Meant to be yours

You're not alone!

At College
The last bell had rung twenty minutes ago.
Students poured out of classrooms, hallways buzzing with laughter, gossip, and the usual chaos of college life.
Inside one classroom though-
Only two people remained.
Ishika sat at the front row, laptop still open, pretending to review notes.
Pretending.
Because the woman standing near the desk had noticed her distracted face nearly forty minutes ago.
Melanie Rose closed her folder slowly.
"Mrs. Modi."
Ishika looked up.
"Yes, Professor?"
Melanie raised a brow.
"You haven't typed a single word in five minutes."
Ishika immediately looked at her screen.
"...That's not true."
Melanie walked closer.
Ishika's screen showed-
A blank document.
Melanie folded her arms.
"Interesting thesis."
Ishika sighed dramatically.
"Fine."
Melanie leaned against the desk.
"Rebecca?"
Ishika blinked.
"...Am I that obvious too?"
Melanie smirked faintly.
"Apparently everyone around Jazz is."
Ishika closed her laptop.
Her playful expression faded.
"She's getting worse."
Melanie's expression softened.
"I know."
"She barely calls."
Melanie nodded.
"She's drowning."
Ishika frowned.
"Then why doesn't she ask for help?"
Melanie looked out the classroom window for a second.
"Because Rebecca's spent her whole life surviving alone."
A pause.
"She thinks asking for help makes her weak."
Ishika went quiet.
Then-
"She's hurting Jazz."
Melanie looked at her.
"Yes."
No defense.
No excuses.
Just truth.
Ishika swallowed.
"Jazz waits for her."
Her voice softened.
"Every day."
Melanie's jaw tightened.
"I know."
Ishika studied her carefully.
"You really care about her."
Melanie smirked faintly.
"Your observational skills are improving."
"Professor."
Melanie sighed.
"Yes."
Ishika tilted her head.
"...Why?"
For a second-
Melanie didn't answer.
Then-
"Because she smiles even when she's breaking."
Ishika froze.
Melanie looked away.
"And people like that..."
A pause.
"...usually don't ask for help until it's too late."
Ishika's eyes softened.
For once-
She didn't tease.
Didn't joke.
She simply said-
"You're a good person."
Melanie looked at her.
Then smirked.
"Don't spread rumors."
Ishika laughed softly.
"Too late."
Meanwhile - Jazz's Apartment
Jazz was wrapped in a blanket on her couch, looking thoroughly offended at the bowl of fruit in her hands.
"This baby hates me."
Across from her-
Riya was halfway through her juice and enjoying herself far too much.
"Or..."
Riya grinned.
"...it has expensive taste."
Jazz glared.
"Leave."
Riya leaned forward dramatically.
"No."
Jazz groaned.
"I miss coffee."
"You miss chaos."
"I miss being able to eat without negotiating with my stomach."
Riya laughed.
Then looked around.
"...So."
Jazz narrowed her eyes.
"So?"
Riya smirked.
"When's Melanie coming?"
Jazz blinked.
"...What?"
Riya gasped dramatically.
"Oh my god."
Jazz pointed at her.
"Don't start."
Riya ignored her completely.
"She cooks."
"She checks on you."
"She calls."
"She literally scares delivery guys away."
Jazz buried her face in the blanket.
"Please die."
Riya laughed harder.
"I'm serious!"
Jazz looked up.
"She's just... helping."
Riya nodded dramatically.
"Mhm."
Jazz narrowed her eyes.
"Why do I hate you?"
"Because I'm right."
Jazz threw a pillow.
Riya caught it.
Effortlessly.
Then leaned closer.
"...Do you wait for her calls?"
Jazz froze.
Riya's grin widened.
"Oh my god-you do."
Jazz looked away.
"...Sometimes."
Riya clutched her chest.
"This is beautiful."
"It's annoying."
"It's adorable."
"It's confusing."
That made Riya pause.
Her teasing softened.
"Rebecca?"
Jazz's smile disappeared.
She nodded.
