Ruhi spent the rest of the day convincing herself that Abhi didn't matter. He was a distraction-a dangerous one. But no matter how much she tried to push him out of her mind, his words, his smirk, and the way he challenged her kept replaying in her head.
By the time evening came, she was exhausted, mentally and emotionally. But fate, as always, had other plans.
---
The next day, the college auditorium was packed. A business seminar was being held, and as always, Abhi was in the spotlight. It was the kind of event where his name carried weight, where professors spoke highly of his potential, where everyone wanted to be associated with him.
Ruhi sat in the back, arms crossed, watching the scene unfold. He was up on stage, dressed in a crisp white shirt, sleeves rolled up just enough to make half the girls in the room swoon. He spoke with ease, confidence radiating from him as he answered questions about business strategies and future market trends.
She hated that he looked so... perfect.
The seminar finally ended, and as the crowd dispersed, Ruhi grabbed her bag and headed toward the exit. But before she could slip away, a familiar voice stopped her.
"Running away again?"
She turned to find Abhi leaning against the doorframe, blocking her path. His smirk was firmly in place, but there was something else in his eyes-curiosity.
Ruhi sighed, feigning boredom. "Not everyone enjoys wasting their time watching a rich boy talk about money."
Abhi chuckled. "Yet you stayed until the end."
She narrowed her eyes. "I was in the back. Didn't have an easy escape."
He stepped closer, lowering his voice just enough to send a shiver down her spine. "Or maybe you wanted to stay."
Ruhi tilted her head, matching his tone. "And maybe you're reading too much into it."
His smirk didn't waver. "Maybe."
She rolled her eyes and made a move to leave, but Abhi wasn't done. "Join me for coffee."
Ruhi froze for a fraction of a second before composing herself. "Why would I?"
"Because I want to know what goes on in that head of yours."
She scoffed. "Flattery won't work on me."
"Who said I'm flattering you?" His expression was unreadable now. "Think of it as research."
Ruhi crossed her arms. "Research?"
Abhi leaned in slightly. "I need to figure out why you get under my skin."
Her heart stuttered, but she masked it with a smirk. "Maybe I'm just that good."
Abhi chuckled. "Maybe you are."
For a moment, they stood there, neither backing down. Then, to her own surprise, Ruhi exhaled. "Fine. One coffee."
Abhi's grin widened. "Good choice."
She shook her head, knowing full well she was playing a dangerous game.
But damn it, she wasn't about to back down now.
....to be continued...
Author's Note:
Ah, coffee—the beginning of all great love stories and most disasters.
Ruhi's slipping, and she knows it. Abhi? He's not just playing anymore—he's curious, and that's even more dangerous. One coffee. One moment. That's all it takes for sparks to turn into fire.
Are they falling... or just playing pretend?
Stay tuned, because this golden boy and the girl with a mask are about to stir more than just sugar into their coffee.
—From your author, grinning like a fool while watching the tension simmer…