Their trip has finished, it was something they had enjoyed so much, so many memories to cherish, the quality time spent with the people they love, filled with warmth and happiness, it was definitely a trip they'd always remember and reminisce about.

To Ishan and Shubman, this all felt a lot more special, they got to know so much about each other and had gotten more close since they were practically together all the time. They had already gotten so used to that place as well, leaving it felt like leaving home. Painful.

The next up was the psychology conference in a very prestigious university and it has been a delight. They got to meet and hear the thoughts of many geniuses of the field. Mrs. Banerjee even got her students to sit and talk with a very famous author and professor, specialised in parapsychology and criminology.

"Hey, Shubman, what's up?" Mayank asked, coming to stand beside Shubman, "What are you doing standing here?"

"Oh, nothing," Shubman looked at him, giving him a small smile.

Mayank looked at where he was looking before, "Oh," He mumbled noticing it was Ishan he was looking at -Obviously- with a guy who was from this particular university.

"Wondering who's that?" Mayank asked Shubman with a knowing smile.

"Yes, no, I mean no. Definitely no," Shubman rambled.

Mayank chuckled, "Are you jealous?"

"No, I'm not. Why would I be jealous?" Shubman mumbled, a frown etching his face. Yeah, why would he be jealous? There's nothing to be jealous of. That guy might just be a friend. What if he's not? His brain suggested, at the very wrong time.

"If you say so," Mayank muttered, suppressing a smile.

"Who is he, by the way?" Shubman asked, looking back at them. He internally rolled his eyes as he noticed the lad placing his hand on Ishan's arm.

"Rishabh Pant," Mayank replied, "He was with us in school,"

"Hmm," Shubman nodded.

"You know, Ishan have had a crush on him for more than four years," Mayank said.

"Oh, wow, that's long," Shubman mumbled. He remembered reading somewhere that if a crush last for more than a year, it's not just a crush anymore. God, why the fuck did that hurt?

"Don't you think he should confess already now?" Mayank asked.

Shubman finally teared his eyes away from Ishan before he starts looking like a weird and creepy person. I think you already were. His brain spoke, at the wrong time. Again.

"Yeah, he should," He mumbled, forcing a smile.

Mayank winced a little as he saw the look on the man's face. He looked like a kicked, hurt puppy. Even though he was trying to hide it behind his smile, the smile too seemed very saddened.

"Oh, God," Mayank muttered to himself, "I'm so sorry, Shubman, I was just joking,"

"What?"

"Yeah, Ishan had never had any crush on him, I was just teasing you," Mayank muttered, receiving a glare from Shubman, "Rishabh is a friend, more like a brother to us, nothing else. And he already have a girlfriend as well,"

"Right now, I really feel like punching you, Mayank," Shubman grumbled.

Mayank grinned awkwardly, "Hehe, Sorry,"

"Fuck you," Shubman rolled his eyes.

"Nah, that's Abhi's job," Mayank muttered, receiving an eye roll from Shubman.

"Ishan!" He called out loudly, gaining Ishan and also Rishabh's attention, "Your sweetheart here is already missing you,"

"What the fuck, Mayank? What are you doing? Shut up," Shubman exclaimed, embarrassed.

"Then come here, sweetheart," Ishan shouted back, signalling him to come over. Even though he was very far from them, Shubman could still see his bright smile that always made his heart skip a beat, including this time as well.

"Go now," Mayank mumbled, pushing him towards Ishan. Shubman shot him one more glare before finally striding towards Ishan.

Ishan shot him his trademark smile as he reached, wrapping an arm around his waist, "Rishabh, this is Shubman and sweetheart, this is Rishabh," He smiled, introducing them to each other.

"Hii, Shubman. Nice to meet ya," Rishabh smiled brightly, forwarding his hand for a handshake.

"Same here," Shubman smiled back, shaking his hand.

"Is he your boyfriend, Ishu?" Rishabh asked and Shubman's eyes widened.

Ishan smiled, glancing at him for a second, "No, not yet,"

"Oh, okay," Rishabh muttered, "I hope he is soon,"

"Well, I have to go now. See you later," He added, giving Ishan a side hug as he left.

