Chapter 48

At this point, there was no denying it.

Mehul and I weren't just flirting.

We weren't just hanging out.

We weren't just testing the waters.

We were something.

And today?

Mehul decided to call it out directly.

I got to the café on time.

(Which, apparently, still made me late.)

Because the moment I sat down, Mehul glanced up.

"You're late."

I blinked. "What?! It's exactly 1 PM!"

He hummed. "You usually show up a few minutes early."

…Oh.

Oh no.

My stomach flipped.

Because he noticed.

I immediately grabbed my menu, pretending that didn't just mess with my brain.

"So," I cleared my throat. "What are you getting?"

Mehul leaned back. "Not sure yet. Depends."

I frowned. "On what?"

Then—he looked right at me.

"On whether or not we're actually dating."

…WHAT.

Brain? Gone.

Heartbeat? Ruined.

Sanity? Shattered.

I choked on air. "Excuse me?"

Mehul tilted his head. Completely calm.

"I'm just asking."

I stared at him.

Because who just asks that so casually?!

I cleared my throat. Tried to recover.

"I—I mean—we go on dates."

Mehul nodded. "We do."

"We spend a lot of time together."

"True."

I swallowed. "You… hold my hand sometimes."

He smirked. "Only sometimes?"

…I was going to die.

I set my menu down.

"Are you actually asking me this?"

Mehul hummed. "Yeah. Figured I'd check."

I blinked rapidly. "Check… what?"

He shrugged. "If we're serious or if you're still pretending we aren't."

I froze.

Because oh.

Oh no.

My stomach twisted.

Because he was right.

I had been dodging it.

Convincing myself that we were somewhere in the middle.

That we were something-but-not-quite-something.

But now?

Now, Mehul was pushing me to say it out loud.

I swallowed. Tried to be normal.

"Well… what do you think?"

Mehul exhaled.

Then—he leaned forward slightly.

And said the words that completely ruined me.

"I think I like you more than I thought."

I stopped breathing.

Because no.

That was not fair.

That was not something I was prepared for.

I blinked. "You—?"

Mehul met my gaze. Steady. Sure. Completely serious.

"I like you, Vihaan."

…Oh.

Oh shit.

This wasn't a tease.

This wasn't a push.

This was Mehul, giving me an answer.

And now?

Now, I had to give him one too.

My chest felt tight.

My stomach was a mess.

But somehow—I smiled.

Not because I was trying to hide it.

But because I couldn't stop myself.

I exhaled, dragging a hand through my hair. "You're really doing this here?"

Mehul smirked. "Why not?"

I rolled my eyes.

Then—I met his gaze.

And finally—I admitted it.

"…I like you too."

Mehul didn't even blink.

Like he already knew.

Like he had been waiting for me to say it.

Then—he smiled.

The soft one.

The real one.

The one that completely destroyed me.

"Good," he murmured.

And just like that—

We were official.