“I still don’t get why we’re going to a fair,” Akif grumbled, arms crossed as he stood near the gate, watching the crowd.

“Because it’s fun and you need to chill,” Ayaan said, dragging him forward. “And also, your girl is coming.”

“She’s not—” Akif stopped mid-sentence.

Zoya had arrived.

White kurti, light-washed jeans, her hair braided loosely over one shoulder, and laughter lighting up her face as Aarfa tugged her toward the entry.

She caught Akif's eye.

He forgot how to breathe.

---

The fair was bursting with chaos — fairy lights everywhere, loud music, children running with candy floss, and food stalls that smelled like fried heaven.

Zoya was beaming. “I want to try everything.”

Aarfa dragged Ayaan to the chaat stall, while Zoya trailed beside Akif, her eyes wide at every spinning ride and game booth.

“You’ve been weirdly quiet,” she nudged him.

“I’m not a fair kind of guy.”

She grinned. “Then let’s turn you into one.”

---

It was all fun and games until the haunted house appeared.

A black tent. Eerie music. Fake fog rolling out the entrance.

“I’m not going in there,” Akif said immediately.

Zoya folded her arms. “Scared?”

He raised an eyebrow. “For you, yeah. You’ll scream the moment a fake ghost jumps out.”

“Oh please,” she scoffed. “I’m braver than you think.”

Five minutes later, she was clinging to his arm like her life depended on it.

“Zoya— that was just a mannequin—”

“DON’T CARE. I HATE THIS. WHY DID I COME IN HERE?!”

Another loud noise.

She jumped and wrapped her arms around his waist without even realizing.

Akif froze.

Her face was buried in his chest. His arms instinctively went around her.

“I swear if something touches me, I’m gonna cry,” she whimpered.

“Okay, okay, shh... I got you. No one’s touching you.”

His voice was gentle. Too gentle.

Zoya peeked up at him.

His face was so close.

She blinked.

“Your heartbeat’s fast,” she whispered.

“Yeah,” he muttered. “Wonder why.”

Another scream.

Zoya shrieked and pulled him closer.

“I swear if you keep holding me like this, I’ll have to marry you on the spot,” Akif mumbled.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

---

By the time they stumbled out, Zoya was breathless, hair a mess, and laughing her head off.

“I’ve never screamed that much in my life,” she said, still holding his hand.

“You literally refused to let go.”

“I panicked!”

Aarfa gave her a knowing smile. “You two good?”

“Perfect,” Akif said before Zoya could even speak.

She glanced at him.

He was smiling.

For real.

---

That night, her phone buzzed again.

> Akif: “Still scared?”

> Zoya: “Not when I’m with you.”

> Akif: “You were literally inside my ja

cket.”

> Zoya: “And you didn’t mind.”

> Akif: “…No. I didn’t.”

She bit her lip, grinning like an idiot.

---

Was it cute huh? Hehe finally~ they are getting too close...like toooooo close!

~Anniewrites🎀🪐