It's funny how things turn out sometimes. From my experience till now, it's ironic how the people you were friends with, someone with whom you literally worked whole year, turns out to be "yearning" for you, when you are just right in front of them.....
Hani's birthday storm brought a gift for me too. With just four people, me, Hani, Ash, and Jey waiting to wish Hani her birthday, we waited in the dark porch of our Dean's office for the storm to end. When the storm ended, Ash left swiftly, Hani left a bit later, leaving me with Jey. I noticed that she sensed something while leaving us alone, but I couldn't pinpoint it that moment, she anyways had a brilliant sixth sense. Soon after, I noticed a different calm between me and Jey. Me and Jey used to work together for our college club, more like colleagues, less than friends (so, definitely not in my friend circle). We were standing a bit closer than usual, our fingers intermingling, something I had now ignored for days now. For some reason, in the last few months, we were coincidently meeting each other a lot and left with a different kind of tension between us. We leaned closer for some time, in the silence of our campus. Then he suddenly said, "I will drop you off at the parking on". Not asking, but ordering as we that was normal between us ( it was not). I found it strange but thought fine by me if I don't have to walk. Oh man, I should have gone with my guts.
We reached the parking entry, I got off from his bike, ready to thank, and shake hands (a formality for which I later paid with my mental health). He took my hand in his hands, once again playing with my fingers, and asked in the softest tone he ever used with me, "Was there any chance of something happening between us?". Like a fool who thought I could pull off something funny, unserious, bit flirty I replied, "Maybe." In a split second, he kissed on my cheek and ran away on his bike, leaving me shocked in the middle of the road.
I stood there for a moment, processing what just happened. Then I realised, we were not alone there......