"She barely talks."
Riya's expression softened.
"And Melanie?"
Jazz looked toward her phone on the table.
Then-
A small smile appeared despite herself.
"She always calls."
Right on cue-
Jazz's phone lit up.
Melanie Rose Calling.
Riya slowly looked at the screen.
Then at Jazz.
Then smirked like a menace.
"...Speak of the devil."
Jazz tried to look unimpressed.
Failed miserably.
And as she answered-
Riya quietly pulled out her phone.
Already planning to tell Ishika everything.
**
The living room of the Modi Mansion was unusually quiet.
For exactly-
Thirty seconds.
Then-
"I'm telling you..."
Riya leaned across the couch dramatically, lowering her voice like she was revealing state secrets.
"She smiles differently."
Across from her-
Ishika looked up from her laptop.
"...Who?"
Riya stared.
Then slowly closed Ishika's laptop.
"Don't disrespect me."
Ishika sighed.
"Riya-"
"Jazz."
Ishika blinked.
Then leaned forward.
"...Oh."
Riya pointed accusingly.
"Exactly."
Ishika grabbed a cushion and hugged it closer.
"You noticed too?"
Riya looked personally offended.
"I am an artist."
A dramatic pause.
"I notice chemistry."
Ishika rolled her eyes.
"You notice gossip."
"Same thing."
Ishika laughed despite herself.
Riya leaned even closer.
"I'm serious, Ishu."
Her voice softened.
"Whenever Melanie calls..."
She wiggled her eyebrows.
"Jazz smiles."
Ishika thought about it.
The morning calls.
The teasing.
The breakfast.
The way Jazz no longer complained when Melanie walked in.
Actually-
She complained if Melanie didn't.
And suddenly-
Ishika's eyes widened.
"...Oh no."
Riya gasped dramatically.
"RIGHT?"
Ishika covered her mouth.
"Jazz is doomed."
"Completely doomed."
They both stared at each other-
Then burst out laughing.
Riya wiped imaginary tears.
"Our Jazz."
"Falling for her former enemy."
"Pregnant."
"Emotionally unstable."
"Constantly nauseous."
"Hopeless."
They both nodded seriously.
"Very hopeless."
From behind them-
A calm voice cut through their nonsense.
"Should I be worried?"
Both women froze.
Very slowly-
They turned.
Anamika Modi stood near the doorway.
Arms crossed.
Expression unreadable.
Which somehow made it worse.
Ishika immediately sat straighter.
"...Mika."
Riya smiled nervously.
"Hi."
Anamika walked closer.
Slow.
Measured.
Dangerously calm.
"What exactly..."
She stopped in front of them.
"...are you two plotting?"
Riya looked at Ishika.
Ishika looked at Riya.
Both pointed at each other.
"She started it."
Anamika sighed.
Then sat down across from them.
"I heard enough."
Riya gulped.
"...That's unfortunate."
Anamika ignored her.
Her gaze moved between both of them.
Then-
Her expression softened slightly.
"Don't complicate this."
The teasing vanished instantly.
Ishika frowned.
"Mika..."
Anamika leaned back.
"Jazz is pregnant."
Simple.
Direct.
"She's vulnerable."
A pause.
"Emotional."
Another.
"And probably more confused than she's letting on."
Riya's playful expression faded.
Anamika continued.
"Rebecca is scared."
"Jazz is hurt."
"And Melanie..."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"...Melanie is carrying her own scars."
Silence settled.
Heavy.
Real.
Ishika quietly reached for Anamika's hand.
Anamika intertwined their fingers without even looking.
"She needs support."
Anamika said quietly.
"Not matchmaking."
Riya looked down.
"...We weren't trying to-"
"I know."
Anamika's voice softened.
"But feelings..."
A pause.
"...especially during pregnancy..."
She looked directly at them.
"Can feel stronger than they really are."
Ishika fell quiet.
Because-
That made sense.
Riya nodded slowly.
"So..."
"No pushing."
Anamika said firmly.
"No teasing."
