yaashh
Rayan Khan x Iniyazh Tripathi
The sight of her broken, shivering form felt like a physical blow to his ribs. He exhaled a ragged breath and slowly, cautiously made his way toward her, dropping to his knees.
"Iniyazh, look... I don't know how-"
His words were cut short.
SLAP!
The sharp, cracking sound echoed violently off the concrete walls.
Rayan's head snapped sharply to the side. The force of the blow left a bright, stinging red mark blooming across his skin.
For a long, suspended moment, he didn't move. He kept his head turned, staring at the floor as his hand slowly rose to touch his burning cheek.
Then, he turned his gaze back to her.
Iniyazh's chest heaved, her hand still raised mid-air, trembling violently. Her eyes were wide, brimming with a lethal mix of rage, betrayal, and unbearable pain.
Rayan didn't flinch. He didn't look away. He didn't feel anger. He knew the agony she was drowning in, and he silently accepted the punishment. He deserved it just for failing to protect her.
"Look at me, Iniyazh," he said, his voice remarkably steady, though laced with quiet anguish.
"Believe me. I swear to you, I have no idea how that drive got swapped. I don't know how those files got onto the master system."
He reached out slowly, keeping his palms open and empty, showing her he meant no harm.
"Please... you have to believe me."
He stopped for a second, his breath hitching as his dark eyes locked onto her tear-filled gaze.