The night wasn't over yet.
But it felt like it had already said too much.
And not enough.
They hadn't gone back inside immediately.
The balcony still held them—
Like it didn't want to let go.
Anaya leaned slightly against the railing.
More relaxed now.
Lighter.
Saying it had helped.
Admitting it—
Had made something settle inside her.
Beside her—
Reyansh wasn't as calm.
Because now—
The weight had doubled.
She had opened up.
Trusted him.
And he—
Still hadn't.
His fingers curled slightly at his side.
Unnoticed.
"…tell her."
The thought came again.
Stronger this time.
No more delaying.
No more excuses.
She deserved to know.
His gaze shifted to her.
She was smiling slightly.
Soft.
Unaware.
"…you're going to break that."
The realization hit hard.
Because the moment he told her—
That smile might disappear.
And maybe—
Never come back the same way.
His jaw tightened.
"…still."
He took a small breath.
"Anaya."
She turned to him.
"…hmm?"
There it was.
The moment again.
No interruptions.
No noise.
Just them.
"There's something I need to tell you."
Her expression shifted slightly.
Curious.
Open.
"…okay."
Her tone didn't hesitate.
And that—
Made it harder.
Reyansh looked at her.
Really looked.
And suddenly—
The past rushed in.
Flash—
Her laughing in a school corridor.
Flash—
"Say it first if you're so confident."
Flash—
"I like you, idiot."
His breath caught.
Because that voice—
That version of her—
Was still there.
Just buried.
"…we knew each other before."
The words almost left his lips.
Almost.
"Sir?"
A voice from behind.
Both of them turned.
One of the staff stood near the door.
"They're calling you inside. Cake cutting is about to start."
The moment—
Slipped.
Reyansh closed his eyes for a second.
Barely noticeable.
"…I'll be there."
The man nodded and left.
Silence returned.
But not the same one.
This one—
Was incomplete.
Anaya looked at him again.
"…you were saying something."
A pause.
He could still say it.
Right now.
Nothing was stopping him anymore.
Except—
Himself.
He looked at her.
At the way she waited.
Without fear.
Without doubt.
Trusting him.
And suddenly—
He couldn't do it.
Not here.
Not like this.
Not when everything had just begun to feel right.
"…it's nothing."
The words came out quieter than expected.
Anaya blinked.
"…that didn't sound like nothing."
A faint attempt at a smile.
"It can wait."
She studied him for a second longer.
Like she wanted to question it.
Push a little more.
But then—
She didn't.
"…okay."
Simple.
Trusting.
And that—
That hurt more than anything else.
Because she believed him.
Without knowing—
What he had just chosen not to say.
"Let's go?" she said softly.
He nodded.
As they walked back inside—
The lights felt brighter.
The noise louder.
But inside him—
Everything felt heavier.
Because now—
It wasn't just hesitation.
It was a choice.
And he knew—
Every time he chose silence—
The truth would hurt more later.
But still—
He chose it.
Because right now—
Her smile was still there.
And he wasn't ready to take that away.
The celebration continued.
As if nothing had shifted.
As if everything was exactly how it should be.
The cake was brought in.
Soft music changed to something lighter.
People gathered closer.
"Come on, smile!"
Someone called out.
Anaya laughed softly.
Trying to balance the knife as cameras flashed.
Reyansh stood beside her.
His expression—
Perfect.
Controlled.
Exactly what everyone expected.
"Cut it together!"
Their hands met over the knife.
A simple moment.
But the contact—
Felt heavier than it should.
Anaya glanced at him briefly.
"…you okay?"
He nodded instantly.
"…yeah."
Lie.
But she didn't question it.
The cake was cut.
Applause followed.
Cheers.
Laughter.
Someone fed them a piece.
Another insisted on pictures.
Everything moved forward.
Without pause.
Relatives came one after another.
Blessings.
Smiles.
Comments.
"Perfect couple."
"Made for each other."
"So happy for you both."
The words repeated.
And each time—
Reyansh felt something tighten inside him.
Because they didn't know.
They didn't know what stood between them.
Truth.
Unsaid.
Anaya, on the other hand—
Was smiling.
Genuinely.
Not forced.
Not pretending.
Because for her—
This was real.
Simple.
And maybe—
That's what made it harder for him.
Hours passed.
Slowly.
Then suddenly.
Guests started leaving.
Lights dimmed further.
The noise faded.
Goodbyes were exchanged.
Plans were mentioned.
"Take care."
"Call when you reach."
Normal things.
Anaya stood near the exit.
"…today was nice."
She said it softly.
Almost to herself.
Reyansh heard it.
And something inside him—
Twisted.
"…yeah."
That was all he managed.
She looked at him.
"…you still look like something's bothering you."
A pause.
He could tell her now.
Right here.
One last chance.
But instead—
"…just tired."
Another lie.
She didn't believe it fully this time.
But she didn't push.
"…get some rest then."
A small smile.
"Goodnight, Reyansh."
"Goodnight."
She turned.
And left.
And just like that—
The night ended.
For everyone else.
But not for him.
***
The room was dark.
Silent.
The kind of silence that pressed against your thoughts.
Reyansh lay on the bed.
Eyes open.
Sleep—
Nowhere close.
His mind replayed everything.
The balcony.
Her words.
"I think I'm starting to like you."
His chest tightened.
Because she meant it.
And he—
Still hadn't told her.
He turned slightly.
Closing his eyes.
"…just sleep."
But the moment he did—
Flash—
A corridor.
Bright sunlight through windows.
Laughter echoing.
A girl walking ahead—
Fast.
Talking.
Not stopping.
"…you never listen, do you?"
His own voice.
Younger.
Lighter.
She turned back.
Walking backwards now.
Smiling.
"Then stop me."
Flash gone.
His eyes opened instantly.
His breath uneven.
"…Ana."
The name slipped out before he could stop it.
Another flash—
"Say it first."
"No, you."
"I'm serious!"
"I know."
Her laughter again.
So clear.
So real.
Like it wasn't even a memory.
He sat up abruptly.
Running a hand through his hair.
"…not now."
But it didn't stop.
Flash—
A classroom.
Her sitting beside him.
Leaning slightly closer.
"You like me, right?"
His younger self—
Speechless.
Her grin widening.
"I knew it."
His chest tightened.
Because he remembered.
Every detail.
Every moment.
And she—
Didn't.
A sharp exhale left him.
"…this isn't fair."
The words barely audible.
Because it wasn't.
Not to her.
Not to him.
Not to what they had.
He leaned back again.
Staring at the ceiling.
And this time—
He didn't try to stop it.
Because maybe—
He deserved to feel it.
All of it.
The love.
The loss.
The unfinished story.
And the truth—
He was still hiding.
His eyes closed slowly.
And the past—
Finally took over.