"love you my angel"

Episode : Just Us

🌸 Episode 7: Just Us 🌸

The “friendship declaration” had been made. Mimi got her way—Rishi had said the words, reluctantly, with gritted teeth, but still, he’d said them. And for Mimi, that was everything.

For Rishi? It was complicated.

He had never been someone’s friend. People either feared him, respected his family name, or avoided him altogether. But Mimi… she treated him like he was just Rishi. No mafia heir, no scary prince. Just a guy who sometimes frowned too much.

And now, she wouldn’t leave him alone.

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☀️ Morning Walk

The next morning, Rishi arrived at college earlier than usual. The air was cool, the campus quiet. He enjoyed these rare moments of peace—when no one was watching, no one was whispering, no one expected him to play the role of the untouchable heir.

But of course, peace never lasted with Mimi around.

Mimi (popping out from behind a tree):

“Boo!”

Rishi didn’t even flinch.

Rishi (flatly):

“You’re predictable.”

Mimi (pouting):

“Excuse me? That was top-tier jump scare effort!”

Rishi:

“You’ve done it three times this week.”

Mimi (grinning):

“And you still haven’t run away. Which means you secretly like it.”

He gave her a look, the kind that said you’re exhausting, but didn’t walk away. Instead, he kept walking toward the building, and she naturally fell into step beside him.

It had become routine now—her chatter filling the air, his silence grounding it.

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📚 Library Trouble

Later, in the library, Mimi sprawled across the table with her notebook. She was supposed to be writing, but instead she kept doodling little caricatures of Rishi with speech bubbles: “I’m scary.” “Don’t touch my fries.” “Why do I have a friend now?”

Rishi noticed, of course.

Rishi (dryly):

“That doesn’t even look like me.”

Mimi (mock gasp):

“Of course it does! Look, I captured your signature scowl perfectly.”

She held up the page proudly. Rishi reached over, tore it out, and tucked it into his book.

Mimi (grinning):

“Aw, you’re keeping it? Cute.”

Rishi:

“I’m keeping it so you don’t show anyone else.”

Mimi:

“Sure, sure. Next thing you’ll tell me you have a scrapbook of all my doodles.”

He ignored her, but his ears betrayed him by turning faintly red.

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🍵 Tea and Honesty

That evening, instead of heading straight home, Rishi found himself at the small tea shop near campus again. This time, Mimi was already there, waving at him like she’d planned it all along.

Mimi:

“Sit! I ordered for you.”

He hesitated, then sat. A steaming cup was placed in front of him, along with two samosas.

Rishi:

“You’re getting too comfortable.”

Mimi (smiling):

“Friends are supposed to be comfortable.”

For a while, they ate in silence. Then, out of nowhere, Mimi spoke softly.

Mimi:

“You know, you don’t always have to be… tough.”

Rishi looked at her sharply, but her expression wasn’t mocking. It was gentle.

Mimi:

“I mean, with everyone else, fine. But with me… you can just be normal. I won’t judge.”

He stared at his tea, his throat tight. No one had ever told him that before.

Rishi (quietly):

“Normal doesn’t exist for me.”

Mimi (firmly):

“Then make your own normal.”

He didn’t reply. But something in his chest loosened, just a little.

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🎲 The Game

The next day, Mimi dragged him to the student lounge.

Mimi:

“Okay, serious question—have you ever played carrom?”

Rishi:

“No.”

Mimi (shocked):

“What?! You’ve missed out on life! Sit.”

Before he could protest, she set up the board and pushed the striker toward him.

Mimi (grinning):

“Don’t worry, I’ll go easy on you.”

Ten minutes later, Rishi had cleared half the board with precise, calculated shots. Mimi stared in disbelief.

Mimi:

“You… you hustler! You said you’ve never played!”

Rishi (smirking):

“I haven’t. But it’s just physics.”

Mimi (groaning):

“Of course. Of course you’d say that.”

He leaned back, almost relaxed, while she sulked dramatically. But when she peeked at him, she caught something rare—he was smiling. A real, unguarded smile.

Her heart skipped. She quickly looked away, pretending to study the board.

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🏠 Fatherly Wisdom

That evening, Mimi burst into the kitchen while her father was chopping vegetables.

Mimi (excited):

“Dad! Big news. He smiled. Like, really smiled. Teeth and everything!”

Father (teasing):

“Wow, a mafia heir smiling? That’s rarer than a solar eclipse.”

Mimi (laughing):

“Exactly! I think he’s finally opening up.”

Her father gave her a knowing look.

Father:

“And how much are you opening up, hmm?”

Mimi rolled her eyes, but her blush betrayed her.

Mimi:

“Dad, it’s not like that. We’re just… friends.”

Father (smiling):

“Sometimes friendship is where the best stories begin.”

From the other room, her mother shouted:

Mother:

“Stop gossiping! Study!”

Father and daughter burst out laughing again.

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🌌 Rooftop Conversations

One late evening, Mimi found Rishi sitting alone on the campus rooftop. She sat beside him without asking.

For a while, they watched the stars in silence.

Mimi (softly):

“Do you ever wish things were… different?”

Rishi:

“Every day.”

Mimi:

“Then maybe… being friends is the first step. You don’t have to carry everything alone, you know.”

He turned to her, his expression unreadable. But his voice was softer than she’d ever heard.

Rishi:

“You really don’t know what you’re getting into, Mimi.”

Mimi (smiling):

“Maybe not. But I know what I’m doing. I’m being your friend. Whether you like it or not.”

For once, he didn’t argue. He just sat there, letting her words settle into the cracks he’d kept hidden for so long.

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🌸 Final Scene of Episode 7

Later that night, as Mimi lay in bed, she hugged her pillow and whispered to herself:

Mimi:

“He’s not as scary as he thinks. He just needs someone to remind him he’s human.”

Meanwhile, Rishi stood on his balcony, staring at the dark horizon.

Rishi (to himself):

“Friends… huh.”

And though the word felt strange on his tongue, it didn’t feel wrong anymore.

– Episode 7 Ends –

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