Another week, another update.

How was 2023 for you all? Mine wasn't so bad, I did have the worst date of my life this year but that taught me a few life lessons. I made new friends, travelled to different countries and started a new interactive script contract for a gaming app. - Yeah, 2023 was pretty good, minus the fact that it went by in a blink. 

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Chapter 17. How long were you two together?

I keep my chin in the middle of my palm, my elbow resting on the kitchen table as I watch Nimit move skilfully in the kitchen. It's early morning and he is making something from chocolate, along with his usual protein shake and salad for breakfast.

Since he had Pizza last time, it's my turn to eat the nasty blend of raw vegetables. But I know better than to complain, especially if I want him to have more junk food in the future. 

So I sit quietly and watch him work his magic. He isn't wearing a t-shirt, just his black shorts that hug his butt and make me squirm uncomfortably in my seat.

A sexy man, chest exposed, bare feet, cooking in the kitchen – a tantalizing recipe for potential chaos!

Nimit glances at me and gives a small smile, adding salt and pepper to the salad bowl. "What are you thinking about?"

Pulling down those boxers to finally see what treasure you are hiding behind them.

I look away and shrug a shoulder, trying to get my head out of the gutter. "Nothing." After a thought, I add. "Do we have to leave soon?"

"What do you mean?"

"If it turns out that the attack was supposed to be for Sania, we'll be going back to my place, right?" I ask meekly, afraid of his reply. I am not quite ready to leave his personal space and go back to my arrogant meddling father.

Nimit exhales heavily and passes me a small bowl and fresh watermelon juice. "Possibly. If there's no threat to you. But Sania's team hasn't been able to find out anything yet."

"It can't be a random attack?" I sip the watermelon juice first, letting that taste reside on my tongue before I pulverize it with lettuce.

Nimit shakes his head. "Impossible. It was too well-planned, they knew exactly what they were doing. I am sure the attack was premeditated."

I hum in thought. "So if it's not me and it's not Sania, maybe it's you," I say jokingly, smiling and expecting a chuckle in response. Instead, I am faced with an ashen look from Nimit, as if my words have pulled the ground under his feet. He stares blankly at the wall, still holding his salad bowl, a faraway look on his face. I frown at his aghast expression. "Nimit? I was just kidding. Obviously, it can't be you." I mutter but Nimit shakes his head and picks up his phone from the table, typing something rapidly into it. He waits for a reply and then sighs, dropping the phone back on the table. Worry rolling off in waves from his body.  

I watch his movements in concern. "Do you think the attack was for you?"

His eyes turn to me but they have lost the warmth that was present a few minutes back. He forces a smile and shakes his head. "No, why would it be me?" But the smile doesn't reach his eyes.

"Exactly. Why would anyone want to kill you?" I question, mostly to myself.

Is he hiding something from me... again?

Nimit gulps and turns around to grab his glass of juice. "You have no idea." It's a low mutter but I still hear it. I want to ask more questions but I know I won't get any answers.

If the attack was for Nimit, I am not safe with him. Does he realize this?

If my father suspects Nimit as a danger, it's the end for me and Nimit. He'll have Nimit fired and ship me off to another country.

Antsy to change the topic, I shift to another question that has been haunting me. "About Vicky... how long were you two together?"

Nimit joins me on the table, bringing along a plate of chocolate tart. The delicious scent tingles my nose and my mouth waters at the tempting sight. "You made this?"

"I remember you liked it last time," Nimit nonchalantly tosses it out there, as if it's the most ordinary thing in the world, but I know it's not, my heart soars with excitement and elation. 

He remembered and actually made me a chocolate tart. Can someone scream Aww?

I reach for it with a wide grin, my appetite coming back to function like a tsunami but Nimit pulls the plate away from my reach. He motions to the untouched salad bowl in front of me. "First eat that, only then you get this."

My grin disappears and turns into a scowl. "That's so unfair. You made it for me, I want to eat the chocolate tart, not raw lettuce and tomatoes."

Nimit shrugs a shoulder and turns his attention back to the salad. I grit my teeth and dig my fork into the bowl, forcing myself to eat the salad. I freeze at the first taste – it is nothing like the one I had made. This has flavours, it's actually... tasty. I chew softly, soaking in the texture of lettuce, mixed with cherry tomatoes, onions and a perfect concoction of herbs and spices. It's sweet and tangy but also sour and spicy? I look at the bowl in awe and then back at Nimit who is watching my expressions with a satisfied smug smirk. He looks like he's just won an Ocasar and couldn't be more proud of himself. It makes me roll my eyes.

