Chapter 40

The morning drive felt… lighter.
Not because the roads were empty.
Not because college had suddenly become less exhausting.
But because something between Eraya and the world had changed.

And Shivani could feel it.

The car moved through the streets while music played softly in the background, low enough for their conversation to fill the space comfortably.

Shivani drove with one hand on the steering wheel while the other moved animatedly as she spoke.

“I’m telling you,” she said dramatically,

“Mika absolutely cheated in the debate competition last year.”

Eraya laughed softly beside her.

“She won fair and square.”

“She bribed the judges emotionally.”

“That is not a thing.”

“It is with Mika.”

Eraya shook her head with a smile.

These days,
talking felt easier.
Lighter.
Like words no longer got trapped inside her chest.

And Shivani noticed that too.
She noticed how Eraya laughed more now.
How she interrupted conversations sometimes.
How she teased back occasionally.
How she no longer looked terrified every second someone looked at her.

The silence between them wasn’t awkward anymore either.

It was comfortable.

At one point, Shivani stopped at a signal and sighed dramatically.

“You know what the real tragedy is?”

Eraya looked at her.

“What?”

“Zi surviving basketball practice.”

That earned a soft chuckle.

“She’ll complain all month.”

“Exactly.”

Then absentmindedly,
without thinking,
Eraya murmured quietly,

“Zivi complains about everything.”

Silence.

The signal turned green.
But Shivani did not move.

Instead,
she turned her head slowly toward Eraya.
Very slowly.

“…Wait.”

Eraya blinked.

Shivani gasped loudly.

“WHAT DID YOU JUST CALL HER?”

The car behind them honked aggressively.

“Drive,” Eraya said immediately, trying not to laugh.

Shivani drove forward dramatically.

“No. Absolutely not. We are discussing this.”

Eraya looked out the window to hide her smile.

“Focus on the road Shivi.”

“ERAYA.”

The sheer betrayal in Shivani’s tone made Eraya laugh softly.

“When did Zivah become Zivi?”

Shivani clutched her chest dramatically.

“What did I miss?”

Eraya shook her head, cheeks warming slightly.

“Nothing.”

“Nothing does not create nicknames.”

“It just slipped out.”

“That is even WORSE.”

Shivani looked genuinely emotional.

“You gave her a nickname.”

Eraya bit her lip to stop smiling too much.

“She likes it.”

Shivani almost swerved.

“SHE KNOWS?”

“SHIVI.”

“Okay fine,” Shivani muttered dramatically.
Then pointed at her.

“But the second we reach college, you are telling me everything.”

Eraya sighed softly.

“…fine.”

“Promise?”

“Promise.”

Shivani grinned victoriously.

The rest of the drive passed in teasing.
Mostly Shivani making ridiculous guesses.

“You confessed under moonlight?”

“No.”

“She cried?”

“No.”

“Zivah definitely cried.”

Eraya laughed.

“…maybe.”

“I KNEW IT.”

By the time they reached college, Shivani was practically vibrating with curiosity.

The moment they entered the classroom and sat down at the back, Shivani immediately turned toward Eraya dramatically.

“Talk.”

Eraya laughed softly.

“You’re impatient.”

“Yes.”

“Very.”

” Definitely Yes.”

“Annoying too.”

“ERAYA.”

That only made Eraya laugh harder.

And honestly?
Shivani paused for a second seeing it.

Because months ago,
this same girl barely smiled.

And now she was sitting beside her laughing openly.

The thought softened something inside Shivani.
But only for a second.
Because curiosity won immediately.

“Now tell me.”

Eraya exhaled slowly, fingers lightly playing with the edge of her notebook.

And then,
she started talking.

About that day.
The confrontation.
The confession.
The fear.
The anger in Zivah’s eyes.

How Zivah had cleaned her wounds silently.
How furious she had been.
How hurt.

And then softly,
Eraya told her about the confession.

“She was angry,” Eraya murmured quietly, eyes lowering slightly as she remembered.

“…really angry.”

