Chapter 5: Confessions and Connections

Chapter 5: Confessions and Connections

Three months of hectic workdays and endless misunderstandings had finally come to an end. Today marked a milestone—Kiara had successfully completed her training and officially became a permanent employee. This also meant that I was no longer her mentor.

I wasn't sure how to feel about that. I wasn't exactly sad, but there was a strange hollowness that tugged at me. Kiara had been a constant presence in my days, and now that would change. Shaking off the thought, I focused on the present.

To celebrate, Kiara had organized a small party at a local restaurant. She'd invited everyone in the office, but only a handful had come. Some had family waiting at home, while others probably assumed her invitation was more out of courtesy than genuine intent. But I knew Kiara wasn't the type to invite people just for appearances.

The restaurant buzzed with chatter as we gathered around the table. Keshav, Harsh, a few female colleagues, the accountant, and I made up the small group. Drinks were poured, and the conversation flowed, mostly about our lives outside of work.

Keshav stood suddenly, clapping his hands to draw everyone's attention. His authoritative yet jovial tone silenced the chatter.

"Alright, everyone! We're here to celebrate Miss Kiara for her fantastic work and completing her training. From now on, she'll take on more challenging tasks. Congratulations!"

Harsh groaned playfully, clapping along. "Boo! But yeah, congrats, Kiara."

"Congratulations!" we all chimed in, clapping our hands.

Kiara stood up, her smile glowing brighter than the restaurant lights. "Thank you so much, everyone, for coming to celebrate with me. It means a lot." She joined her hands in a gesture of gratitude before sitting down gracefully.

But of course, Harsh couldn't resist stirring the pot. "Aww, aren't you upset, Kiara, that you won't get to be around Sai all the time anymore?"

I felt my stomach drop. The last thing I wanted was for this to come up.

Kiara turned to me with a grin that didn't quite mask her blush. "Oh no, it's fine. We'll stay close anyway—using our previous life powers!" Her gaze locked with mine for a brief moment, and I noticed her cheeks had turned a deep shade of pink.

Was she embarrassed? And if so, why say something so bold? Or was she blushing for an entirely different reason?

I cleared my throat, breaking the eye contact. "Yeah, yeah," I muttered, nodding dismissively, trying to deflect the awkwardness.

One of our female colleagues, emboldened by the drinks, leaned forward. "Do you only have eyes for Sai, Kiara?"

"Hey! What kind of question is that?" I protested, but my voice lacked conviction.

Kiara, however, met the question head-on. "Yes, because I love him," she said confidently, her eyes never leaving mine.

The room fell silent, except for Harsh, who nearly choked on his drink.

"What? Did you drink something weird?" I asked, trying to laugh it off.

Kiara pouted. "Meany. I'm your previous life's wife—why wouldn't I love you?"

Harsh jumped in, smirking. "So, it's all because of your past life memories? That's why you're in love with him?"

Kiara nodded, her tone unwavering. "That's right. I love him."

I rubbed my temples, feeling the weight of everyone's gaze on me. "Kiara," I began, my voice low but steady. "Assuming we were married in a previous life, you're talking about someone who doesn't exist anymore. You're in love with the 'past life' me, not the present me. Do you see the difference? I'm just Sai—a regular guy."

Her expression softened, but her resolve didn't waver. "Then I'll fall in love with you again," she said with a determined smile. "I think I already have."

I stared at her, stunned into silence. Her conviction was disarming, and for a moment, I couldn't think of a single thing to say.

"I love that attitude of yours, Kiara!" Harsh shouted, breaking the tension.

Before I could respond, Kiara's phone buzzed. "Excuse me, I have to take this," she said, leaving the table.

The conversation shifted to ordering food, but I found myself distracted. When the waiter returned with our dishes, Kiara was still on her call, so I ordered for her. It was something I did on autopilot, remembering a comment she'd made weeks ago.

When she returned, her eyes lit up at the sight of her plate. "Who ordered this for me?"

"Sai did," Keshav replied. "If you don't like it, you can order something else."

"No, it's not that—I love this dish. It's my favorite!" She turned to me, her eyes wide with curiosity. "How did you know?"

I hesitated, searching for an explanation.

"Previous life memories!" Harsh declared dramatically, earning a round of laughter.

"No," I said quickly, trying to regain control of the narrative. "You mentioned it once—the other day. That's all."

Her expression softened into a smile that made my chest tighten. "I guess you really were paying attention."

The rest of the dinner passed in a blur of laughter and teasing, but I couldn't shake the weight of Kiara's earlier confession.

When it was time to leave, I excused myself early, citing an important meeting the next morning. As I stepped outside to hail a cab, I heard footsteps behind me.

"Sai!" Kiara called, jogging to catch up.

I turned, surprised. "What is it?"

"Why did you leave early? Was the food not to your liking?" she asked, her brows knitted in concern.

"No, the food was fine," I said quickly. "I just have to prepare for tomorrow's meeting."

"Oh… okay," she said, her voice tinged with disappointment. "I'll see you tomorrow, then."

"See you," I replied, turning toward the road.

But as I waited for a cab, I couldn't shake the image of her determined smile or the way her words had stirred something in me. Whatever it was, I wasn't ready to face it—not yet.