'Taking care of your mental health is not a luxury, but a necessity'🌟

★★★★★

He was indeed Aidan. He honked the horn, a sound that echoed through the night, and in that moment, I felt relief wash over me.

But the question still lingered in the back of my mind - Why had he stopped after pushing me away?

Without hesitation, I climbed onto the back of the motorcycle. The engine roared to life beneath us, its vibrations resonating through my body. No words were exchanged between us, the silence hanging heavy in the air, but I held on to his torso from behind, ensuring that I wouldn't fall off.

I couldn't explain the strange electricity that coursed through me as my fingers lightly grazed against his t-shirt. The wind whipped against my face, bringing a sense of freedom and exhilaration.

As the night enveloped us, Aidan's voice barely audible amidst the rushing wind, he broke the silence. "Dorm or the café?" he asked, the words blending with the sounds of the night.

"Dorm, please," I blurted out without a second thought. I felt an overwhelming urge to apologize to Em as soon as I will reach our dorm. She had got out of the way and bought us the concert tickets, and here I was, ditching her. Guilt gnawed at me.

Aidan may have nodded or agreed, but soon enough, the motorcycle was making way towards the familiar gateway of our dormitory. As we came to a halt, I hopped off the bike, turning to face him. "Thank you," I uttered sincerely, wanting to genuinely thank him for not leaving me behind at the bus stop when he easily could have.

"Never mind," he responded with a nod. I turned to leave, ready to head inside and face the consequences of my actions. But before I could take another step, his hand grasped my arm, pulling me back towards him.

And, I found myself pressed against his chest, feeling the rapid pace of our heartbeats. It was the closest we had ever been, and I could sense his minty breath tickling the side of my face. I held myself in place, locking gaze with his, unsure of what was about to happen.

"Hope," he whispered, his voice sounding like a caress. For a moment, I lost all sense of space and time, caught in the intensity of that simple utterance. I remained silent, my eyes locked onto his, searching for answers or maybe just lost in the connection that seemed to transcend words.

"Next time, don't involve yourself in others' business," he continued, his lips dangerously close to mine. "Your fancy high standard ass will get into a lot more trouble than you think," his words hung in the air, heavy with a warning that sent a shiver down my spine.

With his words sinking in, I pushed him away, breaking free from his grasp. Confusion and frustration welled up inside me, mingling with the lingering attraction that I couldn't deny.

It was a tumultuous mix of emotions that left me breathless, struggling to make sense of what had just transpired.

I took a step back, creating a physical and emotional distance between us. My eyes narrowed, my voice filled with determination as I mustered the strength to respond. "Are you toying with me?" I retorted, my voice laced with a mix of defiance and hurt.

And he laughed, vicious that too.

"I'll remember not to meddle in things that concerns you." With those words, I turned away, heading towards the entrance of the dorm, carrying the weight of my own conflicted feelings.

I realized Em was nowhere to be found. Panic began to bubble within me, and I quickly pulled out my phone to call her again. The ringing echoed in my ears, but there was no answer on the other end.

The night passed with restless sleep and a mind consumed by worry. As the morning dawned, I stirred from my restless slumber, my senses instantly alert to the vibrations of my phone. With a mix of relief and anticipation, I grabbed it, finding a message from Em.

Her message explained that she had decided to stay at her friend's place for the night since it was Sunday. I felt a twinge of disappointment that we wouldn't be able to connect and resolve the events of the previous night.

Sunday arrived with a flurry of activity as I prepared for my early shift. The day proved to be just as hectic as I had anticipated, with the café bustling from dawn till dusk. Serving customers, taking orders, and managing the constant flow of people left me feeling utterly exhausted.

Finally, as the clock struck 8, my shift came to an end. The fatigue weighed heavily on my shoulders, and all I longed for was the solace and comfort of my own room.

Leaving the café behind, I navigated through the bustling streets, each bus stop carrying me closer to the dormitory.

As I entered the dormitory, I greeted familiar faces, exchanging weary smiles and nods with fellow students who had also weathered a busy day.

