The morning felt heavy when she woke up.
Her heart was already nervous before her feet even touched the floor.
How will I face him?
What if he's awkward?
What if he avoids me?
What if everything changed?
She dressed slower than usual.
On the other side of the city, he was calm.
Not because he didn't care.
But because he had already decided something — he wouldn't pretend. And he wouldn't run.
If it meant something, he'd ask. If it didn't, he'd accept.
But he needed it real.
She entered the office quietly.
Her eyes automatically searched for him.
He was at his desk.
Focused.
Typing.
Completely normal.
He looked up.
"Morning."
Simple. Easy. The same voice as always.
She blinked.
"Morning."
That's it?
No tension? No awkwardness?
He went back to work like nothing had happened.
Something inside her loosened.
Oh.
So maybe I overthought.
Maybe it wasn't that big.
Maybe… we're still normal.
Her shoulders relaxed.
By mid-morning she was almost back to herself.
Light. Chatty. Slightly childish.
She peeked at him once.
He was working.
Calm.
Still there.
Still the same.
A small smile formed on her lips.
See? Nothing broke.
We're fine.
She grabbed some papers.
"I'm going to Meera," she said to no one in particular and walked toward the lift.
The doors opened.
He was inside.
She stepped in.
A tiny awkward silence hovered.
But this time she didn't panic.
She pressed the button and stood beside him.
"Going somewhere?" he asked casually.
"To Meera. She wants these papers."
"Oh. Okay."
Silence again.
She swung the file slightly in her hand.
He looked at her.
"Are you mad at me?"
She looked at him quickly.
"No!"
He studied her face.
"Then why did you run yesterday?"
Her childish lightness flickered slightly.
"I didn't run…"
He raised an eyebrow.
She looked away.
"Okay, maybe I did."
"Why?"
She shrugged.
"I don't know… it just felt… sudden."
He nodded slowly.
Then, directly:
"Don't you like me?"
Her heartbeat jumped again.
"I—"
He leaned slightly closer but kept his tone steady.
"Aakrati."
She swallowed.
"Are you confused?" he asked.
She didn't answer.
He exhaled softly — not irritated, not angry.
Just firm.
"You can't be confused about this."
She looked at him.
"Why not?"
"Because this isn't teasing anymore."
The lift hummed upward.
He continued calmly,
"I like you. I'm not unsure about that. I leaned in because I thought you felt it too."
Her fingers tightened around the file.
"I did," she whispered before thinking.
His eyes softened for half a second — but his voice stayed steady.
"Then don't pretend it didn't happen."
She quickly defended herself.
"I'm not pretending! I just… I panicked."
"Why?"
"Because what if it ruins everything? We were nice friends."
He nodded slightly.
"I don't do things casually, Aakrati."
His tone wasn't loud.
But it was clear.
"If we do this, it's real. If we don't, that's fine too. But I won't stay in between."
She felt that firmness.
It wasn't dominance.
It was certainty.
"And I'm not forcing you," he added. "But you can't keep me in confusion. I'm not built like that."
She looked down.
Decision-making had never been easy for her.
Especially when it meant something long-term.
The lift slowed.
He added quietly,
"I asked you yesterday before I moved closer. I would have stopped."
She knew that.
That's why it scared her more.
The doors opened.
He stepped out.
Then paused.
"Aakrati," he said without turning fully, "figure out what you're afraid of. Losing me… or having me."
And he walked away.
She stood inside the lift.
Heart racing.
But this time…
She wasn't scared of him.
She was scared of herself.