styofa doing anything
★
DEAR READER
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will byers stan first human second
Stranger Things
AnasAbdin
Three Goblin Art
Janaina Medeiros
NASA
JVL
h
oozey mess
No title available
I'd rather be in outer space 🛸
taylor price
No title available
Peter Solarz
Jules of Nature
Kaledo Art
seen from South Korea
seen from Germany
seen from Malaysia
seen from United States
seen from Colombia
seen from Japan
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from Germany
seen from Türkiye
seen from Russia
seen from Malaysia
seen from Italy
seen from India
seen from United States
seen from Brazil
seen from Malaysia
seen from United States
seen from Canada
@starsnfireflies
“From Pharmacy Aisles to Unsaid Futures”
Masterlist:
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
@draculauras-stuff @maroonphase @ryojiberry @repsfolkwhore 💕
Sorry I have been away for a few days. Things came up and I got busy. But I will soon update. I have the chapters ready I just need to edit and post which is being very difficult currently, but will post lot of chapters tomorrow!!
Love yaaa all tilak pagluusss💕✨️
Chapter 22
Bigger
Morning sunlight spilled softly through the curtains.
Warm. Golden. Lazy enough to make everything feel slower than it actually was.
You woke up gradually to warmth pressed behind you.
For one sleepy second, your brain couldn’t process why your body felt so comfortable despite sleeping on a couch.
Then an arm tightened instinctively around your waist.
Oh.
Memory returned all at once.
The crying. The kisses. Tilak.
Your heartbeat softened immediately.
You were curled halfway against his chest now, his arm wrapped securely around your waist beneath the blanket while your legs tangled awkwardly with his.
And somehow—
this was still the safest you’d slept in months.
You tried shifting carefully without waking him.
Huge mistake.
Tilak made a sleepy sound of protest instantly before pulling you closer unconsciously.
“Where are you going…”
His voice came out rough with sleep.
Deep enough to make warmth rush embarrassingly fast through your stomach.
“I was trying not to wake you.”
“Failed.”
A small laugh escaped you.
Tilak blinked awake slowly after that, hair messy, eyes heavy with sleep before settling fully on your face.
The second he saw you looking at him—
his expression softened immediately.
“Better?”
The migraine.
Last night.
Everything.
You nodded slightly smiling slowly.
“A little.”
Tilak hummed quietly before his hand slid slowly along your waist beneath the oversized t-shirt absentmindedly.
Affectionate.
Instinctive.
Like touching you had already become natural for him.
Your breath caught anyway.
His sleepy eyes noticed instantly.
A tiny smile appeared on his face.
“There she is.”
You groaned softly, hiding your face briefly against his chest.
“You’re obsessed with that line.”
“Because you disappear too much.”
The words were teasing.
But there was honesty beneath them too.
Tilak’s fingers brushed slowly against your waist again before he leaned down slightly, pressing a soft kiss near your temple.
Then your cheek.
Then dangerously close to your mouth.
“Good morning to you too,” you murmured softly.
Tilak smiled faintly against your skin before finally kissing you properly.
Slow.
Warm.
Still sleepy enough that there was no restraint in it.
You melted instantly.
Morning kiss felt different somehow.
More intimate.
Less desperate.
Like this wasn’t just attraction anymore.
Your fingers slid into his hair automatically while Tilak pulled you on him, your knee tucked between both his legs, his hand spreading warm against your lower back beneath the shirt.
The kiss deepened lazily after that.
Lingering.
Unhurried.
And when you shifted slightly against him—
Tilak exhaled quietly into the kiss.
The sound sent warmth curling low in your stomach immediately.
His hand tightened slightly at your waist before sliding slowly along your back.
Still careful.
Still respectful.
But definitely affected.
You felt it instantly.
Especially when his lips moved briefly from yours to your jaw instead.
A soft breath escaped you.
Tilak paused immediately.
Then deliberately kissed your jaw again slower.
Your fingers tightened lightly in his hair.
“Tilak…”
Your voice came out breathless enough to make his eyes darken instantly.
The next kiss against your neck lingered.
Warm enough to make your pulse race immediately.
Your body shifted unconsciously closer against him and Tilak let out the quietest groan near your neck before burying his face there briefly.
The sound shot straight through you.
“Baby,” he muttered roughly.
God.
The couch suddenly felt too small.
Too warm.
Your heart raced harder when Tilak pulled back just enough to look at you properly again.
Hair messy. Eyes darker now. Arm still firm around your waist.
“You’re staring,” you whispered weakly smiling.
“You’re pretty in the morning.”
You rolled your eyes instantly.
“I cried for like two hours last night.”
“And?”
The sincerity on his face made your chest ache softly.
Tilak brushed hair away from your face carefully before kissing you once more.
Slower now.
Less sleepy. More aware.
Your body reacted immediately.
Especially when his fingers brushed softly against bare skin beneath the oversized shirt again.
Tilak noticed every reaction.
Of course he did.
His forehead rested briefly against yours afterward while both of you tried breathing normally again.
Then softly—
“Hungry?”
You laughed quietly.
The sudden normal question after that almost killed you.
“A little.”
“Good,” he murmured. “You’re eating properly today.”
