After that day—
Aira started trying to distance herself.
From Aarohi.
Because her feelings—
were growing stronger every day.
And now—
she was deeply in love with her.
More than before.
She tried to stop herself.
Tried not to think about her.
But feelings—
don't disappear that easily.
Still—
she tried.
She spent her mornings and afternoons
distracting herself.
Studies.
Books.
Series.
Anything
to keep her mind busy.
Anything—
to stop thinking about Aarohi.
But every evening—
her thoughts returned to the same person.
And that evening—
a notification appeared.
It was Aarohi.
Aira's heart started beating faster.
She opened the message slowly.
Aarohi,
"Hey. I miss you so much. Yesterday, I found you really cute in that picture. I liked it very much. I don't know why… but I miss you. I think I have feelings for you."
Aira stared at the screen.
She felt shocked.
Confused.
Happy.
And afraid—
all at once.
Before she could even process it—
another message came.
Aarohi,
"I really love you, Aira. My heart feels heavy knowing I can't be with you."
For a moment—
everything went silent around Aira.
This was the thing—
she had wanted to hear for so long.
But strangely—
it didn't feel the way she imagined.
Something inside her—
felt uneasy.
Like her heart was happy—
but scared at the same time.
She didn't know what to say.
But she still replied.
Aira,
"I miss you too. But I thought we shouldn't text each other anymore. We shouldn't talk this much."
Aarohi,
"Why? I know this is wrong… but I still want to talk to you."
Aira,
"I want to talk to you too. But I'm not feeling okay about this anymore."
Aarohi,
"I can't control myself now. I keep wanting to talk to you."
Aira read that carefully.
Because Aarohi was always the one—
who controlled her feelings better.
Aira,
"You always had control over yourself."
Aarohi,
"Maybe before. But not now. I can't stop myself anymore."
Aira didn't know what to feel.
For months—
she had wanted Aarohi to feel the same.
And now—
when it was finally happening—
she felt afraid.
Afraid of expectations.
Afraid of attachment.
Afraid of losing herself again.
Aira,
"So what should we do?"
Aarohi,
"I don't know… tell me what should I do?"
Aira,
"I really don't know."
There was silence for a few moments.
And then Aarohi sent another message.
Aarohi,
"We can be best friends. Really close best friends. But no romantic talks… maybe that way things won't get worse."
Aira looked at the message for a long time.
Best friends.
Maybe it hurt.
Maybe it was enough.
But more than anything—
Aira just wanted Aarohi to stay.
Even if it meant hiding her feelings again.
So she agreed.
Aira,
"Okay. Best friends. No more romantic talks."
But deep inside—
both of them knew—
feelings don't disappear just because people give them a different name.
After that conversation—
things became different.
Not distant.
Just… careful.
Both of them tried very hard—
to act normal.
Like best friends.
Nothing more.
No romantic talks.
No deep confessions.
No emotional lines.
But somehow—
their conversations became even softer than before.
More caring.
More attached.