accidentally in love

The Unspoken Tension

The weekend felt like a blur, and Aradhya couldn’t escape the thoughts that had been running through her mind since the awkward encounter with Zayn in the cafeteria. There was something about that moment that lingered, a heaviness in the air that neither of them had addressed. Every time she saw Zayn, her heart seemed to race a little faster, and the way he’d reacted when Alex had come into the picture—it wasn’t the Zayn she knew. Or maybe, she was starting to realize, she didn’t know him as well as she thought.

Saturday came, and with it, a chance to escape the constant swirl of emotions. Aradhya decided to take a walk, hoping the fresh air would help clear her mind. She found herself at the small café she loved, a quiet, cozy place where she could just sit and lose herself in a book or her thoughts. The idea of not having to think about school, friends, or the ever-present tension between her and Zayn was a welcome relief.

As she entered, the familiar scent of coffee filled the air, and she smiled to herself. It was the perfect place to unwind. The café was busy, as usual, but the moment she stepped inside, her eyes locked onto the last place she wanted to see him.

Zayn.

He was sitting by the window, his attention absorbed in the screen of his phone. He didn’t seem to notice her at first, and part of her wondered if it was a sign that she should turn around and leave. But then, to her surprise, Zayn looked up, his eyes immediately finding hers, a slight smirk appearing on his face.

“Aradhya,” he said, his voice a little too cheerful for someone who was supposed to be just a ‘friend.’ “Fancy seeing you here.”

She paused for a moment, unsure whether to approach or just leave. He was still the same cocky, teasing Zayn, but there was something different now. A strange sort of tension hung between them that hadn’t been there before. And as much as she hated to admit it, part of her didn’t want to avoid him. Not anymore.

"Yeah, didn’t know you were a fan of coffee shops," she replied, attempting to sound casual. She moved toward the counter, ordering her usual coffee, all while keeping a careful eye on Zayn, trying not to give away the sudden nervousness in her stomach.

When she grabbed her drink, Zayn stood up and made his way toward her, his grin widening. “You should sit down. I’m not going to bite,” he teased.

Aradhya hesitated, but the corner of her mouth twitched up as she found herself responding to his playful tone. “I’ll just take my coffee to go,” she said, taking a small step back.

But Zayn wasn’t having it. He followed her, his expression turning a little more serious as he closed the gap between them. “Come on,” he urged, his voice quieter now. “We’re both here. No reason not to sit for a minute.”

There was an undeniable pull in his gaze, something that made it hard to refuse. She felt that familiar warmth creep up her neck as she considered the offer. Maybe a few minutes wouldn’t hurt. She could be civil, right?

Aradhya found a small table by the window and sat down. Zayn joined her a moment later, sitting across from her with that devil-may-care grin that made her heart skip a beat.

For a while, they sat in silence, each of them sipping their coffee, but neither of them really relaxing. The tension was palpable, like an unspoken question hanging in the air between them. Aradhya tried to distract herself by looking out the window, but the pull of Zayn’s presence kept tugging at her. She could feel his eyes on her, but every time she glanced at him, he quickly turned his attention to his phone.

“So,” he said after a beat, breaking the silence. “You still think I’m a total jerk, or are we past that?”

She glanced up, a little surprised by the sudden shift in the conversation. She hadn’t expected him to be so direct, especially after their last conversation. “I never said you were a jerk,” she replied, feigning nonchalance, though the words felt a little too stiff even to her own ears.

Zayn raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying her act. “Oh, come on. You’ve got that look in your eyes every time I do something... stupid.” His voice softened, almost as if he were trying to coax the truth out of her.

Aradhya shifted uncomfortably in her seat. “Maybe I don’t know what to think of you anymore,” she admitted, her voice quieter than she intended. “You’re always... different. One minute, you’re the guy who teases me, and the next, you’re—well, I don’t even know.”

Zayn’s expression softened, a faint glimmer of understanding flickering in his eyes. “I get it,” he said, his voice uncharacteristically serious. “I guess I’ve been a little... unpredictable lately. But I don’t mean to make things weird. Honestly, it’s just the way I am.” He leaned forward slightly, his tone still light but with an edge of sincerity. “I’m not trying to mess with your head. If anything, I’m just trying to get you to stop looking at me like I’m the enemy.”

She didn’t know how to respond to that. She’d never seen him this open before, and it left her wondering whether it was just another one of his games or if he was genuinely trying to show her something deeper. But she wasn’t sure if she was ready to trust him completely—not yet, anyway.

“I’m not sure I know how to look at you anymore,” she said quietly, staring into her coffee cup. Her words hung in the air between them, neither of them sure of where things were going.

Zayn stayed silent for a moment, his gaze locked on her. “You don’t have to know,” he said finally. “But I’m not going anywhere. You can figure it out, Aradhya. Just... don’t shut me out completely.”

Her heart pounded in her chest as his words landed on her like a weight, but she didn’t know how to react. This wasn’t the moment for a confession. Not yet. Not when everything still felt so up in the air.

But she did know one thing: She couldn’t pretend things were the same anymore. Something was changing between them, and whether they liked it or not, they were both tangled up in it now.