Chapter 9
Vihaan's POV
"Jiaa?"
I couldn't believe my eyes as I watched Jia climb onto my balcony. Instinctively, I rushed forward to assist her. Our eyes met, and my curiosity got the better of me.
"What are you doing here?" I asked, unable to mask my surprise.
She brushed her hair aside, her movements deliberate, and replied with a tone that matched her calm demeanor, "Actually, I'm here to apologize."
I blinked, my surprise growing. Jia... apologizing? That was unexpected.
"But why?" I asked, genuinely confused.
"I shouted at you... I said mean things to you," she admitted, her voice steady but tinged with guilt.
For a moment, I was too stunned to respond. "I mean... you don't have to," I stammered.
She simply shrugged and turned to leave. The casual way she dismissed the moment didn't sit right with me. Without thinking, I reached out to hold her hand. She stopped but didn't pull away. When she turned to look at me, her expression wasn't angry.
"Yes?" she prompted softly.
I opened my mouth to speak but hesitated when I noticed her eyes lingering on mine, as though searching for something unspoken. Raising my brows, I silently urged her to say what was on her mind.
"Nothing," she whispered.
Acting on an impulse I didn't fully understand, I gently brushed a stray strand of hair away from her face. She closed her eyes, her hand coming to rest on mine. In the quiet of that moment, a strange calm washed over me. Seeing her like this—a vulnerable softness behind the guarded exterior—made me question everything. What had truly happened to her? How could one breakup shatter someone so completely?
Before I could voice my thoughts, we were interrupted by a voice.
"Diiiii?"
It was Ishani. She stood at her house's entrance, looking up at us with wide eyes. I quickly withdrew my hand, feeling caught in a moment I couldn't quite explain.
"Ishani, where are you going?" Jia asked, stepping off the balcony.
The two of them began talking, their voices fading as they walked away together.
"What was she doing here?" I muttered to myself, still replaying the interaction in my mind.
Rohan's voice startled me. "She came to see you?"
"Yeah... but just to apologize," I replied, though the words felt insufficient to explain what had just transpired.
He smirked knowingly. "Sure, just to apologize. There's definitely more to it."
"What makes you say that?" I asked, genuinely curious about his take.
He shrugged casually. "Just a hunch. Anyway, I'll leave you to overthink this. Goodnight."
As he walked off, I sank onto my bed, my heart still racing. I grabbed my phone and searched for Jia on social media, hoping to gain some insight into the enigma she was. Her account had zero posts.
"Why is there nothing?" I muttered in frustration, tossing my phone aside.
Ishani's POV
I was heading out when I glanced at Vihaan's house. My eyes narrowed as I tried to make out the figure on his balcony. Could it be Di? No, that didn't seem like something she'd do. Dismissing the thought, I hurried back to our house.
"Where are you going, Ishani?" Mom called from the kitchen.
"Nowhere, Mom!" I replied hastily, heading straight for Di's room. I opened the door to find it empty. A sudden wave of panic gripped me, and I immediately dialed Rohan.
"Hello?"
"Rohan, it's Ishani. I need you to do something for me."
"What's wrong?" he asked, his voice tinged with concern.
"Go to Vihaan's room and check if Jia Di is on his balcony. Be discreet!"
"What? Why would she—"
"Just do it!" I interrupted, nearly shouting.
Moments later, my phone buzzed.
"Yeah, it's her," Rohan confirmed. "But what on earth is she doing there?"
"I have no idea," I admitted, still stunned.
I stepped outside and looked up at Vihaan's balcony again. There they were—Di and Vihaan, standing close.
"Diii!" I called out, my voice breaking their bubble. They both turned to look at me, and I could feel Di's glare from across the yard.
"Ishani, where are you going?" she asked, descending the balcony.
"What were you doing on his balcony? And how did you even get up there?" I demanded, my voice dripping with disbelief.
"Nothing. I went to apologize," she replied nonchalantly.
"You've been rude to all of us for years, and you never apologized to anyone," I teased, smirking.
She narrowed her eyes at me, and I burst out laughing.
"Stop laughing," she scolded, but I couldn't stop.
The Next Day
After college, I was heading toward my car when Ishani stopped me.
"Vihaan, can you go home with Di today? Rohan and I need to finish a project," she said.
"Are you sure Jia's okay with that?" I asked, hesitant.
"She's fine with it. I already talked to her," Ishani assured me before walking off.
I found Jia's car and approached cautiously. "Hey, I hope Ishani told you I'd be riding with you," I said. She nodded, gesturing for me to get in.
The first fifteen minutes of the ride were silent. It was suffocating, and I couldn't take it anymore.
"Why were you on my balcony yesterday?" I asked.
"To apologize and to say thank you," she replied without looking at me.
I watched her for a moment before she finally asked, "What?"
"What made you like this, Jia?" I asked bluntly.
She froze, her hands tightening on the steering wheel. Then, without warning, she pulled over and turned to me.
"What do you mean by 'like this'?"
"I mean... you seem so disconnected. No friends, no joy, no... life. It's like you're here but not really living," I explained carefully.
Her gaze dropped to her lap, and for a moment, I thought she might open up. Instead, she started the car again, driving in silence until we reached our houses.
"Jia," I called softly.
She looked at me, her expression guarded.
"Are you happy?" I asked.
"What?" she replied, her voice sharp but uncertain.
"Never mind. Goodbye," I said, stepping out of the car.
As I walked into my room, I couldn't stop thinking about her. The way she had avoided my question spoke volumes. She wasn't happy—not even close. And yet, despite her walls, I could see cracks forming. She was beginning to let me in, even if only a little.
I lay back on my bed, a small smile playing on my lips. The girl who once ignored me now occupied my every thought.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
Bạn đang đọc truyện trên: AzTruyen.Top