The party was in full swing, lights flickering across the garden, music blasting through the speakers, and laughter echoing under the starry night. Jay was at the center of it all, not just as the organizer but as the life of the party.
Tiya had taken a break near the mocktail bar, sipping on Black Lemonade when she noticed something interesting. Jay had been hovering around Chahat a lot—more than usual. At first, she shrugged it off, but then she caught Kiya's expression from across the garden.
Kiya stood near the photo booth, her arms crossed, her brows furrowed. Her well-manicured fingers tapped impatiently against her elbow as she watched Jay—her Jay—laughing with Chahat near the low floor seating area. He had pulled a chair for Chahat, leaned in when she spoke, and even fixed her golden bracelet when it got loose. Kiya's eyes narrowed dangerously.
Tiya smirked. Oh no… this is going to be good.
As the DJ blasted a high-energy track, Jay extended his hand to Chahat. "Come on, let's hit the dance floor," he grinned. Chahat hesitated for a moment before accepting, and the two disappeared into the crowd of dancing students.
Kiya's nails dug into her palm. She turned sharply to Tiya, her voice dripping with irritation. "Is it just me, or is Jay acting like Chahat's personal assistant tonight?"
Tiya took another sip, suppressing a laugh. "He does seem very… attentive."
Kiya's nostrils flared. "Attentive?! He's practically glued to her! He didn't even compliment my dress tonight! And look at her! She's not even trying!"
"She does look effortlessly pretty," Tiya mused.
That was the last straw.
With her golden heels clicking aggressively against the floor, Kiya marched towards the dance floor, her eyes set on one person—Jay.
Jay was laughing, completely unaware of the brewing storm, as he spun Chahat around. But before their hands could touch again, Kiya stepped in, cutting between them with a dramatic flair.
"Mind if I borrow Jay?" she said, her voice sugar-sweet but her smile anything but.
Chahat blinked, startled. "Uh—"
Jay chuckled. "Kiya, we were just—"
"Oh, I know what you were just doing." Kiya's voice was honey-coated venom. "But Jay, weren't you supposed to be checking on the photo booth? I mean, I did all the work, and you didn't even come once. How rude!"
Jay scratched his head. "Oh, right—"
"And Chahat," Kiya continued, flipping her hair, "I'm sure you don't need Jay waiting on you hand and foot, do you?"
Chahat, sensing the tension, took a step back. "Um… I'll just go get some mocktails." She turned and disappeared into the crowd.
Jay sighed dramatically. "Kiya, you didn't have to do that—"
"Didn't I?" Kiya raised an eyebrow. "Jay, are you blind, or do you just enjoy making me jealous?"
Jay groaned, rubbing his temples. "Not this again, Kiya."
"Oh yes, this again, Jay! You were practically fawning over her all night! Did you even notice my dress? My hair? No? But you noticed Chahat's bracelet problem?"
Tiya, who had sneakily made her way closer to witness the verbal showdown, whispered to a nearby student, "Damn, this is better than any drama club performance."
Jay finally lost his patience. "Kiya, it's a party, not a battlefield! I was just talking to Chahat! Why do you always have to turn everything into a competition?"
Kiya gasped as if he had just accused her of high treason. "Oh, so now I'm the problem? You know what, Jay? Enjoy your night—WITHOUT ME!"
With that, Kiya stormed off, her golden dress shimmering under the fairy lights, leaving Jay groaning and Tiya biting her lip to keep from laughing.
---
THE PARTY GOES ON
Despite the chaos, the party continued smoothly. The gold confetti shower at the entrance sparkled like liquid gold, the luxury mocktails were a hit, and the 360° camera had freshers lining up for their perfect shots.
Chahat rejoined the fun, spending time with Tiya and some other students, while Jay tried to brush off the confrontation. As for Kiya? She spent most of the night dramatically sulking near the photo booth, snapping flawless pictures while side-eyeing Jay every five minutes.
As the event reached its grand finale, the cold pyro fireworks lit up the sky, and for a moment, everyone—including Kiya—forgot the drama.
With a final round of cheers, a last-minute flurry of selfies, and a few unresolved tensions, the night of gold and glamour came to a close—leaving behind both shimmering memories and simmering emotions.