Chapter 9

Naina's heart hadn't stopped racing since the moment she stepped out of the party. She thought the cool night air would help her calm down, but all it did was amplify the chaos inside her. She replayed the kiss in her mind, over and over, her hands trembling slightly as they clutched her phone.

The heat of his touch still lingered on her skin—his fingers firm on her waist, his lips demanding yet gentle. The way he pulled her closer, his breath mingling with hers, had set her body alight in a way she had never experienced before.

And she had kissed him first.

That realization hit her like a ton of bricks. She'd been the one to close the space between them, the one who had surrendered to that magnetic pull.

When she finally got back to her dorm, Ananya was still out with Meera, leaving Naina blissfully alone to crumble into the safety of her bed. She buried her face in her pillow, muffling the groan that escaped her lips.

What did I do?

The next morning, sunlight filtered through the thin curtains, hitting her square in the face. She groaned, rolling over and pulling the blanket over her head. Her body felt sluggish, a mix of exhaustion and the aftermath of too many emotions in too short a time.

When she finally dragged herself out of bed, her reflection in the mirror was a mess. Her caramel-highlighted hair was a tangle, and her top from last night was wrinkled. She sighed, heading to the washroom, brushing her teeth then showering, washing her hair and then throwing on a fresh pastel pink sweatshirt and jeans, hoping to disappear into the background as she always did.

But her mind wouldn't let her forget.

Every time she closed her eyes, she saw his face—how close it had been to hers, the way he had looked at her like she was the only person in the room.

He's probably forgotten all about it, she told herself, pulling her hair into a quick braid. He has girls falling at his feet every day. Why would he care about one stupid kiss?

Later That Day

By lunchtime, she still hadn't recovered. Ananya and Meera were already at the cafeteria, waving her over as she approached hesitantly. She scanned the room automatically, her chest tightening when she spotted Ayaan at his usual table.

He wasn't alone, of course. His friends surrounded him, and a couple of girls hovered nearby, laughing at something he'd said. He looked perfectly at ease, the picture of confidence and charm.

Of course, he doesn't care, she thought bitterly. Why would he?

"Naina!" Meera waved her over again. "You're walking like a zombie. Come on, we're starving."

She managed a small smile, sliding into the seat beside Ananya and keeping her back to Ayaan's table. Her friends started chatting about their morning classes, but Naina's mind was elsewhere.

"So! Why did you leave so early yesterday? And you woke up so late this morning? Is everything okay?" Meera asked in concern.

"Y..Yeah." Naina lied, "Everything is fine. I felt uncomfortable and I wanted to sleep. I overslept."

Nothing was fine, she thought to herself. She had just kissed Ayaan Malhotra - the heartthrob of the University. She had feelings but she didn't expect them to come out this way - she didn't expect them to come out at all.

She ate her food silently and kept her head down in the conversations of her friends, as she looked at them, trying to keep her eyes away from scanning a specific person in the crowd. She didn't need to scan, he was there but he wouldn't care.

He had a line of girls behind him, he mostly forgot about her, she convinced herself, it's best to move on and act like it didn't happen.

She tried to be a part of the conversation again until she realized his gaze was on her. Well, she felt a gaze on her but she didn't need to see to know who it was.

She knew who it was.

"L...Let's go." Naina said to herself friends. It was a desperate attempt to leave the room so she could breathe freely. She currently felt like she had held her breath as she sat there.

"Is everything okay?" Ananya asked her, evidently noticing her pale face and partially restless eyes and body language.

"W..What? Yes. It is. I'm just still tired. Can we go outside for a walk, please?" Naina persisted.

They all got up and left the canteen. Walking through the halls of campus, she felt better because she knew that she isn't alone. She has her group and they aren't leaving her, not right now at least.

When her eyes fell on the time, she startled. It was almost 4pm. She hadn't touched her books today and the guilt of that rose. She'd been too caught up in Ayaan and their encounter last night that she completely forgot about a submission she had.

"Guys,I think I'll head to the library." Naina's words halted everyone in their tracks as they turned around to see their friend.

"Library? Again? Why?" Ananya asked.

"I have an assignment due, and I'm really behind. I'll see you guys at home." Naina embraced her friends in a warm hug as they reciprocated and left from there.

She ran.

She ran to the library.

She knew that this was the one place she wouldn't have to worry about finding him. He isn't coming to the library, but still she ran to take her seat in her favorite corner, with 3 of the sides covered, making her invisible.

Just like she wanted.

~•~

Naina had hoped to avoid him entirely, but fate had other plans. While she walked through the campus courtyard, arms full of books, she felt it—the undeniable weight of his gaze.

She turned her head slowly, and there he was, leaning casually against a bench on the path, his dark eyes locked on her.

Her stomach flipped, her mind screaming no no no, but her feet betrayed her, freezing in place.

Ayaan pushed off the bench, making his way toward her with a calm, purposeful stride.

"Running away from me, Naina?" His voice was low, almost teasing, but there was an edge to it that made her pulse quicken.

"I-I wasn't running," she stammered, clutching her books tighter.

He tilted his head, his smirk softening into something unreadable. "No? Then why haven't I seen you all day?"

Her heart hammered. "I've been... busy."

Ayaan stepped closer, and she instinctively stepped back, her back pressing against the wall. He didn't corner her completely—he left just enough space for her to escape, but the intensity of his presence was overwhelming.

"You've been avoiding me," he said, his voice dropping.

Naina's breath hitched. "I wasn't avoiding—"

"You were," he interrupted softly, his gaze dipping to her lips for a fraction of a second. "But you don't need to. Last night wasn't a mistake, no matter how much you want to pretend it was."

Her cheeks flamed. "I... I don't remember—"

"Don't lie to me," he said sharply, his hand coming up to rest on the wall beside her. He wasn't touching her, but she felt the heat of his closeness. "You remember everything. Just like I do."

Naina's eyes darted around, desperate for an escape, but his words pinned her in place.

"You can run all you want, Naina," Ayaan said, his voice softening, "but this? Whatever this is between us? You can't escape it. You felt it too."

Her lips parted as if to protest, but no words came. For a moment, they just stared at each other, the tension thick and electric.

"I don't know what you're talking about. I don't remember anything. I... I drank too much." She tried to refute.

Ayaan's seductive chuckle made her shiver, but it was well hidden under the fabric of her sweatshirt. His gaze on her darkened, while she tried to look away, "You don't remember anything?"

Naina shook her head slowly, without looking at him. He smirked, "Then why can't you meet my eyes?"

Naina's eyes widened as she felt exposed. Slowly, just to prove him wrong, she looked at him and suddenly felt drowned in the depth of his eyes. His eyes pierced into her, as if trying to read her soul. He was too close to her liking and she was getting flashbacks of last night. The same cologne, the same proximity.

Ayaan finally stepped back, his smirk returning as he gave her space. "You remember everything, Naina."

And just like that, he walked away, leaving her breathless, confused, and undeniably shaken.

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