She looked specifically at Riya.
"No songs."
Riya looked offended.
"That's targeted."
"It's deserved."
Ishika laughed softly.
Then leaned against Anamika's shoulder.
"So what do we do?"
Anamika's expression softened.
"Exactly what family does."
A pause.
"Stay."
Riya smiled faintly.
"And if she falls anyway?"
Anamika glanced at Ishika briefly-
Then back at them.
For the first time-
She smiled.
Small.
Knowing.
"Then..."
She squeezed Ishika's hand.
"...we make sure she doesn't fall alone."
**
The apartment was unusually quiet that evening.
No music.
No sarcastic comments.
No Riya barging in without knocking.
No Ishika forcing Jazz to eat fruit she didn't ask for.
Just silence.
Jazz sat on the couch, one hand resting gently over her growing stomach.
Five months.
The little curve beneath her loose shirt was impossible to hide now.
And despite everything-
Despite the nausea.
The exhaustion.
The fear.
She smiled every time she looked down.
A knock came at the door.
Jazz's heart skipped.
Because-
For the first time in weeks-
She knew who it was.
She practically rushed to the door.
And when she opened it-
Rebecca Wilson stood there.
Jazz's face lit up instantly.
"Becca..."
Rebecca didn't smile.
Didn't step forward.
Didn't hug her.
And that alone-
Made Jazz's smile falter.
"Can I come in?"
Jazz nodded quickly.
"Yeah... of course."
Rebecca walked in.
Slow.
Stiff.
Like every step cost her something.
Jazz closed the door.
Her heart was suddenly beating too fast.
"Do you want tea?"
Rebecca shook her head.
"Water?"
"No."
"Coffee-"
"Jazz."
That tone.
Jazz froze.
Rebecca turned to face her.
And for the first time-
Jazz noticed how tired she looked.
Not physically.
Emotionally.
Rebecca took a shaky breath.
Then-
Very quietly-
"I can't do it anymore."
Jazz blinked.
"...What?"
Rebecca looked away.
Her jaw tightened.
"I can't."
A pause.
Then-
"I don't want this responsibility."
The world-
Stopped.
Jazz stared at her.
Like she hadn't understood the words.
Like maybe-
Just maybe-
She'd heard wrong.
"...Becca."
Rebecca's eyes remained fixed on the floor.
"I thought I could."
A shaky breath.
"I thought I'd figure it out."
Another.
"But every day..."
Her voice cracked.
"...I wake up terrified."
Jazz took a step closer.
"Then let's be terrified together."
Rebecca flinched.
Jazz's voice grew softer.
"We don't have to know everything."
She reached for her hand.
"We can learn."
Rebecca stepped back.
Jazz froze.
"Becca..."
"I can't."
Rebecca's voice rose.
"I can't be someone's mother."
She looked up now-
Eyes red.
Filled with fear.
"With my past."
"With my life."
"With..."
She shook her head.
"I'll ruin everything."
Jazz's own eyes filled.
"You don't know that."
Rebecca laughed bitterly.
"No..."
Her voice dropped.
"...You don't."
Jazz swallowed hard.
"Please."
A whisper.
"Don't do this."
Rebecca's expression broke for just a second.
But only for a second.
Then-
The walls came back up.
"I'm sorry."
Two words.
Sharp enough to cut.
And then-
She walked away.
The door opened.
Closed.
And just like that-
She was gone.
Silence.
Complete.
Crushing.
Jazz stood there.
Still staring at the door.
As if Rebecca might walk back in.
Say it was a mistake.
Say she didn't mean it.
Say anything.
But-
Nothing.
Jazz slowly sank onto the couch.
Her breathing became uneven.
Her chest felt tight.
Too tight.
Her vision blurred.
"No..."
Her hand moved to her stomach.
And suddenly-
Pain.
Sharp.
Deep.
Wrong.
Jazz gasped.
"Ah-"
Her fingers dug into the couch.
"Not now..."
Her breathing became faster.
Her phone.
Where was her phone?