Boyfriend mode.
Immediately back.
And somehow that felt even more intimate than the kissing.
───
An hour later the apartment smelled faintly like tea and toasted bread.
You sat on the kitchen counter in the same oversized shirt while Tilak moved around the kitchen making coffee like he belonged there.
Which honestly—
felt dangerous.
Domesticity looked ridiculously good on him.
Especially in grey sweatpants. The way his tshirt would lift everytime reached for something on the higher shelf...
Your eyes betrayed you once.
Tilak caught it immediately.
A smirk appeared instantly.
“Oh?”
“Don’t start.”
“You were staring. There”
“I wasn't staring there! And you’re literally standing there looking like that.”
Tilak laughed softly under his breath before walking closer.
His hand slid automatically to your thigh where you sat on the counter.
Natural.
Comfortable.
Like touching you had already settled into muscle memory.
“So,” he said casually. “You were saying something about work yesterday before we got distracted.”
Your cheeks warmed immediately at distracted.
But eventually you cleared your throat.
“I got promoted officially.”
Tilak froze.
Then his entire face lit up.
Actually lit up.
“I knew it.”
The pride in his voice hit harder than expected.
“You worked insane hours for this.”
You smiled shyly.
“It’s a big role.”
“It’s huge.”
Tilak moved closer until he stood between your knees near the counter.
“I’m ridiculously proud of you.”
God.
Why did he say things like that so sincerely?
“It comes with a raise too,” you admitted quietly.
Tilak grinned instantly.
“Oh, rich now?”
“Relax.”
“No no, this changes things. I need to behave differently around successful women.”
You laughed properly this time.
Tilak looked genuinely pleased hearing it.
Then casually:
“So what now?”
You shrugged lightly.
“I was thinking maybe a bigger apartment eventually.”
Tilak leaned against the counter listening quietly while you continued.
“This one’s nice but long term…” you gestured around. “It’s small. And my mom will come eventually, I’ll need more space anyway.”
“That makes sense.”
You nodded.
“I want sunlight too. And maybe a proper workspace. This apartment barely fits my work setup.”
Tilak hummed thoughtfully.
“Show me.”
“What?”
“Apartments.”
You blinked.
“Now?”
“Obviously now.”
“You have practice later.”
“I have time.”
You laughed softly before hopping off the counter to grab your laptop.
Twenty minutes later both of you sat side by side on the couch scrolling through absurdly expensive Mumbai apartments while Tilak acted like he was personally investing in them.
“This one’s ugly.”
“It’s minimalist.”
“It looks like a hospital.”
You snorted.
Tilak looked extremely proud of himself for making you laugh again.
“This one’s good,” he said suddenly.
You stared at the screen.
“It’s literally thirty minutes from my office.”
“Okay but look at the kitchen.”
“You don’t even cook.”
“I emotionally support cooking.”
“That’s not a thing.”
“It is now.”
The afternoon passed surprisingly easily after that.
Laptop balanced between both of you. Coffee mugs abandoned nearby. His arm occasionally settling around your shoulders absentmindedly while scrolling.
And somewhere during all that normalcy—
something warm settled quietly inside your chest.
Because this didn’t feel casual anymore.
It felt dangerously close to building something.
Eventually you leaned back against the couch cushions tiredly while Tilak kept scrolling through listings.
“So basically,” he summarized seriously, “you want sunlight, workspace, decent kitchen, safe area, and closer commute.”
“Yes.”
“And bigger wardrobe space.”
“That too.”
Tilak nodded thoughtfully like this was the most important discussion of his life.
Then after a few quiet seconds—
almost casually—
he murmured:
“There’s actually an empty apartment in my building.”
Your fingers stilled over the laptop instantly.
And the second the words left his mouth,
Tilak realized exactly how that sounded. 🌙
@draculauras-stuff @maroonphase
Chapter 21
Stay
The migraine had started settling behind your eyes now.
Not gone.
Just quieter.
The apartment remained dim except for the warm lamp near the kitchen while the city lights glowed faintly through the curtains.
You stood near the hallway still wrapped in your oversized t-shirt and loose pajama pants while Tilak watched you carefully from the couch.
His eyes softened the second he noticed the tear tracks you hadn’t wiped properly.
“It’s late,” you said quietly. “You should sleep.”
Tilak didn’t answer immediately.
Just looked at you.
“You cried.”
You looked away.
“No.”
“Baby.”
The softness in his voice broke something fragile inside your chest instantly.
Because he wasn’t irritated. Wasn’t uncomfortable.
Just worried.
And suddenly—
you were exhausted.
So exhausted from carrying the same insecurities for years.
You laughed weakly under your breath before another tear slipped free.
“I’ve always been insecure, Tilak.”
His expression changed immediately.
You wrapped your arms tighter around yourself unconsciously.
“Since I was a teenager… my whole life became about losing weight somehow.” Your throat tightened painfully. “Every memory. Every event. Every picture.”
Tilak stayed completely silent.
Listening.
Actually listening.
“I thought if I became thinner enough maybe people would finally think I was pretty.” Your voice cracked softly. “Or enough.”
The hurt on his face deepened instantly.
