I was getting ready for the party, my eyes flicking to the clock. 6 PM already. I had to leave by 6:30.

Slipping into my dress, I took a moment to admire my reflection. The black stained-glass pattern hugged my frame perfectly, the knee-length hem swaying slightly as I moved. Elegant yet bold—just the kind of statement I needed tonight.

Tonight, I had to prove something. To Maanvir. To Riyu. To myself.

I just wasn’t sure what yet.

Kiss Ronnie?

Yuck. Who would even want to kiss him?

But… wasn’t I his girlfriend? And if I was, then I should kiss him, right? That’s what girlfriends do.

I groaned, lost in my spiraling thoughts, until a loud bang on my door snapped me out of it.

"You look so beautiful, my child," my mother said, smiling warmly. "Truly like a princess."

Princess.

My stomach twisted. That’s what Maanvir calls me.

No, no, no. Don’t think about him.

Maanvir, yuck.

Leech. Leech. Leech.

The doorbell rang, and there stood Riya, draped in a stunning red gown. She looked absolutely ethereal, like she had walked straight out of a dream.

"Riyu, let’s leave! We’re already late!" I grabbed my purse, pushing aside all unnecessary thoughts—especially the ones about him.

As soon as we reached the party, the scene was exactly as expected—half the people were already drunk, sweaty bodies pressing against each other as they danced. The air was thick with alcohol and cheap cologne.

But my eyes weren’t on them.

They were searching.

And then, I found him.

A crisp white shirt, sleeves rolled up to his elbows, paired with fitted black pants. The way he stood, so effortlessly confident, so annoyingly attractive—

Wait.

Isn’t that… Veer?

No. Not Veer.

Leech. Leech. Leech.

I was drooling over him.

HIM.

No. Not happening. Absolutely not.

Did he see me ogling at him? No, right? Noooo.

But then—shit. Shit. Shit.

He was walking toward me.

His strides were slow, confident, almost predatory. His eyes… they held something else tonight, something dark and unreadable. And I—God, I couldn’t move. My feet felt glued to the ground, my breath hitched in my throat.

He leaned in, so close that his scent—clean, masculine, and utterly distracting—invaded my senses.

Then, in a voice so low and sinful, he whispered against my ear, "Princess, you look beautiful."

"You look like mine," he muttered, so softly that anyone else would’ve missed it.

But I heard it.

Mine?

My heart did an unintentional flip. Did he just say that? Did he mean it?

Does Maanvir… like me? Or… does he love me?

No. No way. This is the same guy who annoys me to death, the same leech who never leaves me alone.

Then why did his words send shivers down my spine?

Before I could process it, Ronnie came striding toward me, a smug grin plastered on his face.

The second Maanvir saw him, his jaw clenched. His body went rigid, his fingers curling into fists.

Did he… care?

Or was this all just an act?

"Hey, Ronnie baby," I said, forcing a sweet smile.

As Ronnie leaned in, probably to kiss me, I smoothly hugged him instead, pressing a light kiss to his cheek.

A flicker of something dark crossed Maanvir’s eyes. Jealousy? Anger? Possessiveness?

Ronnie, ever the gentleman, extended his hand. "Dance with me?"

I hesitated.

For a second, my gaze darted to Maanvir.

His expression was unreadable. But his eyes—they burned.

Still, I smiled at Ronnie and slipped my hand into his. "Of course."

As he led me onto the dance floor, I could still feel the weight of Maanvir’s gaze.

Heavy. Intense.

Like he was barely holding himself back.

He was boring holes into my back with his gaze, and I—God, I could feel it.

A slow, burning sensation crawled up my spine, the weight of his stare pressing into me like an unspoken challenge.

But before I could turn, before I could even think—Ronnie yanked me closer.

His grip on my waist tightened, but then—his hand slid lower. Too low.

My breath hitched.

No.

My fingers instinctively abandoned his hand, my palm flying up to his neck instead, securing it tightly. Too tightly.

His eyes widened slightly at my reaction, but I didn’t loosen my hold. If anything, my grip firmed.

Maanvir was watching. I could feel him watching.