Shivani listened carefully now.
No teasing.
Just listening.

“And then in between fighting with me…”

A tiny smile appeared on Eraya’s lips.

“…she suddenly said she worried about me cause she loved me.”

Shivani’s eyes widened instantly.

“She WHAT?”

Eraya laughed softly.

“She didn’t even realize she said it.”

“Oh my god.”

“She just… blurted it out because she was worried.”

Shivani stared at her dramatically.

“That is the most Zivah thing I’ve ever heard.”

Eraya nodded lightly, smiling to herself now.

“And later that night…”

She paused softly.

“…I told her I loved her too.”

Shivani gasped so loudly the entire classroom turned.
Including,
unfortunately,
the professor.

The professor slowly lowered his glasses.
Raised one eyebrow.
And looked directly at Shivani.

“…would you like to share the excitement with the class as well?”

The room went silent.

Shivani froze.

Then immediately let out the most awkward laugh possible.

“…no sir.”

Eraya instantly looked down, trying to control her laughter.

But her shoulders were shaking.

The professor sighed dramatically.

“Young people.”

Then continued writing on the board.

The moment his back turned,
Shivani grabbed Eraya’s arm dramatically.

“YOU TWO ARE OFFICIALLY TOGETHER?”

Eraya finally burst into quiet laughter.

“Yes.”

“Oh my god.”

Shivani looked genuinely emotional now.

“Finally.”

Eraya blinked.

“…finally?”

“Yes finally.”

She leaned back in her chair.

“Do you know how painfully obvious Zivah was?”

Eraya frowned slightly.

“She was?”

Shivani stared at her in disbelief.

“She looked at you like you personally invented happiness.”

Eraya’s cheeks warmed instantly.

“I’m serious,” Shivani continued.

“The way she treated you? The way she noticed every tiny thing? The way she panicked whenever you looked even slightly sad?”

A pause.

“She was gone for you.”

Eraya looked down quietly.
Thinking back now,
it seemed obvious.

But at that time?
She genuinely hadn’t believed someone could love her like that.

“I thought…” she started softly.

“…that she was just kind.”

Shivani snorted.

“Zivah is kind. But not that kind.”

Eraya laughed softly again.

Then Shivani’s expression softened.

“You know…” she murmured more quietly now.

“…I’m really happy.”

Eraya looked at her.

“For what?”

Shivani smiled gently.

“That she found someone who loves her back.”

A pause.

“Zivah always gave people so much. But no one really saw her properly.”

Eraya listened silently.

“And then you came,” Shivani continued softly.

“And suddenly she started smiling differently.”

Eraya’s chest tightened warmly.

“She loves you a lot, Eraya.”

The words settled quietly inside her.

Not heavily.
Not painfully.

Just warmly.
Like sunlight.

And for the first time in a very long time,
the future didn’t scare her anymore.

The basketball court was loud.

Shoes screeching against polished wood.

Whistles blowing every few minutes.

The sound of basketballs bouncing endlessly against the floor.

Morning practice had already drained half the team alive.

And Zivah,
unfortunately for everyone,
was taking her role as captain very seriously.

“No, no, NO-“

She blew the whistle dramatically.

“You call that defense?”

One of the players bent over dramatically.

“Captain, some of us want to survive till graduation.”

“You can survive after winning.”

Anamika, standing beside her with the clipboard, snorted.

“You sound unbearable today.”

“I am unbearable everyday.”

“That is true.”

Another girl from the team groaned loudly.

“Can we rest now?”

Zivah crossed her arms.

“…five minutes.”

The entire team collectively sighed in relief and scattered toward the benches and water bottles like exhausted soldiers returning from war.

Zivah finally dropped down beside Anamika on the bench.

Breathing slightly heavily.
Hair messy from practice.

Anamika handed her a water bottle.

“You’re in suspiciously good mood giving five minutes.”

Zivah unscrewed the cap calmly.

“I’m always in a good mood.”

“Liar.”

Zivah took a sip.

“You threatened three people in the last twenty minutes.”

