Pixels and Reality 4
As Shyam wrestled with his thoughts, the door suddenly creaked open.
Before he could react, a shadow rushed toward him—pushing him back onto the bed.
A pair of arms wrapped tightly around him, holding him down. His heart pounded. His breath hitched.
The scent of rain and shampoo filled the air.
It was Raitha.
She was soaked, her damp hair clinging to her face. Her breathing was heavy, almost like she had just sprinted all the way back here. Beads of sweat glistened on her skin.
"What happened? Why are you so out of breath?" Shyam asked, his voice laced with concern.
The room was dark, the only light coming from the faint glow of the city outside.
And then—
A whisper, soft yet trembling.
"I… I l-love… you."
Shyam's mind went blank.
His heart skipped a beat.
His breath caught in his throat.
"Did I… hear that right?"
Before he could even process her words—
A sudden warmth pressed against his lips.
Raitha was kissing him.
His brain spiraled into chaos. The girl he had secretly fallen for… was now right here, confessing and sealing it with a kiss. It was so sudden, so unexpected, that he couldn't even move.
By the time he regained control of his senses, the kiss had ended.
Raitha pulled away abruptly, her face unreadable in the dim light.
And then—without another word—she ran out of the room.
She didn't return that night.
Shyam lay awake, staring at the ceiling, his lips still tingling. His heart refused to settle. His mind replayed everything over and over again.
Did this really just happen?
---
The Next Morning
The first thing Shyam did was rush out of the room.
And there she was.
Raitha was already dressed, her suitcase in hand, ready to leave.
She didn't wait for him.
Before walking away, she turned around just for a second. A small, knowing smile played on her lips.
A smile that wasn't just friendly—it was romantic.
And with that, she whispered a single word.
"Sorry."
Then she was gone.
Shyam stood frozen in place, watching her disappear into the crowd.
His heart was still racing.
His mind was still a mess.
And he had no idea what would happen next.
---
To be continued...