Then the porch light flipped on.
"Airam! Are you outside?" her mother called loudly from the doorway.
Airam jolted back as if she was burned, stumbling a step away from Harry. Her hand flew to her chest, her cheeks burning.
Harry froze, startled, jaw tightening in frustration, he tried to hide.
"Yes, Mama!" Airam called back, forcing her voice steady. "I'm coming!"
Her mother shut the door without another word, unaware of the moment she'd crushed.
Airam turned to Harry, eyes wide, breath uneven, emotions in chaos.
Harry exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. "So… that almost happened."
She swallowed. "What? No, you should… forget it."
He looked at her, eyes searching, voice low and certain."Airam, I'm not forgetting anything. I love you,"
Her heart flipped hard.
She turned and walked inside before she did something reckless… like finish what they started.
~~~~
The walk back from the walk from the local store was supposed to be nothing special, just the two of them sharing the same quiet evening they'd shared a dozen times before.
But tonight felt different, though Airam couldn't explain why. Maybe it was because of what almost happened last night or the way Harry kept glancing at her, as if memorizing the shape of her smile. Maybe it was the way her heart kept doing that unhelpful fluttering thing every time his arm brushed hers.
They stopped at the small wooden bridge that crossed the stream behind the old park. Airam leaned against the railing, exhaling slowly.
"This place always calms me," she said. "It's like the only spot that's never changed."
Harry stepped beside her, close enough that she felt his warmth even in the night breeze. "You like stability," he murmured. "You make people feel safe, Airam. I like that about you."
She had to look away, because if she kept staring at him, she might forget how to breathe. "I don't know about all that," she whispered.
"I do." His voice softened. "Your family is lucky."
And there it was, the crack in her chest she'd been pretending wasn't there. Because it wasn't just Harry's words. It was the way he said them, as he saw her…actually understand her.
Airam turned to answer him, but the moment she faced him, she froze.
He was already looking at her. His eyes flickered down to her lips before he caught himself. Her pulse stuttered.
"Harry…" she breathed, unsure if it was a warning or an invitation.
He stepped closer, too close, too careful, like he was afraid she'd run if he moved too quickly. "Airam," he whispered, "Can I…?"
He didn't finish the sentence. He didn't need to. The silence between them said everything.
His hand brushed hers, fingertips grazing just enough to make her shiver. Their breaths mingled. Their foreheads nearly touched. Her lips parted.
One more inch. Just one more.
But suddenly, headlights swept across the bridge as a car turned the corner, breaking the fragile bubble between them. Airam jumped back first, startled. Harry blinked, as if waking up from a dream.
She tucked her hair behind her ear, cheeks burning. "We should… head home."
"Yeah," Harry said softly. Too softly. "Yeah, of course."
They walked side by side again, but the space between them felt too loud, too warm, too full of the kiss they almost shared again.
And Airam knew fully, painfully, undeniably.
She was in trouble.
Because she wanted him. And she wasn't sure she could pretend otherwise anymore.