Chai & Matcha Diaries

To get something without even trying—that’s not just luck.
That’s destiny.
That’s fate.

And that’s Reva for me.

I never planned her. I never even searched for her. She just… appeared. And when I thought it was over, when I convinced myself we’d gone our separate ways forever—life handed me another chance. A second shot.

All those days I kept denying what I felt, feeding myself excuses—she doesn’t deserve me, she won’t understand my world, it won’t work—they were all lies. Pretty little lies I whispered to keep my heart under control.
But my heart never listened. I was a fool to keep pushing my feelings down. But now, I’m clear. Crystal clear.
And all that’s left is to make her believe it too.
That we’re not just a coincidence.
We’re each other’s fate.

I packed my laptop, grabbed my keys, and drove out. Stopped for coffee—two cups. And then straight to her office building.

Her office is just ten minutes away from mine—if traffic decides to be kind. And I know her schedule better than I should: every Wednesday, six sharp, she leaves so she can make it to her dance class by 8:30.
Dance, work, books… huh. What is the thing this girl can’t do?

And right on time, there she was. Reva. Walking out like the world was made just to watch her.

We locked eyes.
I smiled, shrugged, pretending casual. “Hey, what a coincidence.” Both my hands full of coffee.

“Coincidence, ohh…” Her lips curved in that playful, teasing smile that kills me every time. “Okay, bye.”

“Hey, hey, hey, Reva.” I stepped forward, blocking her retreat. She turned, eyebrow raised. I offered the cup.

“Don’t you see?” I said, my chest pounding.

“See what?”

“That we’re meant to be.”

She laughed. Not the soft kind. The kind that says you’re ridiculous but I’ll let you finish.

“What? You don’t believe in fate? Look—we literally ran into each other again.”

“Oh right. Coincidence. You standing under my office building. With coffee. Care to explain what exactly you were doing here?”

I swallowed. Lying has never been my art. “Uh—I had some work at Cyber. And just as I was leaving, you… came out.” God, Jace. Even you don’t buy that crap.

Her eyes narrowed, falling on the two cups. “And the coffee?”

“I, uh… got it for a friend.”

“Then give it to your friend.”
She handed it back and walked off.

“Wait, Reva. Okay fine. I was waiting for you.” I admitted, because what’s the point of lying when she has that smile, that way of rolling her eyes like she’s already caught me?

“And this coffee?”

“It’s… yours. Always was.” My voice stumbled at first, then steadied.

She walked closer, took the cup, leaned in just enough to take a sip straight from the straw I’d been holding. My heart nearly stopped.

“Hmm. Not bad,” she said lightly, and then walked off again.

“Reva… Reva, hey! Can we talk?”

“No, Jace. I’ve got to go. And you should already know why… oh wait, you don’t.”

“Oh no, I do. That’s why I was hovering around here, waiting for you at six.”

Her lips twitched. “So you were hovering. What a coincidence.” she said, voice dripping with sarcasm.

“Maybe I’ll text you then?” I tried, staring at her face, searching for some crack in that wall. Nothing. Her expression was unreadable—blank. It was awkward. I couldn’t prove my point. But Now I know what I want. And it’s her.

Later, when work wrapped up, I texted her.
“Reva, can we talk?”

Minutes crawled by before her reply lit up my screen: Yeah. Tell me. What happened?

I typed “Nothing.” Then erased it. That would kill it right there. And I wasn’t ready to kill anything between us. Not again.

Finally, I wrote: I want to talk about what happened.

Her response came fast, sharp, exactly like her: Look, I don’t think you should waste your precious time on me.

Ha. Classic Reva. If she’d just said okay, she wouldn’t be Reva.

I typed, deleted, then confessed: I’m sorry I was rude.

And I meant it.

But she shot back: Look, I know you want me to talk to you. But this isn’t a good idea. We clearly don’t understand each other’s situations—what we do, why we do it. I’m not doing this again.

Her words stung—but they also sounded hauntingly familiar. They were my own excuses, the same trash I told myself weeks ago. Now they were being thrown back at me.

Think, Jace. It’s you versus Reva’s mind. And you’ve got to win.

I called her.
I was panicking. Just a little.
She didn’t pick up.

