Ashriti's POV
We reached the table.
There were two choices.
Sit across from him.
Or sit beside him.
Normal girls sit across.
I sat beside him.
I don't even remember deciding.
My body moved before my mind did.
The moment I sat down, I felt it.
Him.
His presence.
Close.
Too close.
I could hear his breathing.
Slow. Calm.
I could smell his cologne - fresh... sharp... something dangerously masculine.
My heart started beating faster.
It was the first time in my life I was sitting this close to a boy.
Not Adray.
Not a cousin.
A boy.
And not just any boy.
Him.
"What do you want to order, Bunny?" he asked casually.
His shoulder almost brushed mine when he leaned forward.
I forgot how menus worked.
"Anything," I said nervously. "Whatever you want."
He glanced at me sideways.
"Whatever I want?"
Why did that sound layered?
"Pasta okay?" he asked.
I nodded instantly.
"I love Appetite's pasta."
Lie.
I actually hated it.
But if he liked it-
Then I liked it.
Why was I like this?
Why was I reshaping myself so easily?
The food arrived.
The plate was placed in front of us.
Before I could even pick up my fork, he did.
He twirled some pasta slowly.
Then held it in front of my lips.
"Open," he said softly.
I froze.
No one had ever fed me before.
Not like this.
Not gently.
Not intentionally.
My cheeks burned.
But I opened my mouth.
The pasta tasted average.
But the moment tasted intoxicating.
I was on cloud nine.
He was watching my reaction carefully.
Not shy.
Not nervous.
Observing.
Calculating.
When I swallowed, he smirked slightly.
"Good?"
I nodded.
My turn.
My hands were shaking as I twirled some pasta and held it toward him.
He leaned in without breaking eye contact.
A slow bite.
And for a second-
It felt like something private.
Something only we understood.
Under the table, I felt it.
His fingers.
Lightly touching mine.
Not by accident.
Not brushing.
Holding.
My breath caught.
A small squeeze.
Electricity shot through my body.
I didn't pull away.
I didn't even think about pulling away.
My mind stops working when I'm with him.
It's like he presses mute on my logic.
And I let him.
We didn't talk much after that.
We didn't need to.
The silence between us felt full.
Heavy.
Charged.
Too soon, he checked his phone.
"Chalein?" he asked.
I didn't want to go.
I wanted time to stop.
I wanted this table to freeze.
I wanted to stay beside him forever.
But I nodded.
Because I had to.
As we stood up, his fingers brushed mine again.
Not accidental.
Intentional.
And that small touch felt like a promise.
Or maybe-
A warning