That day, everything felt… almost normal.
Almost like they were a real couple.
Almost like there was no contract between them.
Almost like they weren't standing on fragile ground.
And that was what made it dangerous.
---
Anaya found Aarav in the kitchen that morning, cooking.
Not standing.
Not supervising.
Cooking.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
"Trying not to burn the house down," he replied seriously.
She smiled. "You're holding the spatula like it might attack you."
"I don't trust it," he said.
She laughed — softly, genuinely.
"You're doing fine," she said. "What are you making?"
"Breakfast," he replied. "For us."
The word *us* hung in the air.
Neither of them commented on it.
---
They ate together — not across the table, but side by side.
"This is good," she said.
"I followed a recipe," he replied. "I'm not that brave."
"You're braver than you think," she said.
He looked at her. "You think so?"
"Yes," she said. "You're trying."
He nodded. "So are you."
---
Later that afternoon, Anaya was folding clothes when Aarav walked in.
"You're folding wrong," he said.
"There's no wrong way," she replied.
"There is if you want them to fit," he said, taking a shirt from her hands.
She watched as he folded it neatly.
"You're very particular," she said.
"Control," he replied. "It makes things feel safe."
She looked at him. "Does it?"
"Not always," he admitted.
She hesitated, then said, "You don't have to be in control all the time."
"Then who will be?" he asked.
She smiled faintly. "Maybe… both of us."
---
That evening, they sat on the couch watching a movie.
Not touching.
Not leaning.
Just sitting close.
Close enough to feel each other's presence.
Close enough to be aware of every movement.
Halfway through the movie, the power went out again.
"You have to be kidding," Anaya said.
Aarav sighed. "This house clearly hates romance."
She laughed. "It's doing its job well."
They sat in the darkness, illuminated only by the streetlight outside.
"I used to hate silence," Aarav said suddenly.
"Why?" she asked.
"Because it made me think," he replied.
"And now?" she asked.
"Now I hate noise," he said. "Because it distracts me from thinking."
"About what?" she asked.
He turned to her. "About you."
Her breath caught.
---
She shifted slightly. "Aarav…"
"Yes?" he asked.
"We're getting too close," she said.
"Are we?" he asked.
"Yes," she replied. "And that's not safe."
"Why does safety always mean distance to you?" he asked.
"Because distance doesn't hurt," she said.
He looked at her. "It doesn't heal either."
She didn't answer.
---
A moment later, her phone rang.
She glanced at the screen.
Her sister.
She answered. "Hello?"
Aarav heard the change in her voice.
Softer.
Lighter.
He felt something unfamiliar twist in his chest.
Jealousy.
---
After the call, Anaya noticed his silence.
"Everything okay?" she asked.
"Yes," he replied too quickly.
She tilted her head. "You don't sound okay."
"It's nothing," he said.
She studied him. "You're jealous."
"I'm not," he replied.
"You are," she said softly.
He didn't deny it.
"I didn't know I could be," he admitted.
She smiled faintly. "Welcome to the club."
---
They sat in silence again.
But it wasn't uncomfortable.
It was… full.
Full of things they were not saying.
Full of feelings they were not admitting.
Full of moments that felt like they belonged to something real.
---
Later that night, Anaya stood on the balcony, watching the city lights.
Aarav joined her.
"You're thinking too much," he said.
"You always say that," she replied.
"Because it's always true," he said.
She looked at him. "Do you ever feel like this is… wrong?"
"Wrong how?" he asked.
"Like we're walking toward something we're not supposed to want," she said.
He thought for a moment.
"Maybe," he said. "But sometimes, the things we're not supposed to want are the things we need most."
She swallowed.
"That's dangerous," she whispered.
"So is living without wanting anything," he replied.
---
They stood there, side by side.
Not touching.
Not moving.
But closer than they had ever been.
And in that moment, both of them knew —
They weren't in love.
Not yet.
But they were standing at the edge of it.
And neither of them knew whether to step forward…
Or walk away.
---