Soham reaches Mira's place on Sunday morning, arriving at an early hour. She's waiting outside the gates of her building, dressed in denim joggers and a casual t-shirt, all set to leave. They had come up with this silly plan to go to Thiya's house together. Neither of them knows why. Mira's content smile makes Soham forget the greeting he had in mind. Instead, he utters a string of silly syllables.

"Hey, would you be comfortable on a bike?"

Mira's response, "Girls enjoy going on bike rides," puts a silly smile on his face. The word "love" made his heart skip a beat, he's sure.

Unbeknownst to him, Mira adds in her head, "bike rides with the guy she likes." Soham has no way of knowing that. Their ride kicks off with them having a chat. She learns he's an orphan when she mentions his family. She changes topics, apologising.

"Will Seyon and Thiya be okay? Their truth is now out in the open. I can't believe they had that massive misunderstanding for years."

"Yeah." Soham's response is prompt, though his eyes are on the road. "This shows the power of true love. I really hope the best for them."

He zooms by a couple of slow cars on the freeway, changing lanes to reach a less congested route. Mira rests her hand on his shoulder, fighting the urge to embrace him. He's such a lovely person; she's filled with joy to uncover a little piece of information about him today, though she needs to know more.

There's no need for her to be sad when the case is over. She will have to facilitate their private time. They can be friends, and she can find the courage to confess. Her feelings have progressed from liking to loving. Now all that's left is confessing.

She rests her head on his shoulder, heaving a sigh. The alleyways leading to Thiya's apartment have minimal traffic. There isn't a soul around. It doesn't matter if someone in the crowd disapproves, Mira can't pull away.

She's head over heels for this wonderful human. How wonderful it'd be if he could reciprocate. He views her as a friend, yet she occasionally notices a similar level of admiration in his eyes. Does he love her? She can find out after they solve the slasher case. For now, she can savour this moment.

Seyon and Thiya's love is unbreakable. Will ours be the same? The thought of growing old with you, Soham... I can't think of anyone else this way. Little does Mira know Soham has similar thoughts.

Arriving back on the main road, he stops at a crossing. His riding companion may not be aware, the muscles in his back stiffened the moment she rested her head against them. His heart started thudding fast, and it won't slow down. Mira... The touch of her hand on his shoulder. The weight of her head. Her warm, radiant presence — he can't part with any of them. The reasons aren't professional anymore.

She calls him the sun, but she's brighter than any star. He never had a girl pal this close. Never met a woman who was into him. Those older or younger at the orphanage don't count; they were his sisters. Maybe that's why he struggles to interact with women, especially the girl he's interested in. It doesn't help that he saw no one in a romantic light.

He's doing it now. He has noticed the way Mira looks at him. Expectant, but frustrated. Sometimes, a little melancholic. They are investigating the slasher, and don't have the time to daydream, but lately their free times have coincided too much. Then there's the time they spent at the studios together. He would abhor not spending time with her or keeping their time together professional.

She mentioned her interest in clay craft to him, but there's still much he doesn't know about her. He wants to learn more about her. Just be with her through everything, bask in the divinity of her smile. Be her support when she sheds tears. Protect her and be protected in return. This feeling is... love.

He can't deny anymore. He's in love with Mira Thanvesh. After the case ends, he can confess, but only after confirming her feelings. He's been avoiding these thoughts, but off-duty today, he's letting his heart and mind wander.

The sense of relief he experiences after sorting out his thoughts is comforting. As the signal turns green and he rounds the curb, he permits himself to smile. Thiya's house is still a thirty-minute away, so he stops by an ice cream parlour.

What guy doesn't like to woo his girl with a surprise treat?

He recommends she indulge in her favourite ice cream and a chilled beverage before they resume their ride on this balmy morning. She half hugs him and squeals in delight.

The way she coughs and blushes when they both get off the bike might be the evidence he's been looking for, suggesting that his love might not be unrequited.

Mira Thanvesh has a cute blush. She's beautiful inside out and he'd be one lucky guy to earn her love and have her as his life partner.

Whoa! Soham, you're getting way ahead of yourself. He smacks his head and jogs towards Mira, who is calling him from the store's entrance.

***

Seyon waits next to his car parked on the street outside Thiya's home until Soham and Mira arrive. Then the three of them make their way to Thiya's apartment.

Seyon sets his food inside the familiar threshold only after his two companions. Earlier, with the misunderstanding between him and Thiya, with her grudge in place, he had no trouble going. But now he is hesitant and a part of him is also restless. It's hard to put his feelings into words. Thiya must feel it too. She greets Soham and Mira with enthusiasm while the smile she shows him is stiff.

Seyon finds it appalling how docile she looks, given how reckless she is as a cop and ruthless as a person. With an apron on and her hair pinned up with clips, a few loose strands curtain her forehead, lending her a sweet look of innocence.

"Come in, guys! Uh, the folding chairs..."

Her words trigger an involuntary reaction from him. The words slip out of him, "I'll get them. The attic on the back balcony, right?"

With purpose, he is marching towards his destination and brings the chairs into the living room. It's out of habit. Also, he knows where Thiya keeps her stuff. He's regretting his actions, almost expects her to condemn them, but she mumbles a small thanks. Soham, Mira settle on the couch, Seyon, on the chair he got. Thiya moves into the kitchen. "I will brew us some tea!"

