Chapter 5 – Truth Reveal
Maya couldn't focus the entire day.
You were jealous.
Ayan's words kept repeating in her mind.
She wasn't jealous.
…Was she?
After school, she packed her bag quickly, trying to avoid looking at him.
"Maya."
She paused.
Ayan was standing beside her desk.
"What?" she asked, pretending to be calm.
"You're still upset."
"I said I'm not."
He studied her face carefully, like he was trying to solve a difficult math problem.
"Sara really is my cousin," he said quietly. "She just transferred to this branch for a few weeks."
"I know," Maya replied. "She told me."
"Then why are you acting like this?"
Maya hesitated.
Because I didn't like seeing you smile at someone else.
But she couldn't say that.
Instead, she crossed her arms. "You don't usually talk to anyone. So it was… surprising."
Ayan looked down for a second.
"I don't talk much," he admitted. "It's not easy for me."
Maya blinked.
That was the first time he had openly admitted something about himself.
"Then why do you talk to her so comfortably?" she asked softly.
"Because she's family," he answered. Then after a small pause, he added, "And because she forces me to."
Maya almost laughed.
That sounded believable.
There was a brief silence between them.
Not awkward.
Just honest.
Then Ayan spoke again.
"You were different."
"What?"
"With you… it's different."
Her heart skipped.
"I don't talk much," he continued slowly, choosing his words carefully. "But when I sit next to you… it doesn't feel difficult."
Maya felt her cheeks warm.
He wasn't looking at her. His eyes were on the floor.
"And yesterday," he added, "I didn't come outside just for the project."
Maya's breath caught.
"I saw the clouds. I knew you'd ignore the rain."
She smiled softly. "So you came to save me?"
Ayan looked at her finally.
"Something like that."
For a few seconds, neither of them said anything.
But this time, the silence felt full.
Full of something new.
Something growing.
Maybe the misunderstanding wasn't a bad thing after all.
Maybe it was the moment that made them both realize—
This wasn't just about a project anymore.