Chapter 9 The Almost-Confession
465 Words
Aarav sat in class, pretending to listen to the lecture while his mind replayed Aadhya’s words from earlier.
“I’m not sure it can’t become true.”
What did she mean?
Was she hinting something?
Was she confused?
Was she joking?
His brain was doing parkour.
Rishi nudged him. “Bro, you’ve been smiling at your notebook for ten minutes. People think you’re flirting with your notes.”
Aarav snapped the book shut. “I’m normal! Very normal!”
“Exactly what an abnormal person would say,” Rishi whispered dramatically.
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Meanwhile, Aadhya…
Aadhya’s day wasn’t any less chaotic.
She kept staring at her phone, half-expecting Aarav to message her to clear things up.
But he didn’t.
And weirdly, that disappointed her.
Meera caught her staring at her phone again.
“Waiting for a message from someone?” Meera smirked.
Aadhya threw a cushion at her. “Shut up!”
“You like him,” Meera teased.
Aadhya didn’t deny it this time.
She simply sighed. “I… don’t know. But when he looks at me… I feel something. Something new.”
Meera softened. “Then explore it, yaar. Don’t overthink.”
Aadhya nodded quietly.
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Evening – The Rooftop
College was over, but neither Aarav nor Aadhya went home straight.
Aarav ended up on the library rooftop… the same place he always went when he was confused.
Aadhya walked up soon after, holding a cup of warm tea.
Both froze when they saw each other.
Aadhya smiled first. “I figured you’d be here.”
Aarav blinked. “You did?”
She nodded. “You come here when your brain overheats.”
Aarav ran a hand through his hair nervously. “Is it that obvious?”
“Yes,” she laughed softly.
Silence settled, but it wasn’t awkward.
More like… comfortable.
Finally, Aarav spoke. “Aadhya… about today… that rumor…”
Aadhya looked at him. “Did it bother you?”
He hesitated. “Kind of. I mean… people assuming things.”
Aadhya stepped closer. “Assuming something wrong?”
Or something right?”
Aarav’s breath caught.
He wasn’t prepared for that question.
His heartbeat went crazy.
“I… I don’t know,” he whispered.
Aadhya’s voice softened. “I think you do.”
Aarav met her eyes.
Warm. Hopeful. Scared. Just like him.
For a second, he almost said it.
Almost confessed everything he felt.
But then—
The rooftop door banged open.
Both jumped apart like guilty criminals.
The librarian walked out shouting, “WHOEVER STOLE MY COFFEE MUG, RETURN IT NOW!”
Aarav and Aadhya scrambled to opposite sides, blushing like crazy.
The moment was gone… but not forgotten.
Aarav sighed internally.
That was almost it… almost the moment.
But destiny clearly wanted to tease them a bit longer.
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- Writer
