Xanqer's eyes seemed to bore into hers, as if searching for something. "What do you think?" he asked.

  Meesha's heart caught in her throat as she struggled to find the right words. "I don't know..." she stammered.

  As soon as the words left her lips, Xanqer moved closer to her, his face inches from hers. Meesha's heart was racing, her senses on high alert. She could feel the warmth of his breath on her skin, making her feel lightheaded and dizzy.

  And then, without warning, Xanqer tilted his head and locked his lips against hers in a soft, gentle kiss. His hand remained on her cheek, his fingers warm against her skin.

  Meesha's heart fluttered wildly as she felt his lips on hers. It was like a jolt of electricity had run through her body, leaving her feeling breathless. She couldn't believe what was happening.

  As Xanqer pulled back, his face was still close to hers, the tip of his nose grazing the side of her nose. Meesha's heart beat faster, her senses overwhelmed by his proximity.

  He looked into her eyes, his gaze searching. "What do you think now?" he whispered, his voice intoxicating her.

  Meesha felt her nervousness grow, her heart racing with anticipation. She looked into his eyes, but she couldn't find the words to respond.

  The silence that followed was oppressive, weighing heavily on Meesha's shoulders. She felt like she was drowning in it, unable to escape.

  And then, in a moment that seemed to stretch on forever, Xanqer pulled back, his eyes never leaving hers. "I love you," he said, his voice soft and sincere.

  Meesha's heart skipped a beat as she looked into his eyes, her mind reeling with the implications of his words.

  As Xanqer's words hung in the air, Meesha's eyes widened in surprise. She couldn't believe she was hearing those three words from him. It was as if time had stopped, and all that existed was the two of them, suspended in this moment of raw emotion.

  Meesha's mind reeled as she struggled to process her feelings. A surge of joy rose up inside her, threatening to overflow. But then, a nagging doubt crept in, casting a shadow over her happiness. Was he just saying it? Was it just a fleeting feeling, a momentary lapse of judgment?

  Meesha's eyes darted up to meet Xanqer's, her gaze searching for answers. She looked for any sign of insincerity, any hint that he was just playing with her feelings. But his expression was calm, serene and utterly sincere.

  Despite the reassurance she saw in his eyes, Meesha's nerves got the better of her. She felt a flutter in her chest, a nervous energy that threatened to overwhelm her. Meesha spoke, her words tumbling out in a rush. "If you're just playing with my feelings... you should stop..." She looked down, her eyes avoiding his, as she awaited his response.

  Xanqer's expression changed, a look of surprise crossing his face. He seemed taken aback by her reply, but only for a moment. Then, his features softened, and he spoke, his voice filled with conviction. "I really mean it, Meesha. I love you."

  As he repeated those three words, Meesha felt like she was melting away. The words sent shivers down her spine, and her heart leaped with happiness.

  A million happinesses seemed to rise up inside her, each one a tiny, sparkling bubble that filled her with joy. She felt a sense of euphoria wash over her, as if she was walking on air, her feet barely touching the ground. It was as if she had been transported to a different world, one where everything was bright and beautiful, and anything was possible. It was as if all her dreams, all her wishes, had finally come true.

  Meesha had liked Xanqer for more than a year, but he never like her back. She had tried to get his attention, to make him look at her, but he hadn't. And now, here he was, telling her he loved her. It was almost too much to bear.

  As she thought about it, Meesha felt a lump form in her throat. Her eyes began to prick with tears, and before she knew it, she was crying. The tears flowed down her cheeks like a river, each one a testament to the depth of her emotions.

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  Xanqer was taken aback by her tears. Concern etched on his face, he asked, "What's wrong? Why are you crying?" He reached out, his hands cupping her face, his thumbs wiping away her tears.

  Meesha continued crying, her voice breaking as she spoke. "They're tears of joy," she whispered, her body shaking with sobs.

  Meesha tears continued, but she smiled through them. "Xanqer... you don't know how long... I've been longing to hear those words from you," she confessed, her voice cracking with emotion.

  Xanqer's lips curved upwards into a subtle smile. He cupped her chin, his thumbs wiping away her tears. "You've heard them now," he whispered, his voice filled with emotion. "Should I say it again?"

  Meesha nodded, her eyes still shining with tears. "I love you," Xanqer whispered, his lips brushing against her ear.

  Meesha's smiled, her eyes shining with happiness. She sniffled, her nose running from her tears. She looked at him, her eyes locked onto his.

  "Xanqer, I love–" she began, but before she could finish speaking, Xanqer covered her mouth with his palm.

  "No need to say it," he said, his voice soft. "I already know."

  And with that, he wrapped his arms around her shoulders, pulling her into a warm, comforting hug. Meesha smiled, feeling a sense of belonging, of being exactly where she was meant to be. She wrapped her arms around his waists, hugging him back.

  "But I still want to say it," she said, her voice muffled against his chest.

  Xanqer let out a slight chuckle. "Say it, then," he replied, his voice filled with encouragement.

  Meesha took a deep breath, her heart pounding with excitement. "I love you, Xanqer," she said.

  As she spoke, Xanqer's arms tightened around her, holding her close. He leaned down, his lips brushing against her ear, "I love you too, Meesha."

