Love Rivals: The Day I Saw Your Tears

84. Rivalry Leading To Heart Race

Before I could even think of a response, Ryan stepped forward. His calm but assertive voice cut through the tension. “It’s not like that,” he said, his gaze briefly meeting Nitya’s before he turned to the rest of them. “I know Sarah had feelings for me back then, and it's understandable." He was definitely enjoying it.

I leaned closer to Ryan, who sat beside me, and muttered just loud enough for him to hear, "Shut up. Should I remind everyone about your little proposal back in school?"

His face flushed as he quickly squeezed my hand. "No, please," he whispered back, almost pleading.

A mischievous grin spread across my face as I suddenly raised my hand -- the same one Ryan was holding -- making sure everyone around could see. I said loudly, “Look, everyone! He just can’t seem to let go of my hand. I keep telling him, ‘What if someone sees us?’ but here he is, still holding on like his life depends on it!”

Ryan’s eyes widened in surprise, and he quickly released my hand, trying to play it off. The look of shock on his face was priceless.

Not missing a beat, I continued, teasingly, “Honestly, he’s so much more caring than you all know. Sometimes, I feel like he loves me more than I do. Can you believe it? Just the other night, I was so mad at him, and what does he do? He fights with my dad and takes me back to his house in the middle of the night! That’s the Ryan I know—always looking out for me.”

Ryan kicked my foot under the table, leaning in close and whispering through gritted teeth, “What are you talking about? Stop it!”

But I was on a roll now, and the crowd was enjoying every word. “And if you think that’s all,” I added dramatically, “he’s already planning our honeymoon!” I put on a shy, exaggerated look. “I told him we should take things slow, but he just…”
“Even today, I asked him what I should wear, and you know what he said?” I leaned in, lowering my voice for dramatic effect. “He just shrugged and said it doesn’t matter to him what I wear. Can you believe that? So, I figured, why not just go for comfort?”

I turned to face Ryan, and my heart raced at the sight of his flushed face, red with anger. His jaw was set tight, and I could practically see the steam rising from his ears. A mischievous grin spread across my face as I leaned closer and patted his shoulder, giving him my victorious smile.

As we arrived home, an uneasy silence enveloped the car. Ryan hadn’t uttered a single word, and I didn’t dare break the stillness either. The moment we stepped inside, we were greeted by the sight of his parents waiting for us in the living room.

His mom beamed back at me and immediately asked about the party. “So, how was the gathering? Did you have a good time?”

I hesitated for a moment but quickly fabricated a white lie. “Oh, it was really enjoyable! We had a great time,” I said, trying to sound as genuine as possible. Thankfully, she seemed to buy it.

Just as I was about to head upstairs, I felt Ryan’s hand grip my wrist, halting me in my tracks. He cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention to him. “Mom, Dad, I’d like to ask you for permission.”

We all exchanged puzzled glances, curiosity piqued.

Looking directly at his mom, he continued, “Sarah wants us to go on our honeymoon.”

He then shifted his gaze toward me, and my heart raced.

His mom’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “That’s wonderful! Where do you want to go? I can arrange the tickets.”

Ryan’s expression remained serious as he replied, his gaze fixed intently on me, “I suggested some nearby places, but she’s set on going to Goa.”

“That sounds lovely!” his mom exclaimed.

As soon as the door of our room clicked shut, I pushed him gently but firmly, my voice rising in disbelief. “Have you gone mad? Honeymoon? Goa? What were you thinking? Have you lost your mind?”

Ryan smirked, clearly enjoying the situation. “I was just helping you with your lies, wasn’t I?”

I crossed my arms, glaring at him. “I know exactly what you're trying to do and why.”

Without warning, he pushed me back onto the bed, leaning in closer as his smirk widened. His voice dropped to a serious tone, his eyes locking onto mine. “I’m not joking, Sarah. I’m serious about this honeymoon. And I’m going to do everything that a married couple does.”

I forgot to breathe the moment his face drew closer, sent shivers down my spine. His breath. My heart pounded uncontrollably, as if it was trying to escape from my chest. My gaze, locked with his, refused to break away, drawn to the intensity in his eyes.

He might have thought his actions were just playful teasing, but he had no idea the effect they had on me.

Each movement, each look from him, sent my nerves into a frenzy, making me more anxious than I had ever felt before. In that moment, the rest of the world seemed to fade away—his presence alone consumed my thoughts. The power his teasing had over me was terrifying, yet undeniable.