Akil POV
After breakfast, we went to the shopping mall to buy a dress for my cousin. I got a sudden call, so I asked Sara to choose the dress and told her my cousin likes light colors and her size of the dress.
While attending the call, my mind was not on the conversation at all. I kept looking through the glass of the shop to see if Sara was okay. She was walking around, checking dresses seriously, like this was her own sister's wedding.
When I finished the call and went back inside, I noticed her standing alone near the corner. Her face looked upset.
Before I could ask anything, I heard two salesgirls whispering behind her.
"She won't buy anything. These dresses are too expensive for her."
They laughed.
My hands tightened into fists.
I felt angry... not for the dress, but for the way they judged her.
I walked straight to Sara and said loudly, "Sara, did you choose the dress?"
She turned around. When I placed my hand on her waist, she froze for a second. I didn't even realize how close I stood to her until I saw her eyes widen.
She shook her head and said softly, "No..."
I made her sit on the sofa.
"Wait here. I'll choose." I told her.
When I turned back, I saw the two salesgirls staring at me. And then I saw Sara walk toward me and hold my arm. She rested her head on my shoulder and said.
"My legs are paining..."
For a second, my heart forgot how to beat.
I smiled without knowing why.
I picked a light-colored dress and showed it to her. "This one okay?"
When she smiled and said yes, I felt relieved... like I had won something important.
I took the dress to the billing counter and paid for it. I didn't care about the price. I only cared about the way her face looked calm again.
As we walked out, I felt her hand still holding mine. I didn't want to let go.
But she slowly removed her hand and asked, "Did you hear what those girls were saying about me?"
I looked at her and said honestly,
"I heard everything. And you don't have to care about people who judge without knowing you."
She looked at me with surprise.
At that moment, I realized something scared me...
I didn't come here only to buy a dress for my cousin.
I came here because I wanted to see her.
We went to other shops to finish the shopping. At one point, Sara suddenly dragged me into a makeup store. I pulled her hand gently and made her stop.
Akil: "What happened? Why suddenly makeup shop?"
She looked at me innocently and said, Sara: "I want to buy some products."
I sighed dramatically and nodded.
"Okay madam, today I am your shopping assistant," said.
She laughed and started checking everything like a little kid in a toy shop. Watching her move from one shelf to another with excitement, I couldn't stop smiling.
She looked so cute at that moment that I forgot where I was.
Without realizing it, I thought to myself...
When did I start liking her smile this much?
After we finished buying everything, Akil took me to a restaurant for dinner. I was really happy today. My legs were tired, but my heart felt light. I took a deep breath, looked at him, and smiled.
Me: "So... this is your treat, right?"
He raised his eyebrows. "Yes."
I crossed my arms.
Me: "Excuse me? Morning you paid the bill, so now it's my turn."
He laughed.
Akil: "Okay, okay. I'll let you pay next time. Today I' Il pay again. Now come, before you faint from hunger."
I rolled my eyes and walked to our table like a queen who had won an argument. We sat down and I started ordering without even checking the prices.
While waiting for the food, he suddenly became serious.
Akil: "Sara... I want to ask you something."
Me: "What? Don't tell me you regret bringing me here."
He smiled slightly and shook his head. Akil: "No. It's about Minnie. What happened to her? She's not the girl I used to know."
My smile slowly faded.
I sighed and looked at the table for a moment. Me: "It's a long story, Akil..."
Sara: "First tell me... are you ready to hear a sad story or should I order dessert first?"
Akil: "Order both. I can handle sugar and sadness together."
I smiled a little and took a deep breath.
Sara: "Minnie's life became a drama serial, Akil. Her mom was in the hospital... her dad suddenly changed... and then Will happened."
Akil: "Will?" "That Paris guy?"
Sara: "Yes. The same hero who entered her life like a movie and left like a commercial break."
Akil: "Sara..."
Sara: "She loved him, Akil. Not loudly... but deeply. She never said it to him. Only to me"
He stayed silent for a second.
Akil: "Then why is she acting like nothing matters now?"
Sara: "Because she's tired. She's trying to be strong, but inside she's broken. She smiles... but it's not her real smile anymore."
Akil: "Did he hurt her?"
Sara: "Not directly. He treated her like a friend. But when someone means everything to you and you mean 'just a friend' to them... that hurts more."
Akil clenched his jaw.
Akil: "She doesn't deserve that."
Sara: "I know. She keeps saying she's focusing on her career now, but I see her... every night she stares at her phone hoping he'll message."
Akil: "And he didn't?
Sara: "He did. Once. And she blocked him.'
Akil looked shocked.
Akil: "She blocked him?"
Sara: "Yes. Because sometimes loving someone means choosing yourself."
He nodded slowly.
Akil: "She's strong... stronger than she knows."
I smiled sadly.
Sara: "I just want my old Minnie back, Akil. The girl who laughed without fear."