“And even now…” You wiped your cheek quickly. “One stupid comment is enough to make me hate myself again.”
Tilak stood up slowly then.
Crossed the small distance between you carefully.
“You wanna know what I saw tonight?”
You shook your head immediately.
But he answered anyway.
“You.”
Your eyes burned again.
“You walked out in that dress and I genuinely forgot how to breathe for a second.”
A weak laugh escaped you despite yourself.
“I mean it,” he murmured softly. “I’ve never looked at you and thought anything except beautiful.”
Your chest hurt painfully.
Because he sounded so certain.
So sincere.
“And right now,” his eyes moved slowly over your loose clothes and messy hair, “you’re standing here like this and I still can’t stop staring.”
That finally broke your composure completely.
You cried properly for the first time in front of him.
Not quiet tears.
Actual crying.
Years of insecurity spilling out messily while your shoulders shook slightly.
Tilak pulled you into him instantly.
Warm arms. Steady hands. Safe.
And somehow—
that only made you cry harder.
His fingers moved slowly through your hair while the other hand stayed firm against your back.
“It’s okay,” he whispered softly near your temple.
You shook your head against his chest.
“I hate feeling like this.”
“I know, baby.”
The pet name shattered you again.
Tilak just held you through it patiently.
No rushing. No fixing.
Just there.
Eventually your breathing slowed enough for him to guide you gently toward the couch.
You sat beside him curled slightly inward while he brushed damp hair away from your face carefully.
“There she is,” he murmured softly when you finally looked at him properly again.
Your chest tightened.
Tilak’s fingers slid slowly over your thigh comfortingly through the soft fabric of your pajama pants while silence settled warmly around both of you.
And somewhere during that quiet—
the air changed again.
Not suddenly.
Slowly.
Your eyes lifted toward him at the exact same moment his gaze dropped briefly to your lips.
The intimacy felt heavier now. Warmer. More dangerous somehow.
Tilak’s hand moved gently to your jaw.
His thumb brushing softly against your cheek.
Then he leaned in.
The kiss started slow.
Careful.
Like reassurance first.
His lips moved softly against yours while one hand stayed resting against your thigh and the other cupped your face gently.
You melted into it immediately.
Because kissing him felt safe now.
Comforting.
But when your fingers slid into his hair softly, Tilak exhaled quietly against your mouth.
And the sound changed everything.
The kiss deepened naturally after that.
Warmer. Longer. Needier.
You shifted closer unconsciously until your thigh pressed against his.
Tilak’s hand tightened slightly there immediately.
A shaky breath left him.
God.
The effect you had on him still shocked you every time.
Your lips parted softly against his and Tilak kissed you deeper now, slower but more affected.
His hand slid carefully from your thigh to your waist beneath the oversized shirt, fingers spreading warm against bare skin.
The touch made your breath catch instantly.
And when you moved closer again unconsciously your body brushed properly against his lap this time.
Tilak actually let out the quietest sound against your mouth.
Low. Rough. Uncontrolled.
Your entire body reacted immediately.
The sound alone made heat rush through you embarrassingly fast.
“Tilak…”
Your voice came out breathless.
His forehead dropped briefly against yours while he exhaled shakily.
“You’re killing me.”
The roughness in his voice sent another wave of warmth through you.
And maybe because emotions were still too raw, or because you needed comfort, or because he kept looking at you like you were precious, you kissed him again first.
Harder this time.
Tilak reacted instantly.
One hand slid firmly to your waist before he gently pulled you fully onto his lap without breaking the kiss.
A soft gasp escaped you at the sudden movement.
Your legs settled instinctively on either side of him while his hands steadied automatically against your hips.
And God—
the position felt intimate immediately.
Too intimate.
Especially when your body shifted unconsciously trying to settle comfortably against him.
The friction made both of you freeze.
A low sound escaped Tilak’s throat instantly.
Your own breath caught sharply right after. You could now actually feel how much you affected him.
Heat rushed violently through your entire body.
Neither of you moved for one dangerous second.
Then accidentally, you shifted again.
This time Tilak actually groaned softly against your lips before his head tilted back briefly against the couch.
The sound nearly destroyed your remaining thoughts entirely.
“Baby…” he muttered roughly.
Your cheeks burned instantly but your body reacted embarrassingly fast too, breath turning uneven while your fingers tightened in his hair.
Tilak’s hands flexed at your waist carefully.
Still respectful.
Still controlled.
But very affected.
The next kiss felt messier.
Needier.
Like both of you were losing composure slowly now.
His lips moved from yours briefly to your jaw, then lower toward your neck where he kissed softly beneath your ear.
Your head tipped back automatically.
A quiet moan escaped you before you could stop it.
Tilak froze for half a second at the sound.
Then exhaled shakily against your skin like he physically felt it.
“God…”
His lips pressed slower along your neck now, warm enough to make your pulse race wildly while his hands moved carefully against your bare back beneath the oversized shirt.
Not inappropriate.
Just enough touch to make everything hotter.
Your fingers curled against his shoulders while your body pressed unconsciously closer into him again.
Tilak’s breathing turned rough instantly.
Another soft sound left him near your neck before his hands slid slowly upward along your back.
