Amara's POV:
Every word he said felt like a blade twisting inside my chest. My mind refused to accept it, clinging desperately to the hope that this was some cruel misunderstanding. That any moment now, Vihaan would reach for me, his familiar warmth wrapping around me, and whisper, "Ama… It's just a little joke."
But he didn't.
And the weight of betrayal, confusion, and heartbreak pressed down harder than I could bear. My knees buckled slightly, my vision swimming, and a cold numbness spread through me. The voices around me—Vihaan's measured explanations, Jia's protests, Eric's frustration—blurred into echoes I couldn't grasp.
"I… I can't…" I whispered, clutching my chest as if holding onto it could somehow stop the pain.
Then darkness claimed me. The last thing I registered was the concerned shouts of those around me, Vihaan's hand reaching desperately for me, and the thundering of my own heartbeat in my ears. I fainted.
In the Hospital
I slowly opened my eyes, the sterile smell of antiseptic hitting my senses before anything else. Blinking against the harsh hospital light, I tried to sit up—but my body felt like lead. My chest was tight, my head pounding, and the events from earlier replayed in fragmented flashes.
"Amara…" a familiar voice broke through the fog. I turned my head and saw Jia sitting beside me, her hand clutching mine. Relief softened her usual fiery expression, but her eyes held concern.
"Jia…?" My voice was hoarse, barely audible.
"Shh… it's okay," she said quickly, glancing around. "You had a bit of a scare, that's all."
Eric was leaning against the wall nearby, arms crossed, but his usual stern demeanor was tempered with worry. Adrian sat quietly at the foot of the bed, awkwardly shuffling his feet, clearly unsure what to say.
I searched the room with a shaky gaze. "Where… Vihaan?"
The three exchanged uneasy looks. Eric spoke, finally. "He… he had to step out for a bit. Something urgent came up."
My chest tightened. Urgent? My mind immediately spiraled—was he avoiding me? Was he… angry? Or worse… was this his way of keeping distance after earlier?
"Has he been here?" I asked, voice barely a whisper, my heart hammering.
"Yes," Jia replied gently, squeezing my hand. "As soon as you fainted, he—he was here. He was… he was worried, Ama. But then he had to leave. He'll be back."
I nodded slowly, although I knew he wasn't there. I know him; if he were here, he wouldn't be able to leave until I regained my consciousness. My heart ached; the emptiness of his absence was almost physical. Even surrounded by friends who cared, the void Vihaan left behind was tangible.
I wanted to scream, to demand answers—but all I could do was lie back, my body trembling, and wait.
After a few hours of tests and checkups, the doctor finally gave me the all-clear. My body still felt fragile, my head a little woozy, but I was physically fine.
Jia helped me into my coat, her hand warm and reassuring. Eric followed closely, carrying my bag, while Adrian trailed behind, looking slightly uncomfortable but supportive.
"Are you sure you'll be okay to go?" the nurse asked, adjusting my IV line one last time.
"Yes… I just need some fresh air," I said, trying to sound steadier than I felt.
As we walked out of the hospital doors, the crisp air hit my face. I took a deep breath, the outside world both comforting and terrifying. The earlier confrontation replayed in my mind, the memory of Vihaan's unreadable eyes and Olivia's presence gnawing at my chest.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Jia asked gently as we made our way to the car.
I shook my head. "Not yet… I just… I need to think."
Eric glanced at me from the driver's seat. "You've been through a lot. Let's get you home first. Answers can wait a bit."
Adrian stayed quiet, his eyes flicking between Jia and me, silently offering support.
The car ride was mostly silent, but every red light, every turn, made my thoughts spiral. Vihaan's absence felt heavier now, the unanswered questions pressing down like a weight I couldn't lift.
And as I stared out the window, watching the city blur past, one thought kept repeating in my mind: Why? Why did this happen? And where is he now?
Once we reached home, Adrian left after a few minutes, and Eric, who is just a kid, still always acts like my younger brother who always wanted to protect me. She ushered me inside, insisting I sit while she brewed some tea. The familiar warmth of her home felt comforting, a small island of safety amidst the storm raging in my chest.
"You okay, Ama?" Jia asked softly, settling beside me and holding my hands in hers. Her eyes, usually full of mischief, were gentle and concerned.
I clutched the cup of tea she handed me, letting the heat seep into my frozen fingers. "I… I don't know, Jia," I admitted, voice barely steady. "Everything happened so fast. I can't even process it. I keep thinking maybe I imagined some of it—but I didn't. I saw it all."
Jia's grip tightened. "You didn't imagine anything. And you're not alone. He messed up, Ama. Big time. But that's on him, not you."
Tears threatened again, and I bit my lip to stop them. "I just… I don't understand why, Jia. Why would he do this? We were… we are… and then Olivia… and now it's like everything I believed in is crumbling."
Jia leaned closer, her voice calm but firm. "I know it hurts, and it's okay to feel that. You don't need to have all the answers right now. You need to breathe. You need to let yourself feel all this. Vihaan… he'll have to explain, eventually. But for now, focus on yourself, on your heart, Ama. You matter. You always will."
I let out a shaky breath, finally allowing myself to lean into her embrace. "I just wish he were here. I need to hear him say something—anything—to make sense of it all."
Jia brushed a strand of hair from my face. "He will come back, I promise. And when he does… We'll deal with him together. Right now, you rest. You don't have to be strong for anyone but yourself."
For the first time since the confrontation, I felt a small crack of peace amidst the chaos, knowing my sister, my best friend, was there, holding me up even when Vihaan wasn't.
The rest of the afternoon passed quietly. Jia stayed close, offering tea, snacks, and small words of comfort whenever I seemed on the verge of breaking again. I let myself lean on her, grateful for her presence, her calm strength a stark contrast to the storm still raging in my chest.
Though my body was slowly recovering from the fainting episode, my mind remained restless, spinning through every word, every glance, every half-smile Vihaan had given. The questions loomed large, unanswerable for now, and the weight of uncertainty pressed down heavily.
As the evening sun cast long shadows across Jia's living room, I realized one thing: I needed clarity. I needed answers from Vihaan. But for now… I needed rest. I needed to gather my thoughts, to brace myself for whatever came next.
Tomorrow would come soon enough, and with it, the next step in this tangled mess of hearts, choices, and secrets.