Her shaking fingers reached blindly across the table.
Found it.
Unlocked it.
One name.
Without thinking.
Melanie Rose.
Call.
Ring.
Ring-
Click.
A calm voice answered.
"Jazz?"
In the background-
Voices.
A boardroom.
A meeting.
Papers moving.
Someone speaking.
Then-
Silence.
Because Melanie had clearly walked out.
"Jazz?"
Her voice sharpened instantly.
"What's wrong?"
Jazz opened her mouth-
But no words came.
Her vision blurred further.
Her stomach twisted painfully.
Her breathing shook.
"Jazz?"
Melanie's voice changed.
Urgent now.
"Talk to me."
Jazz tried.
Tried so hard.
But-
Nothing.
The phone slipped from her trembling fingers.
Hit the floor.
A dull thud.
Then-
Silence.
On the line-
Melanie froze.
For exactly one second.
Then-
Her voice turned ice cold.
"Jazz?"
No answer.
A pause.
Then-
"Jazz."
Nothing.
And suddenly-
Every instinct inside Melanie Rose screamed-
Something was very, very wrong.
**
The drive to the hospital was a blur.
Red lights.
Traffic.
Honking.
People yelling.
None of it mattered.
Melanie Rose drove like the world owed her answers.
One hand on the steering wheel.
The other-
Holding Jazz's trembling hand.
"Stay with me."
Her voice was calm.
Controlled.
But her knuckles on the wheel were white.
"Jazz."
No response.
Jazz was pale.
Sweating.
Breathing unevenly.
One hand clutching her stomach.
The other gripping Melanie's fingers like they were the only thing keeping her grounded.
"It hurts..."
Her voice was barely above a whisper.
Melanie's jaw tightened.
"I know."
Jazz whimpered softly.
"My baby..."
Melanie glanced at her-
Just once.
And for the first time in a very long time-
Fear flashed openly in her eyes.
"Nothing is happening to your baby."
Her voice was firm.
Absolute.
"Not while I'm here."
Jazz's shaky breathing hitched.
And for some reason-
She believed her.
At the Hospital
City Care Hospital was chaos.
Nurses.
Stretchers.
Doctors.
Forms.
Questions.
But Melanie handled all of it.
Like war.
By the time Jazz was wheeled inside-
Melanie had already signed papers.
Threatened one receptionist.
Intimidated two nurses.
And somehow made a doctor personally show up in less than three minutes.
Jazz barely registered any of it.
The pain.
The fear.
The tears.
That was all she could feel.
And through all of it-
Melanie never left.
Not once.
An hour later-
The doctor walked out.
Melanie was on her feet instantly.
"Well?"
The doctor smiled reassuringly.
"Mother and baby are fine."
Melanie's shoulders dropped-
Just slightly.
"The pain was caused by severe emotional stress."
The doctor looked pointedly at her.
"She needs rest."
A pause.
"No emotional shocks."
Melanie's jaw tightened.
"I understand."
"She also needs people around her."
Melanie nodded once.
"She has me."
The doctor blinked.
Then wisely decided not to question that.
Later That Night
Jazz sat in the hospital bed.
Blanket pulled up.
Hair messy.
Eyes swollen from crying.
One hand rested protectively over her stomach.
Melanie sat beside her.
Suit jacket gone.
Sleeves rolled up.
Hair slightly out of place.
Looking more human than Jazz had ever seen.
For a long while-
Neither spoke.
Then-
Jazz whispered-
"She left."
Melanie didn't interrupt.
Didn't offer fake comfort.
Just listened.
Jazz's voice cracked.
"She looked me in the eye..."
Her fingers tightened over the blanket.
"And said she didn't want responsibility."
Tears spilled again.
"I thought..."
A broken laugh escaped.
"I thought if I just gave her time..."
Her shoulders shook.
"I thought if I waited-"
Her voice broke completely.
"She'd choose us."
Silence.
Heavy.
Raw.
Melanie's expression tightened.
Not with anger.
With pain.
