The project was done.
No more shared meetings.
No more back-and-forth discussions.
No more excuses to see him.
It should have been the perfect time to let things fade.
To let him go back to his world.
To let myself forget.
But instead—
I found myself looking for him anyway.
It started small.
I told myself I was just checking my phone out of habit.
That I wasn't waiting for his texts.
I told myself I wasn't disappointed when he wasn't in the cafeteria.
That I wasn't glancing toward his desk too often.
I told myself I didn't care.
But the truth?
I cared too much.
And I hated it.
Because for years, I had stayed in the background.
Avoided him.
Kept my distance.
But now?
Now, I was the one seeking him out.
Now, I was the one who didn't want this to end.
Now, I was the one who was—
Making advances.
It was stupid.
I told myself I wouldn't do it.
But one evening, after work—
I found myself outside his office.
Just… standing there.
Like some idiot waiting for an excuse.
And then—I sent the text.
Mehul: Chai. 7 PM.
I hesitated.
Considered deleting it.
But before I could—
Vihaan: You're inviting me out? 👀
…Shit.
Vihaan showed up.
Of course, he did.
Grinning. Too smug. Too knowing.
I should have kept my distance.
I should have played it off.
But instead—I sat closer.
I let our arms brush.
I let my gaze linger.
I let him see something I had always tried to hide.
And Vihaan noticed.
For the first time—he actually noticed.
Because this time, I wasn't just reacting to him.
I was the one making a move.
And the way he looked at me?
Like he was finally figuring it out?
I knew—there was no going back.