The one day he stayed

The weeks flew by, each day a mix of college work, group projects, and moments shared with friends. But as much as Vanya  enjoyed her time with her friends, there was always something in the back of her mind—something about Yuvi that she couldn't quite place. Lately, they’d grown even closer, spending more time together, teasing each other, and occasionally letting the line between friendship and something more blur.

Yet, today something felt off.

It all started when Vanya walked into the studio and saw Yuvi talking animatedly to someone she didn’t recognize. It was a girl, tall with long, straight hair and a friendly smile, and she was clearly enjoying Yuvi’s attention. They were laughing together, and there was something about the way they stood close to each other, the way Yuvi’s hand hovered near the girl's arm, that made Vanya's stomach churn.

Her heart twisted in a way she didn’t expect, jealousy bubbling up from a place she didn’t want to acknowledge. It was silly, she told herself. They were just talking. Yuvi was friendly with everyone. Still, she couldn't shake the feeling of discomfort as she watched them.

She quickly averted her gaze, hoping to shake the feelings of irritation. But she couldn’t stop looking back. She caught a glimpse of Yuvi’s laughter, and it only seemed to make her more uneasy.

---

After the session, Vanya decided to confront him. Her heart was racing, but she didn’t know why. She walked over to where Yuvi was packing up his things, still talking to the girl, and interrupted their conversation with a polite smile.

“Hey, Yuvi!” Vanya said, trying to sound casual, though her voice was a little sharper than she intended.

Yuvi turned to her, his smile widening. “Hey, Vanya! This is Meera. She’s from the second-year architecture batch. Meera, this is Vanya, one of my closest friends.”

Meera gave Vaidehi a friendly wave, but Vanya’s smile didn’t quite reach her eyes. She nodded in response, trying to mask the wave of possessiveness that had crept in.

“Oh, nice to meet you,” Vanya said, her voice a little more clipped than usual.

Meera smiled and walked away, leaving Vanya and Yuvi standing together.

Yuvi, oblivious to the tension in the air, turned to Vanya with his usual grin. “So, what’s up? You look a little... tense.”

Vanya crossed her arms and leaned against the desk, her posture casual but her mind racing. “Nothing. Just… you were getting along really well with Meera. You seemed like you were having a lot of fun.”

Yuvi raised an eyebrow, confused. “Yeah, she's a nice person. We were just talking about some project stuff. Why?”

Vanya bit her lip, trying to steady herself. “I don’t know... I guess I just don’t like seeing you so... friendly with her.”

Yuvi blinked, his smile faltering as he processed her words. “Vanya, what are you trying to say?”

She bit her lip again, her cheeks flushing slightly. She hadn’t meant for it to come out like this. “I mean, I just don’t want... other people thinking they can... get too close to you. You’re my friend, Yuvi. No one else gets to take that place.”

Yuvi’s expression softened, and he moved closer to her, his voice low but reassuring. “Hey, don’t worry. Meera’s just a friend. You're the only one who’s been there for me through everything. No one can take your place. Okay?”

Vanya’s heart skipped a beat at his words. She looked up at him, her emotions tangled. “Okay...”

Yuvi smiled, his hand coming to rest on her shoulder in a reassuring gesture. “I’m here, always. You don’t need to worry about that.”

Vanya couldn’t help but let out a soft sigh, the jealousy slowly dissipating, but she still felt a little flustered, her heart thumping in her chest. She didn’t know what this was, or what it meant, but there was something about how he made her feel that was impossible to ignore.

That night, Vanya couldn’t stop thinking about the conversation. She had acted on impulse, letting her jealousy get the best of her, but now she wasn’t sure why it had affected her so much. She didn’t like the feeling of wanting him to be only hers. But there was a part of her that couldn’t help it.

As she sat in her room, scrolling through her phone, a message from Yuvi popped up.

“Just wanted to say… you don’t have to worry. You’re my best friend, and I mean that.”

The message made her smile, a small warmth spreading through her chest.

She texted back quickly: “I know, just sometimes I can’t help it. You’re not just any friend, Yuvi. You’re... well, you're important to me.”

She hit send before she could second-guess herself, her heart racing again. She quickly locked her phone, staring at the ceiling, her mind whirling with thoughts she didn’t want to face.

The truth was, she didn’t just want him as a friend anymore. And she wasn’t sure how to handle that feeling.