Between Us, Between Time

49. Sometimes it's Hard to understand - Saanvi

After we got off the giant wheel, we wandered through the fair, watching the crowd, soaking in the chaos, the colors, the laughter. The world felt alive around us, but my focus kept slipping to Siddarth. Every time he laughed or turned to point something out, I felt my chest tighten. It wasn't just excitement anymore, it was something deeper, something that made me want to pause time.

As we passed by a quieter part of the beach, I stopped and turned to him. My heart raced as I tried to sound casual, like this wasn't a big deal.

"I got us dinner," I said, watching his face. "A candlelight dinner. On the beach."

For a second, he didn't react. Then, his expression shifted, first confusion, then realization, and finally, a mix of awe and disbelief. He stared at me like he couldn't quite believe what he'd heard.

"Wow," he whispered, the word barely escaping his lips.

That one word, so simple, hit me harder than anything else. It was the way he said it, with his whole heart, full of wonder and something I couldn't quite name. Before I could say anything, he pulled me into a hug so tight it knocked the air out of me.

"Wow," he said again, laughing softly this time, his voice shaking with excitement.

I couldn't help but laugh with him. Seeing him so happy, so unguarded, made me feel like I'd done something right, like this moment was ours and no one else's.

Our friends, noticing the shift, grinned knowingly and gave us space. I owed them for this, for everything, but at that moment, all I could think about was Siddarth. We walked along the beach, the waves curling at our feet, the cool night air brushing past us. He kept glancing at me, his curiosity growing with each step.

Finally, we reached the restaurant. The sight made even my breath hitch, a stretch of sand lit with soft, flickering candles, tables set up under the open sky, and the endless ocean stretching out behind it all. Siddarth stood there, staring, his mouth slightly open as he took it all in.

I guided him to our table, my hands trembling slightly. His face was a mix of emotions I couldn't fully read, gratitude, joy, something tender that made my stomach flip. As we reached the table, he surprised me by pulling out my chair. I sat down, unable to hide my smile as he took his seat across from me.

For a moment, he just looked at me, his eyes searching mine.

"Why?" he asked, his voice soft. "Why all this?"

His question hit me harder than I expected. My smile faltered, just for a second. I didn't know how to answer. Why was I doing this? The truth scared me, made me feel exposed. I didn't want to ruin the moment by overthinking it.

"I just... wanted to do something nice," I said finally, my voice quieter than I intended.

He nodded, a small smile tugging at his lips, but his eyes didn't leave mine. The air between us felt heavier now, not uncomfortable but charged, like something unspoken was hovering just out of reach.

The food arrived, breaking the tension, and we ate while talking and laughing. The conversation flowed naturally, but underneath it all, I felt the weight of what I couldn't say. I watched him, his face lit by the soft glow of the candles, his laughter like music in the night air, and I wanted to tell him everything. But the words wouldn't come.

After dinner, we walked along the shore. The moon hung low, casting a silver glow over the waves, which sparkled as they rolled in. The sand was cool under our feet, and the sound of the ocean filled the silence between us. He reached for my hand, his fingers brushing mine hesitantly before intertwining them. That small gesture sent a shiver up my spine, the warmth of his touch grounding me even as it set my heart racing.

We walked until we reached a quieter part of the beach. The noise of the world faded away, leaving just us and the sound of the waves. He stopped and turned to face me, his hand still holding mine.

I looked up at him, my heart pounding so loud I was sure he could hear it. His eyes searched mine, and for a moment, I felt like he could see everything, my fears, my doubts, my feelings, all laid bare.

He reached up slowly, his hand brushing against my cheek, and I leaned into his touch without thinking. His warmth, his steady presence, melted away every defense I had.

I stepped closer, closing the small gap between us, and placed my hand on his chest. I could feel his heartbeat, fast and unsteady, matching my own. His hand slid to the back of my neck, and I felt my breath catch as he leaned in.

Our lips met softly at first, tentative and unsure, but the moment they touched, something inside me unraveled. My hands gripped his shoulders as I leaned into him, the world spinning around us. The kiss deepened, and all the fear, all the hesitation, disappeared. It was just us, our breaths mingling, our hearts racing, our bodies pulling closer like we couldn't bear to be apart.

When we finally pulled away, I rested my forehead against his, my eyes still closed, trying to catch my breath. He stayed close, his hands on my waist, his touch grounding me.

I opened my eyes to find him staring at me, his expression unreadable but intense. In that moment, I felt completely exposed, but I didn't care. I wanted him to see everything.

We didn't say anything. Words felt unnecessary. Instead, we stood there, swaying gently as the waves washed over our feet. The world around us blurred, leaving just the two of us in that moment, lost in each other.

And for the first time, I wasn't afraid.