Chapter 3: Friends, Interference, and Hidden Smiles
The next day, the classroom buzzed as usual, but something felt different to Aanya. Her best friend, Sana, slid into the seat beside her, a knowing smile on her face.
"You look tense," Sana whispered, nudging her gently. "Let me guess… him again?"
Aanya rolled her eyes but didn't deny it. "It's nothing. Just… work."
Sana smirked. "Work, huh? You and Arjun sitting together? That's… a lot of tension for one desk."
Aanya didn't answer, pretending to check her notebook. But inside, she felt a mix of irritation and… curiosity. Why did he always manage to annoy her and keep her on edge at the same time?
Meanwhile, Arjun's friend, Kavin, was watching from across the room. He noticed the subtle shift between Arjun and the quiet girl by the window.
"Bro, she's staring at her notes like she's plotting world domination," Kavin whispered, nudging Arjun.
Arjun frowned. "Not staring. Concentrating."
"Sure," Kavin muttered, a grin spreading. "But don't tell me you're actually… intrigued."
Arjun's eyes flicked toward her for a brief moment, then he looked away. "Shut up," he said, but his face betrayed him—a tiny crease of curiosity forming near his brow.
The day dragged on, with group work forcing Aanya and Arjun into near-constant proximity. Words were minimal, but glances and accidental brushes of hands made both of them unusually aware of each other.
At one point, Aanya dropped a pen, and Arjun, already reaching for his own work, grabbed it before she could.
"You're fast," she said quietly, almost surprised.
"I pay attention," he replied simply, passing it to her. His tone was neutral, but for some reason, it felt… personal.
Sana noticed the small exchange and rolled her eyes dramatically. "You two are ridiculous. Neither of you will admit anything, but I can see it."
Meanwhile, Kavin chuckled on Arjun's side, leaning back in his chair. "She's not easy to figure out, huh? You've got to admit, bro, she's… different."
Arjun didn't answer, but the truth of it gnawed at him. Different. She was nothing like the other girls in class—quiet, unassuming, yet… somehow capable of holding his attention without trying. And that annoyed him more than he cared to admit.
By the time the bell rang, signaling the end of the school day, neither Aanya nor Arjun had said more than a few sentences to each other.
But the space between them felt… lighter. Not exactly friendly. Not exactly hostile. Something unspoken had shifted.
And Sana leaned closer, whispering with a mischievous grin:
"You're both in for a lot of trouble… and you don't even know it yet."