CHAPTER 33 part 2（MAHI）
I opened the door.
And closed it.
Hard.
A little too hard.
The sound echoed in the room.
I closed my eyes briefly.
It was the wind.
Yes.
Just the wind.
Nothing else.
I placed my bag on the couch.
Then walked straight to the bed.
And lay down.
Face up.
Hands over my eyes.
Trying not to think.
But thinking anyway.
She knows him.
She knows everything about him.
The café.
The river.
His habits.
His past.
His "comfortable" moments.
Everything.
Why?
Why does she know all of that?
She's not supposed to know that.
That part isn't supposed to belong to anyone else.
My fingers curled slightly over my eyes.
I stayed still.
But my chest didn't.
And the worst part...
The part that didn't leave me alone...
Wasn't her.
It was him.
He didn't tell me.
Not a single thing.
Not the café.
Not the river.
Not her.
Nothing.
I turned slightly on the bed.
Angrily.
Quietly.
Why didn't he tell me?
Was I not supposed to know?
Or did he just not think I needed to?
A small breath escaped me.
I pressed my hands tighter over my face.
I am not jealous.
I told myself.
Firmly.
Again.
I am not jealous.
But the silence in the room didn't agree with me.
And neither did the ache sitting quietly in my chest.
I rolled over slightly.
The bed suddenly felt too big.
Too empty.
And for the first time today...
I didn't want to stay calm anymore.
The door opened.
I stood up immediately.
And looked at him.
Eyes narrowed.
Very narrowed.
He closed the door behind him slowly.
Halfway through the movement, he froze.
Good.
At least he understands the situation.
Aryan took a careful step forward.
Then another.
"How was your day, Snowflake?"
I closed my eyes.
Smiled.
Slowly.
Sweetly.
Dangerously.
"Good."
A pause.
"Extraordinary."
Another pause.
"Spectacular."
Silence.
Complete silence.
I opened my eyes again.
He was watching me now.
Carefully.
Like I was something unpredictable.
Good.
That was accurate.
I tilted my head slightly.
"You look tired."
He blinked.
Once.
"Yes."
"Riya must have kept you busy."
Another pause.
His jaw tightened slightly.
"Mahi..."
I smiled again.
Still calm.
Still polite.
"I'm just observing."
He exhaled slowly.
Then walked closer.
Careful steps.
Like approaching something fragile.
"What happened today?"
I laughed softly.
One short laugh.
No humor in it.
"Nothing happened."
I moved past him slightly.
"That's the problem."
He turned instantly.
"Mahi."
I stopped.
Didn't look at him yet.
Because if I did...
I might stop being calm.
And I didn't want that.
Not yet.
"I gave her a tour," I said quietly.
"And I learned a lot."
Silence again.
Behind me, I could feel him freeze.
"I didn't know I was missing so much of your life."
A beat.
Then I finally turned.
And smiled.
Too calm.
Too controlled.
"You forgot to tell me a few things, Aryan."
His expression changed immediately.
Softened.
Concerned now.
Not confused.
Not tired.
Just focused.
"Mahi..."
I cut him off gently.
"No."
A pause.
Then softer—
"I am not angry."
A lie.
He knew it.
I knew it.
But I still said it.
And for once...
He didn't interrupt.
He sat down next to me.
Carefully.
Like he was afraid I might disappear if he moved too fast.
I didn't sit.
I stayed standing.
Because if I sat...
I might lose my voice.
I looked at him.
"Was I not important enough to know anything about you?"
Silence.
A pause stretched between us.
Heavy.
Aryan opened his mouth slightly.
But I didn't let him speak yet.
"You can't blame me," I said quietly.
"If you didn't tell me."
Another pause.
"I asked."
My voice softened slightly.
"But you didn't tell me."
His expression changed.
Immediately.
" it's not like that, Snowflake."
I let out a small breath.
Not calm.
Not angry.
Something in between.
"So what is it like, Aryan?"
He went silent again.
I shook my head slightly.
Not in disbelief.
In hurt.
"I came to know about your likes..."
A pause.
"Your dislikes..."
Another pause.
"And your thoughts..."
My fingers tightened slightly at my side.
"...from someone who was never supposed to know anything about you."
Silence again.
This one felt different.
Aryan looked at me properly now.
No distractions.
No excuses.
Just me.
I continued, quieter this time.
"You told her things."
A pause.
"Things you never told me."
My voice broke slightly at the end.
I hated that.
I hated it more than anything.
Then I looked away for a second.
"And I don't even know why I'm the last person to know you."
Silence filled the room.
No teasing now.
No "special friend."
No jokes.
Just the truth sitting between us.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
Real.
And for the first time...
Aryan didn't immediately have an answer.
I moved toward my bag.
Fast.
Before I could change my mind.
"I am going to Alina's house."
My hand reached the strap.
But before I could lift it—
A warm grip closed around my wrist.
Firm.
Not painful.
But stopping.
I froze.
