A few people in the café had noticed the sudden mont between them. Soft cheers and playful claps rose from nearby tables, so custors smiling warmly at the scene they had just witnessed.
Karn and Aisha both pulled back slightly, a little embarrassed but clearly happy.
"Thank you," Aisha said with a shy smile, nodding toward the people who had cheered for them.
Karn chuckled nervously and gave a small wave of appreciation before he returned to his seat across from her.
Once they settled back down, the excitent of the mont still lingered between them.
Karn picked up his fork, but his hand trembled slightly. His heart was still racing from the rush of emotions. For a second he simply stared at the slice of cheesecake in front of him, unable to focus.
Aisha noticed imdiately. A small amused smile curved on her lips.
"Looks like soone’s too excited to even eat," she teased softly.
Before he could respond, she picked up her spoon, scooped a small bite of cheesecake, and leaned slightly forward across the table.
"Here," she said gently, holding the spoon toward him. "Eat this."
Karn leaned forward and obediently opened his mouth, taking the bite of cheesecake from the spoon she held out. The sweetness barely registered on his tongue because his mind was still overwheld by everything that had just happened.
Aisha didn’t withdraw her hand imdiately. Instead, she gently took hold of his other hand.
"You’re shivering," she said softly, noticing the slight tremor in his fingers. Her eyes held a playful curiosity. "Did my confession affect you that much?"
Karn nodded honestly.
"I thought it would take a long ti for you to open your heart to ," he admitted. A smile ford on his lips as he looked at her. "Right now... it still feels like a dream."
Aisha’s expression softened.
Karn finally managed to steady himself enough to continue eating his cheesecake, and Aisha returned to her own dessert. The atmosphere between them felt lighter now, filled with warmth and an unspoken happiness neither of them tried to hide.
After finishing their food and drinks, they left the café together.
The streetlights had already begun to glow, casting a soft golden light along the pavent.
Karn glanced at her and spoke in a gentle tone.
"I’ll drop you ho."
But Aisha shook her head slightly and looked down the quiet street.
"Shall we take a small walk?" she suggested. "If you’re not too tired... or if you’re not in a hurry to go ho."
"No, I’m not tired," Karn replied.
Without hesitation, he reached for her hand. Aisha let him take it, her fingers naturally lacing with his as they began walking down the quiet street together.
For a few monts, neither of them spoke, simply enjoying the calmness of the night and the comfort of each other’s presence.
Then Karn broke the silence.
"The first ti I ever noticed you," he said thoughtfully, "we were both sixteen."
Aisha glanced up at him, curious.
"It was during the yearly house battle championship," he continued. "You won the debate competition that year."
A faint smile appeared on his face as the mory resurfaced.
"You stood on the stage holding the trophy while everyone was clapping for you."
Aisha turned her head toward him, slightly surprised that he rembered it so clearly.
"That was also the ti people said you and Joshua were dating," Karn added.
Aisha imdiately shook her head.
"No," she said firmly. "Joshua hadn’t even asked out at that ti."
Karn frowned slightly.
"But the rumors were everywhere. People said the two of you were together."
Aisha sighed lightly.
"That wasn’t true," she explained. "Joshua only asked out after the championship ended. Before that, we were just friends."
She continued walking beside him as she spoke.
"He had really good grades in school and used to help with my studies sotis."
Karn suddenly stopped walking.
"What?" he said in disbelief.
Aisha turned to look at him, puzzled by his reaction.
Karn stared at her for a mont before letting out a small, helpless laugh.
"Aisha... I never asked you out back then because I thought you and Joshua were already together. I... I thought I wouldn’t even get a chance to talk to you," Karn said, his voice turning unsteady. "You always seed surrounded by people, and I convinced myself I had no place stepping in."
He swallowed hard before continuing.
"And when we entered college... you were already with Joshua. After that, I felt like I couldn’t ask you anything anymore."
His words stumbled over each other as the old regret surfaced.
"I made a mistake," he added quietly. "If I had just asked you back then—"
He stopped mid-sentence. His eyes blinked rapidly as if trying to push away the wave of emotion rising inside him.
Aisha gently squeezed his hand.
"Karn," she said softly, "it’s alright. You don’t need to feel bad for anymore. I don’t like seeing you think that way."
Karn shook his head imdiately.
"I’m not feeling bad for you," he whispered. "And I’m sorry if it ca across like that."
They resud walking slowly along the sidewalk, their hands still linked.
Aisha looked ahead for a mont before speaking again.
"We’re together now," she said calmly. Her voice carried a quiet acceptance of the past. "Maybe life wanted to go through that phase," she continued. "Maybe it was sothing I needed to experience before eting you."
Then she smiled at him.
"Eventually, I t you... the person for whom I’m the first love."
Karn nodded slowly, his gaze steady on hers.
"Yes," he admitted quietly. "You are my first love."
The words had barely settled between them when Aisha suddenly leaned forward and kissed him.
The unexpected gesture made Karn’s breath hitch.
For a brief mont he stood completely still, surprised by her boldness. When she pulled back, her eyes remained fixed on his.
"We didn’t kiss properly earlier," she murmured softly.
Karn felt a small smile tug at his lips.
"Then we should fix that now," he replied.
He gently leaned closer, his hand moving to the back of her head as he drew her toward him. This ti their kiss was slower and more certain, no longer rushed by excitent or surrounded by curious onlookers.
His other arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer as they kissed like there was no tomorrow.
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