Mine to love

Chapter 14

Inaaya's pov

Being the head of the event planning club for the university festival wasn't just a title for me—it was a fucking badge of honor.

After years of having my thoughts brushed aside, being reduced to the "baby" of my family, this role felt like my chance to prove that I was more than just the youngest sibling with cute ideas. I wasn't here to take orders or follow someone else's vision.

No, I was here to lead, to make this festival the most incredible thing this university had ever seen.

And fuck, was I working hard to make it happen.

The morning had started with me juggling about five different tasks—coordinating with the vendors, confirming the guest list, making sure the lights were ready for the concert, and then dealing with some last-minute issues because some idiot double-booked the main stage.

It was chaos, but I thrived in it. I loved the adrenaline, the pressure.
It was the only time I felt like people actually took me seriously.

Sweat dripped down my back as I made my way through the crowded festival grounds, clipboard in hand, phone buzzing nonstop.

A part of me wanted to scream, but the other part? She was living for this shit. The hustle, the decisions, the power of it all. I had fought for this spot—volunteered my ass off, stayed late at every meeting, came up with the best ideas, and finally got the recognition I deserved.

I was in charge, and nobody could take that from me.

The thing was, growing up, my family always made decisions for me. My older sister was always the ones getting the attention. I was just...there. The cute one.

The one everyone wanted to protect, even when I didn't need it. Sure, I loved them, but it felt suffocating sometimes.

I had ideas too, opinions. But they were always too quick to dismiss them.

"Maybe next time, Inaaya," they'd say, patting me on the head like I was a fucking child. Next time, next time, next fucking time.

So when the opportunity to lead the biggest event at uni came up, I grabbed it. I didn't just want this—I needed this.

To prove, not just to them, but to myself, that I was capable. That I could handle the responsibility and pressure.

"Inaaya, we need you by the main stage!" one of the crew members shouted from across the field.

"On it!" I called back, swiping the sweat from my forehead. God, it was hot. I hadn't even had time to grab a drink all morning. My mouth felt like sandpaper, but there was no way I was slowing down now.

I pushed through the sea of people, making my way to the stage, when suddenly a hand reached out and stopped me.

"Yo, slow down, will you?" Sriya's voice cut through the haze.

"Slow down? Are you fucking kidding me?" I huffed, waving the clipboard in her face.

"Do you see this? I have ten different problems I need to fix before noon. If I slow down, this whole festival is going to burn down to the ground, and it's going to be my fucking fault."

She rolled her eyes and snatched the clipboard out of my hands.

"Breathe, Inaaya. You're killing yourself over this."

"I can't breathe! There's no time to breathe!" I snapped back, but even I could hear the exhaustion in my voice.

Sriya just sighed, leaning against the stage.