“I’ve always dreamed of pursuing my master’s abroad,” she admits softly. “But I’ll need my aunt and uncle’s approval first.”
“That’s not even a problem. You just need to tell them, and they’ll agree to anything.” I respond too quickly, though the thought of her leaving the country stings a little.
“I know…” she trails off, her eyes locking onto mine as if she’s reading my thoughts. A strange unease rises in me.
Is this that jittery feeling you get when your girl looks at you?
“I still have time to figure things out,” she adds with a light chuckle. “And I can try a long-distance relationship if it comes to that.” Her laughter rings like soft music, and I instantly understand what she’s hinting at.
“Well, I don’t mind either,” I grin, and she lowers her head with a shy smile.Is she blushing?
“You look beautiful when you smile.”
There, I said it.
Her reaction is priceless, eyes widening in surprise, almost questioning if she heard me right.
“Ah…t-thank you.” She tucks a strand of hair behind her ear, and the reality of having a girlfriend suddenly feels exhilarating.
“So, Reyansh…c-can I call you Rey?” Her sudden question catches me off guard.
Rey?
The name echoes in my mind, Amyra’s voice lacing every syllable. She was the one who coined that nickname, and I’d never let anyone else use it.
But now, my girlfriend wants to.
Should I let her?
Every time I hear that name, Amyra’s face flashes before me, her smile, her tone, and it’s hard to separate the two. Why does everything linked to her feel so heavy to let go of?
“Hey, Reyansh! It’s okay, I’ll just call you by your full name,” Aditi says quickly, sensing my discomfort.
“I’m sorry,” I mumble, guilt creeping into my tone. “It’s just…that nickname belongs to Amyra. I hate that I can’t move past it, but I genuinely mean no disrespect.”
Disappointment flickers in her eyes, and it twists something inside me.
“It’s fine,” she says after a pause, forcing a small smile. “Some things never change.” The words hit harder than I expected.
It’s just a nickname so why does it feel impossible to let go?
“You can call me Reyu, as my mom does. Or maybe Reyan or–”
“Leave it, Reyansh. It’s okay.” Her tone is gentle, but the distance in it feels louder than any silence.
“So why can’t I see people around us?” she asks, glancing around curiously.
“I booked the whole café for us.” Her eyes widen, surprise flickering across her face.
“But what’s the need for that?”
“A private conversation helps us avoid attention, especially from the media.” I can’t risk Reyansh Thakur dating a woman turning into a headline. The last thing I want is for Aditi to deal withunwanted scrutiny. It’s better to keep things quiet until we know where this relationship is headed.
“You’re right,” she says with a teasing smile. “People go crazy over B&T Corp’s heirs, especially you, the city’s most eligible bachelor.”I chuckle, shaking my head.
“That must be an outdated joke. I just want to protect your peace, Aditi. We need to be careful of prying eyes.” I roll a tissue between my fingers, wipe my mouth, and look back at her.
“Thank you,” she says softly.