I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling.
So that’s it. You tried. Nothing happened.

And then—she called.

A ray of sunshine. At night. I picked up instantly.

“Hey,” she said.

“Hey… Reva.”

“What happened?”

“I… I want to apologize.”
Good start, right?

Her pause was long. Cold. “Don’t play games, Jace. We tried. It didn’t work. Get over it.”

Ouch. Brutal. That’s Reva.

“Listen, I know we didn’t work out. I have no complaints, no regrets. And I understand now why it failed. We didn’t understand each other. But that doesn’t mean what we had wasn’t real.”

“Raiight…” she said. But her voice had softened. Finally, she was listening.

“I know you cared for me. I still have your little notes telling me to eat lunch. I still think about you whenever something good—or terrible—happens. My feelings were real, Reva. All I want… is not to lose a good person from my life. If nothing else, I want you as my friend.”

Another pause. Heavy. Long. And then her voice came, softer than I expected:
“Fine. Anyway, we weren’t really in a relationship, right? We never said those words. Never proposed. So… let’s be friends. You were good to me, Jace. I don’t want to lose you either.”

It stung.
But it was something.
We had an agreement.
So that’s how we became “friends” again.

_*_

We slid back into being “friends.” We didn’t meet much. Once, maybe, when she needed a book.
Mostly texts. Rare calls.
But it was safe. Too safe. I could work, I could breathe… and I could still have Reva, at least in some corner of my life.

Until the night of my company’s celebration party.

We’d just launched an AI-powered truck system in Dubai—tech that predicts accidents, forecasts maintenance, gives live weather and route updates. It was huge. So, before the big public event, we were having a small party—sixty people, max.

Reva had been stubborn, kept denying me. But finally—God knows how—she agreed. That’s all I needed.

I was outside the venue, taking calls, when I saw her.

She came straight from work. Office skirt, shirt, Simple. Professional. And yet… heartbreakingly beautiful. Her hair fell loose, half untied, catching the night breeze like it had conspired to make me lose my mind.

She smiled at me. I think I forgot to smile back.
She walked toward me.
I couldn’t think. Couldn’t speak.
Just stared.

God, why didn’t you warn me we could lose control like this?
It felt like my soul had left the building.

I had calls to take.
I had to wave at her.
But I couldn’t move.

She came closer, her eyes dancing. “Stop staring,” she teased, brushing past with a playful smile.

The air rushed out of me the second she left. I exhaled like I had been holding my breath for years.
It’s just a girl, I told myself.
Liar.

Inside, the atmosphere was warm. The music was low—soft enough to talk, just enough to keep spirits lifted. Some of my colleagues hovered near the bar, glasses in hand, trading laughs. And Reva… she was standing alone in the corner, quietly observing.

I couldn’t help it. I wanted her to feel at ease. So I walked her to my R&D team, introduced her around. Hari jumped in immediately.
“Meet our head of marketing,” I joked.

Reva didn’t miss a beat. She reached out her hand, straight-faced. “Pleasure to meet you, sir.”

They shook hands, and then both burst into laughter. The team joined in, and I found myself laughing too, explaining that the three of us already knew each other. For a moment, everything felt light. Almost perfect.

But perfection never lasts.

“Jace! Over here!” The logistics team called from across the room. “We need to discuss Dubai expansion.”

I muttered under my breath, “Duty calls.” Then turned to her. “You’ll be okay, right?”

Reva tilted her head, eyes sharp with that familiar spark. “I think I can manage talking to humans, yes.”

Smart-ass. God, I like her.

I walked away, but my eyes betrayed me. Again and again, they searched for her. She was laughing at something Hari said. Then chatting easily with Rahul, one of the few I trusted not to twist things into gossip. And each time her hair shifted as she laughed, each time she tucked a strand behind her ear, I felt something swell inside me. Pride. Peace. Possession.
She’s here. With me. In my world.

Then—
“Jace.”

A voice came from behind. Heavy. Commanding. My uncle.

I turned, and there he was—the man who had practically built half this company with me, the Chairman, and the eternal family advisor whether I wanted him to be or not.

Of course he noticed. How could he not? My eyes hadn’t left her once.

“Don’t look too hard,” he said evenly, though his words sliced sharper than glass. “She’s just a mediocre girl.”

