VOL1-
friendship or relationship?
THIS IS MY FAVOURITE PLACE TO ( Q )
It was a quiet weekend afternoon when Shyam rode his bicycle through the streets, heading to a nearby store to pick up some manga. As he pedaled along, he caught sight of Raitha walking on the same street ahead of him. Startled, he instinctively slowed down. His mind raced, debating whether to approach her or not.
Before he could decide, Raitha turned around and spotted him. Her face lit up with excitement.
"Hey, Shyam! Do you live nearby? Why are you here? Where are you going?"
As always, her rapid-fire questions came one after another, like an unstoppable wave. Shyam was beginning to grow accustomed to this trait of hers—it was just how she was.
"N-no, I don't live nearby," Shyam lied. His voice wavered slightly, but he managed to keep a straight face. "I'm just… heading to the forest to ride my bike."
He avoided mentioning the store, worried that she might insist on tagging along. What he hadn't expected, though, was that his mention of the forest would spark her interest instead of deterring her.
Raitha's eyes lit up with excitement. "Really? The forest? That sounds amazing! I love plants and trees—I even research them sometimes. Can I come with you?"
Her enthusiasm caught him off guard. For a moment, he panicked and tried to decline, mumbling excuses about how it might not be safe. But Raitha was nothing if not persistent. After a few more attempts to dissuade her, Shyam finally gave in.
"Fine… you can come," he muttered, already regretting his lie.
Changing his route midway, Shyam silently cursed himself. Why did I have to lie? Lesson learned—lying is never a good idea, he thought bitterly.
Eventually, they arrived at the public forest, a park-like area open to visitors during the day. As Shyam pedaled deeper into the woods, Raitha marveled at the surroundings, soaking in the beauty of nature. After about half an hour of cycling—with Raitha riding as his passenger—Shyam stopped at a secluded spot.
"This is it," he said, stepping off his bike.
The spot was unfamiliar to Raitha, but to Shyam, it was the perfect place to unwind. The area sat atop a small hill, offering a breathtaking panoramic view of the entire town below. The timing couldn't have been better—the sun was beginning to set, casting a golden glow over the landscape. The town shimmered like a painting brought to life.
Raitha gasped, her eyes wide with wonder. "I've visited this forest so many times, but I never knew this place existed. It's so beautiful. Thank you for bringing me here. I'm definitely coming back every time I visit the forest now."
Her smile was radiant, almost otherworldly. With the sun's warm light reflecting off her skin, Raitha looked as though she were a celestial being, her beauty heightened by the moment.
Shyam, captivated, found himself speaking more freely than usual. "You don't need to thank me," he said, his voice steady for once. "This is my favorite place to relax, and since we're friends, I thought… why not share it with you?"
For reasons he couldn't quite explain, Shyam felt completely at ease. The usual awkwardness and hesitation he experienced around Raitha seemed to dissolve in that moment, replaced by a sense of connection.
That night, Shyam lay awake in bed, staring at the ceiling. His thoughts were consumed by the memory of Raitha at sunset—the way her smile glowed in the fading light, the way she had looked like an angel against the backdrop of the golden sky.
The scene played over and over in his mind, etched into his memory like a masterpiece he couldn't look away from.
"I wonder what she's doing right now…" he whispered to himself.
As if to answer his question, a soft, imaginary sound filled the room.
"Snoooz graaah… snoooz graaaah…"
And with that, Shyam finally smiled and drifted into sleep.
THIS IS MY FAVOURITE PLACE TO RELAX