part5
654 Words
I was pulling my phone out of my bag when I heard Nova’s loud, carefree laugh echo behind me.
I turned around—she was sitting with Shayan on a bench, totally lost in their own little world.
As soon as she saw me, her smile froze and she jumped up quickly.
“Wow, Nova, really?”
She rushed over, all nervous giggles.
“It was just a joke, Janan. Don’t be so sensitive.”
Honestly, I was too emotionally drained from dealing with Shahaan to even bother fighting.
“Fine. You're forgiven. I’m heading home. You coming?”
She gave me a confused look, then quickly nodded, like she'd been waiting for an excuse to leave.
“Yeah, let’s go.”
We said goodbye to Shayan and started walking to my car.
Nova glanced over, eyes full of curiosity.
“What happened? You look like someone just stole your favorite pair of shoes.”
“Nothing. I just didn’t want to lose it in front of Shayan.”
She pulled my bag out of my hand.
“Nope. Try again. You don’t care about being embarrassed. If you didn’t explode in his face, something’s seriously wrong.”
I sighed.
“Get in the car. I’ll tell you everything.”
We sat inside, and I spilled it all—my argument with Shahaan, the tension, the shouting I kept trapped inside.
Nova, naturally, went full savage mode on Shahaan with her commentary.
I couldn’t help but smile bitterly.
I told myself that was it.
He was out of my life.
End of chapter.
A week passed.
Nova and Shayan were definitely getting closer.
And me? I was pretending not to notice.
I was in class when Nova suddenly appeared beside me, grinning like a maniac.
“The professor’s not coming! Let’s go shopping.”
It was our only class of the day, and it just got canceled.
“I’m exhausted, Nova.”
“Pleaseee, I didn’t bring enough clothes when I came here. I seriously need stuff.”
“Then go. Alone.”
She pouted. “It won’t be fun without you.”
God. That pout.
“Fine. But only for an hour.”
We arrived at the mall and my mood was already circling the drain.
“This is Shahaan’s shopping center, right?” Nova asked casually.
My head snapped up. “What?!”
She pointed at the giant sign above the entrance.
I stared.
No. Freaking. Way.
Of course.
Of course the universe would send me straight into his territory.
“Let’s get what you need and leave. Fast.”
We walked through the aisles, Nova bouncing from store to store.
She tried on dresses, shoved shoes in my face, and somehow managed to force me into giving fashion advice I had zero energy for.
I was zoning out when something shifted.
A feeling.
Like someone was staring at me.
Hard.
I turned—and my heart skipped a beat.
There he was.
Shahaan.
Leaning against the wall like he’d stepped out of a drama series, arms crossed, that arrogant smirk glued to his face.
Our eyes locked.
I looked away instantly and grabbed Nova’s hand.
“Keep walking.”
“Too late,” she whispered. “He’s coming.”
I cursed under my breath.
“Didn’t expect to see you here,” his voice rang out behind us.
I turned slowly, jaw clenched.
“Trust me, neither did I.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Still holding a grudge?”
“You think this is about ego?”
He shrugged. “You tell me.”
I stared at him for a beat. The nerve of this guy.
Nova touched my arm. “Let’s go, Janan. He’s not worth it.”
I didn’t say another word.
Just turned and walked away, my heartbeat hammering in my ears.
Shahaan didn’t follow. But his voice… his stare…
It followed me all the way home.
- Writer
