The night doesn't move.
It just lingers.
I'm still sitting there, staring at nothing, replaying everything Lalita said—
I really like you.
My face heats up again just thinking about it.
I immediately cover my face with both hands.
"…I already know what you're going to say," I mumble.
The air shifts.
Soft.
Familiar.
And then—
Niran sits beside me.
Close.
Careful.
Like he doesn't want to startle me this time.
I feel it instantly.
That presence.
That quiet weight beside me.
He sighs.
Not dramatic.
Just… calm.
"That's one wish down," he says.
I blink.
Slowly lower my hands.
"…what?"
He nods toward where Lalita left.
"She remembers," he says. "Our past. Even if it's not complete."
A pause.
"That counts."
I stare at him.
Then—
"…really?"
"Yeah."
Something in my chest eases.
Just a little.
"…good," I say quietly.
I lean back slightly, resting my weight on my hands.
"…I'm glad one is down."
For a second—
it feels like progress.
Like we're not just stuck anymore.
Then—
I feel it.
That shift in him.
That subtle change in tone.
Dangerous.
Too casual.
"…you heard that, right?" he says.
I don't look at him.
"…heard what."
He leans a little closer.
"She said she likes you."
I sigh.
Of course.
"…yeah," I mutter. "I realized."
"That's it?"
"What do you want me to do, faint?"
"That would be entertaining."
"I almost died yesterday, can we not add drama?"
He huffs out something like a laugh.
Then—
suddenly—
"Want to see something amazing?"
I pause.
Suspicious.
Very suspicious.
"…that never ends well."
"It will this time."
"That's what you said last time."
"I didn't say that."
"You implied it."
"Just trust me."
I turn my head slightly.
Look at him.
He's already watching me.
That same look.
That same confidence.
Like he already knows I'll say yes.
I hesitate.
Then sigh.
"…fine."
Immediately—
his expression shifts.
Brighter.
Almost excited.
"Good."
He stands.
Then holds out his hand.
I stare at it.
"…this feels like a bad idea."
"It's not."
"It definitely is."
"Take it."
I hesitate again.
Then—
slowly—
I place my hand in his.
Cold.
But not uncomfortable.
Just… different.
His fingers close around mine.
Firm.
Steady.
"Don't let go," he says.
"That sounds threatening."
"It's not."
"It sounds threatening."
He ignores me.
Of course he does.
Then—
the air changes.
Not violently.
Not like before.
This is… quieter.
Smoother.
Like the world is shifting around us instead of breaking.
I feel it first—
in my feet.
Or—
the lack of it.
I blink.
Look down.
"…wait."
The grass is—
further away.
"Wait—WAIT—"
We're rising.
Slowly.
Like the ground just decided we don't belong to it anymore.
"…Niran—"
"Relax."
"I AM RELAXED—THIS IS NOT RELAXED—"
He laughs.
Actually laughs.
Soft.
Genuine.
The kind I don't hear often.
"Look."
I force myself to look.
The flowers.
The grass.
The entire place—
is below us now.
The city lights stretch wider.
Brighter.
Closer.
The wind brushes past my face—
cooler up here.
Freer.
My grip tightens around his hand.
Not out of fear.
Not fully.
Just—
because I don't want to fall.
"…this is insane," I whisper.
He glances at me.
Smiling.
"Yeah."
"Why are you so calm?!"
"I do this all the time."
"I don't!"
"You're fine."
"I am NOT fine—"
But my voice falters.
Because—
it's actually…
beautiful.
I look around.
Eyes wide.
The night feels bigger from here.
Quieter.
Like everything below us doesn't matter as much.
"…oh," I breathe.
He watches me instead of the view.
"See?"
"…okay," I admit. "This is… kind of amazing."
"Kind of?"
"Very amazing."
"That's better."
I laugh softly.
Still holding his hand.
Still floating.
"…you're showing off."
"Obviously."
I glance at him.
"Show-off."
"You like it."
"I tolerate it."
"Same thing."
I roll my eyes.
But I'm smiling.
And I don't even try to hide it.
The wind moves again.
Gentle.
And for a moment—
everything feels…
light.
Then I look at him again.
"…you could've dropped me."
"I wouldn't."
"You say that like it's obvious."
"It is."
I blink.
Then look away.
