Chapter 13: A silence that said too much

 A Question That Neither Could Answer

The air in the room felt heavier than usual. Neither of them spoke for a moment, both trapped in the realization that something had shifted—something that couldn't be undone.

Kyara was the first to break the silence, her voice lighter than she intended. "Why are you doing this?"

Niki leaned back against the couch, his posture relaxed, but his fingers gripped the armrest too tightly. "Don't worry about the contract. My parents won't have any problem with you studying abroad. They even said the marriage can happen after your master's." He exhaled slowly, forcing a smirk. "If you go abroad, we'll have a lot of time, hmm?"

His words weren't meant to convince her. They were meant to convince himself.

Because deep down, something inside him whispered—

I don't want you to be burdened with this. Fly with your dreams.

Kyara hesitated, sensing something deeper beneath his words, but she tried to ease the tension. "Yeah, yeah, it's not like I've been accepted anywhere yet. Even if I apply, I still have to pass the exams, fill out forms, do a million things—"

They both knew she was rambling.

They both knew they were trying too hard to keep things the same.

But some things, once broken, could never be pieced back together.

One Week Later – The Meeting That Changed Everything

The conference room buzzed with quiet anticipation. The large screen flickered to life as Rahul, their lead designer, stood before the investors, walking them through the latest game concepts.

"Project 'Elysium' focuses on a high-immersion open world—unlike anything in the market right now." Rahul's voice was steady, his confidence sharp.

The board members exchanged glances, nodding in approval.

Then came the second pitch.

"Project 'Voidwalk' is a riskier investment but will redefine FPS multiplayer interaction."

Silence.

The energy in the room shifted.

The lead investor folded his hands on the table. "We're willing to greenlight 'Elysium'… but not 'Voidwalk.'"

A quiet blow, but a devastating one.

Niki's jaw clenched, but he nodded. "Understood."

After the Meeting – A Conversation That Cut Too Deep

Niki walked out, his usual calm demeanor intact. But Rohan knew better.

He caught up beside him, slipping his hands into his pockets. "So… that could have been worse."

Niki let out a short laugh. "Oh? Enlighten me."

"They could've thrown you out of the window instead of just rejecting your second project."

Niki rolled his eyes. "Thanks, Rohan. Truly, your optimism is blinding."

Rohan shrugged. "Hey, gotta balance out your brooding energy." Then, more seriously, "You know what this means, right?"

Niki exhaled sharply. "Yeah. We're short on funding. If I don't cover the losses, we'll take a massive hit."

Rohan frowned. "Can't you just use your own money?"

Niki shook his head. "If I do, my family will know. And if they know, they'll interfere."

Rohan studied him for a moment before clicking his tongue. "Man, your life is way too complicated."

Niki chuckled dryly. "Tell me about it."

Rohan smirked. "Look at you, Mr. Future Gaming Mogul. What's next? A Netflix documentary about your struggles?"

Niki shot him a look. "Yeah, and you'll be the idiot best friend they interview for comic relief."

Rohan grinned. "Finally, my time to shine."

But beneath the banter, the weight of what lay ahead pressed heavier than ever.

Meanwhile – Kyara's DecisionSitting at her desk, Kyara stared at the application form.

Her cursor hovered over the final submission button.

Her heart raced.

Is this really happening?

A month ago, she wouldn't have even considered this. Now? She was chasing something that once felt impossible.

Her mind flickered back to Niki's words. "Fly with your dreams."

Her fingers hesitated on the mousepad.

If I leave, everything changes. If I stay, I might regret it forever.

For the first time in a long time, she felt like she was choosing something entirely for herself.

With a deep breath, she pressed Submit.

A confirmation email popped up.

It was done.

And yet, instead of excitement, a strange hollowness settled in her chest.

Rohan's Suspicion – A Name That Didn't Feel Right

Rohan leaned against his car, phone pressed to his ear. "Mr. Shyanat, I called regarding the contract papers. Are they ready?"

The lawyer's voice crackled through the speaker. "Yes, yes. Should I send someone to deliver them?"

Rohan shook his head. "No, I'll come get them myself."

He drove across the city, parking in front of the office. As he stepped out, his gaze flickered toward a red car.

Something about it nagged at him.

I've seen this somewhere before.

His brow furrowed slightly. Where?

The thought lingered, but before he could piece it together, he shook his head and walked inside.

The lawyer handed over the papers. "Everything is in order. Do you need anything else?"

Rohan skimmed through the documents before shaking his head. "No, this is fine."

He stepped outside, got into his car, and pulled out his phone.

"The papers are ready," he told Niki. "Should I send a copy to Kyara too?"

A pause.

Then, Niki's voice came through, quieter than usual. "Yeah. Send it."

Rohan hesitated.

This wasn't Niki's usual detached tone. Something felt… off.

And then he noticed it.

Niki's hand, the one holding his pen, was trembling.

For a guy who never let anything faze him, that single moment spoke louder than words.

For the first time, Rohan didn't crack a joke. Instead, he simply asked, "Are you okay?"

Another pause.

Then, a quiet, "Umm… yeah."

But Rohan knew better.

Because even though Niki was pretending to be fine, his grip on that pen said otherwise.

And for the first time, Niki was beginning to realize—

Letting Kyara go wasn't as easy as he thought.

Author's note:

Things are starting to shift—Kyara is moving forward, but is Niki really okay with letting her go? And what about that red car Rohan saw? Something is brewing beneath the surface…

What do you think will happen next? Drop a comment, add this to your library, and leave a review! Your support keeps the story going! ....and i have written a new book please give it a try it's name is timeless connection