“True. I’ve never seen someone so dedicated.”
“Well,” I smirk, “I’ve seen one person before her.”
“Who?”
“Oh, baby, it’s you, the queen of dedication and hard work. So dedicated that you forget about me while drowning yourself in work.”
“God, Rey! You can’t demand my presence during working hours.”
“Alright, princess. We’re almost near our houses. Where do you want to go?”
“Pull over near the space beside the Thakur Estate.”
“Okay.” He does exactly that, and I ask him to step out of the car. He obeys without question.
“Where are we going?”
“Let’s take a walk.”
“Our jogging street?”
“Yes. But beyond our usual route.”
“Alright, baby. Let me give you my jacket, you might catch a cold.” Before I can protest, he unzips his jacket and gently drapes it over my shoulders, guiding my arms into the sleeves and zipping it up snugly.
“Let’s go.” He laces his fingers with mine, and I interlock them instinctively. Having your best friend as your boyfriend already feels like a win. Having him be this considerate, caring, loving, and a complete green flag feels like a blessing. I try to match his efforts, but he’s always one step ahead, something I secretly enjoy.
We walk forward with light conversations and shared smiles, my head occasionally resting against his shoulder while his arm settles comfortably around me. Cozy. Safe. Us.
“Okay. Stop here.” We halt at a familiar spot. Reyansh looks around, visibly struggling to recognize it.
“Do you remember this place?”
“It feels familiar, but I can’t recall when or how.”
“But I can never forget it.”
“Help me remember?”
“This is where I lived through one of the worst moments of my life, one of my biggest nightmares.” His eyebrows straighten with realization, and a soft, vulnerable look crosses his face.
“This is where I found you that night,” he murmurs, exhaling heavily.
“Yes, Rey. This is where I broke down for the first time in my life, right after your announcement about having feelings for Aditi. I regretted not seeing the signs, not realizing how sidelined I had been in your heart. I cried endlessly, not caring about the heavy rain pouring down. But do you know what’s magical about it?” He waits, eyes fixed on me.
“The man who caused my heartbreak came running behind me, drenched to the bone. He didn’t realize it then, but he chose me over the newly announced feelings, in front of the whole family.” Reyansh lets out a soft laugh, his face glowing with a bittersweet mix of happiness and regret.
“That should’ve been my biggest realization,” he admits. “But I brushed it off, calling it an old habit of looking after you.”
“You really are dumb and clueless sometimes,” I tease. “But do you know the worst part of that night?”
“I thought we already covered it.”
“No. It's way worse.”
“God, what did I do now?” Fear flashes across his face. I gently pull his cheeks, a habit I slip into when I feel endeared by him.
“You said ‘I love you, Ames’ but only as a friend. Your silly platonic love confession.”
