Chapter 13

Ayaan had been ruminating on his time with Naina in the study room, replaying their banter in his mind. The way she hadn't fawned over him like the others, the way she had actually challenged him when he tried to help her, was refreshing. He liked it. A lot more than he expected. It was a different dynamic — one that made him feel normal, not like a walking trophy. He had to admit, he had grown used to being admired, to people constantly giving him attention, but Naina? She didn't care for any of that. She treated him like just another guy in her class, and he found that surprisingly attractive.

That night after their brief time together, he couldn't stop thinking about how easy it was to talk to her. The way she looked focused on her work, her messy bun falling out of place every time she got too into it. She had been a little shy, yes, but there was something raw and real about her, something that made him want to keep breaking down her walls, piece by piece.

He couldn't help but recall him fighting his own urge to pin her against the wall and kiss her again, to hold her waist as tightly as he did then and slam his lips to her and replay the feeling of the party again - he forgot how badly he had to look away from her lips to keep himself sane.

As he walked into the coffee shop, he spotted Rohan sitting by the counter. The familiar grin on Rohan's face as he waved him over made Ayaan smile, but something told him that Rohan wasn't being entirely upfront.

"Yo, Ayaan," Rohan said as Ayaan approached, clearly eager to dive into the conversation. "How'd the study room thing go?"

Ayaan's eyebrows shot up at the question. He hadn't told Rohan about what happened with Naina, so Rohan's interest seemed a little too intense for something that had been nothing more than a normal study session.

Ayaan raised a brow. "What do you mean? It was fine. She was working, I helped a bit. Nothing big."

Rohan didn't buy it for a second, clearly picking up on Ayaan's reluctance to share. "Come on, don't play coy. You've been staring at your phone for half an hour, man. Something happened in that room, didn't it?"

Ayaan smirked, leaning back in his chair and taking a slow sip of his coffee. "Alright, alright. I'm not gonna lie, there was... something different about it."

Rohan's eyes lit up, clearly ready to hear more. "What do you mean, different?"

Ayaan let out a low breath, running a hand through his hair. He wasn't sure what made him hesitate, but something about Rohan's knowing expression made him feel like he was about to spill more than he intended. "It was just... normal. You know? She didn't treat me like some guy she was supposed to impress. We worked on her project, bickered a little, but there was no weird tension. It felt like... I was actually helping her. And she didn't fall all over me when I did, which was... refreshing, I guess."

Rohan's grin softened, understanding the weight behind Ayaan's words. "That's how I knew you two would click. She's not the type to throw herself at someone. She respects people for who they are, not their status. And from the way you're talking, it sounds like you're finally seeing her for who she really is."

Ayaan's gaze darkened slightly as he nodded. "Yeah, she's different. I'm not used to it, honestly. But there's something about the way she looks at me. You can tell she's... not interested in the Ayaan everyone else sees. But even then... her eyes? You can't fake that, Rohan. She tries, but I know she feels something, and it's not just me imagining it. Her eyes give it all away."

Rohan was quiet for a moment, clearly absorbing the deeper meaning behind Ayaan's words. "You're right. She's smart. And I think she's trying to hide it. But with you, Ayaan? She's not fooling anyone, least of all you."

Ayaan's fingers tightened around his cup, and he leaned forward, his eyes narrowing with intent. "I'm not waiting around for her to decide if she wants to talk about it or not. I'm not like the others who just pretend it's nothing. This isn't some casual crush. I know what I want, and I want her. It's not just about her being cute or shy. There's something deeper here, and I'm not going to let her keep running from it. I've seen how her guard cracks when I'm around. I can see it in the way she looks at me. The hesitation, the way she tries to control it, but she can't. It's there, and I'm going to make her admit it."

Rohan raised an eyebrow, impressed by Ayaan's certainty. "I didn't think you had it in you to wait for someone to come around like this, but I guess you're different with her."

Ayaan's smirk turned into something more serious. "With Naina? I'm not going to let her pretend like nothing happened."

Rohan's face changed to that of a confused one, "Pretend like nothing happened?"

Ayaan looked at his friend and halted for second before continuing, "She kissed me that night at the party, Rohan."

He saw a range of expressions bounce off Rohan's face. It started with a shock, which lingered on till the end, but in between he could see waves of surprise and relief, "She what?!"

"She did. She kissed me." Ayaan narrated to him, whilst a small smile tugged on his lips as he recalled the feelings of that day, "She did drink a little, and we were talking and she suddenly kissed me. It felt perfect."

"Did you kiss her back?" Rohan interrupted.

Ayaan looked at his surprised friend and gave him a small chuckle, "Of course I did. Her lips against mine gave me a sense of electric jolt, it felt extremely different. It didn't feel like it was the alcohol talking. It felt more like that drink gave her the confidence to act on her own actions, to do what she wanted. Her words can lie but her eyes can't, her face can't. The way her body fit against mine, it doesn't lie. And I'm not going to act like it was some one-time thing. The way it felt... that wasn't about alcohol or lust. I know the difference. And I'm not letting her forget it."

"Is that why she seemed so nervous when you are around? I always assumed it's because you two are polar opposites and she has a nervous look whenever she's around anyone."

Ayaan sighed, recalling what Naina had told him last night, "She pretends to not know what happened. First she said she was too drunk to remember, but she knows I saw through her. Today, she didn't talk about it at all. She wants to ignore the spark, the connection... the kiss." Ayaan looked at his coffee cup intently, as if it were a metaphor of Naina and his gaze fixed and darkened on it, "But I'm not going to let her forget it. I know she felt what I felt, the only difference is, I'm acknowledging it."

Rohan's grin returned, but it was softer this time, a knowing look crossing his face. "Yeah, I think you've figured out what's going on between you two. But you have to remember, Naina's not like other girls. She's not going to give it up easily. If you really want her, you've got to let her come to you. She'll crack eventually. But she has to come to you on her own terms."

Ayaan's voice lowered, but there was no hesitation in it. "I'm not waiting for her to come to me, Rohan. I'm not some guy waiting in the wings. But I will be here, and every time she tries to run, I'll be right there, breaking down her walls. I'm not backing off. I know what I want."

Rohan held his hands up in surrender, impressed by Ayaan's determination. "Alright, man. I get it. Just don't push too hard, okay? Let her figure it out in her own time."

Ayaan leaned back in his chair, but his mind was elsewhere. She kissed me. And no matter how much she tried to pretend like it didn't mean anything, he knew better. She was just as tangled in this as he was. And he wasn't going to let her slip away again.

Not this time.

"I won't let her get away," Ayaan said under his breath, more to himself than to Rohan. "I'm going to crack her. And when I do? She'll see that I'm not just another guy she can brush off."

Rohan gave him a knowing look, but didn't press further. "Good luck, bro. But I think you've already got this figured out."

He turned around to see his friend, "Rohan," he said, grabbing his friend's attention, "Thanks for the help today."

Rohan smiled, "Go get your girl."

Ayaan stood up, his mind still filled with thoughts of Naina. Of her shy smiles, her fiery spirit, and the way she kissed him without warning that night. He wasn't going to let her hide from this anymore.

Not while he was around.

And when he cracked that wall she built around her heart, she'd know that it was him who had gotten through. Only him.

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