accidentally in love

Tangled in Tension

Aradhya was determined to spend her Saturday in peace. After everything that had happened with Zayn—his teasing, the weird tension between them, and his undeniable charm—she needed some time to herself. She grabbed her favorite book and headed to her usual café, a quiet little place that allowed her to escape from the chaos of school, friends, and most importantly, Zayn.

As she walked in, the warm, rich scent of coffee greeted her, and for a brief moment, she felt at ease. It was the perfect spot to settle down, sip on a cappuccino, and lose herself in her book. She moved toward the counter, placing her order before finding an empty corner by the window.

But as she set her book down, ready to dive into the pages, she saw him.

Zayn.

Sitting at the bar, a coffee in hand, his attention fully focused on the screen of his phone. The familiar smirk on his face told her he was probably reading something ridiculous, maybe even laughing at it.

Aradhya hesitated. She didn’t want to make things awkward. But avoiding him felt even worse. She grabbed her coffee, her hands suddenly feeling too warm. There was no way to avoid him now. She made her way toward a table, trying her best to act casual, even though she could feel his eyes on her the moment she walked past.

It wasn’t long before Zayn’s voice broke through the noise of the café.

“Aradhya,” he called, the teasing tone unmistakable. “Fancy running into you here.”

She glanced over at him, trying to hide the fact that her heart had already started racing. “Zayn,” she replied, her tone light, but her nerves betrayed her. “Didn’t expect to see you here.”

His smirk deepened as he stood up and sauntered toward her. “Oh, I’m full of surprises,” he said, taking a step closer, clearly enjoying the way she was already flustered.

“I didn’t know you were into coffee shops,” Aradhya said, trying to sound casual, but she could hear the slight tremble in her own voice.

Zayn leaned against the table, clearly not in a hurry to leave. “I’m not,” he said with a grin. “But I knew you’d be here. Couldn’t resist.”

Her eyes narrowed slightly. He was always so cocky, but it was hard to ignore how he somehow always ended up in places she was.

“I see,” she replied, giving him a half-smile, trying to ignore the fluttering in her stomach. She was beginning to wonder if there was any place in her life that Zayn wasn’t popping up.

She took a sip of her coffee, determined not to let him get under her skin today. She was just about to turn back to her book when she saw him—Alex—walking into the café.

Alex, the guy from her history class. He was a nice guy, friendly, and always treated her well, unlike Zayn, who seemed to enjoy messing with her. Aradhya smiled when she saw him, and she couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief. If Zayn was going to be here, at least she wouldn’t have to deal with him alone.

“Aradhya!” Alex waved as he spotted her, and Aradhya returned his smile, grateful for the distraction. “Is this seat taken?”

She gestured to the empty chair across from her, and Alex grinned as he slid into the seat. Zayn, who had been standing near her, took a moment to glance at the two of them, a slight frown flickering across his face before quickly masking it with his usual smirk.

“Looks like I’m interrupting something,” Zayn said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Don’t mind me. I’ll just leave you two to... chat.”

But there was something in his eyes that told Aradhya he wasn’t about to walk away quietly. His gaze lingered on Alex for a moment too long, his jaw tightening just slightly.

Alex, oblivious to the tension, continued chatting with Aradhya. “You know, I’ve been meaning to ask you about that history assignment. Do you need help?”

“Oh, I think I’m good,” Aradhya replied, smiling. “But thanks for the offer.”

Zayn, still standing nearby, suddenly leaned in a little closer. “You need help with history? With him?” His voice was louder than usual, as if to make sure Alex could hear. “Maybe you should ask someone who actually knows the subject.”

Alex raised an eyebrow, clearly confused, but Aradhya could feel Zayn’s words hanging in the air, charged with something she couldn’t quite place. He was intentionally trying to throw Alex off, and she couldn’t understand why.

Alex, however, just laughed it off, clearly not picking up on the subtle tension. “I think I’m doing just fine,” he said with a grin. “But hey, if you’re offering, Zayn, I could use some pointers on not being a jerk.”

Zayn’s smile didn’t falter, but Aradhya saw the flicker of annoyance in his eyes. He quickly straightened up, his voice more playful now, though she could tell it was forced. “Well, guess I’m not the best guy for that job,” he said. “But I can teach you a thing or two about style if you’re interested. You know, real style.”

Alex chuckled. “I’m good, thanks.”

Aradhya felt herself caught in the middle of this silent battle between them. It was clear to her now—Zayn was jealous. And for some reason, that knowledge stirred something inside her. She wasn’t sure whether she should be annoyed or flattered. Zayn’s usual teasing had always been an annoyance, but now it felt... different. Was he trying to stake some claim? She couldn’t tell.

“Maybe I’ll see you around,” Zayn said, his voice dropping lower as he turned to leave, though not without throwing one last smirk in Alex’s direction.

As he walked away, Aradhya couldn’t help but feel the weight of his presence still lingering. She looked at Alex, who had just resumed sipping his drink, clearly unaware of the undercurrent of tension.

“Is everything okay?” Alex asked, his smile genuine but slightly concerned.

Aradhya nodded quickly, though she wasn’t sure herself. “Yeah, it’s fine,” she said, though her mind kept racing back to Zayn and the way he’d acted. There was something more beneath his teasing, something that made her wonder if things were changing between them—whether she was ready for it or not.

And as Zayn disappeared out the door, she realized one thing for sure: the game had only just begun.