MY MOON

CHAPTER 41:ALEX

We reached home in separate cars, as soon as I got down from car I ran to Alya, and caught her hand and turned her towards me.

"What wrong Alya?" I asked her with desperation in my voice.

"You could have died, Alex. Because of me," she said her voice filled him anger.

"I would have happily died to save you," I said as a tear slipped from my eye,

and I saw Alya's eyes widen in shock. "Alex," she whispered, her voice a fragile thread of emotion.

"Without thinking twice, I would have died," I said as tears blurred my vision.

"I thought," I continued, my voice breaking, "that being away from you was for your own good. That without me, you would be safer, happier. But I was wrong. So wrong. Because without you, I am nothing. I need you, Alya."

Her eyes filled with tears again, but she held my gaze.

I shook my head, feeling the tears spill over, unable to hold them back any longer. "I can't bear the thought of losing you," I admitted, my voice cracking with the weight of my confession. "When I saw you in that container, when I thought I might lose you forever, it broke something inside me. I can't live in a world where you're not there."

Alya's tears matched my own, her fingers tightening around my hand. "I thought I was going to lose you too," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Alya!" I said, my voice trembling as I pulled her in closer, cupping her face gently in my hands and I felt the weight of my emotions pouring out.

"I have something to confess," I said and took her hands into mine. "I fell in love with you, madly and deeply. You had me at your first hello. The very first moment I laid my eyes on you, I was yours. I didn't realise then but from the moment- I saw you, I fell in love with you."

"I love you, Alya Rastogi. I have always loved you," I whispered, without even thinking.

Her eyes, wide with surprise, locked onto mine, I could see her breath catch, her lips parting slightly as if to speak, but no words came out.

"I love you more than I ever thought humanly possible so I thought a 3 word, I love you, would never be enough to tell how much I love you," I continued, my voice gaining strength as I poured my heart out. "For the longest time, I've struggled and denied this fact. Sometimes because of our age difference, sometimes because of the harsh realities we face. But Alya, you break all the barriers my brain built. I am never not thinking of you."

Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears, and I could see the emotions swirling within her, mirroring my own.

"I know that love is just a shout into the void," I said, my voice soft but earnest. "And it feels utterly stupid, especially in our case, as you said we don't even know what kind of future is there for us. But I want to be stupid with you by my side. I am hopelessly in love with you, and I can't and won't deny myself this moment of pleasure because of anything anymore. I love you, Alya."

As the last words left my mouth, a tear slipped down her cheek, and I brushed it away with my thumb. Her lips quivered, and then she came was in my arms, I held her tight.

"I love you too, Alex," she whispered against my chest, her voice breaking. " This is the best moment ever, to hear you say I love you. I've loved you for so long, and I think I always will love only you. There would be no one. You thought me the meaning of love, I learnt how to love from you. I love you, Alex hall."

I pulled her face up and pressed my lips on her. It was a kiss that spoke of all the longing, all the nights spent without each other. I could taste the salt of our mingled tears, could feel the rapid beat of her heart against my chest.

I deepened the kiss, my hands moving from her face to her back, pulling her closer still, her fingers tangling in my hair, her body pressing against mine as if seeking to erase any distance between us. The world around us faded, leaving only the two of us in this perfect, suspended moment.

Our kiss grew more passionate, more desperate, as if we were trying to make up for all the time we had lost.

When we finally broke apart, gasping for breath, I rested my forehead against hers, our breaths mingling in the cool night air. Her eyes, now filled with love and certainty, met mine, and I knew that whatever challenges lay ahead, we would face them together.

"I don't care what the future holds," I said softly, my voice filled with conviction. "As long as I have you, nothing else matters."

She smiled, a radiant smile that lit up her entire face. "Future doesn't matter. We have each other," she replied, her voice steady and filled with hope.

We made our way inside the house, the silence of the house was enveloping us like a comforting blanket. The echo of our footsteps was the only sound as we walked through the dimly lit staircase, each step bringing us closer to our rooms.

When we reached the entrance of our rooms, I turned to Alya, my heart still pounding with the intensity of everything that had transpired. "Can you stay in my room tonight, Alya?" I asked softly, my voice barely above a whisper.

She nodded, her eyes reflecting the same exhaustion and relief that I felt. Without another word, she followed me into my room.

We climbed into bed, our bodies naturally rolling towards each other arms. The need for closeness, for reassurance, was overwhelming. As we settled under the covers, I wrapped my arms around her. Her head resting on my chest, and I could feel the steady rise and fall of her breath against my skin.

For a while, we just lay there in silence, the quiet hum of the night seeping into the room. The rhythm of our breathing synchronized, creating a tranquil harmony that seemed to chase away the lingering fears of the day.

"Thank you," Alya whispered, her voice muffled against my chest. "For everything."

I tightened my hold on her, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. We talked for hours later, our words a mix of whispered confessions and shared dreams. We spoke of our fears we have to face now and our hopes, of the uncertain future and the undeniable love that had brought us together. Tears were shed, not just from the trauma of the day, but also from the profound relief of finally being honest with each other.

I stroked her hair gently, feeling the weight of her words. She looked up at me, her eyes glistening with tears. "I love you, Alex," she said, her voice breaking. "I don't ever want to lose you."

"I love you too, Alya," I replied, my voice steady despite the tears that threatened to spill.

We held each other tighter, finding comfort in the warmth of our embrace. The night wore on, and our conversation gradually gave way to a peaceful silence. The emotional exhaustion of the day finally caught up with us, and we drifted off to sleep, still wrapped in each other's arms.