Chapter 15

Naina's breath hitched as she froze feeling him behind her, his voice still ringing in her ears. Her body was set on fire with the proximity as his hand still stayed wrapped around her arm, clutching her tight enough so she can't leave, but soft enough to not hurt her.

She felt herself being pinned to her place as he came in front of her, his hand still around her arm. His gaze was dark, his tone calmingly serious, "Tell me, Naina, did you feel something that night?"

He was direct. He was already in a turmoil ever since her lips had left his, and he didn't want to waste time in beating around the bush.

He needed to know what's in her mind. Now.

She looked at his piercing gaze. It was a mixture of confidence, authority and strength, while her eyes oozed confusion, nervousness and shyness.

What would she say to him?

That she herself doesn't know why her body betrayed her and did something she wouldn't even dream of doing in her wildest dreams, or that she let go but still kept thinking about the warmth she felt when kissing him ever since....

Or the direct answer to his question.

She did feel something that night.

Her eyes met his, as an attempt to put to play the act that she had been scripting in her mind. The act of not caring.

"I didn't." She said oddly boldly. Her eyes tried to meet his but she knew she couldn't, so they flickered towards him for a second when replying, then she looked away.

His heart and mind knew she was lying. Her avoiding gaze answered everything, "You didn't?"

"N...No." she replied instantly. This was getting difficult for her, "Let me go now." Her eyes were looking at him for a second and then at his hand, which was still wrapped around her arm.

"I will let you go, once I have the honest answer to my question. I'm asking you again, Naina, did you feel something that might?" His tone came out more authoritative this time, as if he were begging for an answer but commanding one too.

She gulped, her breath was uneven. He chuckled at the evident attempt of lying, before using his other hand to caress her jaw, "You felt something that night. You're feeling it right now too. You try to pretend you don't remember it, or you say you don't feel anything, but you do."

Naina let herself out of his grip, pushing herself back harshly. She didn't want to yell or become loud in her actions, but she had to let him know.

It was the only way of convincing herself of the harsh truth in front of her. The difference of worlds between him and her.

"I didn't feel anything. I...It was just something done under the influence of alcohol and I'm sure it happens to others as well." She said, gathering every bit of confidence she might have collected to pour the words out in a convincing manner.

"It was something common, and... you've been to more parties than me, so you would know. This happens very causally. Everyone forgets about it within hours, you.... You should as well." She continued, pouring everything in a go.

He looked at her. She was speaking boldly which caught him very off guard. He expected hesitation and nervousness, but he got bold replies, and a very clear one.

He wasn't expecting this.

Taking his silence as a boost of confidence, she carried on, compelled to strengthen her case and mask herself entirely, "Don't ask me this... again, you know my answer. It won't change. It was just something causal, it happens to anyone. It could have been someone else like Meera instead of me, so forget about it. Goodnight."

She blurted everything out and quickly left from there, her bag clinking being the only sound apart from the fountain, which echoed in the background.

He watched her go. His mind had not processed her words yet, his heart had instantly given its verdict. She's lying. He watched her retreating figure until it was completely out of sight. Her confidence came unannounced. While he was glad that she spoke to him with such confidence, he wondered what to make of her words.

He wasn't ready to accept that she didn't feel anything, not because he wasn't forcing himself onto her, but because.... The eyes don't lie.

He was angry. More than angry, he was upset. He expected this conversation to go well. He expected her guards to break so she would finally tell him how she felt, whatever it is that she felt.

This was not what he was expecting.

———

It didn't feel like she slept for 7 hours that night. It felt more like 3 hours.

She hadn't slept a wink when she reached home. Naina spent the entire night tossing and turning, that she felt that she hadn't slept, but when she checked the time the next morning, the 10:00 on display shook her to the core.

She was late.

She's never late.

Hurriedly, she did her bathroom business, took a shower and got dressed in a simple teeshirt, which was just a few inches away from becoming a crop top, and jeans. She applied her Mina makeup and left the house, texting her friends.

Naina: Where are you guys?

Meera: We're in the study room, studying.

Ananya: Where are you, Naina? You're late?

Naina: I know. I overslept. I don't know how. I'm coming to the library right now.

Meera: Okay! Study room 13.

Keeping her phone in her pocket, she made a run for it. Well, speed walk for it. Grabbing a coffee in the way, she finally reached outside the Study Rooms.

Naina walked through the immense Study Rooms to get to her room. On the way, she hoped she didn't need to meet him again, or bump into him, or even socialize with him again.

She doesn't know how she mustered the courage to say what she did and lie straight to his face. More than that, she was a little proud of herself that he believed her lie.

So she thought.

Finally finding the room she needed, her pace increased, and she opened the door while talking, "I'm sorry I'm lat—"

Her words stopped in her mouth as she scanned the room and her eyes lay upon the one person she was avoiding.

"No worries, Naina." Rohan quickly spoke, before the tension in the room became loud.

Naina gave him a small smile, entered and closed the door as she sat down in one of the empty chairs. It was opposite him, and she found that to be the safest chair. She could feel his eyes on hers the entire time, but she chose to ignore it, as she realised she had to put on an act once more.

"So," Meera started, "How come you didn't wake up early? Are you fine?" Her voice, concerned.

"I'm good." Naina reassured her friend, "I was just a bit too tired and didn't get enough sleep."

"You see!" Ananya said, looking at Rohan, "This is why we say that she needs a break from her medicine and needs to do something else!"

Naina looked around confused, Why were they talking about her in the first place? "I don't need a break, I'm okay. It was just this one time."

Rohan chuckled, looking towards Naina's attempt to defend herself, "Naina! Don't worry about it! We're just joking around!"

While all this went on, Ayaan's gaze was fixed to her. He was still trying to figure her out. It didn't add up. Her words didn't match her eyes and he knew it, but he also didn't know how to prove it.

He had spent the entire night trying to rethink his own thoughts and actions. Maybe it was me who overthought the situation because I haven't done this before. He thought to himself. He might be center of attraction, but he hadn't gotten drunk kissed before.

But it still didn't fit right. He glanced over to Naina, while she looked around confused as to why she was being the topic of conversation. He briefly pictured the evident difference in them. She was startled by a little mention of her name while he was accustomed to having his DMs filled with thirst messages and was used to walking across campus, pulling all eyes to him.

They were polar opposites.

But, opposites attract, right?

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