Reyansh wasn't the kind of person who tried. Not usually. Not intentionally. He didn't go out of his way. Didn't seek attention. Didn't need to. But now— He did. And the worst part? He didn't even realize when it started. It began with small things. Almost unnoticeable.
"Anaya, you skipped a step."
Her head lifted instantly.
"…I did not."
"You did."
"…where?"
He leaned slightly forward, pointing at her notebook.
"…here."
She frowned.
"…oh."
A pause.
"…you're right."
"I usually am."
She rolled her eyes.
"…don't get used to it."
But she smiled.
And for some reason—
That was enough.
Next time—
"Anaya, this one's wrong too."
"…you're just finding faults now."
"I'm not."
"You are."
"Check it."
She checked.
Paused.
"…okay fine."
A small silence.
Then—
"…thanks."
Soft. Unintentional. He noticed that too. Then—
He started sitting beside her. Not always. Not obviously. But more than before. And every time— Her reaction was the same. A slight pause. A quick glance. Then— normal. But not completely. Ritika noticed. Of course she did.
"…he's trying," she whispered one day.
Anaya blinked. "…what?"
"Nothing."
"…say it."
Ritika smirked. "You'll figure it out."
Anaya frowned. But didn't press further. Because a small part of her— Had already noticed too. It wasn't just the studying. Not just the conversations. It was the way— He remembered things.
"…you said you don't like this topic."
She looked up.
"…I said that?"
"Last week."
"…you remember that?"
A pause.
"…you talk a lot."
She narrowed her eyes.
"…that's not an answer."
He didn't reply. And somehow— That stayed with her. Then came the waiting. Unintentional. Unspoken. Anaya was packing her bag after class. Ritika had already left. Naira was talking to someone near the door. She stepped out— And stopped. Reyansh stood there. Leaning slightly against the wall. Like he had been waiting.
"…you're still here?" she asked.
"…yeah."
"For what?"
A pause.
"…nothing."
She looked at him.
"…you're weird."
"You've said that before."
"I mean it again."
A faint hint of a smile.
"…are you going?" he asked.
"…yeah."
"…walk?"
The word came out casually.
Like it didn't matter.
But it did.
She hesitated.
Just a second.
Then—
"…okay."
They walked side by side.
Not too close.
Not too far.
"…you've been quiet lately," she said.
"…have I?"
"Yes."
"…you've been busy."
"With what?"
He didn't answer immediately.
Then—
"…talking."
She blinked.
"…what?"
"…with others."
A pause.
Something about that—
Felt different.
"…so?" she said lightly.
"…nothing."
But it wasn't nothing.
She looked at him again.
"…you sound annoyed."
"I'm not."
"You are."
"I'm not."
"You are."
A pause.
Then—
"…maybe a little."
Her brows lifted slightly.
"…why?"
Another pause.
He looked ahead.
Not at her.
"…because you don't notice things."
That—
That made her stop.
"…what does that mean?"
He stopped too.
Turning slightly toward her.
"…nothing."
Again.
That word.
But this time—
It didn't feel light.
"…you keep saying that," she said quietly.
"…because it's easier."
A silence followed.
Because now—
Something was there.
Unclear.
Unsaid.
But present.
Anaya looked at him.
Trying to understand.
"…you're confusing."
"…I know."
And for the first time—
He didn't try to hide it.
Because he was.
Confused.
About her.
About himself.
About what he was trying to do—
Without saying it.
"…okay," she said finally.
"…okay."
They resumed walking.
But this time—
The silence wasn't empty.
It was filled with something else.
Something that had been building.
Slowly.
Unavoidably.
Because no matter how subtle he tried to be—
No matter how much he held back—
His actions were starting to say—
What his words hadn't yet.
And Anaya—
Was beginning to feel it.
Even if she didn't understand it fully.
It didn't go back to normal.
Not really.
Something had shifted that day.
And this time—
Anaya felt it too.
Not clearly.
Not completely.
But enough to notice.
The way he looked at her now—
Felt different.
The way he spoke—
Felt heavier.
And the way he paused—
Before saying something—
Felt like there was always more.
"…you're staring again," Ritika whispered, nudging her lightly.
"I'm not."
"You are."
"I'm just thinking."
"About him?"
Anaya froze.
"…no."
Ritika didn't argue.
Just smiled.
Because she didn't need to.
That day in the library—
Things felt quieter than usual.
Not empty.
Not distant.
Just—
Tense.
Anaya sat across from him.
Trying to focus.
Failing.
Because every few seconds—
Her eyes drifted.
To him.
And every time—
She caught him already looking.
The first few times—
She looked away quickly.
After that—
She didn't.
"…what?" she asked finally.
"…nothing."
"Then why are you looking at me?"
A pause.
"…can't I?"
That—
That wasn't normal.
Her breath hitched slightly.
"…you're being weird again."
"Maybe."
Silence.
But not the easy kind.
"…say what you want to say," she said suddenly.
His gaze sharpened slightly.
"…what?"
"You keep starting something and then stopping."
A pause.
"…like yesterday."
That hit.
Because she remembered.
"…I said it's nothing."
"And I said it doesn't feel like nothing."
Their eyes met.
And this time—
Neither looked away.
Because something was there now.
Clear.
Close.
Too close.
Reyansh exhaled slowly.
"…Anaya—"
Her heart skipped.
Because something in his tone—
Was different.
"I—"
He stopped.
Just for a second.
Like he was choosing his words.
Or maybe—
Fighting them.
She didn't interrupt.
Didn't look away.
Just—
Waited.
"…I don't think this is just—"
"Anaya!"
A voice cut through.
Sharp.
Sudden.
Both of them turned.
Naira stood near the entrance.
"…we need you for the fest practice. They're calling everyone."
The moment—
Shattered.
Just like that.
Anaya blinked.
Then stood up quickly.
"…coming."
She picked up her notebook.
But paused.
For a second—
She looked back at him.
"…you were saying something."
A pause.
Reyansh looked at her.
At the way she waited.
Again.
He could still say it.
Right now.
Nothing was stopping him.
Except—
The timing.
The moment already slipping away.
And that fear—
That saying it might change everything.
"…it's nothing," he said quietly.
Again.
This time—
It didn't sit right.
Anaya's brows frowned slightly.
"…you keep doing that."
A small pause.
"…doing what?"
"Stopping."
Silence.
"…I'll tell you later."
A lie.
Or maybe—
A delay.
She held his gaze for a second longer.
Then—
"…you better."
Soft.
But not light.
And then—
She turned.
Walking toward Naira.
But something inside her—
Didn't settle.
Because now—
She knew.
There was something.
Something he wasn't saying.
Something she was starting to feel.
And it scared her.
Just a little.
Reyansh watched her leave.
His chest tightened.
Because this time—
He had almost said it.
Almost.
"…not like this," he muttered to himself.
Because when he said it—
He didn't want it to be rushed.
Interrupted.
Incomplete.
He wanted it to be real.
Clear.
Something she wouldn't question.
Something she wouldn't doubt.
But the more he waited—
The harder it became.
Because now—
She felt it too.
And the space between them—
Was no longer simple.
It was filled with words—
That were almost spoken.
And emotions—
That refused to stay hidden anymore.