Warm palms against skin.
Comforting and dangerous at the same time.
Then his fingers rested accidentally against the clasp of your bra.
The awareness of it hit both of you immediately.
You went still.
Tilak pulled back slightly at once, eyes lifting toward yours instantly.
Concern replacing heat immediately.
But instead of speaking—
you suddenly buried your face against his shoulder shyly, arms wrapping around him tightly.
Tilak melted immediately.
A soft laugh escaped him under his breath before his arms wrapped fully around you again.
Warm. Protective. Careful now.
One hand moving slowly through your hair while the other rested safely against your back.
And for several quiet moments, he just held you there in his lap while your heartbeat slowly calmed against his chest.
@draculauras-stuff @maroonphase 💕✨️
Koi mujhe please thodu sa tilak verma dedoooooooooo naaaaa😭😭😭😭
BEAUTIFUL PERSON AWARD! Once you are given this award you're supposed to paste it in the asks of 8 (or more) people who deserve it. If you break the chain nothing happens, but it's sweet to know someone thinks you're beautiful inside and out <3
Awwwwiiiee! Thankyou girll for thinking about me💕✨️🤌🥹
Are there any manan or kyy fans here??
I am so godamn sad after yesterday!
Harry Styles - Live from Funkhaus
I am so freaking annoyed!
What the actual fuck!!! My baby is so sad! I am not watching the match anymore!
I might spam!! I am up literally biting my nails.🙂
Our babyyy is on the field!!!🤌💕
I feel like a wife watching her cricketer husband on TV. ONLY IF WE KNEW HOW IT FEELS BEING Y/N!!!!🤌💕😂
Girls, let's collectively pray for our starboy to shine today!!!!🤌🤌🤌🥹🥹🥹💕💕💕
Chapter 20
Finally
“I’ve wanted to kiss you since the second day at your apartment.”
The sentence settled between you heavily.
Warmly.
Dangerously.
Your brain genuinely stopped functioning for a second.
“…Second day?” you managed softly.
Tilak’s mouth curved faintly.
“You were sitting on the kitchen counter in my hoodie.”
Oh.
Oh.
Heat rushed violently into your cheeks as the memory flashed instantly: his oversized hoodie slipping off one shoulder, your sleepy face, him standing too close while making coffee.
And apparently—
he had been suffering since then.
Your heartbeat became impossible.
Tilak’s thumb still moved slowly against your hand where your fingers remained tangled together near the console.
Neither of you moved away.
Neither breathing normally anymore either.
The city lights outside blurred softly through the windshield while silence wrapped thickly around the parked car.
But it didn’t feel awkward.
It felt inevitable.
Tilak looked at you carefully now.
Not teasing. Not playful.
Just intensely aware.
Like he was trying very hard to hold himself together.
“You’re staring again,” you whispered weakly.
“You’re nervous.”
“So are you.”
That actually made him laugh softly under his breath.
Barely.
Then quieter:
“Yeah.”
Something about his honesty made your chest ache painfully.
Because this wasn’t casual for him either.
Not even close.
Tilak’s gaze dropped briefly toward your lips again.
Then back to your eyes.
And this time—
he didn’t hide it.
The tension inside the car turned almost unbearable.
You shifted slightly toward him unconsciously.
Tiny movement.
But enough.
Enough that his breathing changed instantly.
His eyes darkened almost immediately.
God.
The effect you had on this man scared you a little.
Tilak’s hand tightened slightly around yours before he murmured softly:
“Tell me to stop.”
Your pulse stumbled violently.
Because he looked serious.
Like he actually would stop.
And somehow,
that made you want him closer even more.
You didn’t say anything.
Just looked at him.
And very slowly,
Tilak leaned in.
Slow enough to stop. Slow enough to think. Slow enough for your heart to nearly beat out of your chest.
Then finally his lips touched yours.
Softly.
Carefully.
The first kiss felt almost disbelieving.
Warm. Gentle. Like both of you were trying to understand how something could feel this familiar already.
A shaky breath escaped you instantly.
And Tilak reacted to that sound immediately.
His hand slid carefully from yours to your waist, fingers pressing gently against the fabric of your dress while he kissed you again.
Longer this time.
Deeper.
Like restraint was slipping quietly between both of you now.
Your fingers moved instinctively into his hair.
The second they did,
Tilak exhaled softly against your mouth like he was done for completely.
The sound nearly destroyed you.
The kiss deepened slowly after that.
Not rushed.
Just hungry in a way that came from too much waiting.
Too much wanting.
Weeks of tension finally snapping.
Tilak pulled you closer carefully until your body leaned fully toward him across the console. His hand on your jaw, slipping to your neck.
And suddenly—
breathing became difficult.
His hand dropped to your thigh where your dress had ridden up from shifting. He gently moved his thumb over your bare thigh near the edge pf your dress.
Every tiny touch felt magnified.
Dangerous.
Your lips parted softly against his and Tilak actually lost composure for a second.
A quiet sound escaped him low in his throat before he kissed you harder. His tongue now fighting for dominance.
Not rough.
Just affected.
Overwhelmed.
Like he’d imagined this too many times already.
