"Why are you always smiling at me?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, laced with curiosity and a hint of frustration.
He chuckled softly, his eyes never leaving hers. "Because," he said, taking a step closer, "you're the only thing worth...
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I entered the college, my headphones plugged in, drowning out the world as I made my way to the botanical garden. The crisp morning air felt refreshing, but my mind was still weighed down by the past day's events.
As I reached the garden, I scanned the area, looking for Shristi. She was already seated on a bench, waving at me with a bright smile. I smiled back and walked over, settling beside her.
"Hello," I greeted.
Without a word, she handed me a sandwich.
"It's tasty," she said proudly.
I took a bite and hummed in appreciation. "You made this?"
She grinned, showing all her teeth. "Of course!"
"It's really tasty," I admitted, taking another bite.
She looked pleased, and for a few minutes, we just enjoyed the quiet morning.
Once I finished eating, she turned to me, her expression turning serious. "Are you okay?"
I nodded. "Yes, I'm okay."
"I was really worried about you," she confessed. "I hope all this nonsense didn't affect you too much."
I exhaled, my shoulders relaxing slightly. "Thanks for your concern... but yes, it did affect me. I skipped my classes yesterday, but I'm okay now."
Her brows furrowed. "Don't let your studies suffer because of all this, Aaina."
I smiled, remembering something similar Rishaan had said.
Shristi caught the change in my expression immediately. "Why are you smiling?"
I hesitated for a moment before replying, "Rishaan said the same thing."
At the mention of his name, her face darkened. She frowned, looking at me intently.
"Rishaan said what? And when did he meet you?"
Her sharp tone surprised me. I looked at her, confused. "You... didn't know?"
She shook her head, her expression unreadable. "No, I didn't. Why didn't you tell me before?"
I opened my mouth to answer, but she continued before I could. "I told that idiot to stay away from you, and still, he went after you."
I froze.
"You... what?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
Shristi shut her eyes briefly, as if mentally preparing herself. "Did he say anything to you?"
I hesitated for a second before nodding. "He... he confessed."
Her eyes snapped open, sharp and focused. "And? What did you feel?"
I let out a small sigh. "Nothing."
I looked at her, my brows furrowing slightly. "You said you warned him to stay away... why did you do that?" My voice was calm, but there was an edge to it-curiosity, maybe even suspicion.
