12. Reality Check

                                    

                                          
A small note:
I had edited some parts in my story from chapter 10. Kindly read from there who has already completed it, to understand the story better. Thank you!
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Viren exhaled slowly, his frustration evident, but instead of stepping back, he moved closer again. Aarushi reflexively backed up, only to find her spine pressing against the back of the cupboard.
He didn't say a word. Instead, his hand reached up, fingers brushing her hair. Gently, he pulled out the clip holding her curls, letting them fall loose. His touch lingered a second longer, as if savoring the feel of her hair between his fingers. Aarushi's heart pounded in her chest. She knew this wasn't real—he was only doing this to make this dare believable—but her body couldn't seem to tell the difference.
His fingers trailed down from her hair to her jaw, and before he could move to her lips, she hold his hand tightly. But in swift moment, he grabbed both her hands in one of his and hold it above her head. She tried to shake his hands, "Let go of me."
"Shut up, Mehra," he whispered, his voice low and rough, as he traced her lips, smudging her lipstick. Her breath caught again. He ran his thumb over her lower lip. Then, without breaking eye contact, he wiped her lipstick across his own mouth. The sight of him with her lipstick on his lips sent a rush of heat through her, and she clenched her legs involuntarily.
Just then, the cupboard door burst open, flooding the room with light. Aarushi blinked against the sudden brightness, her breath still unsteady as she stepped out.
Everyone's eyes were on them.
Aarushi's hair was loose, her lipstick smudged, and unmistakable marks trailed down her neck. Viren, standing beside her, had her lipstick on his mouth like a badge of conquest. 
A collective pause filled the room before the teasing began.
Kartik grinned wide. "Whoa, looks like someone took the dare a little too seriously!" His laugh was loud, and a few others joined in.
"Aarushi and Viren kissing under the tree, la-la-la!" Kushal sang out in a childish voice, earning a slap from Tanya.
Aarushi's stomach twisted. She quickly moved to the nearest seat, fingers fumbling to toss her hair forward and cover her neck.
From across the room, Manya's expression turned cold, her eyes narrowing at Aarushi with barely veiled disdain. "Well," she said, her voice dripping with false sweetness, "I guess some people just know how to play the game." Her gaze flicked to Viren, softening slightly, but when it returned to Aarushi, it was anything but friendly.
Aarushi clenched her fists under the table, the weight of Manya's glare pressing on her like a physical force.
Viren, on the other hand, didn't seem fazed at all. He sat down nonchalantly, casually wiping the smudged lipstick off his mouth with his thumb. If anything, his composure only added fuel to the teasing.
Aarushi quickly glanced around, noticing Neil's smirk, and sat down hurriedly. Thankfully, the game picked back up, the awkward tension in the room cutting quickly as everyone returned to laughing and daring each other.
She exhaled a shaky breath, relieved to be out of the spotlight, though the heat of Viren's eyes on her lingered far longer than she wanted to admit.
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Later, after freshening up and changing, Aarushi sat in her room, absently running the towel over her damp hair. Her fingers brushed the tender spot on her neck, and she winced. The mark was deepening into a red-purple bruise. Goosebumps prickled across her skin at the memory of Viren's lips there, and she quickly turned away from the mirror, hoping to shake off the lingering sensation.