He spoke behind me.
"Mahi... why are you going to Alina?"
I yanked my hand free.
Turned immediately.
And looked at him.
"Because I know if I stay here..."
A pause.
My voice lowered slightly.
"I will say something."
Another pause.
"Or do something..."
My fingers curled into my palm.
"...that I will regret."
Silence.
I took a breath.
"I will come back when I want to."
I turned toward the door again.
One step.
Then—
His voice again.
Stronger this time.
"Mahi."
I stopped.
Didn't turn yet.
He stepped closer.
I could feel it.
"Don't go."
A pause.
I finally looked back at him.
He wasn't calm anymore.
No teasing.
No Snowflake.
Just Aryan.
"Mahi... don't do this."
I let out a short laugh.
Not amused.
Not happy.
Just tired.
"You didn't stop when I asked."
Silence hit again.
Hard.
His jaw tightened.
"That's not what this is."
I tilted my head slightly.
"What is it then?"
He opened his mouth.
Closed it again.
For once...
No perfect answer.
I nodded slowly.
"Exactly."
Then I turned back toward the door.
"I just need space, Aryan."
A pause.
Then softer—
"Before I say something that breaks whatever is left between us."
Silence.
This one lasted longer.
Behind me, I heard him move.
But he didn't speak.
Not yet.
And I walked out before I changed my mind.
The moment I reached Alina's house...
I didn't even knock properly.
I just walked in.
And closed the door behind me.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Like if I moved too fast, I might fall apart completely.
Alina looked up from the couch immediately.
Her smile disappeared the second she saw my face.
"Hey—what happened?"
I didn't answer.
I didn't trust my voice.
I just walked forward and sat down on the edge of the couch.
Still.
Too still.
Alina moved closer.
"Mahi?"
Silence.
My hands were clenched in my lap.
Tight.
Painfully tight.
Then—
"ALINA."
My voice came out broken.
She sat beside me.
Gently.
"What did he do?"
That was it.
That question.
Something inside me cracked.
Just slightly.
But enough.
My throat tightened.
"I'm not—" I stopped.
A breath.
"I'm not angry."
A pause.
My voice dropped.
"I'm just..."
Nothing came out.
Because I didn't even know what I was anymore.
Alina didn't push.
She just placed her hand over mine.
Warm.
Steady.
And that's when it happened.
My eyes burned.
I looked away immediately.
"No," I whispered.
But it was too late.
A tear slipped out anyway.
Then another.
And suddenly—
I couldn't stop it.
My shoulders shook once.
Then again.
And I pressed my hand to my mouth, trying to hold it in.
But it all came out anyway.
"I don't understand him," I said, voice breaking.
"He lets me in... and then suddenly I feel like I don't even know where I stand."
Alina pulled me closer immediately.
Not asking.
Just holding.
"It's okay," she whispered.
"You're okay."
I shook my head against her shoulder.
"No I'm not."
A pause.
Then softer—
"I don't even know why it hurts this much."
Alina tightened her hold slightly.
"Because you care."
That word made my breath hitch.
Care.
I closed my eyes.
And for the first time since I left the mansion...
I didn't try to stop crying.
Because there was no point anymore.
And Alina stayed there.
Just holding me.
Until I stopped shaking so much.
But not until I felt better.
Just until I didn't feel alone.
I looked at her.
Still sitting on the couch.
Still trying to breathe properly.
My voice came out uneven.
"Riya is staying in our house."
Alina's expression changed immediately.
I continued before I could stop myself.
"And she is telling me things about Aryan."
A pause.
My hands tightened together.
"Things I was supposed to know."
Silence.
I swallowed.
"She knows his favourite places... his habits... his past..."
My voice cracked slightly.
"And I didn't even know."
I looked down at my hands.
"Even though I asked him."
A pause.
"I asked him multiple times."
My throat tightened again.
"But he just said it doesn't matter."
I let out a shaky breath.
"So what am I supposed to do?"
My eyes lifted slowly toward Alina.
"I can't just... drag his thoughts out of his mind, right?"
Silence filled the room.
Alina didn't answer immediately.
She just looked at me.
Soft.
Understanding.
Then she shifted closer.
"Mahi..."
I shook my head quickly.
"No, listen."
My voice rose slightly.
"I'm not trying to control him."
A pause.
"I just..."
My words stopped again.
Because I didn't even know how to finish that sentence.
Alina reached for my hands.
Held them firmly.
"Hey," she said gently.
"You're not wrong for feeling this."
I frowned slightly.
"But I shouldn't feel like this."
Alina shook her head.
"That's not how feelings work."
Silence again.
Longer this time.
My grip loosened slightly in her hands.
"But it hurts," I whispered.
And that was the truth I couldn't push away anymore.
Alina's expression softened even more.
"I know."
A pause.
Then quietly—
"But you don't have to figure it all out right now."
I closed my eyes for a second.
Tired.
Completely tired.
And for the first time...
I didn't argue back.