Because she knew this pain.
Too well.
Jazz wiped her tears angrily.
"I'm so stupid."
Melanie finally moved.
She stood.
Walked closer.
And without saying a word-
Pulled Jazz gently into her arms.
Jazz froze.
For exactly one second.
Then-
She broke.
Completely.
Her fingers clutched Melanie's shirt tightly as sob after sob wrecked through her.
Melanie held her.
Firm.
Steady.
Protective.
One hand in her hair.
The other rubbing slow circles on her back.
"Cry."
Her voice was quiet.
Certain.
"Don't hold it in."
Jazz cried harder.
"She doesn't want us..."
Melanie closed her eyes briefly.
Then whispered-
"She's scared."
Jazz shook her head violently.
"That doesn't make it hurt less."
Melanie swallowed hard.
"...I know."
A long silence followed.
Then Jazz pulled back slightly.
Eyes red.
Voice trembling.
"Why are you here?"
A dangerous question.
Melanie looked at her quietly.
And for once-
No masks.
No sarcasm.
No walls.
"Because someone should be."
Jazz stared.
Melanie's fingers gently moved a strand of hair away from her face.
And her voice softened.
"So listen carefully."
She leaned closer.
Eyes unwavering.
"You."
A pause.
"Are not alone."
Jazz's lips trembled.
And for the first time since Rebecca walked away-
She believed it.
She leaned forward again-
Resting her forehead against Melanie's shoulder.
And Melanie stayed.
All night.
No meetings.
No phone calls.
No business.
No excuses.
Just-
Presence.
Early Morning
The hospital room door opened quietly.
Anamika Modi walked in first.
Followed by Ishika, Riya, and Payal.
All of them stopped.
Because what they saw-
Said everything.
Jazz-
Asleep.
Safe.
Head resting against Melanie's shoulder.
One hand still holding hers.
And Melanie-
Wide awake.
Protective.
Silent.
Watching over both mother-
And child.
**
Rain poured steadily outside the Wilson estate.
Cold.
Relentless.
Almost violent.
The gates of Wilson Group opened without question the moment her car arrived.
Because everyone knew-
When Melanie Rose showed up unannounced-
It was never social.
The front doors opened before she even reached them.
Staff stepped aside silently.
No one dared stop her.
Her heels echoed sharply across polished marble floors as she walked through the mansion like she owned it.
Which-
At this point-
She practically did.
A familiar voice called from the staircase.
"Melanie?"
Rebecca Wilson stood there.
Still in work clothes.
Still holding a file.
Still looking exhausted.
But the moment she saw Melanie's face-
Her expression changed.
Because this wasn't business-Melanie.
This wasn't cold-Melanie.
This-
Was personal.
Rebecca walked down slowly.
"What happened?"
Melanie stopped in the center of the hall.
Didn't sit.
Didn't smile.
Didn't soften.
She simply pulled a folder from her bag.
And dropped it onto the center table.
The sound echoed.
Sharp.
Final.
Rebecca frowned.
"What is this?"
Melanie's voice was calm.
Too calm.
"Termination papers."
Silence.
Rebecca blinked.
"...What?"
Melanie held her gaze.
"The contract between Rose Corporation and Wilson Group."
A pause.
"It ends today."
Rebecca's face drained of color.
"Melanie-"
"And..."
Melanie's voice didn't waver.
"Our engagement is off."
Silence.
Complete.
Rebecca stared at her.
As if her brain refused to process the words.
"...You're joking."
Melanie's lips curved.
Not in amusement.
In disappointment.
"Do I look like I'm joking?"
Rebecca took a step forward.
"Melanie, wait-"
"No."
One word.
And Rebecca stopped.
Because she had never heard Melanie sound like that before.
Not angry.
Not sarcastic.
Just-
Done.
Melanie took one slow step closer.
Her eyes locked onto Rebecca's.
And for the first time-
Rebecca saw pain there.
Real pain.
"Since you're scared of responsibility..."
Melanie's voice lowered.
Each word sharper than the last.
