Love Rivals: The Day I Saw Your Tears

54. Understanding Beneath Her Frustrations

(Ryan's Pov)

I was sprawled out on the couch, completely bored and starving, when my phone buzzed. It was a text from Sarah.

"Are you free enough to play NFS with me? I'm so bored," she wrote.

I was about to respond when the doorbell rang. I opened the door to find Vicky standing there, looking as casual as ever.

"What's up, bro?" he said, stepping inside without hesitation. "Sorry I didn't call before coming. I was passing by and thought I'd drop these off."

I blinked at him, confused. "What's that?" I asked, pointing at the packet in his hands.

"Photos," he replied, tossing the packet on the table. "Some shots of you and a few group photos from Navratri."

I placed the photos aside without looking. "You free?" I asked, catching him off guard.

He gave me a puzzled look but eventually nodded. "Yeah, I guess. Why?"

A smirk formed on my face as I grabbed my phone. "Perfect. Let me tell Sarah to come over. We're about to settle an NFS match."

"Sarah?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yep," I replied, with a mischievous grin. "She was the one who wanted to play first."

Vicky chuckled, shaking his head. "Alright, let's see what you've got."

Vicky was busy setting up the game in the living room, his focus entirely on the console. I, on the other hand, was in the kitchen, grabbing some snacks, mentally preparing for the gaming session ahead. Then, the doorbell rang again.

I wiped my hands on a towel, half-expecting it to be Sarah. I opened the door, and there she was, standing still, looking almost hesitant for a moment.

I leaned against the doorframe, giving her a relaxed smile. "Come on in," I said, waving her inside.

She hesitated, shifting nervously on her feet. Her hand gripped the strap of her bag, and she looked unsure, almost like she was debating whether to turn around.

"You've been here before," I reminded her, trying to keep things light. "It's not like it's your first time."

Her voice was soft, a bit shaky. "Yeah, but..."

I tilted my head, cutting her off. "Oh, I get it. It's your first time here alone, right? You made it all the way here, so why the hesitation now?"

She looked at me with a bit of frustration in her eyes. "I thought we'd play somewhere else. You know, like an arcade."

I couldn't help but laugh at that. "Stop letting your imagination run wild. Just come in."

Her expression hardened, clearly not amused. "What do you think I'm imagining? It's not like that. I'm just worried about your parents. What if they come home and find us here? Your dad's going to flip."

I smirked, giving her a reassuring glance. "Relax, they won't be home before 10 pm. And Vicky's inside too, so it's not just us. No one's going to 'flip.'"

With a reluctant sigh, she finally stepped inside. She followed me inside, her steps hesitant. As she neared the living room, I let out a quick whistle to get her attention, tossing a cooking apron her way with a smirk.

"Make coffee first, then cook something. I'm starving," I said, my tone a playful command, but with just enough seriousness that I hoped she'd oblige.

She caught the apron, her eyes narrowing in disbelief. "You've got to be kidding. I didn't come here to be your personal chef, Ryan," she said, her voice tinged with frustration.

Before I could reply, Vicky, lounging comfortably on the couch, chimed in with a lazy grin. "He's right, but... Sarah, I'm kinda hungry too," he admitted, rubbing his stomach dramatically.

Sarah let out a long, exaggerated sigh, clearly torn. I decided to push just a bit more. "Oh, and by the way, I like my food less spicy," I added, grinning mischievously.

She shot me an exasperated look. "I'll cook, but don't expect a gourmet meal," she muttered, heading towards the kitchen with a defeated sigh.

A few minutes later, with Vicky fast asleep, curiosity got the better of me, and I wandered into the kitchen. Sarah was busy at the stove, stirring something in a pot. Her face was focused, but I could tell she was still annoyed by the whole situation.

I leaned against the doorway, watching her for a moment before stepping closer, letting the warm smell of coffee and cooking food fill the air.