Beautiful disaster (completed)

Chapter 46 - Lovestruck

Kiara's pov

I took a deep breath as I approached the office terrace, my heart racing with anticipation. It had been two days since Kabir and I returned from the team outing, where we had finally confessed our feelings for each other. The memory still felt like a dream, one I had been replaying in my mind constantly. But we hadn't spoken since then, and now working on different teams, I wasn't sure where we stood.

When I received Kabir's text asking me to meet him here after work, I was surprised and uncertain. But curiosity got the better of me, and here I was.

As I stepped onto the terrace, I saw Kabir already there, a photo album in his hands. He looked up and smiled, making my heart skip a beat.

"Hey," I said softly, walking towards him.

"You came," he said, his voice steady but his eyes betraying a certain nervousness.

"Of course," I replied, trying to sound braver than I felt.

"What's this about?" I asked, gesturing to the album.

Kabir grinned mischievously. "I have something to show you. Come here."

He motioned towards a bench, and we sat side by side. Silence stretched for a moment before he opened the album. "I found something," he began, his fingers hesitating on a page before turning it over to reveal a photograph from our school days. It was a picture I thought was lost to time, one that captured a moment of innocent joy between us, long before adult complications clouded our relationship.

"Is that...?" I gasped.

Kabir nodded. "The photo you lost years ago. Remember?"

"I can't believe you have this," I said, my voice thick with emotion. "I thought it was gone forever."

Kabir's eyes met mine, and I saw a flicker of something I couldn't quite name. "I've been holding onto it for a while," he admitted. "I found it in the library book after you left that day."

"Now I remember I put it in some book!" I exclaimed, reaching out to take it. But Kabir pulled it back playfully.

"Ah ah," he teased. "Not so fast."

I pouted, trying to snatch the photo from his hands. "Kabir! Give it to me!"

He laughed, holding it just out of my reach. "Come on, Kiara. You have to work for it."

"This isn't fair!" I protested, jumping to grab it. "You're taller than me!"

Kabir's eyes sparkled with amusement. "Life isn't fair, sweetheart."

I crossed my arms, feigning annoyance. "Fine. Keep it. I don't want it anyway."

Kabir's expression softened, and he handed me the photo. "Here. I was just teasing."

I took it, my fingers tracing the edges of the image. We looked so young and carefree in the picture, our arms around each other's shoulders, big grins on our faces.

"We were so happy then," I murmured.

Kabir stepped closer, his voice gentle. "We can be that happy again, Kiara."

I looked up at him, my heart pounding. "Can we? After everything that's happened?"

He nodded, taking my hand in his. "I believe we can. If you're willing to try."

I bit my lip, hesitating. "Kabir, I... I'm scared. What if we mess it up again?"

"Then we'll fix it," he said firmly. "Together. I'm not letting you go this time, Kiara."

I felt tears prickling at the corners of my eyes. "Promise?"

"Promise"

He brushed his lips tenderly across my knuckles before meeting my gaze again. "I know I have a lot to make up for. But if you're willing to give me—give us—a chance..." He swallowed visibly. "I want to do this right, Kiara. Take you on dates, make you smile. Earn back your trust." His eyes were dark and vulnerable. "If you'll let me."

My heart stuttered with emotions too powerful to contain. Unable to form words, I let my actions speak for me. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I brought his mouth down to mine.

And this time, nothing interrupted our kiss.