Chapter 8
The Things We Don't Say
The next morning felt… different.
Not better.
Not worse.
Just—
Quieter.
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Bela noticed it the moment she woke up.
The heaviness from yesterday hadn't disappeared.
It had simply settled somewhere deeper.
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She got ready slower than usual.
Her movements careful.
Thoughtful.
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As if she was preparing for something she didn't fully understand.
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When she reached the classroom—
Her steps paused for just a second.
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The last bench.
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He was already there.
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Of course he was.
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Vihaan sat exactly the same way as always.
Leaning back slightly.
Eyes distant.
Unbothered.
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As if yesterday hadn't happened.
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Bela stood there for a moment.
Watching him.
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Then—
She walked forward.
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And sat down.
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No words.
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No greeting.
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Just silence.
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It stretched between them.
Not uncomfortable.
But not easy either.
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Minutes passed.
Students filled the room.
Voices returned.
Life went on.
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But between them—
Something remained unfinished.
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Bela opened her notebook.
Tried to focus.
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Failed.
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She closed it again.
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"…You're doing it again."
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Her head turned instantly.
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Vihaan didn't look at her.
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"…What?" she asked.
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"Thinking too much."
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Bela let out a small breath.
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"You say that like it's a bad thing."
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"It is."
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A pause.
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"For you."
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That made her frown slightly.
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"What's that supposed to mean?"
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He didn't answer immediately.
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Then—
"You feel things too much."
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Bela blinked.
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"…And you don't feel them at all."
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"Wrong."
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That surprised her.
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She turned toward him.
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"You do?"
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A pause.
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"…I just don't show it."
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There it was.
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Something honest.
Something real.
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Bela studied him for a moment.
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Then—
"…That sounds harder."
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He didn't reply.
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But his jaw tightened slightly.
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The teacher entered.
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The lesson began.
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And just like that—
The moment passed.
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But not completely.
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Because this time—
It didn't feel like distance.
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It felt like something… quieter.
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Something closer.
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Break time came quickly.
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"Come on," Samar said, appearing beside Bela's desk. "You're not skipping again."
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"I wasn't planning to."
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"Good. Progress."
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Bela stood up.
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She hesitated.
Just slightly.
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Then looked at Vihaan.
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"…You coming?"
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Samar raised an eyebrow.
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Vihaan didn't.
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"No."
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Same answer.
Same tone.
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But this time—
It didn't feel as final.
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Bela nodded.
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"Okay."
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And walked away.
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The canteen was just as chaotic as before.
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But Bela felt more present this time.
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Less distant.
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She sat down with Samar, quietly eating.
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For a while—
Neither of them spoke.
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Then—
"You handled yesterday well."
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Bela looked up.
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"Did I?"
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"You didn't cry. That's already impressive."
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She almost smiled.
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"I don't cry that easily."
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"That's not what I meant."
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Bela tilted her head slightly.
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"Then what did you mean?"
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Samar leaned back a little.
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"You didn't run away."
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A pause.
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"That's rare."
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Bela looked down at her hands.
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"…I don't like leaving things unfinished."
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Samar watched her quietly.
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Then—
"You're going to regret that."
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She looked up.
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"Why?"
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"Because not everything has a clean ending."
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Those words—
They hit somewhere deeper than they should have.
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Bela forced a small smile.
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"I'll deal with it when it happens."
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Samar didn't reply.
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Because something in her tone—
Didn't sound like hope.
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It sounded like acceptance.
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After break—
The classroom felt calmer.
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Bela walked back to her seat.
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Vihaan was there.
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Still.
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Always still.
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She sat down quietly.
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For a moment—
Neither of them spoke.
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Then—
She slid something onto the desk.
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A small chocolate.
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Wrapped neatly.
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"I didn't get extra this time," she said.
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A pause.
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"I just brought it."
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Vihaan looked at it.
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Then at her.
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"…Why?"
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Bela shrugged slightly.
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"No reason."
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That wasn't true.
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But she didn't explain.
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Vihaan stared at it for a second longer.
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Then—
"…You don't have to do that."
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"I know."
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"Then why do it?"
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Bela hesitated.
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Because the answer—
Wasn't simple.
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"…Because I want to," she said finally.
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Silence.
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Vihaan looked at her.
Longer this time.
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Like he was trying to understand something.
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Or maybe—
Trying not to.
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Then—
He took it.
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Opened it.
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And this time—
He didn't hesitate before eating it.
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Bela didn't smile.
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But something inside her did.
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The rest of the day passed quietly.
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No arguments.
No tension.
No drama.
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Just small moments.
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Glances.
Silence.
Understanding.
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And something growing—
Without either of them saying it out loud.
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After school—
Bela stayed back.
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Not intentionally.
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Just… slowly.
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Packing her bag.
Taking her time.
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When she finally stepped out—
The corridor was almost empty.
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And at the far end—
She saw him.
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Vihaan.
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Walking alone.
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For a second—
She watched.
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The way he moved.
Calm.
Detached.
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Like he didn't belong to anything around him.
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Like nothing was holding him back.
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Or—
Like nothing was holding him at all.
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Bela's chest tightened slightly.
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Without thinking—
She walked after him.
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"Vihaan."
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He stopped.
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Turned.
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"…What?"
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Bela walked closer.
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"…You weren't at lunch again."
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"That's not new."
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"I know."
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A pause.
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"But it should be."
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He frowned slightly.
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"Why?"
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Bela looked at him.
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Because the answer felt obvious to her.
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"…Because you shouldn't always be alone."
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Silence.
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Something shifted in his expression.
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Small.
Almost invisible.
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"…I'm used to it."
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"That doesn't make it right."
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Another pause.
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He looked away.
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"…You should stop trying."
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Bela's heart sank slightly.
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"…Trying what?"
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"To change things."
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"I'm not trying to change you."
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"Then what are you doing?"
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Bela didn't answer immediately.
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Because this time—
She wanted to get it right.
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"…I'm just staying."
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The words were simple.
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But they meant everything.
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Silence fell between them again.
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Longer this time.
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Then—
"…Why?"
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He asked it quietly.
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Not cold.
Not distant.
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Just—
Real.
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Bela looked at him.
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And for a moment—
She almost said it.
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Almost told him everything.
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About time.
About fear.
About why leaving wasn't an option for her.
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But—
She didn't.
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"…Because you didn't ask me to leave," she said instead.
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A lie.
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And a truth.
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Both at once.
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Vihaan stared at her.
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And this time—
He didn't look away.