The moment Karthik walked away from the terrace, he felt like he could finally breathe again.
He had dodged the conversation for now, but he knew Ananya. She wasn't going to drop this.
And the worst part? A part of him didn't want her to.
---
Trying to Act Normal (And Failing Miserably)
For the next few days, Karthik tried his best to act normal.
He laughed at Ananya's jokes.
He teased her back when she annoyed him.
He even managed to focus in class.
But Ananya wasn't fooled.
She would catch him staring at her, only for him to look away too quickly.
She noticed how he hesitated before sitting next to her, as if afraid of being too close.
And most of all, she noticed the way he spoke—carefully. Like he was hiding something.
And Ananya hated it.
---
The Moment She Couldn't Ignore
It was after school when everything finally snapped.
Ananya had just finished a conversation with some of their friends when she spotted Karthik near the gate. He was standing alone, scrolling through his phone, seemingly lost in thought.
She didn't know what came over her, but she walked straight up to him.
"Karthik."
He looked up, surprised. "Yeah?"
"Are you avoiding me?"
Karthik's eyes widened. "What? No! Why would I—"
"Because it feels like you are." Her voice wasn't angry. It was… something else. Something even she couldn't explain.
Karthik opened his mouth, then closed it. He didn't know what to say.
And Ananya had had enough.
She stepped closer, searching his face. "Karthik… What's going on with you?"
Karthik swallowed. He had spent so much time convincing himself to push his feelings away.
But looking at her now—so close, so concerned—he wasn't sure how much longer he could keep pretending.
His voice was barely above a whisper. "I don't know how to say it."
Ananya frowned. "Then don't think. Just say it."
For a moment, Karthik considered it.
Telling her everything.
Admitting what he had been feeling.
Finally letting go of the weight in his chest.
But then, he saw the look in her eyes—open, trusting, waiting.
And he realized…
If she didn't feel the same, he wasn't sure he could handle it.
So instead, he forced a small smile. "It's nothing. Just give me time."
Ananya studied him for a long moment.
Then, finally, she sighed. "Fine. But don't think I'm letting this go."
She turned and walked away, leaving Karthik standing there.
And for the first time, he realized something terrifying—
The more he tried to hide his feelings… the stronger they became.
---
End of Chapter 18