His Addictive ARCHNEMESIS ~ Ishman

Ch: 17 ~ Burning Desires

The sun hung high in the sky as the team gathered for their fielding drills on the sprawling cricket ground.

The atmosphere was charged with the usual banter and laughter that accompanied such sessions, but for Ishan and Shubman, it felt like the rest of the world had faded into white noise.

Ishan adjusted his gloves, stealing a glance at Shubman, who was practicing low catches a few meters away. The sunlight made perfect highlighting with its rays, kissing those black orbs, his focused expression making Ishan's mind stirr in not so noble thoughts.

On the other hand, Shubman was having an equally hard time. He'd been hyperaware of Ishan's presence. Every time Ishan spoke, every time he commanded, every time he simply existed, Shubman found himself glancing over, unable to stop.

"Shubman, Ishan, you're a pair for the drills," the coach called out, breaking both of them from their thoughts.

They exchanged an awkward glance, their shoulders stiffening. But they didn't protest, moving toward the designated practice area without a word.

The drill began, and for the first few minutes, they managed to keep things professional.

Ishan threw sharp, accurate catches at Shubman, who returned them with equally precise throws. Their movements were fluid, their coordination impeccable, but beneath the surface, the tension simmered.

Finally, as they took a short break, the silence became unbearable.

"So....," Ishan began, his voice carefully casual.

Shubman looked up questioningly.

Ishan straightened up, fidgeting with his gloves, "Mm.. yesterday was good... the practice ?"

"yeah, Why?" Shubman replied too quickly, looking away.

Ishan sighed, his shoulders slumping, "Just thoughts.."

"yea," Shubman said, nodding too quickly.

"About that ..." Ishan began hesitantly.

Shubman looked up intently, "About What?"

Ishan rubbed the back of his neck, avoiding Shubman's gaze, "I mean... it wasn't that bad, was it?"

Shubman blinked, trying to figure out, "that ?"

Ishan glared at Shubman annoyingly, was he really dumb or he is acting like one just to annoy him, frustrated Ishan whispered yelled- "THE SEX dumbo"

Shubman's mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water, "Shut it Quite you-"

"-Oh like -you were quite- Night along !" Ishan interrupted quickly, making Shubman face go red instantly.

Shubman glared at Ishan-though his flushed face was making it hard to justify his expression- blurting out, "you are impossible!" and resumed the practice.

Ishan huffed not getting the answer to his quest.

☆☆☆

As the practice session winded up, players rested for a while sprawling across tge down field gasping for fresh air after a tiring session.

The awkwardness between them was palpable. Shubman cleared his throat, trying to regain his composure, "Look, about last night..."

Ishan looked up excitingly, "Ah haan.."

"It was stupid," Shubman blurted out, "Idiotic. Immature. We were both... I don't know, caught up in emotions or whatever."

Ishan blinked with a dull ache in bis heart, taken aback by Shubman's bluntness, "Agreed," he said after a beat.