The Comfort Of Her Presence

CHAPTER 10

ADITI'S POV

Something I've noticed that strikes me as strange is how, whenever I read a book in front of someone, they always try to get my attention-snatching it from my hands or talking loudly, doing everything to draw my focus back to them. Naina is notorious for it; she's snatched my book more times than I can count.

But with Jay, it's entirely different. He has the ability to easily grab my attention whenever he wants, yet he never does.

Instead, he simply watches me as if it's the most fascinating thing in the world.

When I'm reading and he's beside me, I find myself naturally drawn to his presence. I could be completely engrossed in a story, yet the moment he speaks, I willingly shift my attention to him. It's as if he has this unique ability to make me want to listen without ever having to compete for my focus.

There's something about him that makes me feel incredibly comfortable, though I can't quite pinpoint what it is. We've known each other for less than a month, but it feels like I've known him forever. I love listening to him, love talking to him. I can be completely myself around him, and that's such a refreshing change.

Having a true friend is overwhelming for me. My past experiences with people my age have been nothing like this. Most of the people I've come across have been so wrapped up in themselves, merely judging and gossiping without any real care for others' feelings. They only want to hear about your struggles to fuel their next gossip session.

But in the midst of all that, finding someone like Jay has completely changed my perspective. It has restored my belief that there are genuinely good people who care.

He listens, really listens, and that makes all the difference. With him, I feel seen and valued, and it's a feeling I've longed for without even realizing it.

When he opened up about what Ekta did to him that day, it hit me that he feels comfortable with me, too.

The way he spoke about it so clearly, without any hesitation, made me realize he truly considers me a friend-someone he can share anything with. I felt a wave of sadness for him because he didn't stand up for himself, and for the first time, I allowed myself to get genuinely mad at someone I barely knew.

That moment made me understand just how important he is to me.

We only get mad at the people we care about, and that realization felt significant.

I hadn't expected to form such a connection so quickly, but here I was, feeling protective and concerned for someone who had become a vital part of my life in such a short time. It's remarkable how deep emotions can run when we find someone we can trust.

I told him to be nice to Mr. Harsh because I noticed how visibly annoyed he gets around him. It gave me the vibe of watching a younger brother clash with an older sibling-there's a bond there that they might not even realize exists. I want him to appreciate that connection more; it's something special, and I can't help but feel that he should recognize it.

I don't know why I care so much about his feelings toward others. It's not really my place to point out the mistakes he makes, yet I can't fight the urge to see him happy and free from unnecessary sadness over something that isn't truly upsetting. It's beautiful to have someone in your life who embodies that older brother role, offering support and guidance. I just wish he could see it and cherish that bond as much as I do.

And I don't know why, but all these thoughts swirl around in my mind like a dream. Why am I thinking about him so much?

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When we finally reach the hotel, I'm exhausted. My head feels heavy with unanswered questions and emotions I can't quite untangle. I crawl back into bed, hoping that sleep will bring clarity, or at least a temporary escape from the whirlwind of feelings I can't fully understand.