  Meesha had already gotten dressed and was ready to face the day. She made her way downstairs, her heels clicking on the steps. As she reached the bottom, she paused by the wall, checking her reflection in the mirror to make sure she looked perfect. Satisfied with her appearance, she took a deep breath and walked into the living room.

  That's when she saw him – Xanqer, sitting on the couch, his laptop open in front of him. She felt a wave of nervousness wash over her, her palms growing sweaty. They had already confessed their feelings to each other, and everything was going to change between them now.

  Meesha's instincts took over, and she quickly hid behind the wall, her heart racing. She didn't know how to feel or react now. The thought of being with Xanqer, someone she had admired for so long, was overwhelming.

  Taking a few deep breaths, Meesha tried to calm herself down. She realized that she couldn't hide behind the wall forever, but she wasn't ready to face Xanqer yet either. So, she came up with a plan.

  Meesha crept back upstairs, trying not to make any noise. She grabbed a piece of paper and a pen from her desk and wrote a quick note. "I already left for work. I'll be back by evening. Love you." As she wrote the last two words, Meesha felt a flutter in her chest. She had always said "love you" to Xanqer's face before, but now it felt different. It felt more intimate, more personal.

  Meesha looked at the note, feeling a little nervous. She decided to erase the "love you" part, not feeling brave enough to leave it. She placed the note on her bedside table, knowing that Xanqer would eventually find it when he came looking for her.

  With that done, Meesha made her way back downstairs, this time using the back door to slip out of the house unnoticed. She took a deep breath, feeling a sense of freedom wash over her. She was ready to face the day, and whatever lay ahead.

  As she arrived at the industry, Meesha felt a surge of happiness. She was greeted by the photographer and the designer, who were both thrilled to see her. The photo shoot went smoothly, with Meesha smiling and laughing effortlessly in front of the camera.

  The designer thanked Meesha as she checked the pictures, beaming with satisfaction. "You captured the exact feeling we were looking for," she said, smiling.

  Meesha smiled back, feeling happy and content. "I'm glad you liked it," she said, waving off their thanks.

  As she made her way to her dressing room, Kira caught up with her. "You've been happy all day," Kira observed, a curious glint in her eye. "Tell me, what's going on?"

  Meesha's smile grew wider as she shared the news with Kira. "I'm officially in a relationship with Xanqer," she said, feeling dreamy as she slumped into the chair.

  Kira gasped in amazement. "You are?" she asked, her eyes wide with excitement.

  Meesha nodded, feeling like she was on top of the world. "Yes. He told me he loves me. Oh, Kira, I'm so happy."

  Kira squealed with delight, hugging Meesha tightly. "I'm so happy for you, Meesha! Your wish has finally come true."

  Meesha's phone beeped with a notification, interrupting their celebration. It was a message from Xanqer. "Why did you leave a note instead of telling me you were leaving? I was worried when I didn't find you here."

  Meesha's heart skipped a beat as she read the message. She felt a little nervous, unsure of how to respond. Then, another message came in. "Are you shy?"

  Meesha's cheeks flushed with heat as she read the message. She felt too nervous to reply, so she didn't. She just left the messages unread, hoping that Xanqer would think she hadn't seen them yet.

  *******

  [THAT EVENING]

  As Meesha walked up to the front door of her house, she couldn't help but feel a wave of nervousness wash over her. She had been thinking about Xanqer all day, and the thought of seeing him again made her heart skip a beat. She felt shy and unsure of how to act around him now that they had confessed their feelings to each other.

  Instead of going through the front door, Meesha decided to sneak in through the back door. She made her way around to the glass door, unlocked it, and slowly slid it open. She slipped inside, closing the door behind her and locking it quietly.

  She felt like she was sneaking around, trying not to get caught. She snuck past the living room, hoping to avoid him, but just as she was about to turn the corner, Xanqer appeared in front of her.

  "Where do you think you're going?" Xanqer asked, his voice low and husky.

  Meesha's heart skipped a beat as she turned to face him. Xanqer pinned her against the wall, his shoulder against the wall and his other arm blocking her path. His face was inches from hers, and Meesha could feel his breath on her skin.

  "You can't hide from me forever," Xanqer whispered, his eyes locked onto hers.

  Meesha felt like she had been punched in the gut. She couldn't breathe, and her mind went blank. She stared at Xanqer, her eyes wide with surprise and nervousness. His face was so close to hers that she could see the individual lashes on his eyes. She felt like she was drowning in their depths.

  Xanqer's eyes seemed to bore into her soul, and Meesha felt like he could see right through her. She tried to speak, but her voice caught in her throat. She suddenly forgot how to breathe. She gasped for air, her eyes locked onto Xanqer's.

  Xanqer saw Meesha struggling to breathe, and was taken aback for a moment. "Meesha, breathe," he reminded her, his voice gentle.

  Meesha put her hands on Xanqer's shoulders and pushed him away, finally regaining her breath. She looked up at him, her eyes still wide with surprise. He wanted to move close to her again but she quickly waved her hands.

  "Don't move too close to me like that," Meesha said, her voice shaking slightly.

  Xanqer raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Why not?" he asked, his voice low and husky.