Love Rivals: The Day I Saw Your Tears

61. Words That Steal The Sleep

I rushed into my room, the air in my chest growing tight as the weight of the evening pressed down on me. I felt suffocated, each breath becoming harder to take. My fingers fumbled with the buttons of my salwar, desperately trying to loosen them to breathe more easily. As I struggled, a familiar voice suddenly broke through the silence.

"Ryan, you're here?"

Startled, I turned to see Sarah standing at the door, her eyes quickly darting away the moment our gazes met. She turned her back to me, clearly flustered, and I realized she must have seen me unbuttoning my salwar.

Noticing her unease, I chuckled softly, trying to diffuse the awkwardness. "Relax, Sarah. I'm not getting undressed," I said with a smirk. "I'm just unbuttoning these two buttons, that's all."

She slowly turned back toward me, still hesitant, her eyes avoiding mine. Something was weighing on her mind, I could tell. She shifted nervously, glancing around the room as if trying to summon the courage to say what she needed to.

"You came here to see me, didn't you?" I teased, hoping to lighten the mood. I grinned. "By the way, I know I looked extra handsome today."

She scoffed lightly, rolling her eyes but not quite hiding her smile. After a pause, she asked, "Where's your dad? I didn't see him at the function."

I raised an eyebrow, mockingly. "Oh, so you came here to see my dad?" I said, raising a playful brow.

She shook her head, a little flustered. "No, I just asked. Casually," she added quickly.

Still fighting with my buttons, "He's on duty," I answered simply, my voice softening.

"Today?" she asked, her surprise clear.

I couldn't help but chuckle. "You know him better than that. He's always on duty. It's just who he is," I said, my tone fond but resigned.

She nodded, clearly knowing the truth of that, but there was something else in her expression, something deeper she wasn't saying. "Yeah, I know," she murmured, "but today..."

Her voice trailed off again, and she glanced around, nervous and fidgeting. I watched her, waiting for her to continue, sensing the tension in the room building.

"Anything else on your mind, Sarah?" I asked, trying to gently coax out what she was struggling to say.

She hesitated, visibly nervous, and I could see her trying to gather the courage to speak. After a moment of silence, she finally took a deep breath and looked me in the eye, her voice trembling slightly. "Ryan... don't get married."

Her words hit me like a punch to the chest. I stood frozen, unsure if I had heard her right. I had heard this from her before, but something about the way she said it now-her tone, the look in her eyes-felt heavier, more serious.

Before I could find the words to respond, she continued, her voice soft but firm. "Please... like me, Ryan. Because... I like you."

I stood there, completely stunned, unable to wrap my head. Her words hung in the air, feeling almost surreal. My breath caught in my throat. I couldn't believe it, and for a moment, I was frozen, unsure how to respond.

Suddenly, a voice cut through the haze, snapping me back to reality. "What's going on here?" My mom stood at the doorway, her gaze sharp as it darted between Sarah and me.

She stepped into the room, her eyes narrowing. "Ryan, what's going on?"

I glanced at Sarah, who was visibly trembling, her hands clenched at her sides. I opened my mouth to explain, to say something, anything, but before I could get a word out, my mom interrupted.

"Ryan," she asked, her voice firm, "do you even know what she just said?"

Caught off guard and still too shocked to speak, I could only shake my head. It wasn't a lie, but it wasn't the full truth either. I didn't know how to respond-my mind was still reeling.

Mom seemed relieved at my gesture, but her expression remained hard. "Good," she said, her tone leaving no room for argument. "Whatever this is, let it end here. Bury it."

Then she turned to Sarah. "Sarah, dear," she began, "I never expected this from you. Please, I plead with you-make your way home."

Sarah's face flushed with embarrassment, her eyes flickering with pain. She hesitated for a moment, her gaze falling to the floor, and then she gave a small, almost imperceptible nod. Without saying a word, she quietly left the room.

Everyone thought I had it all together, the laid-back guy who never let anything faze him. My friends, even Vicky, believed I was always in control, unbothered by the little things. But none of them had a clue how deeply those little things affected me.

That night was the worst. I couldn't sleep. No matter how many times I shifted in bed, my mind wouldn't quiet. Sarah's words kept echoing in my head, over and over, stirring emotions I wasn't ready to face.

I lay awake, staring at the ceiling, trying to make sense of it all, but the more I tried, the more tangled I became in my own thoughts. I wasn't just restless; I was overwhelmed. By the time morning came, I hadn't slept a single minute.