The one day he stayed

The next day in the studio, the group was working on their project when Vanya’s phone buzzed. She glanced at it and immediately frowned. It was a message from Shrey. Her heart sank, but she quickly tapped it away, not wanting anyone to notice.

Yuvi, who had been watching her closely all day, couldn’t help but catch the change in her expression. The sudden shift in her demeanor did not go unnoticed by him. He casually leaned over and whispered, “What’s up?”

Vanya forced a smile, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “It’s nothing,” she mumbled, still distracted by the message.

Yuvi didn’t buy it. “Shrey again?”

Vanya shot him a confused look. “Why would you think that?”

His jaw tightened, and he leaned back, his voice quieter now, tinged with something he didn’t quite recognize. “Just seems like the kind of thing that would make you frown like that. Want me to help you block him out?”

She looked at him, a little surprised by his words. He had never been this direct about it. She shook her head. “I can handle it.”

But Yuvi was persistent. “You don’t need to handle it alone,” he said, his tone softer now. “You’re my friend, Vanya. Don’t push me away.”

There was a brief silence between them as Vanya processed his words. Her gaze flickered to his face, finding sincerity in his eyes. For a moment, she felt something shift in her chest.

That evening, after the studio session, Vanya found herself walking home with Yuvi. The air was crisp, the evening sky filled with hues of orange and purple. They had been exchanging light banter, laughing at silly things, but there was still an underlying current of something else—something that both of them tried to ignore.

As they reached the park near her apartment, Vanya took out her phone and playfully typed a message, knowing that Yuvi would look over her shoulder.

“You’re still texting him, huh?” Yuvi teased, his voice suddenly low, his eyes narrowing slightly.

Vanyq grinned. “No, just checking my messages. But you can’t be jealous. It’s just a friend.”

He scoffed. “Right, like I believe that. I’m a guy, Vanya. I know how these things go.”

Her heart fluttered a little at the way he said it, his confidence laced with a hint of something more. She looked up at him, her smile fading into something more thoughtful. “You don’t have to worry about him. I’m not like other girls.”

Yuvi stopped walking and turned to face her. There was a serious edge to his voice now. “I know you’re not like them. That’s why I—” He stopped himself, his words trailing off before he could finish the sentence.

Vanya raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. “What?”

Yuvi shook his head, his hand raking through his hair in frustration. “Forget it. I just want you to be happy, Vanya. Whatever that means.”

Her heart thudded in her chest at his words. She didn’t know how to respond, so she just smiled and nudged him lightly. “I know, Yuvi. You’ve always got my back.”

As they walked in comfortable silence toward her building, Vanya’s mind raced. She couldn’t help but wonder if he was starting to mean more to her than just a friend.

That night, after dinner, Vanya sat on her bed, her phone in hand. She’d gotten a message from Yuvraj, and despite herself, her heart skipped a beat. She opened it.

Yuvi: “Hey, you still awake?”

Vanya: “Yeah, just finished eating. What’s up?”

Yuvu: “Nothing much. Just wanted to make sure you’re okay after the whole thing with Shrey.”

Vanya paused, her fingers hovering over the keys. She didn’t know how to answer that. She wanted to tell him that she wasn’t okay, that it had been harder than she’d let on, but she didn’t. Instead, she typed back something that sounded lighter than she felt.

Vanya: “I’m fine. Just dealing with stuff.”

She pressed ‘send,’ and before she could put her phone down, another message from Yuvi appeared.

Yuvi: “Remember, you don’t have to deal with it alone. You’ve got me, okay?”

Her heart fluttered at his words. It was a simple message, but it carried so much weight. She smiled softly to herself.

Vanya: “Thanks, Yuvi. I appreciate it.”

As she closed her eyes, she could still feel the warmth of his words lingering in her chest. Things were changing, and she didn’t know if she was ready for it, but something about it felt right.