Shayeli froze in place, her breath catching in her throat. The car had come out of nowhere, speeding toward her like a shadow in the night, only to stop inches away.

Her hands trembled, her mind unable to process what had just happened. The adrenaline rushed through her veins, and a slight sting on her palm made her realize she had scraped her skin in the chaos.

The bright headlights made her squint, and before she could fully grasp the situation, the car door swung open.

And there he stood.

Andrew.

The dim streetlights cast a glow on his sharp features, his presence commanding even in the silence. He was dressed in all black, his expression unreadable, but his eyes—those cold, piercing eyes—were locked onto her with an intensity that made her chest tighten.

Shayeli took a shaky step back, her heart pounding against her ribs.

What was he doing here?

Why did it feel like the entire world had just shifted with his arrival?
Andrew closed the distance between them in a few quick strides, his jaw clenched tight.

"What the hell were you thinking?" he snapped, his voice sharp with anger. "How can you be so careless?"

Shayeli flinched but said nothing. She was still trying to process everything—the car, the blinding lights, and now, him standing in front of her, looking at her like she had done something unforgivable.

Her silence only fueled his frustration, but before he could say another word, his gaze dropped to her hand.

His entire demeanor shifted.

The faint but visible cut on her palm made his expression darken, his lips pressing into a thin line. Without hesitation, he reached for her hand, his grip firm yet careful.

She gasped at the sudden contact. "W-What are you—"

Andrew didn't answer. He simply turned on his heel, pulling her with him toward his car.

The hospital's bright fluorescent lights cast a stark glow over the sterile white walls as he strode inside, firmly holding Shayeli's wrist. His grip wasn't painful, but it was unwavering—determined, as if letting her go wasn't an option.

"Let me go! It's just a minor scratch," Shayeli protested, trying to pull back. "I can fix it at home. Why are you making such a big deal out of this?"

He didn't respond, his sharp gaze fixed ahead, his jaw clenched in frustration. She had no idea why he was acting this way, but something about his presence made her heart race in an unfamiliar way.

As they entered, a hospital manager hurried toward them, his expression shifting the moment he saw the man beside her. He seemed eager to speak, but the second those icy eyes landed on him, he froze in place, swallowed hard, and stepped aside.

A nurse quickly approached. "What happened?" she asked, looking at Shayeli's hand as she guided them to a seat.

"She got scratched," Andrew said shortly.

"How did it happen?" the nurse inquired.

"It was a car," Shayeli sighed, still confused by the unnecessary drama.

The nurse's expression turned serious. "If it was a car, you'll need a tetanus shot."

That was when she felt it—the slight tensing of the man beside her. His grip on her wrist tightened, ever so slightly, but his body language was suddenly different.

"What? Why?" His voice, which had been sharp and commanding, now had an edge of unease.

The nurse barely spared him a glance. "Car scratches can cause infections. It's a necessary precaution."

Shayeli turned toward him, her brows knitting together. Was he seriously worried... about an injection?

"Are you—" she paused, suppressing a grin, "—scared of a little shot?"

His glare could have frozen fire. "Shut up."

The nurse prepared the syringe, and Shayeli braced herself. But before the needle even touched her skin, she felt a sudden warmth around her wrist.

"You can bite me," he said in a low, serious tone. "I'm the reason you're getting this, so if it hurts, take it out on me."

Shayeli blinked, stunned. Was he actually serious?

Before she could react, the needle pricked her skin, and a sharp sting shot through her arm. She clenched her jaw, then smirked slightly, muttering under her breath,

"Kamine kutte... ye sirf tumhari wajah se hua hai, aur dard bhi tumhe hi ho raha hai. Sach mein, agar main tumhe jaanti hoti, toh itni gaaliyan deti ke tumhare kaan fatt jaate."

The man beside her remained silent, his brows furrowing slightly.

He didn't understand a single word she had just said.

Andrew frowned, his grip on her wrist tightening slightly. "What the hell did you just say?"

Shayeli bit her lip, barely holding back her laughter. "Nothing. Just thanking you," she said sweetly.

He narrowed his eyes, clearly unconvinced. "Doesn't sound like it."

The nurse finished and stepped back. "All done."

Shayeli looked at Andrew, who was still staring at her suspiciously. She couldn't help but smile. It was amusing.

And for some reason, that small moment made her heart feel oddly light.

The cold night air settled around us as we stepped out of the hospital. Shayeli was a few steps behind me, her arms folded, pressing against the bandage on her hand. I kept my pace steady, pretending not to notice how her eyes kept darting toward me, stealing glances when she thought I wasn't looking.

As we reached the parking lot, she suddenly stopped. Her gaze lingered on my car, her fingers brushing lightly against the smooth surface. The deep purple shone under the streetlights, reflecting in her curious eyes.

I observed her quietly, the corner of his lips almost twitching into a smirk.

"Nice car," she muttered, more to herself than me.

I leaned against the door, arms crossed. "You like it?"

She glanced at me, then back at the car. "It's impressive," she admitted. Then, as if something struck her, she turned toward me, tilting her head slightly. "I think I saw you this morning. But... do you remember me?"

I knew exactly what she was asking. I had collided with her earlier morning. Of course, i remembered. I had remembered the second I laid eyes on her. But did she know i knew?

I met her gaze, keeping my expression unreadable. "What do you think?"

She frowned slightly, her lips parting as if she wanted to ask more, but she hesitated. Instead, she let out a quiet breath, her fingers gripping the strap of her bag. Then, without another word, she turned to the road, clearly intending to walk home.

I narrowed my eyes. I could see the slight stiffness in her movements, the way her shoulders tensed every time a car passed by. It wasn't just hesitation—she was scared.

"Let me drive you home," I said firmly, my voice leaving no room for debate.

She stopped in her tracks but didn't turn around immediately. Instead, she took a slow breath before facing me. "No, thank you. I can manage."

I didn't respond right away. My eyes studied her, noting the way she clenched her fists, the way her voice wavered for just a second before she forced herself to sound confident.

Liar.

She wasn't fine. She wasn't managing. I didn't know what she was hiding, but she was scared. And yet, she was stubborn enough to refuse my help.

I didn't push. Instead, I just simply gave a slow nod.

"Alright," I said, my voice neutral.

She turned away quickly, walking toward her home. But I had already decided—she might not accept my protection, but that didn't mean I wouldn't give it.

Without making a sound, I followed her from a distance.

She never turned around, never noticed my presence, never realised that i was making sure she reached home safely. She walked fast, her arms wrapped around herself, as if trying to shield herself from something unseen.

I felt a strange frustration rise within me. I didn't like seeing her like this. She was strong—i could tell from the way she carried herself. But right now, she looked vulnerable. And i didn't know why.

As soon as she stepped inside her apartment, i stopped a few feet away, watching until the lights turned on. Only then did i turn around and head back home.

My mind was still on her when i arrived at my house. But as soon as i opened the door, i met with an unexpected sight.

Entire gang stood in the living room, arms crossed, expressions ranging from amusement to curiosity.

Jaxson, Luna, Emma, Isabel, Olivia, James, and Rowan—all of them were staring at me.

I didn't react. I simply stepped inside, closing the door behind him.

They knew.

They knew I had met her.

And now, they were waiting for answers.

☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️

Thankyou for reading.

🥀