The Love Maze

36) Lose a friend

Kyra's POV

The whole class practically laughed at my messed up presentation. I didn't mind because my mind was pounding by this torturous headache.

"I know, Dev bhaiya. I'll be there before you blink aga-", I yelped as somebody pulled me to the side of the long hallway.

"Hi there", Rishi breathed, slowly removing his hand that covered my mouth.

The proximity was engaging but his tactics almost gave me a heart attack

"Are you insane? I almost screamed for the whole college to hear"

I tried to unwrap his hands laced around my waist when I noticed the spot where we stood-the infamous brownie flashmob.

Deja Vu

"Is it really a crime to steal my girlfriend from her busy schedule?" he pouted innocently, leaning closer.

"Depends on when you plan to let go", I concealed my smile.

"I prefer sooner cause I have a family party. Or else you gotta talk to my Dad"

It's his 'I lost count' attempt to tell me something that never seems to get out. My hands glided over of his shoulders to ease his tensed muscles.

"Alright... I've been trying to talk to you about this.."

"For two weeks now. I can see that", I nodded, encouraging him to go on.

"I'm sure you have so many questions since that night. And I wish there was an easy way to explain this", he began only to hit a dead end again.

I never saw him this nervous before.

"You think the past will change how I see you?" I asked, skeptical about his deferment.

Nodding in affirmation, his gaze dropped to the floor.

"Rishi, you are an idiot. I wanted to know only because I was worried",

"That doesn't change anything about us", I stared at him in disbelief.

Nothing will change how I see him.

"It's not just about the past, Kyra. It's what still haunts me", his voice wavered.

Ignoring my puzzled glances, he reached for my hand slowly, clutching it firmly as he let out a deep exhale.

"I had a panic attack... I-It happened the first time on the night we broke up."

Oh.
It was all starting to fit together

The night in the elevator- he wasn't claustrophobic. In his head, he was somewhere else he fought not to be.

"At times, it gets so intense that I can't think straight. I just feel like dyi—"

"It's not your fault. And you don't have to pretend it doesn't hurt you", I squeezed his hand tight, "I know, you are trying. That's all that matters to me"

Gazing into my eyes, his hand crept over my cheek. The intensity of that look barely let me breathe.

"You don't realise what you did that night... how much you helped me get off my head"