You felt his forehead rest briefly against yours afterward while both of you tried catching your breath.
Then he laughed once softly.
Completely wrecked.
“You’re gonna kill me.”
Your smile trembled helplessly.
“You survived this long.”
“Barely.”
God.
The way he looked at you afterward,
warm, breathless, completely gone,
made your stomach flip violently.
Then suddenly his lips brushed your jaw softly.
Once.
Twice.
And when he kissed slowly beneath your ear,
your breath caught sharply.
Tilak froze instantly at the sound.
Which unfortunately only made him worse.
His hand tightened at your waist while his mouth lingered warm against your neck for one dangerous second longer.
Your entire body reacted immediately.
Heat rushed straight through you while your fingers curled tighter into his shirt.
“Tilak…”
Your voice came out embarrassingly breathless.
He pulled back instantly.
But only enough to look at you.
And somehow, he looked just as affected.
Eyes dark. Breathing uneven. Hair messy from your hands.
Completely unfair.
For several seconds neither of you spoke.
Just stayed there close enough to share breath.
Then softly—
very softly—
Tilak asked:
“Will you be my girlfriend now?”
Your heart actually hurt.
Because despite everything— the closeness, the care, the emotions—
he still wanted to ask properly.
Officially.
Like you deserved certainty.
You smiled before he could get nervous.
“Yes.”
The relief that crossed his face nearly shattered you completely.
And then he kissed you again immediately.
Smiling this time.
Warm. Happy. Still slightly overwhelmed.
Your boyfriend.
God.
───
Eventually you both made it upstairs somehow.
Though neither of you remembered the elevator ride properly because Tilak kept stealing small kisses every few seconds like he genuinely couldn’t stop now.
At one point you laughed breathlessly against his mouth.
“You’re very clingy suddenly.”
“You disappeared for six days.”
“That was just one week.”
“Traumatic week.”
You rolled your eyes fondly while unlocking your apartment door.
And the second both of you stepped inside—
Tilak’s phone buzzed violently.
Then yours.
Then again.
And again.
You frowned immediately.
“What happened?”
Tilak pulled his phone out first.
Then his expression changed.
Not dramatically.
Just enough to make your stomach drop instantly.
“What?”
He hesitated.
Which scared you more.
Then slowly turned the screen toward you.
Your breath caught.
Pictures.
From tonight.
Outside the restaurant.
You stepping out beside him in the black dress. Tilak opening the car door for you. Him touching your lower back while walking inside.
Your face wasn’t fully visible thankfully.
But enough.
Enough for speculation. Enough for comments. Enough for people to start talking.
And unfortunately—
the comments had already begun.
Some excited. Some invasive. Some cruel.
Who is she?
Tilak finally dating?
Body type doesn’t match him though.
He could get anyone.
Looks... different.
She’s kinda fat no?
The air left your lungs slowly.
Tilak locked his phone instantly.
“Don’t read those.”
But it was too late.
Because suddenly all your old insecurities came rushing back violently at once.
The dress you’d finally felt confident in. The way people stared. The awareness of your body beside his.
Your chest tightened painfully.
“I knew this would happen.”
Tilak’s expression shifted immediately.
“No.”
“You don’t get it—”
“I do.”
“No you don’t,” you whispered, stepping back slightly now. “You look like that, Tilak. People are obviously going to—”
“Enough.”
The firmness in his voice startled you quiet.
He moved closer instantly.
“Don’t do that to yourself.”
But your emotions were spiraling too fast now.
Too much adrenaline. Too much vulnerability. Too much happiness crashing suddenly into fear.
Your head started throbbing faintly.
Then harder.
Oh no.
Not now.
You pressed fingers lightly against your temple instinctively.
Tilak noticed immediately.
His entire expression changed.
“Hey.”
The migraine hit fast when emotions became extreme.
Too much stress. Too much crying. Too much overwhelm.
And tonight had become all three at once.
The lights suddenly felt sharper.
Your breathing uneven.
Tilak moved closer carefully.
“Look at me.”
You tried.
But your eyes already burned painfully.
And somehow that scared him more than the comments ever could. 🌙💔
@draculauras-stuff @maroonphase
Chapter 19
First Date
By the time you returned to office properly, Priya took exactly eleven minutes to start bullying you.
“You look suspiciously alive.”
You looked up from your laptop blankly.
“Thank you?”
“No, seriously,” she continued while narrowing her eyes dramatically. “Before hometown trip you looked stressed. Now you’re glowing.”
“I am not glowing.”
“Mhm.”
“I’m just sleeping better.”
Priya gasped theatrically.
“Oh my God. You’re in love.”
You nearly dropped your coffee.
“I hate talking to you.”
“That means yes.”
Before you could argue further, your phone buzzed softly beside the keyboard.
Tilak.
Your heart betrayed you instantly.
Priya saw your expression immediately.
Then slowly leaned over the desk.
“…Cricketer?”
You locked your phone instantly.
“No.”
“That was the fastest smile I’ve ever seen.”
You hated that she was right.
───
Unfortunately,
Tilak had become painfully boyfriend-coded lately despite technically not being your boyfriend.
All day random texts arrived between meetings.
No dramatic flirting. No excessive texting.
