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As Ayaan stood there, feeling the lingering warmth from Zara’s kiss, he couldn’t help but laugh at his own reaction. He must have looked like a complete fool, grinning at the empty space in front of him like that. But in that moment, he didn’t care. Zara had kissed him—okay, it was just on the cheek, but it felt monumental. It was the kind of gesture that told him he wasn’t imagining things. There was something between them, and she felt it too.
He practically floated back to his dorm, each step lighter than the last. His phone buzzed in his pocket, and he pulled it out to see a message from Zara.
Thanks for today :) Had a great time.
Ayaan’s heart leaped as he quickly typed a response.
Me too! That bookstore is officially our spot now. Can't wait for our next adventure.
He hovered over the ‘send’ button for a second, wondering if “our spot” was too much, but then shrugged and hit send. It was how he felt, and for once, he wasn’t going to overthink it.
By the time he reached his dorm, Sahil was lying on the bed, headphones on, immersed in his music. Ayaan burst into the room, causing Sahil to sit up abruptly.
"Dude!" Ayaan exclaimed, his voice filled with excitement.
Sahil pulled off his headphones, blinking at Ayaan's over-enthusiastic entrance. "Whoa, what happened? You look like you just won a million."
"Better than that, my friend," Ayaan said dramatically, flopping onto his bed and staring at the ceiling. "She kissed me."
Sahil raised an eyebrow. "Wait, what? Like, on the lips?"
"Okay, no. On the cheek." Ayaan sat up and grinned sheepishly. "But still! It was a kiss, and it wasn't just any kiss. It was… a signal. A sign that things are moving forward."
Sahil laughed, shaking his head. "You sound like one of those rom-com guys right now."
"I feel like one of those rom-com guys!" Ayaan admitted. "It’s like… I don’t know, man. Things are different with Zara. She makes me feel more confident, like I don’t have to try so hard."
Sahil stretched and leaned back against the wall, looking at his friend thoughtfully. "Well, good for you, dude. Sounds like you’ve found someone who actually gets you. But don’t let your head get too big. Play it cool."
Ayaan nodded, though he was already thinking about when he could ask Zara out again. He didn’t want to rush things, but at the same time, he was eager to see where this could go.
*****
The next few weeks were a whirlwind of hanging out with Zara. They met for coffee between classes, studied together in the library, and even spent some lazy afternoons watching movies in each other’s dorm rooms. Every interaction felt natural, and soon, their casual meetings turned into something more, something neither of them explicitly labeled but both understood.
Zara was just as calm and composed as always, but there was a subtle shift in her demeanor whenever they were together. Ayaan noticed the way her eyes lingered on him a little longer, the way she laughed more freely around him. It was these small moments that told him she was just as invested as he was.
One evening, they decided to meet up at a park near campus, a quiet spot where they could talk without the usual distractions of college life. The weather was perfect—cool with a light breeze, the sun setting low on the horizon, casting the sky in hues of pink and orange.
As they walked through the park, their conversation flowed easily, covering everything from their favorite childhood memories to their hopes for the future. Ayaan felt like he could talk to Zara about anything, and she listened with the same calm attentiveness she always did.
Eventually, they found a bench and sat down, watching the sunset in comfortable silence. Ayaan glanced over at Zara, who was gazing out at the horizon, her face illuminated by the soft, fading light. She looked so peaceful, so at ease, and Ayaan couldn’t help but feel an overwhelming sense of affection for her.
"Zara," he began, his voice low, "I have to ask… how do you stay so calm all the time?"
Zara turned to him, a faint smile playing on her lips. "Calm? Me? I don’t know if I’d call myself that."
"You are, though," Ayaan insisted. "You always seem so… composed. Like nothing fazes you."
Zara tilted her head, considering his words. "I guess I’ve just learned to roll with things. Life throws a lot at you, and I’ve found that getting worked up over every little thing doesn’t really help."
Ayaan nodded, absorbing her words. "That makes sense. I wish I could be more like that. I’m always overthinking everything, you know? Like with us… I still can’t believe how lucky I am that you even agreed to hang out with me."
Zara’s smile widened, and she reached over, placing her hand on his. "Ayaan, you need to stop doubting yourself so much. I wouldn’t be spending all this time with you if I didn’t enjoy your company."
Ayaan’s heart skipped a beat at the contact, and he swallowed hard, trying to keep his cool. "So… you don’t think I’m a total dork?"
Zara chuckled softly. "You are a dork. But I like that about you."
Ayaan felt his face flush with warmth, and before he could stop himself, he blurted out, "I like you too. A lot."
The words hung in the air for a moment, and Ayaan immediately regretted the impulsiveness of his confession. But before he could backtrack, Zara squeezed his hand gently, her eyes soft and understanding.
"I like you too, Ayaan," she said quietly.
Ayaan’s heart soared, and for a moment, he didn’t know what to say. He had been so caught up in his own insecurities, so sure that someone as composed as Zara wouldn’t be interested in him, that hearing her say those words felt almost surreal.
"I—really?" he stammered, his usual nervousness creeping back in.
Zara nodded, her expression warm and reassuring. "Really."
Ayaan let out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding, and a huge grin spread across his face. He felt lighter, like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders.
They sat there in silence for a while longer, their hands still intertwined, watching as the last rays of sunlight disappeared below the horizon. Ayaan couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt so content, so at peace with everything.
Eventually, Zara stood up, pulling Ayaan to his feet. "Come on," she said playfully. "Let’s grab something to eat."
Ayaan stood up, following her lead as they headed back toward the campus. His heart was still racing, but this time, it wasn’t out of nerves. It was out of excitement, out of the realization that he was starting something real with Zara.
And he was happy. Very happy.
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