“Why do you care so much? You behave very differently,” Priya commented, looking directly into his eyes, catching her breath. Her whole face turned red, due to the heat and her breathless self.
“I care because it’s you, Angel. I don’t give a fuck about anything in this whole world if it’s not you, but if it’s you, then I care with my whole existence,” Priyank sincerely replied, as he smiled, shocking Priya a bit.
She had seen him smile before, but not this radiantly. Somehow, in his sweaty body, he looked hot as his lips stretched into a pleasant smile.
His words warmed her heart, making her speechless.
Sometimes he just says things like this which totally blows her mind. She doesn’t even get to react, as she is never able to figure out how to respond when he says things like this.
“Don’t you feel weird when you say things like this?” she asked, wanting to know what runs through his head that motivates him to say such things.
“I feel weird,” Priyank paused, “when I don’t say things like this. I have never been vocal about a lot of things, but after the stunt you pulled, I feel I should speak more from my heart, because who knows when you might slip away, though I won’t let that happen.”
More than the sun, Priyank’s words were heating up. She couldn’t deny that after the whole running away incident, something in him had changed, which was visible and she couldn’t push back.
She had wanted to think about his feelings for quite some time, but most of the time, she just pulled herself back, as it felt weird.
How could she reciprocate his feelings? Firstly, a lot of the things he did were something she looked down upon. Lastly, considering her current situation, she didn’t think she was in a position where she could even think about doing anything.
Then again, he was staying with her when he could have just left. Even if he hadn’t before, after that attack, he could have made the decision, but he didn’t. So, without even wanting to, she was forced to think it through.
“Now what are you thinking?” Priyank questioned, looking directly into her eyes, trying to understand what was going on inside her head.
She looked like she was deep in thought about something, and he wanted to know what it was. Her expressions revealed how stressed she was.
“Nothing,” Priya snapped back from her trance, breaking the chain of her thoughts, feeling out of sorts for thinking too much about the things she probably wanted to ignore as best she could.
“That’s a lie, Angel. How can you not be thinking about anything when your forehead is wrinkled and your expressions are telling a different story?” Priyank commented, sharing his entire observation.
Priya sighed. “I wasn’t thinking about anything important. You don’t have to play the role of a detective here. How about we start running? Levi and Rish would have already finished half the distance, and we’ve rested a lot already. My breathing is stable now.”
Priyank studied Priya’s face for a moment, trying to decipher the truth behind her words. He could see the tension in her shoulders and the way she avoided his gaze, indicating that there was more to her thoughts than she was willing to admit. However, he also understood that pushing her too hard might only cause her to retreat further into herself.
With a gentle smile, he nodded. “Alright, Angel. If you say so. Let’s catch up with Levi and Rish. I’m sure they’re wondering what’s taking us so long.”
Priya felt a wave of relief wash over her as Priyank accepted her deflection. She wasn’t ready to delve into the depths of her thoughts and emotions, not yet. The idea of running, of focusing on the physical exertion and the rush of adrenaline, seemed like a welcome escape from the turmoil in her mind.
As they began to jog, side by side, Priya felt the cool breeze against her skin and the rhythmic pounding of her feet on the ground. The sensation grounded her, bringing her back to the present moment and away from the worries that plagued her.
Priyank matched her pace, his presence beside her a silent comfort. Even without words, she could feel his support and understanding. It was a reminder that she wasn’t alone, that he was there for her, no matter what.
As they rounded a bend in the path, they caught sight of Levi and Rish in the distance. The two were engrossed in conversation, their laughter carrying through the air. Priya felt a pang of envy at their apparent ease and carefree demeanour.
“They seem to be having a good time,” Priyank remarked, as if reading her thoughts.
Priya nodded, a wistful smile tugging at her lips. “Yeah, they do.”
Priyank reached out and gently squeezed her hand, a gesture of reassurance. “Run slowly. There’s no need to run fast to catch up with them, because we don’t want your asthma to flare up. As I said before, your health is my priority; nothing else comes close.”
“I am running just fine. This isn’t even fast,” Priya countered. “I think it’s hard for you to run at my pace because I know you would have been running faster than you are now if you were alone.”
“Perhaps. But I am enjoying this way better. What is the advantage of running faster if it will leave me alone?” Priyank said.
He didn’t know how or why he spoke these words, but this was clearly how he felt. There was no way he wanted to be alone; he wanted to spend each and every second of his life with her.
Only he knew how it felt when she was not with him, and there was no way he wanted to feel that again. He never wanted to, and he never would. He was happy with her presence; running slower or faster meant nothing to him.
Priya went silent, not knowing how to respond to him. His words held so much emotion that she didn’t know how to deal with them. She decided it was better to keep her mouth shut and stay silent, as that seemed like the best option.