And suddenly, I wasn’t sure who I was holding onto for support—Ronnie or myself.

I didn’t feel anything for that leech.

That’s what I told myself. That’s what I forced myself to believe.

So, when Ronnie leaned in, I didn’t hesitate. I pressed a quick peck to his lips. Just a peck. Just enough to prove—to myself, to Maanvir, to everyone—that I was his girlfriend.

But Ronnie being Ronnie wasn’t satisfied with just that.

His hands tightened on my waist as he kissed me back, deepening it, devouring me.

And the worst part?

I didn’t pull away.

I didn’t stop him.

I didn’t even want to.

I kissed him back.

His lips moved against mine, urgent and demanding, stealing my breath until my lungs screamed for air. By the time we finally pulled apart, our foreheads rested against each other, our chests heaving.

"God, you taste so good," Ronnie breathed out, his voice husky and raw. "And you… you look like a beauty sent from heaven."

I blushed.

Ronnie never talked like this. Never looked at me like this.

What was happening?

Was he… changing?

For me?

Just then, Riyu called out to me.

"Hima! Come have a drink with me!"

Her voice snapped me back to reality, breaking the trance I hadn’t even realized I was in.

I pulled away from Ronnie, still slightly breathless. But as soon as I turned—my heart stopped.

Maanvir.

Seething.

His grip on the wine glass was so tight that the fragile stem finally snapped.

Shards of glass dug into his palm, blood trickling down his fingers.

But he didn’t flinch.

He didn’t even acknowledge the pain.

His eyes—dark, stormy, and burning with something dangerously close to rage—were fixed on me.

Then, without a word, he turned on his heel and stormed out.

Leaving behind a trail of blood.

And a storm brewing inside me.

I never did. And I never will.

What Maanvir does to himself is none of my concern.

He has no role in my life—none—except that of an enemy.

A thorn in my side. A leech I can't seem to shake off.

I fucking hate the way he thinks he can control me. That he believes his glares, his stupid cryptic words, his damn presence can dictate my life.

He can’t.

And he never will.

Go to hell, Maanvir.

I was about to join Riyu for a drink when Ronnie leaned in, pressing a light peck to my cheek.

"I’ll be back," he whispered, his voice low and teasing.

Then, just as he turned away, he shot me a playful wink before striding toward his group of friends.

I watched him go, shaking my head slightly. Typical Ronnie.

With a small sigh, I turned back toward Riyu, pushing away the lingering thoughts that threatened to creep in.

Tonight wasn’t about overthinking. Tonight was about having fun.

I joined Riyu at the bar, grabbing a shot glass as she grinned at me.

"Let’s get wasted tonight!" she cheered, clinking her glass against mine.

I didn’t hesitate.

One shot. The burn of vodka slid down my throat.

Then another.

And another.

The warmth spread through me, loosening my limbs, untangling the thoughts I didn’t want to deal with tonight.

By the time I set my last glass down, the music had taken over, pulsing through my veins like a second heartbeat.

With a laugh, I grabbed Riyu’s hand and pulled her toward the dance floor.

The bass thrummed beneath my feet. The air was thick with sweat, perfume, and bad decisions waiting to happen.

I let it all go.

I let myself move.

My hips swayed to the rhythm, my body moving carefree, lost in the music.

And for the first time tonight, I wasn’t thinking about Maanvir.

Not at all.

Or at least, that’s what I told myself.

As I lost myself in the music, the world blurred into a haze of flashing lights and deafening beats.

But then—I felt it.

A gaze. Dark. Heavy. Unrelenting.

My movements faltered for a split second, a shiver running down my spine.

I turned my head—just a little, just enough to see.

And there he was.

Maanvir.

Standing at the edge of the crowd, his face shadowed, his eyes locked onto me with something unreadable. Something that sent a slow, dangerous thrill down my spine.

I should have looked away.

I should have ignored him.

But I didn’t.

And neither did he.

Because somehow, in that moment, it felt like the real game had just begun.

Things are heating up! Do you think Maanvir’s jealousy is just possessiveness, or is it something deeper? Drop your thoughts in the comments and don’t forget to like if you’re loving the drama!