Danielle woke up with a sense of unease, remnants of last night’s confusion still lingering in her mind. She couldn’t shake off the tension that had settled between her and Kavin. After a quick breakfast, she made her way to the university, hoping to find some clarity in the routine of her day.
As she walked into the campus, the notice board was buzzing with activity. Curious, she approached and saw the announcement for a one-week university trip to Manali, a picturesque hill station known for its romantic landscapes and serene beauty.
Her heart skipped a beat at the thought of the trip. The idea of spending a week surrounded by nature, away from the pressures of university life, was appealing. But she knew Alden would be protective and likely say no.
She spotted Kalex and Mia by the board, excitement evident on their faces.
"Danielle! Did you see this?" Mia exclaimed, pointing to the notice.
"Yeah, it sounds amazing," Danielle replied, trying to match their enthusiasm.
"Are you going to join?" Kalex asked, her eyes sparkling.
"I'd love to, but I need to talk to Alden first. You know how he is," Danielle said, smiling weakly.
"Fingers crossed for you," Mia said, giving her a reassuring pat on the shoulder.
_ ____ ___
Danielle headed to the library, where Kavin and Lucas were working on an assignment. She joined them, feeling the familiar comfort of their company, even though the tension from yesterday still lingered.
"Hey, Danielle," Lucas greeted her. "Did you see the trip announcement?"
"Yeah, it looks great. Are you guys going?" she asked, glancing at Kavin.
"Definitely," Lucas replied. "I could use a break."
Kavin nodded, his expression unreadable. "Yeah, it sounds fun."
As they worked on their assignment, Ethan walked in, heading straight for their table.
"Hey, Danielle, mind if I join you?" Ethan asked, pulling up a chair before she could respond.
"Sure, Ethan," Danielle said, forcing a smile.
Kavin’s jaw tightened slightly, but he didn’t say anything. The presence of Ethan seemed to disrupt the delicate balance between them. The group worked in relative silence, with Ethan and Danielle occasionally sharing small jokes, which only seemed to deepen Kavin's frown.
_ ____ ___
During lunch, the announcement of the trip was the main topic of conversation. Everyone seemed excited about the prospect of a getaway. Kavin couldn't help but glance at Danielle, wondering if she would be able to join. He had been planning to use the trip as an opportunity to finally express his feelings for her, far away from the complexities of their daily lives.
Stella joined them, her usual bright demeanor lifting the mood slightly. "So, who's all in for the trip?" she asked, looking around the table.
"I'm in," said Jackson, raising his hand.
"Count me in too," Lucas added.
"Same here," Mia chimed in, followed by Kalex.
"And you, Danielle?" Stella asked.
"I'm not sure yet. I need to talk to Alden," Danielle replied, her voice tinged with uncertainty.
"You should definitely come," Ethan said, giving her an encouraging smile. "It wouldn’t be the same without you."
Kavin's eyes flicked to Ethan, then back to Danielle. "Yeah, you should come," he said quietly, his expression earnest.
Danielle smiled, but the weight of Alden's potential disapproval hung over her like a cloud. "I'll see what I can do."
_ ____ ___
After classes, Danielle went home and broached the subject with Alden.
"Alden, the university is organizing a trip to Manali for a week. Everyone's going, and I really want to join them," she said, trying to sound casual.
Alden looked up from his book, his expression serious. "Manali? That's quite far. I don't know, Danielle. I'm not comfortable with you being so far away for an entire week."
"But Alden, it's with the university. It’s a supervised trip, and all my friends are going," Danielle pleaded.
"I'll think about it, okay? But no promises," Alden replied, his tone firm.
Danielle sighed, knowing this was the best she could hope for at the moment. "Thanks, Alden."
_ ____ ___
Back at the university, Kavin was walking to his car when he spotted Danielle with Ethan again. They were laughing about something, and he felt a sharp pang of jealousy. Without thinking, he walked over.
"Hey, Danielle, can I talk to you for a second?" Kavin said, his voice tense.
Danielle looked up, surprised. "Sure, Kavin. What's up?"
Kavin pulled her aside, away from Ethan. "Why do you keep hanging out with him?" he blurted out, his frustration bubbling over.
"What's your problem, Kavin?" Danielle asked, taken aback by his tone.
"My problem is that you're spending all this time with Ethan, and it’s like you’re ignoring me," Kavin said, his voice rising.
Danielle felt a mixture of anger and hurt. "Kavin, I can be friends with whoever I want. Why are you acting like this?"
"Because I care about you, Danielle!" Kavin snapped, then immediately regretted his words.
Before Danielle could respond, Stella appeared, sensing the tension. "Hey, what's going on here?"
"Nothing, Stella," Kavin said, his voice softer. "Just a misunderstanding."
Stella looked between them, then turned to Danielle. "Why don’t we all just cool down a bit? Kavin, let's go."
Kavin hesitated, then nodded, casting one last look at Danielle before walking away with Stella.
Danielle stood there, feeling tears prick at the corners of her eyes. She turned and walked away, not wanting anyone to see her cry.
_ ____ ___
As Danielle lay in bed that night, she replayed the events of the day over and over in her mind. She felt torn between her feelings for Kavin and the confusion caused by his sudden outburst. The thought of the trip to Manali lingered, a distant hope that maybe, just maybe, things could get better.
Meanwhile, Kavin lay awake, guilt gnawing at him. He knew he had handled the situation poorly. His jealousy had gotten the better of him, and now he feared he might have pushed Danielle further away.
The night stretched on, filled with restless thoughts and unspoken emotions. The tangled web of their relationships grew more complicated, each thread pulling them in different directions.
And in the quiet of their separate rooms, two hearts beat with the same longing and uncertainty, each hoping that the dawn would bring a chance for reconciliation and understanding.
«TO BE CONTINUED»
"In the silence between us,
the words left unspoken weigh heavier
than the ones that broke us apart."
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'~'~'N€VER_KNOWN'~'~'
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