The night sky shimmered faintly, stars scattered like scattered memories above Aman's head. He sat alone on the garden bench, wind brushing through his hair like silent whispers of something lost, something he didn't want to name yet.
Then, soft footsteps behind him. He felt a presence.A touch on his shoulder.
His heart skipped.Could it be… Saisha?
But no.
It was Angel.
Aman didn't hide his disappointment well. He gave her a soft glance as she sat beside him, her head gently resting on his shoulder like she belonged there.
But she didn't.Aman hadn't expected Angel… no, for once, the person he wanted to meet in real life, but now she was with him, everything felt strange. Of course, she stole Saisha`s identity.
And now that Angel was here—right beside him—everything inside him felt strangely wrong. Off. Uncomfortable. As if the universe itself was pulling him in the opposite direction… straight toward Saisha.
Still, he kept quiet.
"I'm sorry for earlier," Aman said, keeping his voice even. "I shouldn't have yelled."
Angel smiled like nothing ever touched her. "It's okay, babe. I love you."
He went still for a second, unsure how to respond.
"You know," he murmured, eyes tracing the night sky, "before I met you, I used to imagine you as this sweet, slightly clumsy girl who might trip on her own words… someone soft, someone warm."
Angel tilted her head curiously. "And?"
"You're… very different from what I thought."
"Should I take that as a compliment?" she asked, teasing.
Aman managed a smile. "Yeah… babydoll."
There was a pause. One she filled with venom under sugar.
"And about Saisha," she continued casually, "can we not talk about her anymore? She's just… no one. Always like that—attention seeking. Honestly, babe, you need to stop thinking about her."
She kissed his cheek like a mark. A claim.
And behind them, unnoticed, stood Saisha.
Frozen.Crushed.Breathless.
She didn't mean to eavesdrop. She only came to say something. Anything. Maybe to apologize. But she heard everything.
Angel's voice.Aman's silence.No denial. No defense.Just silence.
Saisha turned and left.Not with tears, no. This time her heart didn't even break. It just… gave up.
She climbed into bed. No crying. No screaming. Just sleep.Because that's what you do when the world keeps choosing others over you.You sleep.
Later that night…
Aman stared into the dark, something uneasy crawling beneath his skin.
"Angel," he whispered, "remember that poetry you recited to me that night on the phone? Can you tell it to me again?"
Of course, she didn't know it.Because it was never hers.
"That one… oh, actually Aman, I'm really sleepy tonight. Some other time?"
"Angel… please, baby… recite that poem again?" he asked gently. "I loved it."
Angel tensed slightly, and she hesitated, eyes darting away. "Actually… Aman, I don't remember it."
He blinked, surprise flickering across his face.
"You… don't remember?" he repeated. "I mean… You said it was your favorite. You told me you read it every time you felt low."
Angel looked uncomfortable now, glancing around, avoiding his gaze. "Yeah, well… I'm just really sleepy. Maybe some other time?" she said, trying to laugh it off.
Aman watched her carefully, eyes narrowing just a little, not in anger, but in doubt.Something didn't sit right.
He finally nodded, though his voice lost its warmth."It's okay. You're tired. Let's go."
"Yeah," Angel said quickly. "That's what I was saying."
He nodded.
But something shifted.
And for the first time… he began to wonder if the girl he fell in love with online was really sitting next to him at all.