Just quiet consistency.
Which somehow affected you more.
───
Meanwhile at practice—
Tilak was behaving suspiciously normal again.
Actually smiling. Actually tolerating people.
Which naturally made everyone unbearable.
Hardik stared at him for several seconds before announcing:
“Disgusting.”
Tilak blinked.
“What now?”
“You’re happy.”
“And?”
“And it’s making me uncomfortable.”
From nearby Rohit smirked immediately.
“Date pe jaa raha hai.”
Tilak froze for half a second. How can his Rohit bhai betray him like this!
Unfortunately—
that was enough.
Ritika looked up instantly from her seat nearby.
“WAIT. You still haven’t taken her on a date?”
Tilak looked defensive already.
“We’ve been busy bhabhii.”
“You literally lived together for three days before one date,” she informed him dramatically.
Hardik nodded seriously.
“Straight to husband duties.”
“I hate this team.”
“No genuinely,” Ritika continued, fully invested now. “You emotionally attached a girl before asking her out properly?”
Tilak rubbed tiredly at his forehead while everyone laughed.
Then Rohit finally grinned.
“Go ask properly. Poor girl deserves one normal experience with you.”
Tilak muttered something deeply offensive under his breath.
But unfortunately—
they had a point.
───
By evening you were exhausted.
Your eyes hurt from staring at spreadsheets all day and your shoulders ached slightly when you finally stepped out of the office building.
Then you stopped walking.
Because Tilak was there.
Leaning casually against his car in black cargo pants and a fitted black t-shirt, a cap and a mask, one hand holding his phone while evening sunlight caught softly against his skin.
And unfortunately—
half your office had noticed already.
You physically saw two girls near the entrance freeze mid-conversation.
One whispered: “Oh my God he’s tall.”
The other: “WHO is that?”
Your stomach flipped immediately.
Tilak looked up at the exact same moment.
And just like always—
the second his eyes found you, his entire expression softened.
It happened so naturally now that it scared you a little.
He straightened immediately before walking toward you.
“Tired?”
“A little.”
His gaze lingered over your face carefully.
Like checking.
Then quietly:
“You didn’t eat properly again.”
“How do you even know that?”
“You get cranky.”
“I do not.”
“You threatened your laptop on call yesterday.”
“That was different.”
Tilak laughed softly under his breath before taking your bag from your shoulder automatically.
Again: boyfriend behavior. No boyfriend label.
Your heart genuinely stood no chance anymore.
───
The whispers behind you grew louder while walking toward the car.
And unfortunately—
Tilak noticed.
His eyes flicked briefly toward the office entrance where multiple people were openly staring now.
Then back to you.
“…Do they always stare this much?”
You looked deeply amused.
“Welcome to being hot publicly.”
Tilak actually laughed.
Then opened the passenger door for you casually like he’d been doing this forever.
Your stomach flipped again.
This man would kill you accidentally one day.
───
The drive started comfortably.
Soft music. Evening traffic. Your tiredness slowly melting away beside him.
You complained dramatically about work for ten straight minutes while Tilak listened with suspicious patience.
Then suddenly while stopping at a signal he said casually:
“Be ready by eight tomorrow.”
You blinked.
“For?”
Tilak looked ahead at the road calmly.
“Our first date.”
Silence.
Then immediately:
“So you admit we’ve never dated?”
A long suffering sigh escaped him.
“Please don’t ruin my confidence.”
Your laughter filled the car instantly.
God.
You were smiling so hard your cheeks hurt.
───
The next evening somehow felt more nerve-wracking than it should’ve.
Because technically this was your first actual date.
Not accidental closeness. Not emotional chaos. Not caretaking.
A date.
You stood before your mirror for almost twenty minutes debating outfits before finally settling on black.
Soft black dress. Body hugging without being too much. Elegant sleeves. Neckline deep enough to feel dangerous.
Your hair fell open over your shoulders while small gold earrings caught the light softly.
For a brief moment insecurity crept in automatically.
The curve of your stomach. Your thighs. Your arms.
Old habits.
Then suddenly—
you remembered the way Tilak looked at you.
Like he forgot how to breathe sometimes.
And slowly,
the confidence returned.
───
The doorbell rang at exactly eight.
Of course it did.
You opened the door. There he was with one hand holding flowers and the other holding his phone.
And you genuinely watched Tilak malfunction in real time.
His eyes lifted casually first,
then stopped.
Then slowly moved downward again.
And again.
Like his brain needed multiple attempts to process what he was seeing.
Black shirt. Dark jeans. Watch glinting faintly near his wrist. His tattoos glowing in your dim lobby light. Uggg he was pretty.
He had absolutely zero composure left.
Your heartbeat became violent instantly.
For several seconds he just stared.
Then finally:
“You look insane.”
Not pretty. Not beautiful.
Insane.
The low roughness in his voice made heat rush straight to your face.
Tilak noticed immediately.
Which somehow made his expression worse.
God.
You were in danger tonight.
───
The rooftop restaurant overlooked soft city lights glowing beneath the dark evening sky.
Warm yellow lighting. Quiet music. Cool breeze.
Private enough to feel intimate.
And suddenly,
both of you became awkward again.