Because something about that—
lands too quietly.
Too real.
We stay like that for a few more seconds.
Floating.
Laughing softly.
Existing in a space that doesn't belong to anyone else.
Then—
slowly—
we drift back down.
Feet touching grass again.
Like nothing happened.
But everything did.
I let go of his hand.
Reluctantly.
"…do it again sometime," I say.
He smirks slightly.
"Of course."
And for once—
the night doesn't feel heavy anymore.
The night air feels different on my skin.
Cooler.
Like it's trying to calm something in me that won't calm.
I walk slower than usual.
Not because I can't—
…but because I don't feel like rushing anything.
Niran's beside me.
Of course he is.
Always exactly where I don't look—but still there.
"…Lalita mentioned her little sister," I say after a while, voice quiet, almost blending into the night. "You and her were what?"
He doesn't answer immediately.
I glance at him.
He's looking ahead.
Not avoiding—
just… thinking.
"…nothing serious," he says finally. "We were just close."
I hum.
"That never means 'just' anything."
He exhales softly.
"She followed me around a lot. Talked too much. Asked too many questions."
I smirk a little.
"Sounds familiar."
He turns his head slowly.
"…don't start."
"I'm just saying—you clearly attract annoying people."
"You're the worst one."
"Wow."
I press a hand to my chest dramatically.
"I'm hurt."
"You'll survive."
"Debatable."
A pause.
Then—
"…gosh, I'm sleepy," I mutter, dragging my feet slightly. "And hungry."
I don't even have to look at him to know what's coming.
"…don't tell me you're going to eat chocolate again."
I stay quiet.
Which is basically a confession.
Niran stops walking.
I take two more steps before noticing.
Then I turn.
He's just staring at me.
Judging.
Deeply.
"…what," I say.
"You're going to get a stomach ache."
"I'll survive."
"You say that every time."
"And I mean it every time."
He exhales sharply.
"This kid…"
I grin a little.
Then I lift my hand slightly. "…that's one wish down, right?"
He pauses. "Yeah."
"So you'll be leaving soon," I add casually. "I can't wait."
Silence.
I expect him to roll his eyes.
Or insult me.
Or say something dramatic.
Instead—
he just looks at me.
Longer than usual.
"…really?" he says.
I shrug.
"Yeah. Peace. Quiet. No ghost judging my life choices."
"Your life choices deserve judgment."
"See? Exactly."
I start walking again.
He follows.
Of course.
Then I add, a little lighter—
"…plus, you're annoying."
"That's not new."
"Exactly. I've endured enough."
He scoffs. "Endured?"
"Yes."
"You're alive because of me."
"I almost died because of you."
"I saved you."
"You caused it."
"I handled it."
"You escalated it!"
We stop walking again.
At this point, it's a pattern.
He steps closer.
Too close.
"…say it properly," he murmurs.
I blink.
"…what."
"That you'll miss me."
I stare at him.
Then laugh.
"…you're delusional."
"Say it."
"No."
"Say it."
"I said no."
"Say it."
"Why are you like this?"
"Say it."
I roll my eyes.
Hard.
Then cross my arms.
"…fine."
I pause.
Thinking.
Then—
"…it'll be quieter without you."
He narrows his eyes.
"That's not what I asked."
I smirk slightly. "That's what you're getting."
He leans closer again.
Lower voice.
"…try again."
I shake my head, laughing under my breath.
"…you're actually begging for emotional validation right now."
"I'm demanding it."
"Same thing."
Another pause.
Then—
I sigh.
Softly.
And say, quieter this time—
"…it might be boring."
He stills.
Just slightly.
"…might?" he repeats.
"Don't push it."
"Too late."
I shove his shoulder lightly.
"Don't get used to it."
"Already did."
I roll my eyes again.
But I'm smiling.
I don't mean to.
It just… happens.
We start walking again.
Slower now.
More relaxed.
Then—
"…dude, you're weird," I mutter.
"You're worse."
"Leave me alone."
"No."
"Go away."
"No."
"I'm serious."
"I'm not."
I sigh. "…you're impossible."
"And you like it."
"I tolerate it."
"Same thing."
"It's not."
"It is."
I shake my head.
Still smiling.
Still tired.
Still hungry.
But somehow—
lighter.
Even with him right there.
Or maybe—
because of it.