Beautiful disaster (completed)

Chapter 41 - Making Amends

Kiara's pov

I like you more than a friend.

Kabir's words echoed in my mind, filling me with a mix of warmth and confusion. This was not the confession I needed, not now.

But ultimately it didn't change the facts: Kabir belonged to someone else. I had no legitimate claim over him no matter how loudly my traitorous heart cried out.

Maya deserved better than a friend who would betray her like this.

And that was why I had to let him go.

The elevator seemed to take forever to reach the lobby, and my hands were shaky as I stepped out.

Dev was waiting for me in the lobby, concern etched on his face. "Is everything okay?" he asked as I approached.

I nodded, forcing a smile. "Yeah, everything's fine. Just had to grab some stuff I'd left behind."

Dev looked at my small duffel bag, then back at me, his brow furrowed. "Are you sure? You seem..." He trailed off, his gaze searching mine.

"I'm positive," I said, my voice steady. "Let's just go."

We walked out of Kabir's building in tense silence. After a few moments, Dev gently took my hand in a gesture of comfort. I stiffened involuntarily at the contact, the memory of Kabir's passionate embrace still fresh in my mind. Dev noticed my reaction and pulled his hand away, uncertainty flickering across his features.

"So..." he began, in an overly casual tone that told me he was still troubled, "what exactly was going on up there? I didn't know you and Kabir were close enough for home visits."

I tensed, searching desperately for a logical explanation. "Oh, it's not like that," I stammered. "I was just dropping off some important work documents per Sakshi's request. I happened to still be there when everyone else showed up unexpectedly."

Dev nodded slowly, though the furrow between his brows deepened. "And you were there long enough to have forgotten something in Kabir's apartment? And about this Pune project... when were you planning on telling me?"

I felt a pang of guilt. "I'm sorry, Dev. It all happened so quickly. I was going to tell you, I just... I didn't know how."

His tone turned skeptical. "Is there something you want to tell me, Kiara?"

"Dev, I... I think we need to talk. But not here?" My heart sank. I knew I couldn't lie to Dev anymore. "Can we go to my apartment to talk?" I asked, my voice soft.

Once we were seated in my living room, my mind raced, searching for the right words to explain the mess I had gotten myself into. How could I tell him that I had been secretly taking care of Kabir while he was sick? That I had shared a kiss with his team lead, a man I once had a crush on?

"Dev, I... I'm sorry," I began, my voice trembling. "I haven't been entirely honest with you."

His brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"

I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what I was about to say. "I care about you, Dev. You're an amazing person, and you've been such a great friend. But... I don't think I can be the girlfriend you deserve."

Dev's face fell, a mix of hurt and confusion in his eyes. "Is this because of the Pune project? Because if it is, we can figure something out. Long-distance relationships aren't easy, but—"

I shook my head, cutting him off gently. "It's not just about the project, Dev. It's... it's about my feelings. I thought I was ready for a relationship, but I'm not. I'm still dealing with some unresolved issues from my past, and it's not fair to you to be caught in the middle of that."