I Knew You Were Trouble

four

"So what's your next move?" I sarcastically asked my now-so-called fake boyfriend, who was busy devouring his cheesecake.

Aarush Malhotra, who is well-known for his fitness, is a huge cheese aficionado. Almost all of his favourite foods contain an ample amount of cheese.

"I don't know; I haven't decided what to do next," he said, his mouth full of cake.

I gave him a disbelieving look for his bad habit, but he just rolled his eyes at me like always. I always correct him, but he never listens. Though not so surprisingly, I have never seen him talk with his mouth full in front of our other friends except, of course, Abhay and me. In front of them, he is a very sophisticated person, especially in front of Aditi.

I took a sip of my chocolate chip milkshake and again got busy reading the art magazine that I picked up.

I am still confused. Why would Aarush bring me here?

Bookstore cafes are not his cup of tea because he neither likes coffee nor is interested in books like me and Abhay. And this cafe is Abhay's favourite too.

Something is fishy.

"Aarush?" I called him.

He hummed as if to tell me to continue.

"Any specific reason to bring me here? I asked with raised eyebrows. He gulped down the last piece of his cake, gave me a shy smile, combed his hair with his hands, and answered with a no.

Now I am sure he is up to something, as he always combs his hair like this when he is nervous or lying. I took a sip of my milkshake and gave him a fake smile, which he reciprocated with a nervous smile.

Oh god! I don't know what is going on in his petty head right now, but I can feel it. He is going to do something that will lead to drama.

It is implicit; where Aarush goes, nonsensical drama follows.

There was a somewhat awkward silence between us after that. I was faking reading the art magazine, and he was busy scrolling something on his phone, and his one hand was busy drumming on the table.

I stole a glance at him when he was looking outside. He is looking so handsome today (like he doesn't every day). He looks perfect even when he is sleeping (or right after he wakes up). Today he is dressed in his skinny stonewashed blue jeans with a loose white t-shirt and his favourite black sneaker. I took a sip of my milkshake while I was still busy checking him out.

"Mira!" He called me, which brought me back from my Aarush land.

I raised my eyebrows to ask him what, and he pointed at me and then at his lips. I took the tissue and wiped my mouth.

He nodded, saying no, and before I could wipe my mouth again, he got up, took the tissue from me, bent towards me from his side, and wiped near my mouth.

And what he did next nearly gave me a heart attack.

He kissed me at the corner of my lips.

What is happening? Am I dreaming? So I pinched myself to make sure that I was not dreaming.

Ouch!!! It is real.

OMG!

I was already red like a tomato because of all the blushing. I shyly looked at him, and he was also blushing a little and was shyly smiling, looking at the other side.

Suddenly, we heard someone clearing his throat.

I irritatedly looked to the other side to see who interrupted our sweet moment, and my eyes almost popped out of their sockets because there stood my friend, Abhay Sachdev.