"Tasty, huh?"

I press my lips together, not answering him but taking another bite. How did he eat the diaster I had made that day? And he lied, saying he liked it. He couldn't possibly, not after being used to eating this appetizing stuff.

"Two years."

"Huh?" I frown in question, then realize this was his answer to my previous question. "Oh. You said you met her through a friend?"

"That was Joel."

My eyebrows shoot up. "Wait, you met Vicky through Joel but now you hate Joel?"

Nimit licks his lips as he carefully answers my question. "Vicky and Joel were having a fling when I met Vicky. Joel was never a one-woman kind of guy, he met Vicky at some party and they started sleeping together. It was not a relationship and they both knew it. Two weeks later, there was a year-end party and Joel took me to a club, he introduced me to Vicky. She was beautiful, smart and sweet and we talked a lot over drinks. It was easy to talk to her and we had a few common friends. But she was off-limits, obviously, so I didn't make any move." I stare at Nimit, keenly lapping up every word.  

"After a few drinks, Vicky wanted to dance so she went to look for Joel and found him with his tongue down another woman. It was obvious he wanted to do more than just kiss her. Vicky and Joel weren't serious but it still hurt Vicky. She stormed to where I was sitting and kissed me." I swallow hard. Nimit's eyes catch my gaze and hold it. "I kissed her back."

"Oh, wow." I clear my dry throat, rubbing my forehead to make the image of Nimit and Vicky kissing disappear from my mind. I look away from Nimit. "And Joel?"

"Joel found it out later and got pissed. He called Vicky a slut and broke off friendship with me. It was very hypocritical since he was the one who cheated on her first." Nimit shrugged a shoulder. "I ended up asking Vicky out on a date, she said yes and we dated for just less than 2 years."

I look at the sliced tomatoes in my bowl, suddenly they hold more of my interest than Nimit's unwavering gaze. "Why did you two break up then?" 

"We realised that we were too similar."

My head snaps up and I frown at his ridiculous reply. "What the hell does that mean? How can that be an issue?"

"We liked the same things, we hated the same things. We had mostly similar opinions and even finished each other's thoughts. Even our food choices were the same."

I lean back in my chair, a mixture of frustration on my face. "Isn't that perfect? Isn't that what all couples want?"

Nimit nods slowly. "It is. But we missed the excitement of discovering new things, of being challenged by someone who sees the world differently. There was no spark, the thrill of getting to know each other had weakened. Knowing myself and knowing her were one and the same. We became too predictable. It's like we were living the same day over and over again"

"So you wanted that 'opposites attract' thing? Those cliché couples who argue all the time?" I interrogate with a confused frown.

"Not so extreme but balanced," Nimit explains. "It's good to have a healthy argument. There have to be some differences between two personalities, that's what keeps the spark alive and that's what makes the relationship survive."

"Like us?" I say jokingly. But his eyes gleam in the early morning light and they pierce through my soul and all my defences. "Yes, like us." His voice is low, it sends a shiver of anticipation down my spine and my heart pounds as it builds a tower of hope around his words.

"But we aren't together," My tone drops to a husky whisper and the world around us seems to fade away.

"Not yet."

Heat stabs at my belly and my breath hitches. I grip the fork and find it difficult to even swallow. What does he mean? Does he want to date me? For real? But he can't – we can't. A sense of longing grips my chest and I force myself to look away, breaking the moment. He is just flirting with you, Aisha. He is not serious. It's just one night – whenever that night might come.

"So, you are still friends with her?" I ask, shifting my attention to the salad so I can finally get to the tart.

"Yes, we talk occasionally. She's dating someone else now." He answers, passing the plate of chocolate tart towards me.

"Yeah, someone named OJ." I recollect from my last meeting with her.

"Yes, he's a cool guy. Much better than Joel. They are pretty serious." Nimit finishes his salad at the same time as I do. I pounce for the tart, grabbing the plate before Nimit can reach it. Nimit cocks an amused eyebrow. My cheeks flush in embarrassment. "I thought you wanted it too." Dammit, he must think I am a selfish woman with an insatiable appetite.

"I don't eat sweets in the morning," Nimit informs. "That tart is all yours."

"So you made it just for me?"

Nimit doesn't reply. He stands up and grabs both empty bowls, dumping them in the sink. "Your turn to wash the utensils." And then he walks out without a backward glance. My eyes follow him and at the same time, butterflies dance in my belly. I look at the delicious tart, unable to stop from grinning like an infatuated fool.

He made it just for me! Be still my beating heart!

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