Vihaan's POV

"Bhaiya, why are you always interfering in her affairs?" Rohan asked, his voice laced with concern. "Stay away from her, for your own good."

I nodded, feigning agreement. "I know, Rohan. I'm already maintaining my distance," I replied. But deep down, I couldn't explain what drew me toward Jia. It wasn't just curiosity—it was something else, something I couldn't quite define. I was genuinely concerned about her, even though she made it clear she didn't need anyone's help.

The Next Day

As I walked into college, my mind was still preoccupied with thoughts of Jia and yesterday's events. The first thing I did upon entering the classroom was scan the room for her. When I spotted her sitting in her usual seat, I felt an odd sense of relief.

"Hey," I greeted her, trying to sound casual.

To my surprise, Jia initiated the conversation this time, though her tone was anything but friendly. "Don't do it again," she warned.

"What...?" I started to ask, but she cut me off.

"Don't interfere in my business again," she said sharply. Her words stung, and my smile vanished.

"GET LOST," I snapped angrily, unable to contain my frustration. She made a face, clearly unbothered by my reaction, and walked away.

The entire day passed with my irritation festering. I couldn't believe how rude and inhuman someone could be. I decided right then that I wouldn't waste any more time or effort on her.

Later that evening, as I walked to my car, I called Rohan.

"Yes, bhaiya?" he answered.

"Where are you? We need to head back home," I said, my irritation still evident in my tone.

"Bhaiya, there's a situation," he began hesitantly. "Ishani is crying nonstop, and I can't leave her."

"What? Why?" I asked, my concern growing.

"I can't explain everything over the phone. You should come here," he replied.

When I arrived, I found Ishani in tears, with Rohan awkwardly trying to comfort her.

"Hey, beautiful," I said gently, kneeling in front of her. She looked at me with tear-filled eyes.

"Shall I?" I asked, gesturing to wipe her tears. She nodded, and I gently brushed them away.

"Now tell me, my queen, what happened? Why are you crying?" I asked, my tone soft.

"Vihaan," she began between sobs, "it's Yash... my boyfriend. He was supposed to dance with me for tomorrow's event, but now he says he's not interested. What am I going to do? I really wanted to win tomorrow's competition."

I couldn't help but chuckle lightly. "Seriously, that's it?"

She looked at me, shocked by my reaction.

"Ishani, you'll definitely win tomorrow's event," I assured her confidently.

"How?" she asked, looking doubtful.

"Because Rohan will dance with you," I said with a grin.

Her eyes widened in surprise. "Seriously?"

"Of course!" I replied.

Rohan, however, looked like he wanted to disappear. Ishani, on the other hand, was overjoyed. She jumped up and hugged me tightly. "Thank you so much, Vihaan!"

"I'm always here for you," I said, patting her back.

As Ishani's excitement bubbled over, she turned to Rohan. "Seriously, Rohan, you're going to dance with me?"

Rohan nodded reluctantly, still processing the situation.

"Ishaniii!" a familiar voice called out. We all turned to see Jia approaching.

"Diii!" Ishani shouted, running to hug her. Jia hugged her back but kept her gaze fixed on me. Her expression was unreadable, but I could sense her simmering anger.

"Let's go, Rohan. See you tomorrow, Ishani," I said, and she nodded.

On the way home, Rohan couldn't hold back his concerns. "Bhaiya, what was that? How am I supposed to dance? I don't even know the basics!"

"Relax, Rohan. I'm going to dance with her," I revealed with a smirk.

He looked at me, confused. "Then why did you say I'd do it?"

"You know me. I love making heroic entries," I said, grinning.

Rohan rolled his eyes. "Oh, so that's your plan."

Later that night, as I lay on my bed scrolling through my phone, I heard a noise coming from the balcony. Frowning, I got up to investigate.

When I stepped outside, I was shocked to find Jia standing there.

"What the hell?" I exclaimed, startled. "How did you even get up here?"

She ignored my question. "What's your problem?" she demanded.

"My problem? What's your problem?" I shot back, exasperated.

"I told you to stay away from my sister," she said firmly.

"And what about you?" I countered, stepping closer.

She faltered for a moment, but her resolve didn't waver. "Just stay out of our lives," she whispered, her voice less forceful now.

In a sudden, bold move, I grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her closer, placing my hand on her waist. Her hazelnut eyes widened in shock as our gazes locked.

"What do you think? That everything revolves around you?" I said, my voice low.

"You—" she started, but I silenced her by placing a finger gently on her lips.

"Don't shout, Jia," I whispered. "You're at my place. If anyone hears us, I'll make it look like you were causing trouble."

Her eyes burned with defiance, but she didn't protest.

"And why do you care so much about what I do?" I continued, my tone softening. "You act like you're untouchable, but I can see right through you."

For a fleeting moment, her anger faded, replaced by something more vulnerable. I took in her delicate features—the hazelnut eyes, the naturally pink lips, and the long lashes. Without an ounce of makeup, she was stunning.

But the moment broke when she pushed herself away, miscalculating the distance to the balcony rail. My heart stopped as she slipped, but I reacted quickly, grabbing her by the waist and pulling her back to safety.

"Careful," I said softly, still holding her close.

She didn't respond, her expression unreadable. After a moment, she stepped back, composed herself, and climbed down the balcony.

"Take care," I called after her as she walked to her car. She paused briefly, glancing back, but said nothing before driving off.

Back in my room, I caught myself smiling at the memory of our encounter.

"Wow, you're smiling?" Rohan's voice startled me.

"Nothing," I said quickly, brushing it off.

"Bhaiya, don't forget—you're supposed to practice with Ishani tomorrow," he reminded me.

"Don't worry, Rohan. Your brother is a pro," I said, winking.

As I lay in bed, my thoughts drifted back to Jia. She had been so close, and for the first time, I saw something beyond her cold exterior—a glimpse of vulnerability.

Am I attracted to her? I wondered.

"No," I muttered to myself. It's just curiosity... isn't it?

I sighed, closing my eyes. But even as sleep overtook me, I couldn't stop thinking about her.

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I'd like to let you know that the next chapter is in the works. However, due to my work commitments, I might not be able to update daily. Nevertheless, I'll do my best to provide regular updates.

Thank you for your continued support and happy reading!

Warm regards,

Erica <3