A COLLEGE LOVE STORY

the unspoken truths

It had been two weeks since Atharv and Hania last met at the café, and although their conversations still flowed easily over text and phone calls, something felt different. The connection that once felt light and exciting was now tinged with unspoken tension. Both of them sensed it, but neither dared to bring it up.

One evening, after another long day of classes and group projects, Hania sat on her bed scrolling through her phone, her finger hovering over Atharv’s name. She had gotten used to texting him first, and he always responded, but lately, he had been a little distant—shorter replies, delayed responses. The thought nagged at her, though she told herself not to overthink it.

Her phone buzzed, pulling her out of her thoughts.

Atharv: “You busy? Wanna meet at the old spot? Café?”

A wave of relief washed over her. Maybe she had been imagining things. He still wanted to meet, and that was a good sign, right? Without overthinking, she quickly replied:

Hania: “Sure! Let’s meet in an hour?”

At the Café

The familiar scent of freshly brewed coffee greeted Hania as she walked into the café. The same spot where they always sat was open, tucked near the window, and she slid into the chair, glancing around for Atharv. A few minutes later, he appeared in the doorway, his face lighting up with that signature smile that always made her feel at ease.

He walked over, sat down across from her, and sighed.

“You seem tired,” Hania said, trying to break the ice. “Long day?”

“Yeah,” Atharv responded, rubbing the back of his neck. “It’s been a lot lately with assignments and everything. What about you?”

Hania nodded. “Same here. But, it’s nice to take a break and meet up. It feels like we haven’t really had time to hang out.”

Atharv’s eyes flickered for a moment, something unreadable passing across his face. He opened his mouth to respond, then closed it, as if weighing his words carefully.

“You know, I’ve been thinking a lot lately,” he said slowly. “About us.”

The casual atmosphere of the café suddenly felt charged with tension. Hania’s heart skipped a beat, unsure where this conversation was going.

“What do you mean?” she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.

Atharv looked out the window for a moment, gathering his thoughts. “We’ve been spending a lot of time together, and I... I don’t want to mess this up, Hania. You’re important to me. But lately, I’ve been wondering if we’re on the same page about... whatever this is between us.”

The words hung in the air like a weight pressing down on them both.

Hania’s chest tightened. This was the moment she had feared but also longed for—clarity. She had known, deep down, that things had been changing between them. Their friendship had become something more, but she wasn’t sure how to define it either.

“I’ve been thinking about that too,” Hania finally admitted, her voice soft. “I guess I was afraid to bring it up first. I didn’t want to push you or make things awkward.”

A small, nervous laugh escaped Atharv’s lips. “Funny, I was thinking the same thing.”

They sat in silence for a moment, both of them processing the unspoken feelings that had been building between them for weeks. The clatter of cups and soft chatter of other customers seemed distant, almost like background noise to the intensity of their conversation.

“What do we do now?” Hania asked quietly, her eyes searching his for an answer.

Atharv looked at her, really looked at her, and for the first time in a while, he let himself feel everything—how much he enjoyed being around her, how much he cared about her. But there was also the fear of ruining what they already had. He didn’t want to lose her, but he didn’t know how to move forward without risking their friendship.

“I don’t know,” Atharv said, his voice barely above a whisper. “But I think we owe it to ourselves to figure it out. Together.”

Hania nodded, her heart pounding. “Yeah. Together.”

The uncertainty still lingered between them, but for the first time, they had acknowledged what was happening—what they both felt but were too afraid to say. And that was a start.

They spent the rest of the evening in the café, talking about everything and nothing, just like they used to. The unspoken truths were now out in the open, and though they didn’t have all the answers yet, they both knew that something had shifted. What came next was uncertain, but they were willing to face it together.

As the café closed and they walked out into the cool night air, Atharv reached out and gently took Hania’s hand. She looked at him in surprise, but then smiled, her fingers tightening around his.

This wasn’t a promise of what they would become, but it was a beginning—one they were finally ready to face, hand in hand.