“They deserved it.”

Anamika narrowed her eyes slightly.
Then suddenly,
very dramatically,
she gasped.

“Oh my god.”

“What now?”

“You kissed.”

Zivah choked on water instantly.

“WHAT?”

Anamika pointed at her aggressively.

“You have the face.”

“What face?”

“The disgusting-in-love face.”

Zivah rolled her eyes dramatically.

“You’re dramatic.”

“And right.”

A pause.

Then Anamika leaned closer suspiciously.

“…what happened?”

Zivah tried very hard to act normal.
Very hard.

But the smile creeping onto her face betrayed her completely.

Anamika slapped her arm.

“I KNEW IT.”

Zivah laughed under her breath finally giving up.

“This morning Eraya woke up and wanted to make breakfast for me.”

Anamika blinked once.

“…that’s it?”

Zivah looked personally offended.

“She was half asleep.”

“…okay?”

“And she still wanted to wake up for me.”

Anamika stared at her for two seconds.
Then burst out laughing.

“Oh my god you’re whipped.”

“I’m not whipped.”

“You would probably let Eraya ruin your entire life and thank her for the experience.”

Zivah thought for one second.

“…maybe.”

“ZIVAH.”

Zivah laughed again, leaning back against the bench.

And then unconsciously,
without realizing,
she smiled softly to herself.

Anamika noticed immediately.

“…wait.”

“What?”

“That smile means there’s more.”

Zivah tried to hide it.
Failed.

Then quietly,
almost proudly,
she said,

“She gave me a nickname.”

Silence.

Then Anamika gasped so loudly that two girls from the team turned around.

“WHAT?”

Zivah grinned now.
Actually grinned.

“Stop shouting Anu.”

“When did this happen?!”

“A few nights ago.”

“And YOU DIDN’T TELL ME?”

“You’re reacting like she proposed.”

“She basically did emotionally.”

Zivah laughed helplessly.

Anamika leaned closer immediately.

“What nickname?”

The softness on Zivah’s face changed instantly.
Gentler now.
Warmer.

“…Zivi.”

Anamika froze.
Then grabbed Zivah’s shoulders dramatically.

“That is the cutest thing I’ve ever heard.”

“I know.”

“Oh my god.”

The grin on Zivah’s face became impossible to hide now.

Anamika stared at her for a moment before speaking again.

“…okay wait.”
She pointed accusingly.

“You skipped details.”

Zivah sighed dramatically.

“What now?”

“How did all this happen?”

And somehow,
sitting there on the noisy court,
surrounded by chaos and exhausted players,
Zivah started telling her everything.

About the confrontation after the bullying.
How angry she had been.
How terrified.
How seeing Eraya hurt had made something inside her snap completely.

Anamika listened quietly this time.
No teasing.
Just listening.

“And then,” Zivah muttered, rubbing the back of her neck slightly embarrassed now,

“I accidentally confessed.”

Anamika blinked.

“You ACCIDENTALLY confessed?”

“I was scolding.”

“That makes this worse.”

“I didn’t even realize I said it.”

Anamika started laughing uncontrollably.

“Oh my god you’re an absolute disaster.”

Zivah covered her face briefly.

“And then I panicked.”

” And You ignored her.”

Zivah pointed at her immediately.

“YOU noticed?”

“Of course I noticed.”

Anamika rolled her eyes dramatically.

“You were acting like someone stole your emotional support human.”

Zivah groaned.

“I thought she wouldn’t love me back.”

And despite the joking,
that sentence still carried the old fear underneath.

The vulnerability.

Anamika’s expression softened slightly.

“But she did.”

Zivah smiled instantly at that.
Softly.
Like the memory alone warmed her.

“Yeah,” she murmured quietly.

“…she did.”

Then she told her about that night.
About Eraya talking to Brownie instead of directly to her.

About the confession.
About the hug.
About the thunderstorm.
About the first “Zivi.”

By the end of it,
Anamika was staring at her with complete emotional devastation.