Bright morning light illuminates her kitchen and forms the background while she works. Seyon can't take his eyes off the scene even if he wants to. It helps that Soham Mira are busily chatting about a few interesting articles in the magazine they are currently reading together. Seyon can freely let his eyes wander and let thoughts come to him, muse about several nostalgic feelings swirling in his chest. Like how familiar the scene of Thiya making tea is, though years have passed since she last saw her like this. She mostly brewed his favourite hazelnut coffee for him when they would hang out together in the living room, preparing for IPS selections. Everything in Thiya's house and Thiya herself is familiar. The only unfamiliarity is the flap of wings he hears.

He looks up at the source of the noise and finds CB rushing to Thiya, perching on her shoulder while she turns off the stove, warning him about staying away from the kitchen. Her laughter that follows is also familiar to Seyon.

She brings three mugs of tea atop a tray, CB still on her shoulder.

Soham, Mira, shift in their seats leaning forward to get a good glimpse at the majestic bird that's Thiya's companion.

"Presenting you guys some warm tea and the company of CB!" With a prideful smile, Thiya sets the tray on the coffee table.

"Such a beautiful bird!" Soham's eyes shine as he looks at the bird in awe. Mira nods along, barely containing her excitement. "Can I pet him?"

As Mira jerks forward to touch CB, the bird rustles his wings and flashes his talons. Thiya comforts him, signalling the others to lower their energy. "Let's not get too excited, okay? We always need to be calm around animals."

After Soham, Mira, calm down, Thiya brings CB to them, the bird perching on her forefinger. Soham, Mira, pet the bird's crown with gentle fingers as Thiya instructs.

Seyon smiles at the sight, though from time to time his eyes are drawn to Thiya. A ticklish feeling takes root in his chest when often she returns his stare and their eyes meet before looking away. This is the umpteenth time. As they finish their tea and set their cups down, she is the first to look away again. Seyon wonders where is the confident villainess who he met years ago at the bookstore? Where is the iron lady bringing her wrath down on cheaters? Jinxing them to eternal misfortune?

CB trots along the coffee table's edge, making croaked noises before taking off. Now Seyon, Thiya, Soham and Mira are the ones seated around it.

"This already feels so relaxing," Soham says, leaning back into the couch. "But I cannot help but think of the way we are taken off the case. Did the first unit really arrest the true criminal? I doubt it. Even if we are the ones to tackle the case... What a tricky case, huh? How are we supposed to handle this?"

"We proceed as we are." Seyon leans his elbows on his knees and knits his fingers. "Three reasons why I don't think the first unit caught the right criminal. One. They are incompetent lot, although it's me being harsh and critical while I'm saying this. Two. It was the previous SIT that decided Kavya Krishnan was this slasher's next target. And somebody did target Kavya. Three. Aran remains our suspect. He was the guy the constable was talking to that night! Although he changed sim cards. Even if we didn't find evidence, there is a ton of suspicious activity going on around him, though he hides it well from society. He's the only lead we got."

"I agree." Soham nods along, his expression turning grim at Seyon's next declaration.

"I want to take him into custody and investigate him. Enough beating around the bush."

"Seyon no! You can't! You'll lose your job if you — did you forget were not even supposed to officially investigate the case anymore?"

Seyon huffs and looks away. His demeanour screams, "I don't care." Mira interjects. "Guys, aren't we here to relax and take our mind off the difficult things? We'll think of problems and solutions tomorrow."

Soham flashes a grateful smile at Mira, causing her to giggle. "Thanks Mira for the reminder. Seyon! Please don't proceed with your wild ideas without consulting with me! Promise me that!"

Seyon ignores Soham's eyes on him and looks out of the living room door, squinting at the bright sunlight filtering in. To take his mind off the case further, he scouts his immediate surroundings for a distraction he can focus on. The cup he drank the tea from catches his eye. It's one of the mugs he and Thiya brought together. This observation makes him chuckle wryly. Thiya, observing where his line of sight is, clears her throat.

"I'll show you guys my school albums... Is anyone interested? That's what folks do while hanging out with their friends, huh? Although we're not in college anymore."

With a dry laugh, she disappears into the bedroom and fetches the wrong album that has her and Seyon's old photographs. The album that also features her brother and family occasionally.

"Wrong album!"

She hastily covers her palm over a smiling picture of her and Seyon hugging each other for the camera and snaps the album shut.

Too late. Seyon has already glimpsed the familiar contents. Soham and Mira fall into silence, having observed the same. The mood suddenly has turned awkward. Mortified, Thiya stammers an apology and excuses herself. A couple of minutes pass before she brings her school album, yet the mood doesn't dissipate. Though Soham and Mira have moved on from the incident, Thiya isn't able to, not after what she glimpsed. Neither she nor Seyon can stop their minds from drifting down the memory lane recording the old days in vivid colour.

***

TBC

word count: 2k

Up next: We journey with Seyon and Thiya into their past ^^ Some cute, funny yet romatic moments await <3

Stay tuned! Pls v & C if you're reading this. Will aim for weekly updates on sunday. Thanks for reading.