I made my way towards my room, my footsteps heavy and slow. I did grab some takeout for dinner on my way back. With full stomach, and fresh clothes, I settled onto my bed, the weariness of the day washed over me, and I allowed sleep to slowly envelop my senses.

The following week seemed to pass by in a blur, with Aidan not being around or I simply ignored whenever our paths crossed in class or the college cafeteria. I made a conscious effort to distance myself, still grappling with the mixed emotions that had arisen from our last encounter.

On the brighter side, Em and I had a heartfelt conversation, and she assured me that she held no grudges over what had happened. She was really chilled out about the whole situation.

College life continued, with Akshat immersed in his soccer preparations and Rubina and Anna persistently nudging me to participate in a program. Surprisingly, I chose poetry, which elicited a collective groan from my friends.

Nevertheless, I felt a sense of joy in embracing this creative outlet.

Meanwhile, Kate appeared somewhat distant, missing classes on consecutive days and offering vague explanations when we inquired. I refrained from probing further, respecting her decision to share or keep her struggles to herself.

With assignments piling up, I gladly assisted Akshat with his homework. We did encountered seniors who made crude remarks about my appearance or my friendship with Akshat.

However, their words held little significance to me. Our friendship was purely platonic, and I refused to let their judgment affect me. Though Akshat would occasionally confront those who crossed the line, I intervened, knowing that engaging in conflicts is not necessary.

It was Saturday evening, and my shift was over. However, a lingering question had plagued me since morning, gnawing at the corners of my mind. I knew it was time to confront Aidan about the group of men we had encountered the previous week. Their ominous deadline had come and gone, leaving me with an unsettling sense of uncertainty.

What if they really come after us? I mean me.

Confronting him looks like a bad idea but I had no choice.

The thunder boomed overhead, and within moments, a heavy downpour enveloped the surroundings, turning the streets into glistening mirrors under the streetlights. The wind howled, and the splash of passing vehicles sent waves of water cascading onto me.

His home was just across the street, but by then, I was already soaked through.

As I walked up to Aidan's house, a figure caught my attention near the swing. It was a woman, likely in her forties, her expression filled with concern. I hesitated, unsure if it was appropriate to approach her and inquire about his whereabouts. I don't have his number otherwise I would have called him.

Unable to resist the curiosity, I continued walking until I found myself standing on his porch. The woman noticed my presence and raised an eyebrow, seemingly questioning my unexpected visit.

"I, well, I wanted to meet Aidan," I stammered, my gaze shifting downward to my drenched clothes, water dripping off me. I knew I must have seemed like a fool in that moment.

"He ain't here," she replied, her voice carrying a distinct accent.

Curiosity mingled with discomfort as she scrutinized me further. "Who are you, girl? And how do you know him?" Her tone made me cringe, sending unsettling vibes through my veins.

"I work nearby. I'm just a friend," I offered, my words feeling awkward and untrue. In reality, I wasn't sure if I could even consider myself his friend.

Instinctively, I tucked my wet hair behind my ears, a nervous habit I had developed recently. It was something I did when anxiety and fear threatened to overwhelm me, a small gesture that provided a fleeting sense of comfort.

"He never mentioned having a girl-friend," she remarked, releasing a large puff of smoke from her cigarette. If I was not wrong, she was reeking of alcohol.

"Okay, well, please don't mention to him that I was here," I requested, my voice tinged with urgency, and I swiftly turned to walk away.

"I won't. Don't worry. But if you do happen to see him anytime soon, tell him that his sorry ass is needed at home," she responded, her voice loud and commanding.

I flinched at her words but resisted the urge to look back, running toward the bus stop.

As I caught my breath, my thoughts raced. Was that woman Aidan's mother? They didn't resemble each other in the slightest. Perhaps he took after his father, assuming he had one. But then again, who was I to make assumptions or pass judgment on their family dynamics?

The encounter left me with a swirl of questions and a deepening sense of intrigue about his life beyond the surface. Yet, I couldn't shake the unease that had settled within me, a lingering uncertainty about the complexities of the people we cross paths with.

★★★★★

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