Radhya
"Kiss her! Kiss her!"
A chorus of excited cheers erupted around me, their laughter and teasing only amplifying my nervousness. The soft thump of music from the stereo in the corner added an almost romantic touch to the moment. Clutching my best friend Aaliyah's hand tightly, I struggled to convince myself that this was real and not just another one of my bittersweet dreams.
As my heart pounded in my chest, I felt the weight of someone's gaze settle on me, its intensity making my skin burn. Taking a deep breath, I forced myself to look up at the person sitting across from me.
Under the warm glow of string lights hanging from the wall, his face gleamed with an almost unreal perfection.
Rakshit Ahuja.
My long-time crush.
He met my gaze with an unreadable expression. There was no excitement, no nervousness—just a blank look that made it impossible to decipher his thoughts.
Is he feeling the same rush as I am?
Will things be normal between us after this?
What would it feel like if his lips met mine?
The mere thought sent shivers down my spine.
And then—
He picked up his beer cup.
Shit.
"Boring! Boring!"
A collective groan of disappointment filled the room, crashing down on me like a harsh wave. While I had been floating on clouds of anticipation, reality had smacked me right in the face.
Humiliation settled in as the truth hit me—he had rejected me.
Pressing my palm against my lap, I tried to ground myself.
Am I really that unattractive? That unlikable?
The question stung more than I cared to admit. My vision blurred as I struggled to keep my emotions in check.
A chorus of exaggerated "Booos" filled the air, followed by muffled giggles. The room seemed to close in on me, their gazes burning into my skin like scorching flames.
And then—
Rakshit raised his cup in a mock toast, a teasing smile playing on his lips.
It was a joke to him. A game.
I let out a slow, shaky breath, my chest tightening with frustration.
How foolish of me to expect anything different.
With my heart weighed down, I pushed through the crowd and out of the suffocating room. As I stepped onto the patio, the cold night air wrapped around me, offering a small moment of relief. Wrapping my arms around myself, I wandered toward the pool, my reflection rippling beneath the dim lights.
"Radhya!"
A familiar voice called out behind me.
Turning around, I found Aaliyah hurrying toward me, concern evident on her face.
"Hey, wait up! Are you okay?"
I forced a laugh, though it sounded hollow even to me. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just needed some fresh air."
Aaliyah frowned, her eyes scanning my face. She wasn't convinced.
"He's an ass, you know that, right?" she said sharply.
"I know."
But my voice cracked, betraying me.
The emotions I had been desperately suppressing finally spilled over, tears escaping down my cheeks. Aaliyah reached for me, pulling me into a comforting hug.
"Did you see that?" I whispered, my voice breaking. "He made fun of me in front of everyone. Am I really that unattractive? He wouldn't even kiss me, even for a game."
Aaliyah opened her mouth to respond—
"Well, well, well… look who we have here."
A mocking voice cut through the moment.
I turned to see Kiara, one of Rakshit's many flings, strutting toward me with a smirk of satisfaction. Her perfectly styled brown hair and flawless makeup only made her smug expression more infuriating. Behind her, a few of her minions giggled under their breath.
"What's your problem, Kiara?" Aaliyah snapped, her tone sharp.
Kiara pouted dramatically before smirking. "Oh, nothing! Just wondering why you're out here sulking. Oh, wait—don't tell me. Rakshit finally put you in your place, huh?"
My hands clenched into fists. "What are you even talking about?"
Kiara rolled her eyes. "Come on. Did you actually think he would kiss you? How pathetic."
"Back off, Kiara," Aaliyah warned, stepping forward.
But Kiara wasn't done.
She took another step closer, her smirk widening—then, without warning, she shoved me.
It wasn't a hard push, but it caught me off guard.
I stumbled. My foot slipped on the wet edge of the pool—
And then—
Splash!
Cold water swallowed me whole.
I surfaced moments later, coughing and sputtering, my hair plastered against my face.
"Oopsie!"
Kiara and her friends burst into laughter.
"Didn't see the pool there," she added mockingly, feigning innocence.
Aaliyah dropped to her knees by the edge, reaching out for me.
"Radhya, are you okay? Here, take my hand!"
I didn't answer immediately.
Water dripped from my soaked clothes as I wiped my face, my chest burning with humiliation.
Then, through the blur of water and tears, I caught sight of Rakshit.
Kissing a red-haired girl.
My stomach twisted painfully.
Something inside me cracked.
The boy who had just embarrassed me in front of everyone, the boy who refused to kiss me, was now making out with a stranger as if nothing had happened.
Kiara's cruel words echoed in my mind.
I wished I could disappear.
I stormed out of the pool, ignoring the laughter behind me, my white dress clinging to my body as I hugged myself, my face burning with shame.
"Radhya, wait!" Aaliyah called after me, but before she could catch up—
A tall figure stepped into view.
"Hey… are you okay?"
I looked up, startled.
A guy I vaguely recognized from college stood before me. His sharp jawline, tousled dark hair, and piercing ocean-blue eyes made him stand out in any crowd. But unlike the others, there was no amusement in his expression—just genuine concern.
"I'm fine," I muttered, avoiding his gaze as I tried to wring water from my dress.
He studied me for a moment, then, without hesitation, shrugged off his jacket and draped it over my shoulders.
"Here. Take this."
Surprised, I blinked up at him.
The jacket was warm, carrying a faint scent of cedarwood and something crisp and fresh.
"Thank you," I murmured, pulling it tighter around myself.
"I'm Riyansh, by the way," he introduced himself with a small smile, his hands slipping into his pockets.
"Yeah, I know," I said quietly. Riyansh was one of those people everyone knew—a star basketball player, always at the center of every party.
"Right, and you're Radhya… Rakshit's best friend?" He tilted his head.
"Something like that," I mumbled bitterly.
I glanced toward the house. Rakshit was no longer kissing the girl. Instead, he stood alone, watching me with an unreadable expression.
I ignored him.
"Thanks again," I said to Riyansh. "But I should go home now."
"Wait," he said gently. "Don't let her get to you." He nodded toward Kiara, who was now laughing with her friends.
I let out a bitter laugh. "Easier said than done."
Riyansh shrugged. "Maybe. But people like her only win if you let them. Trust me—she's not worth it."
For the first time that night, I felt seen.
"Thanks," I said again, steadier this time.
"Anytime."
And for the first time that night… I didn't feel so invisible.