“You guys are actually disgustingly adorable.”

Zivah laughed loudly.

“No seriously,” Anamika continued dramatically.

“The emotional development? The nickname? The hugging? The forehead kisses?”

She clutched her chest.

“I cannot handle this.”

Zivah shook her head smiling.

Then Anamika suddenly pointed at her again.

“Thank god though.”

“For what?”

“Now you won’t third-wheel me and Shivi.”

Zivah gasped dramatically.

“EXCUSE ME?”

“You heard me.”

“I never third-wheeled.”

“You sat between us during movies.”

“That was tactical positioning.”

“That was emotional terrorism.”

Zivah burst out laughing again.
And honestly,
she hadn’t laughed this freely in a long time.

Anamika watched her quietly for a second after that.

Then smiled softly.

“You know…”

“Hm?”

“Eraya really loves you.”

Zivah’s smile faded softer now.
More emotional.

Anamika continued quietly,

“The way she trusts you?”

A pause.

“The way she looks at you now?”

Zivah listened silently.

“She feels safe with you.”

And god,
that meant everything.
More than anything.

Because Eraya had spent so much of her life surviving instead of living.
Flinching instead of relaxing.
Accepting pain instead of expecting love.

And now,
she slept peacefully in Zivah’s arms.
Called her softly in the middle of the night.

Smiled more.
Laughed more.
Lived more.

Zivah looked down at the water bottle in her hands and smiled helplessly.
Warmly.
Completely gone.

“…yeah,” she whispered softly.

“…she does.”

By the time college ended, both Eraya and Shivani looked emotionally exhausted.

Not because classes were difficult.

But because their professor had apparently decided today was the perfect day to destroy everyone’s confidence.

The car ride home was filled almost entirely with Shivani’s dramatic suffering.

“I’m telling you Eraya,” she groaned while driving,

“that man looked directly into my soul today.”

Eraya laughed softly from beside her.

“He just asked for your assignment.”

“No,” Shivani corrected seriously.

“He attacked my character.”

“He asked why your references were incomplete.”

“Exactly.”

Eraya shook her head smiling.

Shivani glanced toward her dramatically.

“You’re laughing now but tomorrow he’ll target you.”

“He already likes me more than you.”

Shivani gasped loudly.

“Betrayal.”

Eraya’s laughter filled the car softly again.

And honestly,
Shivani still wasn’t used to hearing it this often.

These days Eraya laughed so much more freely.
Without hesitation.
Without fear.
And it made something ache warmly inside Shivani every single time.

“I’m serious though,” Shivani continued dramatically,

“I genuinely think professor hates me.”

“He doesn’t hate you Shivi.”

“He sighed before saying my name.”

“That’s because you submitted your paper in comic sans font once.”

“It was readable.”

“It was criminal.”

Shivani groaned loudly while Eraya laughed harder.

By the time they reached the apartment building, the afternoon sun had already softened the city into gold.

They stepped out of the car together still talking.

Still laughing.

As they walked toward the apartment, Shivani suddenly spoke again.

“By the way.”

“Hm?”

“I’m staying today until Zi comes.”

Eraya blinked.

“You don’t have to.”

“I know.”

“Then why?”

Shivani shrugged casually.

“Because I want to.”

Then she added dramatically,

“And also because if I go home alone, Mika will call me every ten minutes asking if I ate.”

Eraya smiled softly.

“She cares about you.”

“She’s emotionally overprotective.”

“Like Zivi?”

Shivani gasped immediately.

“Okay first of all-“

She pointed aggressively.

“Every time you say Zivi I lose five years off my life.”

Eraya laughed quietly while unlocking the apartment door.

“And second,” Shivani continued while entering,

“yes. Exactly like Zi.”

The apartment felt quieter than usual without Zivah’s dramatic commentary filling every room.

Shivani instantly dropped onto the couch.

“Oh my god I’m starving.”

Eraya placed her bag down calmly.

“They’ll be hungry too after practice.”

Shivani sat up instantly.