"I'm setting you free, Rebecca."
Rebecca's throat tightened.
"Mel-"
"I thought..."
Melanie laughed quietly.
A sad.
Almost bitter sound.
"I thought you were worth fighting for."
Rebecca froze.
Melanie's gaze never left hers.
"I knew about your childhood."
Rebecca's breath caught.
"I knew about your fears."
A pause.
"Your abandonment."
"Your trust issues."
"Your nightmares."
Rebecca's eyes widened.
And for once-
She looked truly vulnerable.
Melanie's voice softened.
Painfully.
"I agreed to this marriage..."
A pause.
"Not for business."
Rebecca stopped breathing.
"...What?"
Melanie smiled.
Small.
Broken.
"For you."
Silence.
Heavy.
Unforgiving.
"I thought..."
Her voice dropped.
"You wouldn't hurt me the way others did."
Rebecca's eyes began to fill.
But Melanie wasn't done.
Not yet.
"I cried."
Rebecca flinched.
Melanie's jaw tightened.
"The day I learned Jazz was pregnant."
A beat.
"Because I knew..."
Her voice cracked-
Just once.
"...you would never be mine."
Rebecca's eyes widened.
Melanie inhaled slowly.
Steadied herself.
Then-
Her expression hardened.
"But I accepted it."
A pause.
"Because I thought..."
Her eyes turned cold.
"...if you loved someone..."
"You'd fight for them."
Silence.
Rain hammered against the windows.
"You didn't."
Melanie's voice dropped.
Dangerously quiet.
"You let her suffer."
Rebecca's tears finally fell.
"Melanie..."
"Alone."
Another step.
"I barely knew her."
Melanie's voice trembled.
"With anger."
"With pain."
"And even I..."
She pressed a hand to her chest briefly.
"...showed her more empathy than the woman carrying her child."
Rebecca looked shattered.
Melanie looked...
Heartbroken.
And furious.
A terrifying combination.
"You know what's worse?"
Melanie asked quietly.
Rebecca couldn't answer.
Melanie did it for her.
"One day..."
A pause.
"You'll stop being scared."
Another.
"One day you'll wake up."
Her voice softened.
And somehow-
That hurt more.
"One day you'll realize..."
Tears glistened in Melanie's eyes.
"...that Jazz..."
A beat.
"...was home."
Rebecca's breathing became uneven.
"And by then-"
Melanie picked up her bag.
Turned.
And walked toward the door.
Her final words stopped Rebecca cold.
"Time..."
She didn't look back.
"...might have already taken Jazz..."
A pause.
"...and your child..."
The door opened.
Rain thundered outside.
Then-
Melanie looked over her shoulder one last time.
Eyes cold.
Voice final.
"...away from you."
And then-
She walked out.
Leaving Rebecca standing alone-
With the sound of rain-
And the crushing realization-
That for the first time in her life-
She may have lost something irreplaceable.
**
Jazz had been discharged two days ago.
Doctor's orders-
No stress.
No work.
No emotional drama.
Which, according to everyone in the Modi Mansion-
Was nearly impossible.
Especially with this family.
The living room was unusually crowded.
Jazz sat comfortably on the couch, wrapped in a soft blanket, one hand resting over her growing stomach.
Beside her sat Payal, quietly peeling fruit.
Across from them-
Chaos.
Which meant-
Riya and Ishika.
And slightly behind them-
Two women who looked like they questioned every life decision that led them here-
Anamika Modi and Melanie Rose.
Riya sat cross-legged on the carpet.
Pointing dramatically at Ishika.
"I am definitely braver than you."
Ishika looked personally offended.
"Excuse me?"
Riya nodded proudly.
"Yes."
Ishika sat up straighter.
"Who hid behind a sofa because Anamika said 'we need to talk'?"
Riya gasped.
"That was strategic positioning."
Payal quietly covered her smile.
Jazz was already biting her lip.
Trying not to laugh.
Ishika leaned forward.
