??????? ?????? [?????????]

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.