"So, sweetheart," Ishan started, Shubman looked at him, still a little flustered by Rishabh's question, "Were you missing me?"

"No, Mayank was just sprouting nonsense," Shubman mumbled with an eye roll.

"Ah, bummer," Ishan pouted.

Shubman blinked, looking away from him as his face heated up. Goodness, why the hell is he so adorable?

"I'm a little hungry," Ishan mumbled.

"Let's go grab something from the cafeteria then, we have to leave in a while as well," Shubman suggested, "What do you wanna eat?"

"You," Ishan grinned, "Can I?" He smiled prettily, leaning closer to Shubman's face.

Shubman rolled his eyes, pushing him away gently, "Can you stop?" It's not very good for my heart.

"Fine," Ishan chuckled, "But you better get me food fast before I actually really eat you," He added with a wink.

Shubman smiled, "As you wish, your highness,"

"I told you not to-"

"Oops, sorry," Shubman giggled, "I forgot it was supposed to be baby,"

"As you wish, baby," He corrected with his signature dimpled smile.

Ishan rolled his eyes playfully, a small smile tugging his lips as Shubman dragged him to the cafeteria.

-

"Oh, bhai, I'm so sleepy," Abhishek sighed as they settled in the bus to finally go back.

"Who told you to not sleep the whole night?" Mayank, from beside him, asked sarcastically.

"I just wanted to finish the series," Abhishek sighed.

"Okay fine, sleep now then," Mayank muttered.

"It's uncomfortable sleeping here," Abhishek pouted.

"Come here," Mayank smiled, pulling him closer and wrapping an arm around him as Abhishek settled his head on the man's shoulder.

"Your shoulder might get sore," Abhishek muttered.

"It's okay, I don't mind," Mayank smiled.

"Thank you," Abhishek mumbled quietly, closing his eyes.

Mayank kept looking at him for God knows how long. He smiled, swiping a strand of hair away from his face before placing a soft kiss on his forehead.

"Well, I'm not asleep already," Abhishek spoke suddenly, giving the poor man a jump scare.

Mayank rambled, heat crawling up his face, "Oh, I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have-"

"It's okay, I don't mind," Abhishek mumbled with a smile, his eyes still closed, "You can do that again if you want to," He added.

Mayank blinked, looking out the window as he felt his blush deepening.

Well, not to mention, but he did kiss the man's forehead a few more times while he was sleeping, in real this time. 'Cause you know, you gotta make the most out of what you get, do not leave the chance.

-

"Okay, then, sweetheart. Bye," Ishan smiled, getting out of the bus as they finally reached their destination, "I'll see you in college,"

"Yeah, bye," Shubman mumbled quietly, watching the man leaving.

"Ishan, wait," He called out, startling Ishan a little bit who looked back immediately.

"What happened?" Ishan asked as Shubman took long steps towards him, reaching him in a heartbeat.

"Nothing," Shubman mumbled, pulling him in a hug. He sighed in relief as soon as he felt Ishan's hands wrapping around him, his heart melting by the man's warmth. He didn't know why but his heart ached every time Ishan walked away from him. He knows Ishan is not gonna go anywhere but it still felt very painful. Heart-wrenching. He couldn't distinguish what this feeling was but it felt very familiar and he don't want to feel it anymore.

"So dramatic," Ishan teased, chuckling, his hands running soothing circles on the man's back.

"Shut up," Shubman mumbled, burying his face in the other's neck.

"Baby, if you wanted to hug me, you could've just done it. It's not like I was gonna refuse you," Ishan smiled, pulling back from the hug. I can never refuse you.

"Yeah, I know," Shubman sighed.

Ishan smiled softly, standing on his tiptoes, he cupped Shubman's face, gently kissing his forehead, "Bye," He mumbled, smiling as he looked into the calming eyes of his sweetheart.

"Yeah, bye," Shubman said, a smile appearing on his own lips as well as his heart finally felt at ease.

-

Hey, people. I was thinking of making a Playlist for this particular book. Suggest me some songs that probably reminds you of this book or would suit the theme.

Bye,
See you soon 💖💌