“…wait.”

A grin spread slowly across her face.

“We should cook.”

Eraya blinked.

“Together?”

“Yes.”

“You cook?”

Shivani looked offended.

“I can survive.”

“That doesn’t answer my question.”

Shivani pointed at her accusingly.

“Rude.”

Eraya laughed softly again.

And eventually,
somehow,
both of them ended up standing in the kitchen together.

At first, Shivani mostly just talked.
Actually,
she talked the entire time.

Meanwhile Eraya quietly prepared ingredients with calm efficiency.

Shivani watched in disbelief as Eraya chopped vegetables with terrifying precision.

“…why are you holding the knife like a professional chef?”

Eraya looked up.

“…That’s normal. “

“That is not normal.”

Then Shivani leaned against the counter dramatically.

“You know what’s funny?”

“What?”

“Zi once almost burned water.”

Eraya paused.
Then blinked slowly.

“…how?”

“I DON’T KNOW.”

Eraya laughed instantly.

Shivani pointed excitedly.

“YES EXACTLY.”

Then she continued enthusiastically while Eraya cooked.

“There was also this one time during practice when she tried motivating juniors and accidentally insulted everyone.”

Eraya smiled softly while stirring something in the pan.

“What did she say?”

“She said-and I quote-“

Shivani deepened her voice dramatically.

“‘If you play like this, even the basketball feels embarrassed.'”

Eraya burst into laughter.

“And the juniors?”

“They looked emotionally destroyed.”

Eraya covered her mouth laughing softly.
And honestly,
the sound echoed so warmly through the kitchen that Shivani found herself smiling too.

Then Shivani continued dramatically,

“Oh and once she got so angry during practice that she threw the whistle.”

Eraya blinked.

“At who?”

“At the floor.”

“…that’s slightly better.”

“It bounced back and hit her forehead.”

Eraya laughed so hard she had to hold the counter for support.

Shivani pointed triumphantly.

“THAT was the best day of my life.”

Meanwhile Eraya kept cooking almost effortlessly.

Moving naturally through the kitchen.
Calm.
Organized.
Gentle.

Shivani slowly stopped talking for a second just to watch her.

“…wait.”

Eraya looked up.

“You’re actually really good at this.”

Eraya blinked softly.

“At cooking?”

“Yes.”

She gestured dramatically around the kitchen.

“You look like one of those peaceful people from cooking shows.”

That made Eraya smile shyly.

“I used to cook a lot.”

Shivani watched her quietly for a moment.
Then suddenly grabbed a spoon dramatically.

“I’m tasting this.”

“You should wait.”

“I have no patience.”

Before Eraya could stop her, Shivani tasted the curry.

Then froze.

Her eyes widened slowly.

“…oh my god.”

Eraya immediately looked worried.

“What happened?”

Shivani pointed at her dramatically.

“Drop out of college.”

Eraya stared.

“Become a chef.”

A laugh escaped Eraya instantly.

“I’m serious!”

“You’re dramatic.”

“No genuinely this is amazing.”

Eraya shook her head smiling while Shivani continued eating directly from the spoon.

“You know what’s unfair?” Shivani muttered dramatically.

“You’re pretty, emotionally intelligent, AND you cook?”

“That’s exaggerated.”

“And humble too?”

Shivani clutched her chest.

“Zivah never stood a chance.”

Eraya’s cheeks warmed instantly.

Shivani grinned proudly seeing it.

The kitchen looked like a storm had passed through it.

Bowls scattered near the sink.

Vegetable peels abandoned dramatically on the counter.

One spoon somehow inside another utensil drawer for absolutely no reason.

And right in the middle of that disaster,
Eraya and Shivani stood side by side looking completely exhausted.

“I think,” Shivani declared dramatically while leaning against the counter,

“we deserve national recognition for this.”

Eraya laughed softly.

“For cooking?”

“For surviving.”

“You only chopped onions.”

“And I suffered emotionally.”

That earned another laugh from Eraya.
A proper one this time.
Head tilted back slightly.
Eyes soft.

