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"Have you lost your mind, Noah?" Yunah snapped. Her face was a deep, burning crimson, making it impossible to tell if she was fueled by anger or sheer embarrassment. "Do you even realize what you're saying?" She raised her voice, glaring at his unreadable face. "I am older than you, Noah! I have a younger brother your age, for god's sake."
Noah tilted his head down, expertly playing the part of the guilty, scolded boy. But beneath the act, there wasn't a shred of remorse. He had waited eight years—since he was ten years old—for this. He was done waiting.
"I know the gap is five years, but that's nothing in the real world," he said, looking up at her with eyes that seemed to plead for a chance. His voice softened, turning sweet and manipulative. "Can't you just give us a chance? I'll do everything to be the perfect boyfriend for you. I know you feel it too, Di."
"I don't!" Yunah denied harshly, the words coming out too fast to be true. "I already regret crossing the line with you, and it will never happen again. If you want to stay in my life, don't ever mention this again. I'm forgiving you this time because we both got caught up in the moment, but that's it. We don't cross these boundaries. Forget tonight ever happened." Without giving Noah a second to respond, Yunah unzipped the tent and crawled out into the night, her silhouette retreating quickly into the shadows.
Noah sat alone in the dark, watching her go. The pleading boy expression vanished instantly, replaced by a cold, calculating stare. He wasn't disappointed—he was focused. Her denial didn't matter; her body had already given him the answer he needed. The way she had melted into him told him everything.
A low, devilish laugh escaped his throat.
"I guess I'll just have to work harder to seduce you, Di," he muttered to himself.
He lay back down, settling into the exact spot where she had been pinned moments ago. He closed his eyes, inhaling deeply. "It still smells like her."
A dark, possessive glint returned to his eyes as he smiled into the empty tent. "I can't wait for the day you crawl into my arms willingly. And when you do... I'm never letting go."
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Outside, the cool night air hit Yunah's face, but it did nothing to calm the fire in her cheeks. She looked back at the tent, her heart still hammering a frantic rhythm against her ribs. She had scolded him, yes—but she couldn't outrun the truth: she was falling for him.
The thought terrified her. Society wouldn't just frown on them; they would tear them apart. Yet, when Noah had asked to be her boyfriend, she hadn't felt disgust. She had felt a treacherous, soaring thrill. She hated herself for the butterflies in her stomach and the way her soul had almost whispered yes before her mind could scream no.
She was still lost in that internal war when a voice sliced through the darkness, pulling her back to a cold reality.
"Yunah?"
Serena was walking towards her, her eyes wide with shock and blatant disbelief. She had seen exactly which tent Yunah had just crawled out of. "Why are you coming out of his tent?"
Yunah stiffened, her pulse jumping. She knew Serena too well—if she told a flat-out lie, Serena would sniff it out in seconds. She had to offer a half-truth to survive the interrogation.
"I... I went to the wrong tent," Yunah stammered, trying to sound casual. "I'm still a little tipsy from the wine."
Serena narrowed her eyes, her gaze heavy with suspicion. "The wrong tent? Are you sure about that, Yunah?" She stepped closer, her expression making it clear she wasn't buying the 'tipsy' excuse.
"Yes," Yunah insisted, quickly pivoting to keep Serena from digging deeper. "But listen—I have something serious to discuss with you."
"Huh?" Serena's skepticism faltered, replaced by a look of confusion. "What is it?"
"It's about Preeti and her husband," Yunah said, her voice dropping as she glanced around the campsite to ensure they were alone. "We can't talk about it here. We need somewhere private."
Serena's eyebrows shot up. The suspicion about Noah didn't vanish, but the gravity in Yunah's voice took priority. "Okay," she agreed, her tone shifting from accusatory to worried. "Let's go."
*******************
Yunah and Serena sat in folding chairs a short distance from the others. Behind them, the bonfire crackled, casting long shadows as the rest of the group laughed and chattered loudly under the sprawling starlight.
"Alright, spit it out," Serena said, leaning in. "What's going on with Preeti and her husband?"
"I don't think their relationship is as flowery as they want us to believe," Yunah began, her voice low. "I accidentally heard him threatening her. When I went to the wrong tent earlier—like I told you—I was close enough to hear everything."
Serena's expression hardened. "I knew it. I noticed something too while we were prepping the fruit. She has bruises on her arms. She claimed she burned herself while cooking, but it looked... wrong. And the way he plays the 'perfect husband' role? It feels like a staged performance."
"I don't want it to be true, Serena, but I'm worried," Yunah said, her eyes dark with concern. "I think Preeti is a victim of domestic violence."
"Should we confront her?" Serena asked.
"No," Yunah countered immediately. "We don't have absolute proof. If we're wrong, it makes everything awkward. And if we're right, she'll just deny it out of fear. We have to be careful."
"Ladies! Want a beer?"
Nerav's shout broke their heavy silence. He stood by the fire, waving a can. Beside him, Noah stood perfectly still, his eyes locked onto Yunah with a piercing curiosity. Nerav caught his brother's gaze, smirked, and shoved two cans into Noah's hands—knowing exactly what the younger man wanted.
Noah didn't hesitate. He walked straight towards them, his presence commanding the space as he approached. He handed a beer to Serena, then turned to Yunah.
The memory of their kiss flooded Yunah's mind, making her skin burn. As she reached for the can, Noah's fingers brushed intentionally against her hand—a slow, deliberate contact that sent a jolt through her, triggering a sudden, nervous hiccup.
Serena's sharp eyes darted between them, catching the electric tension instantly. She stood up, popping the tab on her drink with a sly, knowing grin.
"Let's finish this talk another time, Yunah," Serena said, her voice dripping with mischief. "For now... focus on something else." She shot a pointed look at Noah and winked.
"Wait—what?! Hic—Serena! Where are you going? Hic—"
"To have some actual fun!" Serena called back, leaving Yunah alone in the shadows with Noah.
"Can I sit, Di?" Noah asked, his tone polite, yet his eyes were fixed on her flushed face.
Yunah nodded, trying to play it cool, but her hands were shaking so much she couldn't even hook the tab of her beer. With a soft, dark chuckle, Noah reached over, took the can from her, and opened it effortlessly.
"Here," he murmured, passing it back.
"Thank you," she whispered, refusing to meet his eyes.
Noah leaned back, looking up at the twinkling sky. "It's beautiful, isn't it?"
"Hmm." Yunah nodded looking up at the night sky taking a sip of her beer.
"You know, Di..." Noah turned his head.
And When their eyes met, the stars above seemed to fade. The intensity in his gaze was brighter, hotter. "I'm happy. Genuinely happy. I don't think I've ever felt this way in my life. Being near you... it taught me that I'm actually capable of smiling."
Yunah stopped breathing. The raw honesty in his voice caught her completely off guard.
"So, I have one request," he continued. He leaned closer with his eyes glowing with a mix of profound love and a terrifying, dark obsession. He looked at her as if she were the only thing in the world that mattered—and the only thing he would ever allow himself to own. "Please. Never abandon me."
The weight of his words felt like a vow. Yunah was speechless, her heart drumming against her ribs, but before she could find her voice, a sharp buzz cut through the moment.
Noah's phone lit up. The sweet boy mask didn't slip, but his eyes sharpened as he read the message from Ashish:
Text- Young Master. Yunah's father has caused a major problem. Contact me ASAP.