Something tightened in my chest, but I kept my face unreadable.

He leaned in slightly, lowering his tone so others couldn’t overhear.
“Young hearts wander, Jace. Today it’s her, tomorrow someone else. Don’t fool yourself.”

I sipped my drink slowly. Don’t react. Don’t give him the satisfaction.

He continued, undeterred.”Your father has already met families. Good families. The kind that match ours. There’s no need to waste time chasing after someone like Reva. Yes, she’s beautiful. But beauty is all she has. Nothing else to offer you.”

I kept my expression neutral, though my jaw clenched. “Who said I’m chasing her?” I tried to sound casual, masking the irritation bubbling beneath the surface.

Uncle’s reply came instantly, sharp and deliberate. “You think i won’t know just because you don’t share things anymore.” It felt like a warning.

My grip on the glass tightened. I forced my jaw to stay calm.
“Maybe you should focus on how my work is going,” I said quietly, “instead of my life.”

He chuckled, nodding as if I’d proven his point. “Exactly. That’s why I’m saying this. Your father and I want your work to go well, always. That’s why he’s already chosen a suitable girl for you. So this Reva…”

“Reva is just a friend,” I cut in, firm now. “It would be better if you didn’t focus on her.”

Uncle raised his hands in mock surrender. “Of course, of course. Just a friend. That’s good. Let it stay that way. That’s all I’m saying.” He patted my shoulder, offered a smile that felt more like a verdict, and walked away.

He wasn’t wrong. No one at home would ever approve of anything more between Reva and me. Not that there was anything to approve—just friendship. Still, I turned to look for her, but she was gone. I searched for a while, scanning the crowd, but she was nowhere to be found.

Urgent calls pulled me away, and I had no choice but to leave. On the way home, I texted her:

I’m heading out. Tried looking for you, but couldn’t find you. Text me when you get back.

No reply.

I sent another message:

My driver will be waiting outside to drop you home. Here’s his number. Let me know when you reach.

Back home, I cleared my meetings in an hour. It was 11 PM. Still no message. No call.

Something felt off.

I dialed the driver.

“She didn’t come down, sir. No one called either,” he said.

I didn’t hesitate. I called Hari. I knew Reva wouldn’t pick up.

“Hari, where’s Reva?” I asked the moment he picked up.

“She’s here, don’t worry. A bit tipsy, but we’re just dancing.”

Something about his tone didn’t sit right with me. Dancing—with whom? I knew everyone at the party. Reva was friendly, sure, but still… I didn’t like the ambiguity.

I grabbed my car keys and drove straight back to the venue.

Inside, the party had transformed. The lights were dimmed, music pulsing through the floor, and the whole place had turned into a chaotic dance floor. People were swaying, laughing, lost in the rhythm. It was fine—until I saw her.

Reva.

She looked okay, dancing freely, but then I watched her down two tequila shots in quick succession. That was it.

Before she could reach for a third, I stepped in and gently stopped her hand.

“Heyyy, what the hell!” she said, brushing me off.

“You’re drinking too much,” I said, trying to keep my voice calm, concerned.

Just then, Rahul appeared. “Reva, come on! Back to the dance floor!”

Reva giggled, did a strange little dance move, and started walking toward the stage with him. I reached out and pulled her back.

“She’s going home,” I said firmly.

Reva yanked her hand away. “Hey, I’ll send her, Jace. Don’t worry,” Rahul offered. I knew Rahul was a decent guy, but right now, I didn’t feel like trusting anyone else with her.

“No. I’ll take her home, Rahul,” I said, my voice sharper than I intended.

Reva turned to me, swaying slightly. “Look, Jace, I’m fine… you go.”

She tried to walk away again, but I couldn’t let her. I held her hand and led her out toward the car.

“Are you crazy? Let go of me, Jace!”

“Just sit,” I said, opening the car door.

She didn’t move.

“Sit, Reva.”

Her face was tight with anger, but she got in. I drove her to my place.

“I could’ve gone home myself. Why did you bring me here?” she asked, refusing to get out of the car.

“Come on. Just freshen up first. You think you’re fine, but…” I paused, seeing the look in her eyes—offended, on the edge.

