The next day, Kyra found herself a little nervous, though she tried to suppress it. She hadn't felt this way in a while — not with a guy. But with Shubman, everything was different. He was easy to talk to, easy to be around, and damn, he made her laugh in a way that felt like coming home.

She was getting ready in her small but cozy flat, her hair in loose waves and her outfit casual but cute. She picked out a soft, oversized sweater and a pair of jeans that hugged her in all the right ways. As she adjusted the fit in the mirror, she couldn't help but smile at the thought of him. What was it about him that made her feel this way?

Her phone buzzed on the bed, pulling her out of her thoughts. It was a message from Shubman.

"Can't wait to see you, baby. You're gonna look fucking amazing. I know it."

Kyra couldn't help but roll her eyes, a smile tugging at her lips. The confidence in his messages always had a way of making her stomach flip. She typed back quickly, already feeling the anticipation building inside her.

"You're so full of shit 😂 But fine, I'll let you see for yourself."

She hit send, grabbing her coat and heading out the door.

Shubman was waiting for her outside the café, leaning against his car, hands in his pockets, his eyes scanning the crowd until they landed on her. The moment he saw Kyra, he pushed off the car and walked toward her with that signature grin, his eyes lighting up.

"Well, well, look at you," he said, his voice low and teasing as he came closer. "I wasn't wrong. You look fucking gorgeous. I was right about that, wasn't I?"

Kyra rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress the flutter in her chest. "You're ridiculous," she said, crossing her arms but with a smile playing on her lips. 

"Don't you have anything better to do than compliment me all the damn time?"

Shubman chuckled, his gaze softening as he leaned in just a little closer. "Nah, babe. Complimenting you is the best part of my day." 

His hand brushed her arm as he spoke, the touch lingering for a second longer than necessary.

Kyra felt her heart race, despite herself. "Alright, enough with the sweet talk," she said, trying to play it cool. "Let's just go grab that coffee you promised me."

He grinned, clearly enjoying the effect he was having on her. "Whatever you say, beautiful. Lead the way."

They sat down in a small, quiet corner of the café, a place neither of them had been to before. The atmosphere was warm, with soft music playing in the background and the smell of freshly brewed coffee filling the air. 

Kyra couldn't help but feel a little giddy at the simplicity of the moment, yet it felt special.

Shubman ordered for them both, and when the coffee arrived, he slid it across the table to her with a wink. "Black coffee, just the way I like it. None of that sugar-laden crap."

Kyra shot him an amused look. "You're insufferable, you know that?"

He raised an eyebrow. "I've been called worse, sweetheart."

They both laughed, the tension from earlier dissolving as the conversation flowed more naturally. They talked about everything — their favourite movies, the ridiculous things their friends had done, even Kyra's dream to direct a film one day. 

She loved how easy it was to talk to him, how it felt like they'd known each other for ages instead of just a couple of weeks.

At one point, Shubman leaned in, his voice dropping to something a little more serious. "You know, Kyra," he said, his eyes searching hers, "I've been thinking about this whole thing. Us, I mean."

Kyra raised an eyebrow, setting her cup down. "What, you having second thoughts already?" she teased, even though she couldn't quite mask the nervousness in her voice.

Shubman smirked. "Nah, baby, no second thoughts. Just... I don't know, it's crazy how quickly you've become someone I want to spend a lot more time with. Like, more than I thought I would."

Kyra's heart skipped a beat, and she felt her breath catch in her throat. "You serious?"

"Dead serious." His tone was firm now, his eyes locked on hers with that intensity she couldn't quite get used to. "I want to see where this goes, Kyra. I'm not in the business of wasting time, and you, sweetheart, you're worth every minute."

For a moment, neither of them said anything. Kyra felt the weight of his words settle into her chest, a mixture of warmth and excitement coursing through her veins.

"You're a smooth talker, aren't you?" she said, her voice a little breathless, but there was something more vulnerable underneath the sarcasm. She wasn't used to being this open, but with him, she couldn't help it.

Shubman chuckled softly, his fingers brushing the back of her hand across the table. "Only when it's worth it. And right now, baby, you're definitely worth it."

Her cheeks flushed slightly, but she didn't pull away. Instead, she smiled, her fingers curling around his. "Well, I'm not going to lie," she said, her voice quieter now. "I'm starting to think this whole thing might be worth it too."

Shubman leaned across the table, his lips brushing against her cheek in a soft, lingering kiss. When he pulled back, his eyes sparkled with mischief. "Damn right it is."

Kyra grinned, rolling her eyes. "Alright, Mr. Confident, let's see if you're still talking this big by the end of the day."

Shubman chuckled, his thumb tracing circles on the back of her hand. "I don't make promises I can't keep, baby."

As the date continued, the day turned into something even more enjoyable than either of them had expected. They went on a long walk through the park, talking about everything and nothing, laughing at stupid jokes and exchanging playful banter. 

Shubman was, as always, a flirt, but there was something about him today that felt different — more genuine, more real. Kyra found herself letting her guard down, slowly but surely, something she hadn't done in a long time.

By the end of the date, as they stood by her apartment building, Shubman gave her one more kiss — slow and soft, just enough to leave her breathless.

"Next time, Kyra," he murmured against her lips, "we'll do this all over again. But next time, you're coming to me, and I'm going to spoil you, alright?"

Kyra pulled back slightly, a grin on her lips. "You keep talking, and I might just take you up on that, Shubman."

"I'll take that as a yes, babe."

With one last lingering kiss, he left, but not without sending her one last message, just as she stepped inside her apartment.

"Had the best time today, baby. Can't wait to do it again. You've got me hooked."

Kyra smiled at the screen, her heart fluttering. She wasn't sure what this was, but one thing was for sure — she couldn't wait to see where it went.

soup rants!

- hello everyone!

- I hope you guys are having a great day so far, and I also hope you guys enjoyed this chapter!

- me when?

- also comments on the chapter?

- i hope you guys liked this one!

- with lots of love, supraja 🫶