Afterlast night?
That kiss was never supposed to mean anything. It started as a challenge. A tease. But the second her lips met mine, everything flipped. Her hands, the way she clung to me like she didn’t want the moment to end, the sound of her breath tangled with mine—it undid something in me.
It wasn’t just a kiss. It was like her hand had slipped into a part of me I’d sealed off long ago. A place I didn’t let anyone touch.
I knew she couldn’t sleep alone—no matter how confidently she tried to lie her way through it. Her mouth spoke one thing, but her eyes… they always gave her away. I practically had to drag her to my room just so she’d close her eyes for more than five minutes.
We laughed over her ridiculous theories about life, my apparent vendetta against sleeping in shirts, and her Dadi’s over-the-top birthday prep. She told me stories—messy, funny, personal. She gave me her whole heart in fragments.
Everything. Everything—except the part where she was leaving.
Today.
Without saying goodbye.
“Good morning, Hothead,” Meeta’s voice pulled me out of my thoughts as she strolled into the kitchen, yawning like she’d fought off a bear in her sleep.
“Hmm,” I grunted, barely acknowledging her. Talking wasn’t on the menu today—not unless it involved snapping someone’s head off.
Meeta raised a brow as she slid onto a stool. “Wow. You’re more unbearable than usual. Where’s your girlfriend? At least she makes you semi-human.”
“How the hell should I know?” I muttered, slamming my glass into the sink with enough force to make her jump. “And stop calling her my girlfriend.”
“Okay, damn.” She blinked. “Didn’t know being touchy was trending this morning.”
Before I could respond, Kartik stepped in, arms folded, giving me thatI know you're being an idiotlook.
“Manav,” he said calmly, “you gonna tell me what’s going on, or do I need to punch you and drag it out?”
“Nothing is going on,” I snapped, dragging a hand through my hair. “And I’m not apologizing for not bursting into song to brighten your goddamn morning.”
“Don’t make me break your nose, Manav,” Kartik muttered, stepping closer, arms crossed like he meant it.
I had a million things demanding my attention. A board meeting. Unsent reports. An inbox begging for mercy. I didn’t have time—or the energy—to waste on pointless emotions.
Especially not for the girl who thought a scribbled note on my nightstand was enough.
“What the hell is this?” Kartik asked, lifting the paper off the counter. He read it aloud, slowly.
Hey,
I didn’t know how to say goodbye, so I’m writing instead.
Please stop spoiling me with your cooking—I’ll miss it more than I can admit. I’m heading back to India.
Thank you… for everything. The rescues. The laughter. The dares. And yes, the kiss.
The Cape House is even more magical than I’d imagined—thank you for bringing me here. I’ll never forget it.
Also, my book is finished. It says thank you, too.
Take care,
Kiara
Kartik let the paper drift back onto the counter. His voice was low. “Holy shit… She left? And she didn’t even tell you?”
From the other end of the kitchen, Meeta froze, jaw tightening. “Wait—what? She just left? Like that? I knew it. She was too good to be true!”
