But Aryan was waiting for only one person to see it. Across the table, Maya’s phone chimed. She picked it up, her eyebrows shooting up as she watched the status. She looked at the screen, then at him, a slow, mischievous smirk spreading across her face.

"Not world news," Aryan grinned, pocketing his phone. "Just my favorite view."

On his screen was a candid video of Maya. She was mid-laugh, dramatically rolling her eyes because he had suggested they share a dessert instead of getting two. The lighting from the fairy lights caught the sparkle in her nose pin, and her playful shrug was pure attitude.

Maya laughed, a sound far better than any background music he could have picked. She didn't ask him to take it down. Instead, she took a photo of him looking smug and posted her own status with a simple caption: