Whispers of desires

chapter 14 - A heart wrapped in shadows.

Yuvika woke the next morning, her eyes swollen and red from the previous night's tears. The messages from her stalker had become more relentless, his words weaving into her every waking thought. She glanced at her phone with dread, fearing another message would pop up.

There was silence. Just the cold, empty calm of early morning.

She let out a deep sigh, relieved to be free from his words, at least for now. She knew she needed to stay strong, keep her mind focused. But the fear clung to her, like a shadow she couldn't shake. With a deep breath, she pushed herself up, deciding she wouldn't let this ruin her life.

---

Arriving on campus, Yuvika found herself scanning the crowd as she entered the main hall. She knew it was irrational, but a part of her couldn't shake the feeling that her stalker was nearby, watching her every move.

"Yuvika!" a familiar voice called. She turned to see Aarush approaching, his usual calm presence radiating as he neared her. Today, he wore a dark grey shirt, his messy black hair slightly tousled, the frames of his glasses glinting under the light. His grey eyes held their familiar warmth, but she couldn't ignore the unease that had begun to settle whenever he was near.

"Good morning," he greeted, offering her a small smile. "You look... tired. Everything okay?"

She forced a smile, nodding. "Just didn't sleep well."

He raised an eyebrow, looking concerned. "Is it the same thing... those messages?" His voice softened, his gaze steady on her. "You know you can talk to me, right?"

Yuvika hesitated, her mind torn. She didn't know how much she could tell him, and yet, she longed to confide in someone, to share the fear that had been consuming her.

"It's just... hard," she managed, her voice a whisper. "I don't know why this person is doing this to me. It feels like they know everything about me, as if they're always watching."

Aarush's face darkened, his jaw tightening. "Do you have any idea who it could be?"

Yuvika shook her head, feeling a lump form in her throat. She wanted to trust Aarush, to believe that he was her friend, someone who would support her. But a small voice inside her warned against it.

"Let's talk later, Aarush. I don't... I just need some space right now," she mumbled, stepping away before he could protest.

---

After classes, Yuvika met up with her friends in the cafeteria. They could tell something was bothering her and quickly decided to distract her with lighthearted conversation and jokes.

"Alright, Yuvika," Sneha said, grinning as she leaned in. "So... have you figured out if Aarush is actually a green flag or not?"

Yuvika forced a laugh, but her mind was already spiraling with doubts. "I don't know, honestly. He's so kind, always there when I need him... but something feels off, like he's hiding something."

One of her friends nudged her. "Come on, don't overthink! He's probably just a bit mysterious, that's all. Plus, who doesn't like a guy with a little mystery?"

Yuvika smiled, but the feeling of unease stayed with her. She glanced over at Aarush, who was sitting across the cafeteria, surrounded by a group of classmates, his gaze occasionally drifting in her direction. She felt his eyes on her, even from a distance, a lingering awareness that made her pulse quicken.