It was ridiculous.
After everything.
Yet somehow sitting across from each other officially on a date felt terrifyingly new.
Tilak kept staring too long.
You kept catching him.
Neither of you behaved normally.
At one point while reaching for the menu your fingers brushed lightly.
Both of you paused instantly.
The waiter looked deeply uncomfortable.
───
“You’re nervous,” you accused softly later.
“I’m not nervous.”
“You’ve fixed your watch six times.”
Tilak looked offended.
“You counted?”
“You’re obvious.”
His eyes narrowed slightly.
“You’re enjoying this too much.”
“Maybe.”
The breeze lifted a strand of your hair suddenly across your face.
Before you could move,
Tilak reached over instinctively.
His fingers brushed softly against your cheek while tucking the strand behind your ear carefully.
And then—
his hand lingered.
Just for one dangerous second.
Your breathing caught immediately.
Because his eyes had dropped briefly toward your lips now.
The awareness between you became thick instantly.
Tilak leaned back slowly afterward like he physically forced himself to.
“You wore this intentionally.”
The sentence came low.
Knowing.
You smiled innocently while taking a sip of your drink.
“What if I did?”
His jaw tightened immediately.
And for the next several minutes afterward—
Tilak looked genuinely affected.
Which became your favorite thing ever.
───
Later dinner softened into quieter conversation.
Easier now.
Warmer.
You laughed about the absurdity of both of you.
“How did we skip every normal stage?”
Tilak looked deeply thoughtful.
“We’re actually very strange.”
“You stayed at my apartment before taking me on a date.”
“You made me soup.”
“You slept on my shoulder.”
“You got jealous over fries.”
“That was valid.”
You burst out laughing immediately.
Then softer now—
Tilak looked at you carefully across the table.
“I think we skipped normal.”
Your chest tightened slightly.
“With you?” you smiled softly. “I would!.”
The way he looked at you after that sentence felt dangerously intimate.
Like something inside him settled quietly.
───
The drive back home felt slower.
Neither of you wanting it to end.
By the time the car stopped outside your apartment building, silence settled softly between you.
Not awkward.
Heavy.
Your fingers still tangled loosely together near the center console from halfway through the drive.
Neither of you letting go. Oh you didn't want to go. Every cell in your body was screaming to stay.
Tilak looked tired suddenly.
Not physically.
Emotionally affected.
His thumb brushed slowly across your knuckles once.
Then again.
And when you looked up,
his eyes had already dropped toward your lips.
Your breath caught immediately.
The tension inside the small car became unbearable.
Tilak leaned slightly closer unconsciously.
Not enough.
Just enough that you could feel his breath now.
Your heart hammered violently.
Then quietly,
so quietly,
he admitted:
“I’ve wanted to kiss you since the second day at your apartment.”
And just like that every coherent thought left your brain entirely. 🔥🌙
I might collapse now!!!
@draculauras-stuff @maroonphase
If anybody wants to get tagged, please comment!💕
Chapter 18
You Came Back
The decision happened at 2:13 a.m.
Not dramatically.
Not after some huge emotional breakdown.
You were simply lying awake in your childhood room staring at the ceiling while rain tapped softly against the window beside you.
And unfortunately—
your brain kept replaying one sentence.
Come back soon.
The way Tilak had said it hadn’t sounded casual at all.
It had sounded careful.
Honest.
Like asking for something without fully asking.
And maybe that should’ve scared you.
Instead—
you opened flight bookings.
───
By morning your mother looked deeply suspicious.
“You said you’ll stay another week.”
You avoided eye contact while zipping your bag.
“Work changed.”
“Mhm.”
“It did.”
“You’ve smiled at your phone twenty times since breakfast.”
“Mumma please.”
She narrowed her eyes at you.
Then sighed dramatically.
“Young people become very secretive these days.”
You nearly choked.
Thankfully she let it go after that.
Mostly because you escaped before further interrogation could happen.
───
Meanwhile—
Tilak was suffering publicly again.
At practice.
Under observation.
Against his will.
“Phone check number twelve,” Hardik announced helpfully from nearby.
Tilak didn’t even look up anymore.
“I’ll throw this bat at you.”
“You’re proving my point.”
From behind, Rohit smirked knowingly.
“Still no call?”
“Can everyone mind their own business?”
“No,” everyone answered immediately.
Tilak looked exhausted already.
The worst part?
They weren’t even wrong.
He had checked your chat at least twenty times since morning.
Nothing new.
And despite knowing you were probably busy traveling between relatives or sleeping late—
something restless had settled under his skin since last night.
Like waiting.
For what, he didn’t know.
───
Practice dragged longer than usual.
Sweat. Heat. Noise.
Tilak removed his gloves with a tired exhale while walking toward the boundary line when one of the support staff called casually:
“Tilak, someone’s here for you.”
He turned absentmindedly.
And froze.
Completely.
Because you were standing there.
Oversized shirt. Loose jeans. Travel bag hanging from one shoulder. Hair slightly messy from the flight. Holding two iced coffees while looking suddenly shy under his stare.
For one full second—
he genuinely forgot where he was.
The ground noise blurred. Voices disappeared.
There was only you.