He looked at me seriously.
Akil: "She will come back. And this time... she won't break so easily" For a moment, both of us stayed quiet, thinking about Minnie, while the food arrived in front we started to eat
After dinner, Akil paid the bill and drove me back home. The whole ride was silent, but my heart was noisy with questions. One thought kept running in my mind again and again. I wanted to ask him, but fear tied my lips.
When he stopped the car in front of my house, I looked at him. I opened my mouth... then closed it.
Akil: "You want to say something, don't you?"
I took a deep breath, gathering all my courage.
Sara: "I want to know one thing..."
He turned toward me, his eyes calm and gentle.
Akil: "What is it?"
My voice trembled a little.
Sara: "Today... you asked me to come with you for buying the gift and everything. Why do I feel like you did all this just to know what happened to Minnie? Like... that was the only reason you spent the whole day with me"
For a second, he froze. The silence between us felt heavy.
Then he spoke softly.
Akil: "Why are you thinking like that?"
He looked straight into my eyes.
Akil: "If I wanted to know about Minnie, I would have asked her directly. I wouldn't use you for that."
I swallowed hard.
Akil: "I asked you to come because... I wanted to spend time with you. That's it. Nothing else."
My heart skipped.
Sara: "You mean... really?"
Akil: "Yes. I didn't notice the shops, the food, or the time. I only noticed you."
My breath caught in my throat. I looked away, afraid he might see the sudden tears in my eyes.
Sara : "Then why does it feel like this day meant more than just shopping?"
He smiled, a quiet and honest smile.
Akil: "Because maybe... it did"
Sara: "But Minnie told me... that you liked her in school. You even proposed to her and she rejected you. So I thought... maybe you still like her."
Akil went quiet for a moment. He looked away, then slowly looked back at me.
Akil: "Yes... she is right. I liked Minnie in my school days."
My heart tightened.
Akil: "Back then, I thought what I felt was love. I was young and confused. I didn't know the difference between caring and loving."
He took a deep breath.
Akil: "And yes, she rejected me. It hurt. But with time, that feeling changed. Now I like her only as a friend... someone important from my past."
I looked at him, still unsure.
Sara: "Then why did you ask me out today? Was it really just for the gift?"
He smiled softly.
Akil: "The gift was just an excuse."
I widened my eyes.
Akil: "I wanted to spend time with you. I wanted to hear your laugh, see you get angry at shopkeepers, and watch you order too much food without checking the price."
laughed through my nervousness.
Akil: "When I'm with you, I don't think about Minnie. I don't think about the past. I only think about this moment."
My voice came out small.
Sara: "So... what am I to you now"
He paused, choosing his words carefully.
Akil: "You are not someone from my past. You are someone new... someone I want in my present."
My heart started beating faster.
"You're confusing me!" and i got out of the car and started walking toward my house without looking back.
Akil POV
She walked away in anger. I shook my head and followed her. Before she could take another step, I held her wrist and gently pulled her back toward me. She almost crashed into my chest.
My breath was uneven.
Akil: "Sara... stop running from me."
She looked up at me, her eyes full of confusion and pain.
I couldn't control myself anymore.
Akil: "Can you be my girlfriend?"
The words slipped out with my heartbeat.
She widened her eyes.
Sara: "What are you saying"
I cupped her face softly.
Akil : "I don't know when it happened, Sara... but somewhere between your silly fights, your loud laugh, and the way you care about Minnie, I started falling for you. Not as Minnie's friend. Not as someone from the past. As you."
She looked up at him, her eyes filled with confusion and tears.
Sara: "You're serious...?"
Akil: "More than serious. I don't want to hide it anymore. I don't want to pretend this is just friendship. I like you, Sara. I want to be with you."
For a moment, there was only silence between us. Then Sara slowly stepped closer, her hands clutching my shirt.
Sara: "You always confuse me... but right now, I don' t want to run anymore"
I lifted my hand and gently brushed her hair away from her face. My touch was careful, like I was afraid she might disappear.
Akil: "If this is a mistake, let it be our mistake. Together."
Sara's breath shook. She nodded slightly.
Sara: "Don't leave then."
I moved closer to her slowly, giving her every chance to step back. But she didn't. Instead, she lifted her eyes to mine, her heart beating louder than her thoughts.
My lips met in a tender, trembling kiss-soft, innocent, and filled with everything we were too afraid to say out loud. It wasn't hurried or passionate; it was gentle and meaningful, like a silent promise made between two souls who had waited too long for this moment.
When we finally pulled apart, Sara rested her forehead against my chest, her fingers still holding onto my shirt as if letting go would break the spell.
I wrapped my arms around her, drawing her closer, shielding her from the world. In that quiet embrace, nothing else mattered-no past fears, no unanswered questions-only the warmth of each other and the feeling that they had finally found where we belonged.
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Author Note
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