Shivani watched her for a second and smiled unconsciously.

Because honestly,
there was something deeply comforting about seeing Eraya like this.
Relaxed.
Safe.
Happy enough to laugh openly.

Shivani sighed dramatically.

“Okay I officially understand why Zi is obsessed with you.”

Eraya blinked.

“She’s not obsessed.”

“Eraya.”

Shivani deadpanned.

“She would probably fight god for you.”

Eraya’s cheeks warmed instantly.

Before she could reply, Shivani stretched both arms upward dramatically.

“I’m sleepy.”

“You always are.”

“That is because college destroys people.”

Eraya smiled softly while putting the last bowl aside.
Then Shivani suddenly snapped her fingers.

“Afternoon nap.”

Eraya froze.
Then narrowed her eyes slightly.

“…did Zivi tell you that?”

Shivani immediately looked guilty.

“…maybe.”

“Shivi.”

“Okay YES.”

Eraya couldn’t stop the smile forming on her lips.

Shivani pointed at her dramatically.

“She literally assigned me a duty.”

“A duty?”

“Yes.”

She deepened her voice, imitating Zivah terribly.

“‘Make sure Eraya naps after lunch.'”

Eraya laughed quietly.

“And then,” Shivani continued dramatically,

“she threatened me emotionally.”

“She did not.”

“She said if you skipped your nap, she’d blame me.”

That soft ache returned to Eraya’s chest again.
Warm.
Tender.
Overwhelming in the gentlest way.

Because no one had ever cared about things like this before.
Not whether she rested.
Not whether she ate.
Not whether she slept enough.

And now,
someone noticed every tiny thing about her.
Even from far away.

The thought alone made her chest tighten softly.

“She worries too much,” Eraya murmured quietly.

Shivani looked at her knowingly.

“She loves too much.”

That sentence settled somewhere deep inside Eraya.

Then Shivani clapped suddenly.

“NAP TIME.”

Before Eraya could protest, Shivani grabbed her wrist dramatically and dragged her toward the bedroom.

The moment they entered,
Shivani noticed Brownie instantly sitting near the pillows.

“Oh my god.”

She picked the teddy up dramatically.

“This thing again.”

Eraya smiled softly while sitting on the bed.

“I named him Brownie.”

Shivani gasped.

“That’s adorable.”

Then suspiciously-

“…does Zivah know?”

Eraya laughed quietly.

“She’s jealous of him.”

Shivani fell backward dramatically onto the bed laughing.

“No way.”

“She says everyone gets a nickname except her.”

“And then you gave her one too?”

Eraya smiled shyly at the memory.

“…Yeah.”

Shivani clutched Brownie dramatically.

“I’m witnessing dangerous levels of romance.”

Eraya laughed softly again.
And somehow,
the room slowly quieted after that.

The sunlight filtered softly through the curtains.
The fan hummed quietly overhead.
Brownie remained trapped dramatically between them.

And eventually,
they fell asleep.

Two hours later,
the apartment door burst open loudly.

“I cannot feel my legs,” Anamika groaned dramatically while entering.

“That’s because you run like a dying flamingo,” Zivah replied tiredly.

“I hate you.”

“You say that everyday.”

Anamika stopped suddenly.

“…wait.”

Both girls froze.

The aroma.

Food.

Actual homemade food.

Anamika looked emotional instantly.

“Oh my god Zi.”

She followed the smell directly toward the kitchen while Zivah slowly removed her shoes.

Then Anamika lifted the lid dramatically.
And gasped.

“WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED.”

Zivah laughed tiredly while walking closer.

And then,
her eyes landed on the small folded note beside the dishes.

Have it after practice 🙂

The handwriting alone made her expression soften immediately.

Eraya.

Without even realizing it, she picked the note up carefully and slipped it into her pocket.
Like something precious.

Anamika caught the movement instantly.

“Oh my god.”

“What?”

“You’re keeping the note?”

“It’s evidence.”

“Evidence of what?”

