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I was searching for sugar but couldn’t find it. Glancing up, I noticed several ingredients lined up on the upper shelves. Since they were out of reach, I grabbed a stool and stood on it, carefully scanning through the various jars and containers.
After rummaging through a few, I finally spotted a glass jar labeled sugar at the far end of the shelf. Stretching my arm toward it, I felt my balance waver slightly. My heart skipped a beat as I steadied myself.
Just as my fingers grazed the jar, a sudden wave of dizziness washed over me, and my balance faltered. A startled scream tore from my lips. "Ahhh!"
I closed my eyes tightly, bracing for the inevitable impact as I fell backward. The air rushed past me, and I tensed, waiting for the hard floor to meet me.
But it didn’t come.
Instead, I felt strong arms wrap around me, pulling me into a firm chest. My breath hitched as I realized someone had caught me. Slowly, I opened my eyes and looked up.
"Careful," a familiar voice murmured above me.
I blinked, trying to calm my racing heart. Standing there, holding me effortlessly, was someone I hadn’t expected—Shahzain. His dark grey eyes bore into mine, and a shiver ran through my body as I realized just how close we were.
My legs were still awkwardly balanced on the stool, while his hands were firmly gripping my waist. My fingers had instinctively clutched his broad shoulders, and my hair cascaded down around us like a curtain, making the space between us feel even more intimate. Barely an inch separated our faces, and I could feel the warmth of his breath on my skin.
For a moment, time seemed to stand still. My heart raced, not from the fall anymore, but from the tension that crackled between us. His gaze flickered to my lips for the briefest second, and I felt my breath catch in my throat.
"You should be more careful," he said, his voice low, sending another shiver through me.
"I—I'm fine," I stammered, trying to gather my thoughts and pull away, but his hold didn’t loosen immediately. For just a second longer, he held me, and the intensity of the moment sent my mind spinning.
Finally, he stepped back, releasing me from his grip. I hastily climbed down from the stool, my feet unsteady as I tried to regain my composure. Shahzain watched me silently, his expression unreadable.
"Thanks," I mumbled, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear, feeling a flush creep up my neck. I wasn’t sure if it was from embarrassment or something else entirely.
Shahzain's lips twitched, almost like he wanted to say something, but instead, he turned and walked away without another word, leaving me standing there with my heart still pounding in my chest.