Actually here.
His expression changed so fast it made your chest ache immediately.
Disbelief first.
Then relief.
Then something softer.
Something that looked dangerously close to happiness.
“You came?”
The question came quiet.
Almost like he didn’t trust it yet.
Your smile softened instantly.
“You said come back soon.”
That was apparently enough to destroy whatever composure he had left.
Because Tilak walked toward you quickly—
then faster—
before stopping directly in front of you.
Close enough that your breath caught.
And for half a second he just stared at you like he still couldn’t believe this was real.
Then suddenly—
he pulled you into him.
Hard.
One arm around your waist instantly. The other around your shoulders.
Tight enough to make your breath leave your lungs softly.
A relieved breath escaped him near your neck almost immediately.
And God—
that one tiny sound nearly melted your entire heart.
Because it sounded unconscious.
Like his body relaxed before his mind even caught up.
Your arms wrapped around him automatically.
Warm. Familiar. Home already somehow.
You felt his grip tighten once briefly.
Like confirming you were actually there.
And around you—
absolute chaos erupted.
“OH MY GOD FINALLY.”
Hardik’s voice echoed dramatically somewhere nearby.
Someone clapped loudly.
Rohit looked genuinely delighted.
Bumrah laughed quietly while shaking his head.
Tilak did not move.
Did not care.
His face stayed tucked briefly near your shoulder while his hand remained firm against your waist.
And standing there in the middle of a cricket ground surrounded by people—
you realized something painfully clearly.
He had missed you just as badly.
Maybe worse.
───
Eventually he pulled back slightly.
Only slightly.
Still keeping one hand around your waist instinctively.
His eyes moved over your face carefully.
“You didn’t tell me.”
“It was supposed to be surprise.”
“It was evil.”
You laughed softly.
“That’s dramatic.”
“You disappeared for a week.”
“Six days.”
“Same thing.”
The offended look on his face made your smile widen immediately.
God.
You missed this.
Missed him.
───
Unfortunately—
peace lasted approximately eight seconds.
Then Hardik arrived dramatically.
“So THIS is the girl.”
Tilak immediately sighed.
“No.”
“Yes,” Hardik ignored him completely before looking at you with full seriousness. “Do you know this man has become emotionally unstable because of you?”
“Hardik.”
“He was checking phone every two minutes.”
“Hardik.”
“Batting with heartbreak.”
“Hardik.”
You burst out laughing while Tilak looked ready to physically remove him from existence.
Then Rohit walked over grinning openly.
“Welcome. Finally our boy can behave normally again.”
“He was behaving normally,” Tilak argued weakly.
Everyone stared at him.
“No,” Bumrah said calmly.
The betrayal on Tilak’s face made you laugh harder.
───
And then somehow—
you got absorbed into them instantly.
Ritika hugged you within minutes like she’d known you forever.
“You’re very pretty,” she informed you immediately.
Your cheeks warmed.
Then she leaned closer conspiratorially.
“He talks about you a lot by the way.”
Tilak nearly choked somewhere behind you.
“Bhabhiii!”
She ignored him beautifully.
And suddenly—
everything clicked.
The teasing. The familiarity. The ease everyone had around you.
They already knew about you.
Not officially maybe.
But enough.
Enough that nobody looked surprised.
Enough that they’d already connected you to him long before today.
The realization sent butterflies exploding violently inside your stomach.
Because Tilak— private, guarded Tilak—
talked about you when you weren’t there.
───
The rest of practice passed in a blur.
Mostly because Tilak refused to let you stand anywhere alone.
If he walked somewhere— you somehow ended up beside him.
If someone handed him water— he passed it to you first automatically.
If you drifted too close to practice balls— his hand appeared instantly at your lower back guiding you away absentmindedly.
Every touch unconscious now.
Natural.
Like his body had memorized you during those three days together.
And everyone noticed.
Especially when he sat beside you between drills instead of with the team.
Especially when his attention kept drifting back toward you every few minutes.
Especially when he looked calmer now.
Lighter somehow.
Hardik watched all this for several minutes before announcing dramatically:
“Apna bhai toh gyaa.”
“I was always fine.”
“You hugged her like war reunion.”
Rohit nodded thoughtfully.
“Actually true.”
Tilak looked deeply offended while you hid your face laughing into your coffee.
───
Later, after practice ended and most people drifted away—
you found yourselves sitting quietly in the stands together.
The stadium lights had started glowing softly overhead now while evening settled slowly around the ground.
For once—
neither of you spoke immediately.
Tilak sat beside you with one arm resting behind your seat casually.
Close enough that your shoulders brushed occasionally.
And after several quiet moments—
he finally said softly:
“I thought you’d stay longer.”
You looked down at your hands briefly.
“I was trying to.”
His eyes shifted toward you immediately.
“But?”
The honesty in his voice made your chest tighten.
You smiled faintly.
“…I missed you too much.”
Silence.
Tilak stared at you for a second like the sentence physically affected him.
Then slowly—
so slowly—
the softest smile appeared on his face.
Small. Real. Only for you.
And somehow—
that smile felt more intimate than almost anything else so far. 🌙💕
@draculauras-stuff @maroonphase
