The morning light filtered through the cracks in the treehouse, casting a soft glow over the two figures entwined in sleep. Zahir was the first to wake, his eyes slowly focusing on the unfamiliar surroundings. He blinked, the events of the previous night flooding back to him. His arm was wrapped around Khushi, their bodies pressed together for warmth, their clothes scattered around them.

Zahir's heart raced as he looked down at Khushi, still asleep, her hair tousled and her expression peaceful. He felt a mix of emotions — confusion, regret, and a lingering desire that he couldn't quite shake off. But before he could dwell on it, Khushi stirred, her eyes fluttering open.

Khushi quickly realised the situation. Her face flushed as she noticed their dishevelled state, the remnants of their heated encounter evident. She sat up abruptly, pulling away from Zahir and reaching for her clothes.

"This doesn't mean anything," Khushi said, her voice haughty as she hastily pulled on her shirt, her movements quick and almost defensive.

"Of course, it doesn't," Zahir replied, his tone equally guarded. He stood up, brushing the dirt off his pants before putting on his jacket.

"It was cold, and it was quite adventurous out here." Zahir said.

"Right," Khushi agreed, her voice slightly higher-pitched than usual. "I just enjoyed the adrenaline rush. Nothing more."

"As long as we are clear on that," Zahir said, a hint of arrogance creeping into his tone as he buttoned up his shirt, refusing to let his vulnerability show.

Khushi scoffed, rolling her eyes as she slipped on her shoes. "Crystal clear."

They both descended from the treehouse in silence, the awkwardness between them palpable. The forest, once filled with the thrill of the unknown, now felt stifling, the silence pressing down on them as they tried to find their way back to the campsite.

'I can't believe this happened. We lost control, but it was just the cold, the adrenaline. Nothing more. We're two strong-willed people who let the moment get the better of us. That's all. I've got to push this out of my mind, focus on getting back, and pretend this never happened. She's just like me— stubborn and independent. It meant nothing, and that's how it's going to stay.' Zahir thought to himself. He was trying to make himself believe all that, when deep down, he knew there was more to it all.

'This is so embarrassing. I let myself get caught up in the moment. It was just the thrill, the cold... nothing more. I can't afford to let this mess with my head. Zahir's just a distraction, nothing more. We've always clashed, and this was just another form of that. I'll put it behind me, pretend it didn't happen, and move on. No big deal. We'll laugh it off later, maybe. Or not. Whatever. It's fine.' Khushi's inner thoughts weren't much different from that of Zahir. But at the same time, she was as stubborn as Zahir.

The walk back to the campsite was awkward, the tension between them thick and uncomfortable. They both knew they should talk about it, but neither wanted to be the one to break the silence, so they resorted to bickering instead.

"So, are we even heading in the right direction?" Khushi asked, her tone sharp as she glanced around the forest, which looked identical in every direction.

Zahir sighed, clearly annoyed.

"I know where I am going, Khushi. We just have to follow the trail back."

"If you say so," Khushi muttered, clearly unconvinced. "But it feels like we have been walking in circles."

"Maybe if you weren't so distracted by every little thing, you would notice that we are heading the right way," Zahir snapped back, his frustration evident. Khushi glared at him.

"I am not the one who insisted you on coming with me in the first place, Zahir. Maybe if you hadn't been so worried about me, we wouldn't have gotten lost."

Zahir stopped walking and turned to face her, his eyes narrowed.

"You were the one who decided to go wandering off in the middle of the night! I was just trying to make sure you didn't get yourself killed."

Khushi threw up her hands in exasperation.

"Well, congratulations, hero! We are both lost now. And freezing. Great job."

They stared at each other for a moment, both stubbornly refusing to back down. But the intensity of their gaze was laced with something neither of them wanted to acknowledge— an undercurrent of the passion they'd shared the night before.

"Fine," Zahir said finally, his voice tight. "Let's just keep walking. The campsite has to be close."

"Fine," Khushi echoed, her tone just as curt.

They walked in silence, each of them lost in their thoughts, trying to push away the memories of the night before and focus on the task at hand. But the awkwardness lingered, making every step feel heavier, every rustle of leaves around them a reminder of how they had ended up here, together, in the first place.

Their bickering continued in short bursts, each argument more trivial than the last—whether they should go left or right, how fast they should walk, even the best way to hold a flashlight. But underneath it all was the unspoken tension, the memory of their closeness in the treehouse that neither of them could quite shake.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, they stumbled upon a familiar trail. The tension between them eased slightly as they realised they were on the right path back to the campsite. But the awkwardness remained, a silent companion to their journey, until they finally emerged from the forest and saw the tents in the distance.

"See?" Zahir said, trying to sound triumphant, though the edge in his voice betrayed him. "Told you we would find our way back."

Khushi didn't respond immediately, her gaze fixed on the campsite.

"Yeah, we are back," she finally said, her tone flat, as if the sight of the tents brought her no comfort.

They both knew the walk back had changed something between them, but neither was willing to confront it just yet. Instead, they silently agreed to let the awkwardness hang in the air, unresolved, as they made their way back to the others.

A/N

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SF❤️