Rai POV:

After the kiss, I settled back into my chair, feeling the warmth of embarrassment flood my cheeks. The roof buzzed with energy, and I could feel Kriti's throat clear, drawing attention. Om and Princess exchanged sheepish smiles, their eyes locked onto me, which made my face burn even hotter.

It was as though I had been thrust into a spotlight, and I was certain I resembled a ripe tomato. If my bodyguards were to catch a glimpse of me in this moment, they would undoubtedly question their boss's reputation—after all, I was the stoic leader who never let emotions surface.

Breaking the tension, Princess piped up, "Well, let's play 'Never Have I Ever'!"

Kriti's eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. "Yes! That's an interesting one!"

I sighed, trying to regain some semblance of control. "But for that, we need drinks! Which we don't have right now! And Princess, you are still too young for this game!"

"Offoo, Rai dii! I'm 20 now! And in my second semester! How can you still say I'm too young for a drinking game? No, no, we will play this game right now! And I have already brought a bottle of whiskey😸😝!" Her cheeky grin lit up the room like a mischievous sun.

We all stared at her, wide-eyed and incredulous. "Princess!! When!! Where did you get that from?" I exclaimed, a mix of shock and amusement in my voice.

"He he,😸" she giggled, winking at Rudy. "From bhai's special room bar counter!"

Rudy shot her a glare, his brows knitting together in disapproval. "I told you not to enter the bar counter without me, Princess!"

Kriti laughed, waving her hand dismissively. "Okay, okay, guys! Let's play! She is an adult now, and she can drink. Don't boss her around, you two!"

"Fine! Let's play, then," I relented, trying to suppress a smile.

"Umm, let's start with you, Om Bhai!" Princess suggested, her playful demeanor infectious.

"Me!? Ughh... Fine!...." Om groaned, clearly not thrilled about being the first. After a brief pause, a mischievous smirk crept onto his face. "Okay! Sooo.... Never have I ever... proposed to someone!"

As the words left his lips, Rudy grabbed a glass of whiskey, downing it in one swift motion while locking eyes with me. The unspoken tension hung heavily in the air, and I could feel everyone's gaze shift toward us. It was a game, yes, but the implications of his action were as clear as day.

Then, to my bewilderment, Kriti raised her glass and drank as well. "Kriti!? You... whom did you propose to!?" I stammered, unable to mask my surprise.

"Mmm, it's just that I had a crush on this guy, and he... rejected me! So yeah, here I am!" she said, her smile tinged with a hint of sadness.

"You never told me you had a crush!?" I responded, my heart swelling with concern for my friend.

"Actually, I wasn't sure about it myself, and I didn't want to waste your time when you were busy. Don't worry; it's nothing, just a crush!" she reassured me, her smile returning.

"But still, I'm your friend! You can tell me anything, anytime, if you want to share," I insisted, hoping to convey how much her trust meant to me. She smiled and nodded, but amidst our conversation, I couldn't shake the feeling of another pair of eyes boring into her— Om's. Hmmm, interesting, very interesting indeed.

Kriti then said, "Okay, now my turn! Umm, Never have I ever..." She paused, her gaze locking onto mine. "...rejected someone."

Sighing, I braced myself for what was about to unfold. I knew where this was going, but I didn't want to create a scene. So, I lifted a glass and drank the whiskey, hoping to mask the swirl of emotions brewing inside me.

To my surprise, Rudy mirrored my actions, raising his glass and downing the whiskey. Every girl is mad for him, and it wouldn't surprise me if he had rejected countless advances.

"Are you jealous?" my inner voice chimed in, teasingly.

Jealous!? Huhh! Why would I be jealous?

"Oh really?😏" it prodded, a smirk evident in its tone.

I shooed my inner voice away, unwilling to entertain its mischievous notions any longer.

The game continued, but the revelations of the night had left me feeling vulnerable.

Rudy POV:

As the game continued, an air of joviality enveloped the room, laughter ringing out like music. The clink of glasses and the raucous cheers of my friends filled the space, but as the night wore on, it became evident that everyone had indulged a little too heartily in the drinks.

All except for me and Rai, who sat across from me, her dark hair framing her face, a bemused expression settling in her eyes.

She was the only one who seemed unaffected, her resolve as strong as ever, even as the others stumbled through the remnants of the game.

Just as she began to rise, her intention to leave clear, I called out, "Let's play another round! Just the two of us!" My heart raced at the thought of having her all to myself, even if just for a moment longer.

She looked back at me, a sigh escaping her lips like a whisper of resignation. "I have no more energy to play, Rudy! Next time, maybe."

"Just one round, or are you afraid that you won't be able to control your feelings?" I smirked, knowing full well the challenge would entice her.

Her gaze bore into mine, a mixture of defiance and something deeper swirling in her eyes. "Feelings are always controlled here, Rudy! And about me... you don't even know how much I can control myself, my feelings! You may forget who I am!" Her voice was firm, yet a flicker of vulnerability danced at the edges.

"Okay then, say that to me: never have you ever felt anything for me!" I challenged, mirroring her stern demeanor.

For a brief moment, I caught a glimpse of something softer in her expression, a fleeting crack in her facade.

But it vanished as quickly as it appeared, replaced with that same resolute look. "I'm not interested in this silliness! I'm going to my room!" she announced, turning on her heel and heading for the stairs.

A rush of frustration surged through me as I watched her walk away. Grabbing the bottle of whiskey from the table, I took a long, desperate gulp, the burn igniting a fire in my chest. Without thinking, I followed her, driven by an impulse I could no longer ignore.

In one swift motion, I took her hand and pressed her against the wall, pinning her there with a force that surprised even me. My hand held hers above her head, while my other rested possessively on her waist, drawing her closer.

Our lips were mere centimeters apart, and I could feel the warmth of her breath mingling with mine, an intoxicating mix of tension and desire.

"Leave me... What are you doing?" she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper, laced with a hint of panic.

"Look into my eyes and say that you don't love me," I urged, my tone calm but my heart racing, the urge to close the distance between us nearly overwhelming.

"R...Rudy... This isn't right! I told you I don't want to talk about this!" she stammered, her eyes darting everywhere but meeting mine.

I tightened my grip on her waist, grounding myself in the moment. "Then tell me you don't have any feelings for me. It's as simple as that! Look at my eyes and tell me you don't have any fucking feelings for me in your heart!"

Then, in a surprising twist, she spun me around, forcing me against the wall just as I had done to her. Her hand gripped my neck, holding me in place, and the other restrained my left hand firmly. I could feel her heartbeat against mine, a frantic rhythm that mirrored my own.

"I don't want to talk about it. Get it in your mind, Rudy. We are not meant to be together. There is someone who is your chosen bride, so you better prepare yourself for your future and forget about me. You should move on now!" Her words were sharp, gritted through clenched teeth, and there was a palpable pain in her voice that struck a chord deep within me.

"Chosen bride? What are you even talking about? Who the hell is that? Please tell me this isn't the reason you rejected me!" I demanded, my voice rising with a mix of confusion and desperation.

She hesitated, her resolve wavering for just a moment. Then, with a lingering glance that felt like a dagger through my heart, she broke free from my grasp and turned away.

"I'm tired. I'm going to sleep. Don't ever bring this conversation up again!" With that, she disappeared down the hallway, leaving me standing there, heart pounding and mind racing.

                       (To be continued)
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