Time had a strange way of moving—sometimes too fast, sometimes unbearably slow.
It had been weeks since Children's Day, and still, I had got no answers.
By now, I had almost convinced myself to stop overthinking—until I saw him again.
The same junior who had once proposed to her.
And there he was, standing near the staircase, talking to her.
I should've just ignored it. But I did not.
A strange feeling twisted inside me—something new, something uncomfortable. Was it jealousy? Frustration? Or just insecurity?
For a brief second, a thought crossed my mind—was she making fun of me? Laughing at my feelings?
But even before I could dwell on that, I knew it was not true.
She was not that kind of person.
Still, I could not shake off the feeling.
Shazeb noticed my silence. "You saw them, did not you?"
I sighed. "Yes."
Saksham, always the strategist, nodded toward her. "I can talk to her again. Just casually bring it up."
"No," I said immediately. "Just leave it."
"Are you sure?"
I nodded. "I do not want to be a creep; it would not be right to stalk or force her for a response. If she wants to say something, she will."
Shazeb patted my back. "Good decision, man. At least now we can pretend to be respectable people."
I laughed, but deep down, I knew they felt bad for me.
--- Exam Preparations Begin ---
It took a sudden shift. The board exams were near, and our class transformed from a madhouse into something almost unrecognizable. Even the loudest students buried their heads in books, stress was clearly visible.
Between revision sessions, extra classes, and late-night cramming, She became just another part of the background.
I did not talk to her. Not even during our practical exams.
Not because I did not want to.
Because I could not.
The thought of facing her, not knowing where I stood, it felt worse than avoiding her altogether.
--- The Last Day ---
February 17th. Farewell Day.
The last official day in the school before exams.
The campus was decorated, students were clicking pictures, laughing, making memories. I should have been enjoying the moment too.
But then I saw him.
The same junior. Trying his luck again.
Standing with Divya, grinning, talking. Maybe even flirting.
I did not know what they were saying.
I did not want to know.
A strange heaviness settled in my chest. Not anger. Not even jealousy. Just… helplessness.
Maybe I was never meant to be anything more than just another guy who liked her.
Maybe, in the grand scheme of things, I didn't even matter.