball for a throw when one of his friends, Karan, chuckled and mentioned something about "some girl from last night" who had caught his attention.

"Yeah, dude, last night was wild. The party was crazy, but that girl who was hanging with Meera? You remember her, right?" Karan's words felt like a punch in the gut.

Ayaan paused, his grip tightening on the cricket ball. That girl. He didn't need to be reminded of Naina. His thoughts were already consumed by her.

"Who?" Ayaan muttered, trying to act casual, but his focus was on the conversation now.

Karan raised an eyebrow, clearly noticing the sudden interest in Ayaan's voice. "The one with the caramel highlights, yeah. The one who barely talks but had that cute smile? Honestly, I didn't think she'd be into the party vibes, but damn, she was cute."

Ayaan's mind immediately flashed back to Naina. Her eyes, her shy smile, and the way she had looked at him when they kissed.

But now, hearing Karan talk about her like she was just another girl at the party, it pissed Ayaan off. He didn't like the thought of anyone else even thinking about her like that.

"Yeah, she was cute," Ayaan said, more to himself than to Karan. He quickly changed the subject to something about the upcoming match, trying to pull himself out of the thoughts of Naina.

But it was impossible. The rest of practice was a blur, and despite the constant chatter from his friends, all he could think about was her. Her smell, the soft glow of her skin, the way she tasted. He couldn't focus on the game, couldn't shake off the nagging need to see her again. To find out what the hell was going on with her.

After practice, he decided to take a walk to clear his head. It was already dark, and the air was cool against his skin, but it did nothing to ease the tightness in his chest. He walked aimlessly, trying to distract himself, but his feet seemed to move in the direction of the spot where they had kissed. He wandered the campus, restless. The cool evening air wasn't enough to calm the heat simmering in him. It wasn't until he found himself sitting on a bench, just outside the dorm, that he saw her again.

Naina.

She was walking down the path, her eyes darting around, avoiding him. But Ayaan knew she saw him. There was no way she didn't. He wasn't sure what it was, but something in the way she was walking told him she was trying to escape something. Trying to escape him.

His feet moved before he could think, pushing himself off the bench, a slow, deliberate pace toward her. His mind was still on her. On the way her lips had felt against his, the way her body had responded. His heart was still racing from that kiss, and he knew she felt the same way.

She wasn't looking at him when he stepped in front of her, but he could see the tension in her posture, the way she stiffened when she finally saw him. There was that unease again, and it made him smile, though it wasn't a smile of victory. More like one of challenge.

"Running away from me, Naina?" he said, his voice low but playful. He couldn't help it—the teasing tone slipped out, despite the storm of thoughts in his head.

Her breath caught, and she froze, books clutched tightly in her arms. "I-I wasn't running," she stammered, clearly caught off guard by his sudden appearance.

He took a step closer, a teasing grin on his face. "No? Then why haven't I seen you all day?" he asked. There was a hint of amusement in his tone, but also something more intense, something more searching.

"I've been... busy," she muttered, her gaze flicking to the ground, unable to meet his eyes for too long.

He tilted his head, intrigued by her nervousness. She was trying to pretend like she wasn't affected, like she didn't remember. But he knew better.

"Busy avoiding me?" he asked softly, stepping closer until they were just a few inches apart. She took a small step back, her back pressing lightly against the wall, but she didn't try to move away completely. It was almost as if she was caught between wanting to run and wanting to stay.

"You've been avoiding me," he said, his voice a little lower now, a little more intense. His eyes dropped to her lips for a fraction of a second, and the memories of the kiss came rushing back—her softness, her taste, the way she'd seemed so unsure but also undeniably drawn to him.

"I wasn't avoiding—" she began to say, but he interrupted her, stepping even closer, watching as her chest rose and fell with every breath.

"You were," he said quietly. "And you don't have to. Last night wasn't a mistake, no matter how much you want to pretend it was."

Her face flushed, and for a brief moment, he thought she might back away completely. But then she held her ground.

"I don't remember—" she tried again, but her voice faltered.

"Don't lie to me," Ayaan said sharply, his voice now rougher, like he couldn't hold back anymore. He wasn't touching her, but every inch of his body screamed for her. "You remember everything. Just like I do."

Her eyes flickered nervously, and he could see her fighting to keep it together. Her lips parted, like she was about to deny it, but nothing came out.

"You can run all you want," he said, his voice softer now, almost coaxing. "But this? Whatever this is between us? You can't escape it. You felt it too."

She looked up at him, her eyes wide, but her lips were pressed tight, like she was trying to push everything down. "I don't know what you're talking about. I... I drank too much," she stammered, but he could see the lie in her eyes.

Ayaan chuckled softly, a low, seductive sound that made her shiver. "You don't remember anything?" he asked, stepping even closer, the heat between them undeniable.

"Then why can't you meet my eyes?" he said, his voice now a challenge, and he could see her faltering.

Her eyes darted up to meet his, and in that moment, he could see the truth in her. The uncertainty, the curiosity. She hadn't forgotten. She was just pretending. And it was driving him crazy.

He stepped back slightly, giving her some space but not letting his gaze leave hers. "You remember everything, Naina," he said softly, a smirk curling at the edges of his lips.

With that, he turned, walking away, but his heart was still pounding. He knew she remembered. He knew she felt it too. And now, it was just a matter of time before she admitted it.

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