"You literally texted me-"
She grabbed her phone dramatically and read aloud-
"If I die, tell Payal I loved her but she's terrifying."
The room erupted.
Jazz laughed.
Actually laughed.
Head thrown back.
Eyes crinkling.
Real.
Warm.
Unfiltered.
And for one brief moment-
Everyone went quiet.
Because they had missed that laugh.
Especially-
The woman who had just walked in.
The door opened quietly.
Melanie Rose stepped inside with a paper bag in one hand-
And stopped.
Completely.
Her eyes landed on Jazz.
Laughing.
Glowing.
Alive.
And for just one second-
Melanie forgot to move.
Forgot the room existed.
Forgot everyone else.
She simply...
Watched.
Payal noticed first.
Then Anamika.
The two women exchanged a silent glance.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Riya noticed next.
And immediately-
Smirked.
Dangerously.
"Well, well."
Melanie blinked-
And immediately regained her composure.
"What?"
Riya stood up.
Too cheerfully.
"Nothing."
Ishika grabbed her laptop.
"Absolutely nothing."
Melanie narrowed her eyes.
"Why do I suddenly feel unsafe?"
"Because," Ishika announced proudly, patting the couch beside her, "today..."
She opened a dating app.
"...we're making you a profile."
Melanie stopped walking.
"...Excuse me?"
Jazz blinked.
"What?"
Riya grabbed Melanie's wrist before she could escape.
"Sit."
"I have a meeting."
"You have loneliness."
"That's rude."
"That's accurate."
Payal nearly choked on her coffee.
Anamika smirked.
Melanie looked at both of them.
Then at Jazz-
Who was trying very hard not to laugh.
And somehow-
That made her give up.
She sighed dramatically.
"...Fine."
Riya and Ishika cheered like children.
Jazz watched quietly as Melanie sat between them.
Still suspicious.
Very suspicious.
Ishika opened the profile setup.
"Name."
"Melanie."
"Age."
Melanie raised a brow.
"Confidential."
Riya typed-
Ancient but gorgeous.
Melanie leaned over.
"...Delete that."
"No."
"Delete it."
"Never."
Jazz laughed again.
Melanie looked at her.
And smiled-
Without realizing it.
Ishika noticed.
And smirked.
"Interesting."
Anamika pinched the bridge of her nose.
Melanie raised one brow.
"Suspicious."
Riya nodded proudly.
"Very."
Melanie looked at Anamika.
"Do you allow this?"
Anamika took a sip of coffee.
"No."
A pause.
"Do they listen?"
Melanie looked back at Ishika and Riya.
Who were already pulling her down onto the carpet.
"...Fair."
Five minutes later-
Melanie was somehow sitting between them.
Phone in hand.
Completely outnumbered.
Ishika typed enthusiastically.
Ishika typed.
"Likes?"
Melanie crossed her arms.
"Peace."
Riya laughed.
"Impossible."
Ishika added-
Terrifying women, emotionally damaged people, and making billionaires cry.
Melanie looked horrified.
"Delete that."
Jazz laughed so hard she nearly snorted.
Payal quickly handed her water.
And Melanie-
Despite herself-
Smiled.
Because hearing Jazz laugh again...
Felt worth any embarrassment.
But-
As Ishika and Riya kept asking silly questions-
Melanie looked horrified.
"...What exactly is this app?"
Payal burst out laughing.
Even Anamika looked amused now.
Jazz watched all of it.
Watched Melanie laugh.
Watched her loosen up.
Watched her... fit in.
And suddenly-
That warmth in her chest-
Didn't feel so warm anymore.
It hurt.
Just a little.
She looked away quietly.
Jazz's smile slowly faded.
Just slightly.
Because for the first time-
A thought entered her heart-
Quiet.
Unexpected.
Painful.
What if one day...
Someone else gets to make Melanie smile like that?
Her hand unconsciously moved to her stomach.
And for reasons she didn't quite understand-
Her chest hurt a little.
The thought of Melanie finding someone else...
Made something inside her ache.
And that scared her more than anything.
**