“…But you are fine,” I corrected myself quickly. “You just need something to take the edge off. A little lemon water, maybe. You’ll thank me tomorrow when the hangover hits.”

She finally agreed and followed me inside. I offered her a mild lemon drink—nothing too strong. She took it without a word. She was surprisingly composed for someone who’d been drinking. Or maybe she just didn’t want to show weakness in front of me.

She didn’t speak. Just stared out the window.

“You like the view?” I asked.

“Yeah,” she said softly. “Nice view.”

A few minutes later, she got up and moved to the bean bag near the window. I sat beside her, but she didn’t even glance at me. The silence between us was thick, but not uncomfortable. She kept sipping her drink, eyes fixed on the cloudy skyline. The roads were quiet, the city lights still shimmering in the distance.

I wanted to say something—anything—but I didn’t want to push her. So I put my phone on silent and just sat there, watching the view… and watching her.

Half an hour passed like that. Then, slowly, she drifted off to sleep right there on the bean bag.

“Reva…?” I whispered, checking if she was still awake.

No response.

She was asleep.

I gently lifted her and carried her to the guest room, laying her down carefully so she could rest.

The next morning, I had pancakes made—Reva’s favorite. I asked the maid to leave early, wanting the space to feel quieter, more personal. I waited for her between eight and nine, but the door to the guest room stayed shut. I figured I’d squeeze in a quick call, so I settled on the sofa with my laptop.

Just as I opened it, I heard the soft creak of her door.

She stepped out, fresh-faced, her hair tied in a neat bun. Still in the clothes from last night. Always effortlessly beautiful.

“You want to change?” I asked gently. “I’ve got some T-shirts that might fit you.”

She looked at me, her tone sharp. “What! do you keep inviting girls to stay with you?”

“No, Reva…” I laughed awkwardly, caught off guard. That stung. She knew she was different. She had to know.

“So why do you have T-shirts in my size?”

“I don’t,” I replied, trying to keep it light. “But some of mine might fit you… almost.”

“Thanks for offering, but I’m fine.”

I handed her a glass of warm water. She took it quietly, but something felt off. I didn’t want to push her, so I let the silence linger.

Then she spoke. “I was supposed to stay at a friend’s place.”

“You fell asleep. I didn’t think waking you was the right thing to do.”

“But I told you I was staying there,” she said, her voice tightening. I hadn’t expected that tone. What had I done that was so wrong?

“Reva, does it really matter? This is a friend’s place too. You stayed at a friend’s house.”

“Yeah, right,” she scoffed. “So we’re just friends, huh?”

I hesitated. “Then what are we, Reva?” There was so much I wanted to say, but I didn’t know where she was taking this.

“We’re just friends!” she said, stepping closer. Her hands cupped my face. “Kiss me.”

My breath caught. Don’t provoke me, Reva.

I tried to breathe slowly, hoping she wouldn’t notice how nervous I was. I gently removed her hands and turned away.

She grabbed my shirt collar. “What’s wrong? Are we just going to stay friends forever?”

“Reva… I think… I think you should…” I stammered, unable to finish.

She shoved my collar away, her laugh sharp, bitter. “Of course. Because I’m only beautiful. That’s all I have to offer you, isn’t it?”

“What?” I blinked at her, stunned. “Reva, what are you talking about?”

“Tell me, Jace. We’ll just stay friends, right? Because a girl like me—mediocre, ordinary—someone like me isn’t worth chasing.”

Her words burned. “Reva, stop—what are you even saying—”

“I heard everything,” she cut me off, her voice trembling but fierce. “At the party. Your uncle said it. That I’m just a mediocre girl.”

“No, Reva—you’re not! I told him—”

“You told him nothing!” Her voice cracked. “You stood there. You listened. Oh wait—you did say something. You said we’re just friends.”

“Reva, he wouldn’t understand what we have—”

“What we have?” She let out a hollow laugh. “We have nothing, Jace. Nothing. Your uncle’s right. I should just stay a friend. In fact…” her voice hardened, “…tell him we can’t even be that.”

She grabbed her bag, eyes blazing, and stormed out, the door slamming behind her.

And I just stood there, staring at the silence she left behind.
What the hell did I just do?

※11 Be my girlfriend