𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 ( 𝐘𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐯𝐢 𝐉𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐰𝐚𝐥 )

21

Jemimah Rodrigues leaned against the door of her apartment after Yashasvi's car disappeared down the street. Her heart still felt heavy, but his parting words echoed in her mind—"You're stronger than you think, Rodrigues." She let out a slow breath, forcing herself to believe that, even if only for tonight.

Inside her apartment, the familiar coziness was a welcome sight, yet it also reminded her of the loneliness that had crept into her life lately. Tossing her keys on the counter, she headed to the bathroom, splashing cold water on her face in an attempt to wash away the lingering emotions. But no matter how hard she tried, the thoughts of Arjun kept pushing their way to the forefront.

Why did it still hurt so much?

The night replayed in her mind—seeing Arjun with Priya, the way his hand had lingered on her shoulder, the look in his eyes when he crouched beside Jemimah. It had been too much. All the unresolved feelings she'd buried for so long came crashing down. And now, she couldn't even face him. It was easier to run, to cling to the safety net Yashasvi provided.

Jemimah sighed as she flopped onto her bed, her phone buzzing beside her. It was Smriti.

Smriti 💙: Hey Jemi, are you okay? You seemed out of it last night. I'm here if you need to talk.

Jemimah bit her lip. Smriti didn't know. None of her friends knew how deep her feelings for Arjun ran, and Jemimah had always been good at pretending it didn't matter. But now, as her heart ached in ways she hadn't anticipated, she didn't have the strength to put on that mask with Smriti.

Still, Jemimah couldn't let her in on everything. Not yet. She began typing.

Jemimah: I'm okay, Smriti. Just drank too much. I'll be fine.

She hesitated before adding another message.

Jemimah: Can we grab coffee tomorrow? I miss our talks.

Smriti responded almost immediately.

Smriti 💙: Of course! Let's meet at our usual place. Love you, girl!

The message brought a small smile to Jemimah's face. Smriti's unwavering support was something she couldn't take for granted. Jemimah knew she would have to be careful—talking to Smriti without letting the truth about Arjun slip out was going to be hard. But the thought of her friend's comforting presence was enough for now.

.. .. .. .. ..

Jemimah sat at the café, the familiar scent of coffee and baked goods filling the air. She kept glancing toward the door, her heart beating faster with anticipation, but also anxiety. When Smriti finally walked in, her smile was as bright as always, instantly putting Jemimah at ease. She waved her over to the table.

"Hey, you," Smriti said as she plopped down across from her. "You look better today. Feeling okay?"

Jemimah forced a smile. "Yeah, just needed some sleep, I guess. That night was...a lot."

Smriti raised an eyebrow. "It sure looked like it. You left so suddenly with Yashasvi. I thought you could stay at mine."

Jemimah fidgeted with her cup, not quite meeting Smriti's gaze. "I didn't want to be a burden. I just needed to get away, you know?"

Smriti's eyes softened with understanding, but there was a glint of curiosity in them. "You never drink that much. Did something happen between you and Yashasvi?"

Jemimah felt her heart race at Smriti's probing. She had to tread carefully. "Oh, it really wasn't anything serious. I had a small argument with him early, and then I felt embarrassed about it, so the drinks..."