“That my wife loves me.”

Anamika gagged dramatically.

“Freshen up before eating,” Zivah said immediately, trying to hide her smile.

“Yes captain.”

Zivah rolled her eyes and walked toward the bedroom quietly.
Probably to wake Eraya.

But the moment she opened the door,

she froze.

Anamika walked behind her curiously.
Then immediately bit her lip to stop laughing.

Because on the bed,
Shivani and Eraya were asleep.

Not exactly cuddling.
But close enough.

Shivani’s arm had fallen loosely over Eraya during sleep.
Brownie trapped dramatically between them.

Eraya looked peaceful.
Completely comfortable.

And Zivah?
Zivah frowned instantly.

Deeply.

Anamika slowly looked toward her.
Then immediately looked away because she knew that face.

She’s Jealous.

“Oh no,” Anamika whispered.

Zivah crossed her arms.

“…move.”

“Why are you jealous of Shivi?”

“I’m not jealous.”

“Your face says otherwise.”

“My face says nothing.”

“Your face is planning murder.”

Zivah glared at her while Anamika struggled not to laugh.

Eventually they both returned toward the dining table.

And throughout the entire meal,
Anamika kept teasing her.

“You know,” she said casually while eating,

“Shivi and Eraya do look very comfortable together.”

Zivah stared blankly.

“Eat your food.”

“I’m just saying.”

“You enjoy being annoying too much.”

“I learned from you.”

Before Zivah could reply,
a sleepy voice interrupted.

“…why are you guys so loud?”

Shivani walked out first.
Hair messy.
Still half asleep.

The second she saw Anamika,
her entire face softened instantly.

Without hesitation,
she walked directly toward her and sat sideways on her lap naturally.
Like she belonged there.

Anamika smiled immediately, one arm wrapping around her waist instinctively.

“How was practice?” Shivani mumbled sleepily while kissing her cheek softly.

“It was good,” Anamika replied smiling.

Then pointed at Zivah dramatically.

“She hit a junior with the basketball.”

Zivah groaned loudly.

“IT WAS AN ACCIDENT.”

Shivani burst into laughter against Anamika’s shoulder.

“Oh my god.”

“The idiot walked into the ball.” Zivah defended.

“That sounds exactly like something you’d say after assault.”

Zivah pointed aggressively.

“You’re both horrible.”

Meanwhile Eraya finally walked out too.
Still sleepy.
Hair slightly messy.

The second Zivah saw her,
her expression softened automatically.
Even while annoyed.

But unfortunately,
Shivani noticed that too.

And immediately decided violence was necessary.

“You know Mika,” Shivani said casually while holding Anamika dramatically,

“Eraya is actually very comfortable to cuddle.”

Silence.

Zivah slowly looked up.

Anamika immediately covered her mouth to stop laughing.

Shivani continued fearlessly.

“Very warm too.”

“Shivani,” Zivah said flatly.

“Hm?”

“Be careful.”

Eraya started laughing instantly seeing Zivah’s expression.

And somehow that made it worse.

“Oh my god,” Anamika wheezed.

“She’s actually jealous.”

“I AM NOT.”

“Your eye twitched.”

“It did not.”

Shivani leaned comfortably against Anamika smiling smugly.

“Maybe I should nap here everyday.”

“Maybe you should leave.”

That made Eraya laugh harder.
And honestly,
the moment Zivah heard that laugh,
her annoyance melted immediately.
Because it always did.
Every single time.

Eventually after endless teasing, dinner, and emotional destruction of Zivah,
Anamika and Shivani finally stood near the door preparing to leave.

Before leaving, Shivani grinned dramatically at Zivah.

“Goodnight captain.”

“Leave.”

“Jealousy is unhealthy.”

“SHIVANI.”

Anamika dragged her away laughing loudly while Shivani waved dramatically.

And the moment the door closed,
the apartment became quiet again.

Zivah immediately turned toward Eraya.
Narrowing her eyes suspiciously.

“…comfortable to cuddle?”
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