Cracks in the ice
Author's pov-
Sleep didn't come easy for divya that night. She tossed and turned, her mind replaying every second of her conversation with purv. The way he had looked at her. The way he had touched her, however briefly.
And the way he had pulled away.
She knew he was fighting with something-something within himself. And for the first time, she felt like she was getting close to breaking through.
But was she ready for what lay beneath?
The next day, she arrived at college feeling restless. Kaashi noticed immediately.
"You look like you didn't sleep at all," she said, sipping on her cold coffee as they sat in the canteen.
Divya sighed. "I didn't."
Kaashi raised an eyebrow. "And why is that? Don't tell me it's because of him."
Divya hesitated before nodding.
Kaashi groaned. "Divi, I swear, you're in too deep. This guy is-"
"Not as cold as he pretends to be," Divya cut in.
Kaashi looked at her, unimpressed. "Yeah, yeah. And wild lions can be tamed too. Doesn't mean you should try."
Divya rolled her eyes. "It's not like that."
Kaashi scoffed. "Oh really? Then why do you look like you spent all night overthinking every single moment you've ever had with him?"
Divya opened her mouth to argue, but no words came out. Because kaashi was right.
Before she could respond, a familiar voice interrupted.
"What's this? A secret girl meeting?"
Aditya slid into the seat next to kaashi, flashing his usual charming grin.
Kaashi huffed. "It was a private conversation, actually."
Aditya ignored her and turned to Divya. "You good? You look... distracted."
Divya forced a smile. "Just tired."
Aditya's gaze lingered on her face for a second, as if he didn't quite believe her, but he didn't push.
Instead, he smirked. "Well, maybe I can distract you. There's movie night happening tomorrow at my place. You both should come."
Kaashi instantly perked up. "Ooh, I'm in! Divya, you're coming too, right?"
Divya hesitated, her thoughts immediately drifting to purv. Would he care? Would he even notice?
Not that it mattered.
Right?
Before she could overthink it, she nodded. "Yeah, sure. Sounds fun."
Aditya grinned. "Great. I'll text you the details."
Just then, the air in the canteen shifted. Divya didn't need to turn around to know why.
Purv had walked in.
And as if on instinct, her eyes found him.
He was with Rudra and some other guys, but his gaze landed on her almost instantly.
For a brief second, neither of them looked away.
Then, as if deciding something, purv smirked slightly and started walking in her direction.
Divya's breath hitched.
Kaashi and Aditya noticed too.
"Ohh great," kaashi muttered under her breath.
Aditya just leaned back, watching with mild amusement.
Purv stopped right next to their table, looking straight at divya.
"You look tired," he commented.
Divya blinked at him. "Good morning to you too."
He ignored her sarcasm, his gaze flickering to Aditya for the briefest moment before returning to her. "Didn't sleep well?"
Divya knew he was asking more than just a casual question.
She could feel kaashi and Aditya watching them closely, but she refused to back down.
"I'm fine," she said smoothly. "Just had alot on my mind."
Purv tilted his head slightly. "Anything interesting?"
She held his gaze. "Maybe."
For a moment, there was silence.
Then aditya, who had been quietly observing, smirked and said, "she's coming to movie night at my place tomorrow. Should be fun."
Divya immediately wanted to strangle him.
Kaashi groaned. "Oh my god, Aditya, seriously?"
But Aditya wasn't looking at her. He was watching purv.
And purv?
His smirk was gone. His expression didn't change much, but there was something... different.
His grip on the chair infront of him tightened just slightly.
Divya waited for him to say something.
Instead, he just looked at her for another long second, then turned away without a word and walked off.
Aditya chuckled under his breath. "Interesting."
Kaashi smacked his arm. "Are you trying to get her killed?"
Divya, meanwhile, felt her heart race for a completely different reason.
Because for the first time, she had seen it.
The flicker of something in purv's eyes.
Something that looked alot like jealousy.
And she wasn't sure how to feel about that.