Maya POV
I pulled Minnie to the counter and gave her a glass of water.
Maya: "Okay... now tell me everything. What happened these days? You just disappeared." She sighed deeply and looked down at her hands.
Minnie: "A lot happened, Maya... my mom was in the hospital."
There were no customers and even the manager wasn't around. It felt like the perfect time to talk.
As she slowly told me everything-about her mom's accident, her father's apology, the hospital nights-I felt my eyes fill with tears.
I hugged her tightly.
Maya: "Minnie... you went through so much in such a short time
I lifted my eyebrows and smiled teasingly.
Maya: "That Will boy... he took care of you, didn't he?"
Minnie's lips curved into a small smile at first.
Minnie: "Yeah... he was there all the time. He stayed in the hospital with me. He brought food. He didn't leave me alone even for one night."
crossed my arms dramatically.
Maya: "See! I knew it. That's not just 'fake relationship' behavior, madam."
She laughed softly, then her smile slowly faded.
Minnie: "But... since yesterday, he's been keeping distance from me."
I looked at her seriously. "Distance?"
She nodded.
Minnie: "He didn't message me. He didn't call. When I texted him about my mom, he didn't reply. It feels like something changed suddenly."
I leaned closer.
Maya: "Did something happen between you two?" She hesitated.
Minnie: "I told Sara about my feelings for him... and now I'm scared he heard it."
I sighed and held her hand.
Maya: "Minnie... sometimes boys run when they don't understand their own feelings. Not because they don't care."
She looked at me with worried eyes.
Minnie: "I don't want to lose him, Maya. He became important to me without me noticing."
I smiled gently and teased her again to lighten the mood.
Maya: "Ohhh... so the fake relationship became real in your heart?"
She hit my arm lightly.
Minnie: "Don't joke."
laughed. "Okay, okay. But listen... if he really cares, he will come back and talk to you. Until then, don't blame yourself."
She took a deep breath.
Minnie: "I hope so."
I squeezed her hand.
Maya: "And until Prince Will replies, Miss Minnie... make me one strong coffee. Emotional talks need caffeine." She finally smiled again.
Will POV
I was sitting in my room, logged into the online meeting, but my mind was nowhere near the laptop screen. Nova's voice came through my headphones, but his words felt distant, like an echo I couldn't catch. I kept staring at the screen without understanding anything.
"Will?" I heard Nova's voice.
I blinked and came back to reality.
Nova: "Do you have any doubts about what we just discussed?"
I shook my head quickly. "No... I'm good."
But the truth was, I didn't even know what the topic was.
After the meeting ended, Nova called me separately on video.
His face appeared on my screen
Nova: "Will, what happened to you? You were totally zoned out in the meeting. You're never like this. You said you understood, but I know you didn't hear a word."
I leaned back in my chair and sighed.
Will: "Nova... a lot happened after I came to Chennai."
Nova: "Tell me."
I stayed silent for a second, then finally spoke.
Will: "I met a girl here. Her name is Minnie."
Nova raised his eyebrows. "Already a story, huh?"
I gave a small smile.
Will: "First time we met accidentally... then again. She came to my birthday party. My mom liked her."
Noua smiled. "Of course she did"
My smile faded.
Will: "My uncle Shankar's daughter, Tara... she insulted Minnie in front of everyone. Minnie wanted to leave. I couldn't allow that."
Nova: "So you played the hero?"
Will: "I told everyone Minnie was my girlfriend. Just to protect her."
Nova laughed softly. "Classic Will."
I continued.
Will: "After that... her mom met with an accident. Her father pushed her out of the house. Minnie stayed in the hospital. I stayed with her as a friend."
Nova's face turned serious.
Nova: "And then?"
I hesitated.
Will: "Yesterday... I heard her telling her friend Sara that she likes me."
Nova didn't interrupt.
Will: "I froze. I never planned for this. I treated her only as a friend. But sometimes... I feel something too. I like her company. I like being with her. I feel peaceful with her."
I looked down.
Will: "But I don't want to hurt her. I'm leaving for Paris soon. This fake relationship will end. I don't want her to break because of me."
Nova folded his arms.
Nova: "So you decided to keep distance from her?"
I nodded.
Will: "Yes. I thought distance would protect her."
Nova looked straight into the camera.
Nova: "WilI... you're lying to yourself."
