My Summer Love Story | ✔️

ch. 21 ✰ you drive me crazy

The patio door closes shut behind me, the cool wind suddenly dispersing as the inside air fills in around my surroundings. Minutes later after Manav happily skipped away, rambling about a certain item he was going to give Ayushi, I decided to stay by the pool for a little and enjoy the outdoors while I sat idly by the pool where Manav and I last conversed. When you live in New York City, you can't really enjoy the outdoors not only because life there is very eventful and raucous, but also because the tall ass buildings and the city surroundings don't even allow you to absorb the very little nature around you.

After I felt satisfied about me enjoying the picturesque nature and the light wind dancing around me, I decided to go inside with the others. The helicopter tour was going to begin in probably a few hours, since the sun was starting to set and the tour initiates around nine, so I had to go inside and start getting ready with the others.

Sounds, chitter and chatters, and even laughter filled the air as I stepped inside. Manav was nowhere to be seen, and neither was Ayushi. Where had he gone? My eyes fixated on Akash, who was leaning against the wall behind him near the kitchen. He was standing alone, studying his surroundings as well, and his eyes suddenly landed on me. His gaze started to stiffen as he cocked his head at me in question. I took a deep breath and walked towards him until I was a mere foot apart from him.

"Hey," I breathe out as Akash continues to look at me bizarrely as if I had three boobs. "I need to ask you something," I murmur, meeting eyes with him. His blue eyes shine against the light as they continue to gaze at me, making my heart pound against my chest. Just one look towards him has my entire world hazing around me, making me unable to form a comprehendible sentence.

"What's up?" he coolly asks, crossing his arms over his chest, and he clenches his jaw as his deep and absorbing eyes bore into me.

"Well," I sigh, trying to get myself together, "I was just wondering if you saw Manav go anywhere...?"

He ponders to himself for a second while his eyes do not leave for even a millisecond off of my figure. "I think I saw him go over to the upstairs floor for a moment, but I don't know where he went after that—"

"Hey guys!"

Akash's voice gets cut off as I hear another familiar voice piercing through the air. I turn around and see Manav perched by the stairs, a wide grin placed on his lips. Everyone looks at him weirdly, since they are very well aware of the situation between him and Ayushi and probably wondering why the hell he looks so... happy.

"Is everyone ready for the helicopter tour?!" he jeers. Only a few noises are erupted from us as Manav exasperatedly sighs. "C'mon, you guys can do better than that!" But instead, we just sit in extreme silence. Manav grumbles afterwards and decides to wave it off, having another wide smile placed on his lips. "Eh, it's whatever!"

Once he finished that sentence, a door creaked open, specifically Ayushi's room door. She walks out in front of us, displaying her face, which is covered in tears, and she looks like as if she wants to serve a hard punch on Manav's face. "Can you just..." she takes a deep breath. "Can you just shut the fuck up?"

Her voice is calm and conserved, but at the same time it delivers an icy tone that sends shivers down my spine. I have never seen her this angry or frustrated before, since she is always so jubilant and lively. But in this case, it is rather the opposite from what she is usually perceived to be.

Manav's wide grin soon forms into a frown, causing him to run up the stairs in complete embarrassment. I can't help but feel slightly, only slightly bad for him, solely because he was so happy for a quick moment. But at the same time, this whole thing was initiated mainly because of him, and he is the only way their arguments can be dissolved.