Till My Last Breath

He will never like you

Aryan approached Anaya and her friends with a confident smile, his excitement from the game still evident. Zara and Neela immediately began to shower him with compliments about his performance.

“Aryan, you were incredible out there!” Zara exclaimed, her eyes wide with admiration.

“Yeah, that last shot was amazing!” Neela added, grinning.

Aryan chuckled, glancing at Anaya. “Thanks, guys. I’m glad you enjoyed the game.”

Sensing the subtle hint, Zara and Neela exchanged knowing looks. “We’ll leave you two to talk,” Zara said, giving Anaya a wink before she and Neela walked away, leaving Aryan and Anaya alone.

Anaya’s heart pounded in her chest as Aryan stepped closer to her, his presence making her pulse race. She smiled up at him, trying to keep her voice steady. “You really did great, Aryan. I’m so proud of you.”

Aryan’s eyes softened as he looked at her. “Thanks, Anaya. I couldn’t have done it without you.”

Anaya laughed, rolling her eyes. “Oh, come on, Aryan. You were the one out there scoring all those points.”

“No, I mean it,” Aryan insisted, his tone sincere. “You being here… it made me want to play my best. Seeing you happy means everything to me.”

Anaya’s smile faltered for a moment as his words sank in. She always thought Aryan was just teasing her, but the intensity in his eyes told her he meant every word. She felt a flutter in her stomach, her cheeks warming under his gaze. Did he really mean that?

Before she could respond, Aryan glanced around, lowering his voice. “I wanted to ask if you could wait for me. I want to take you somewhere special.”

Surprised, Anaya nodded. “Okay, I’ll wait.”

“Great,” Aryan said, his smile widening. “I’ll be right back.” He turned and headed towards the locker room with his friends, leaving Anaya standing there, her heart still racing.

A few minutes later, Zara and Neela returned, curiosity written all over their faces. “So, what did he say?” Zara asked eagerly.

Anaya smiled, her cheeks still slightly flushed. “He asked me to wait for him. He wants to take me somewhere.”

Zara and Neela exchanged a glance, their excitement palpable. “This is your chance, Anaya!” Neela said, grabbing her arm. “You should tell him how you feel.”

“Yeah,” Zara agreed, nodding enthusiastically. “It’s clear that he likes you, Anaya. You just need to take the plunge.”

Anaya took a deep breath, her nerves starting to get the best of her. “But what if he doesn’t feel the same way? What if I ruin our friendship?”

“Look at how he was with you today,” Zara pointed out. “He was different. He was more… attentive. You have to trust your feelings, Anaya.”

Anaya breathed hard, trying to steady herself. Aryan had been different today, and the way he looked at her, the way he spoke to her—it felt like more than just friendship. Maybe, this was the moment she had been waiting for.

“Okay,” she said finally, her voice firm. “I’ll tell him how I feel.”

Zara and Neela beamed at her, their support giving her the courage she needed. As they waited for Aryan, Anaya felt a mix of anxiety and hope. She could only pray that when the moment came, Aryan’s feelings matched her own.

Natasha watched Aryan walk away, a smirk forming on her lips. She had always been envious of the closeness between Aryan and Anaya, but seeing them together today had filled her with a new determination. She couldn't let Anaya get any closer to Aryan; he was meant to be with someone like her, not some insignificant girl like Anaya. As soon as Aryan disappeared into the locker room, Natasha turned to her friends.