I looked up.
Nova: "You don't stay up all night in hospitals for 'just a friend.' You don't worry this much about someone you don't care about."
He paused.
Nova: "You're scared. Not of hurting her... but of loving her."
My throat tightened.
Will: "What if I repeat my past? What if I fail her?"
Nova's voice softened.
Nova: "Minnie is not your past. Don't make her pay for someone else's mistake."
I stayed silent.
Nova: "Distance without truth will hurt her more. Talk to her, Will. Be honest."
I closed my eyes for a moment.
Will (thought): Am I protecting Minnie... or running away from my own feelings?
Nova smiled faintly.
Nova: "Sometimes the girl who enters your life as 'fake' becomes real without warning."
When the call ended, I was left alone with my thoughts...and with Minnie's name beating inside my heart.
We were having dinner when I suddenly asked, "Mom... when are we returning to Paris?"
Mom looked at me in surprise. "Why are you asking all of a sudden, Will?"
I forced a small smile. "I have a lot of work waiting for me, Mom. I think our vacation is almost over."
Dad nodded in agreement. "Yes, Mia. Will is right. I also have some pending work in Paris. We should leave soon."
Mom went quiet for a moment. She took a deep breath and said softly, "Alright then. I'll book the tickets this weekend."
I nodded. "Okay, Mom."
But inside, something twisted painfully in my chest.
I kept eating in silence, but every bite felt heavy. I didn't know why my heart felt so tight-was it because I was leaving Chennai... or because I was leaving someone behind?
Minnie's face suddenly flashed in my mind. Her smile, her worried eyes, the way she trusted me without knowing my confusion.
I lowered my head and thought,
Once I leave, everything will end. No fake relationship. No confusion. No more feelings.
Minnie POV
The night felt strangely quiet.
After dinner, I sat on my bed holding my phone, staring at the screen again and again. No message. No missed call. Still nothing from Will.
My heart felt uneasy, like something important was slipping away and I didn't know how to stop it.
Why is he avoiding me?
Did he really hear what I told Sara that day? I hugged my pillow tightly and closed my eyes for a second. I told myself not to cry, but my chest felt heavy.
Just then, my phone buzzed.
For a second, my heart jumped, thinking it was Will.
But it was Sara.
Sara: "You okay, Min?"
I typed back slowly, "I don't know... I feel like I'm losing him without even fighting for him."
I put the phone down and walked to the window. The night breeze touched my face, but it couldn't calm the storm inside me.
I remembered how he used to text me every morning, how he checked on my mom, how he stood beside me when everything was falling apart.
Now... silence.
I whispered to myself,
"Maybe this is what happens when you love someone who only sees you as a friend."
Tears filled my eyes, but I wiped them away quickly.
If he wants a distance, I'll give him distance, I thought. I won't force my feelings on him.
Still, my heart refused to listen.
Somewhere deep inside, I felt a strange fear... like this silence was not just a distance...
...it was a goodbye I wasn't ready for.
I took a deep breath and said to myself, "It's okay, Minnie. He will message or call me soon." But my heart didn't fully believe my words.
My final exams were close, and I knew I had to prepare for them. My career was important to me. I couldn't let my feelings distract me anymore.
I opened my books, but my mind kept drifting back to him. Every page reminded me of his smile, his voice, the way he used to care without even realizing it.
I shook my head and whispered, "No... focus, Minnie. This is your future." I switched my phone to silent and placed it face down on the table.
If he wanted to talk to me, he would.
After two days, I finally received a message from Will. The moment I saw his name on my phone, my lips curved into a small smile. He said he wanted to meet me. I replied okay and asked where. He told me he would pick me up from the coffee shop and that we could go to a restaurant. I agreed without thinking twice.
A wave of relief washed out of me. Maybe he didn't hear anything... maybe he was just busy with work, I told myself. My heart felt lighter. I wanted to tell him everything-about how Mom was discharged from the hospital and how Dad apologized for everything he had done.
That day, I couldn't concentrate in class at all. My mind kept replaying his message again and again. When the classes were finally over, I went straight to the coffee shop and waited for him. I told Maya about our plan, and she smiled and teased me, saying, "Finally, you're smiling again." I nodded, pretending to be calm, but inside my heart was beating fast with nervous excitement. I kept looking at the door, waiting for him to walk in.
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Author Note
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