Rhea's Pov
If confidence were currency, the front bench would be bankrupt by now.
Morning assembly ended, and we were herded back into class like disciplined sheep—except the front benchers walked as if the red carpet personally missed them.
One of them—a guy whose personality peaked at "rank holder"—cleared his throat loudly.
"Some people really don't take academics seriously," he said, eyes flicking toward the back benches.
Ah.
He chose violence before 9 a.m.
I smiled sweetly. The kind that comes with emotional damage.
"True," I said loudly. "Some people also confuse marks with personality. Tragic."
Samar coughed to hide his laugh.
Dev pretended to tie his shoelace very intensely.
Aryan whispered, "She woke up and chose sarcasm."
The guy scoffed. "At least we don't waste time cracking jokes."
Neil didn't look up from his notebook. "Yeah, you waste it explaining obvious things."
Silence.
Front bench ego: shattered.
Back bench morale: restored.
The teacher walked in right then, saving the poor guy from crying on his answer sheet.
I glanced at Neil.
He hadn't smiled.
But he also hadn't backed down.
Progress.
Between Periods
Kabir sat two seats away from me today.
Not on purpose.
Just one of those accidental seat shifts that feel very intentional.
He was quiet. As usual.
Kabir wasn't loud like Neil.
Or chaotic like Samar.
He was the kind of quiet that made people lower their voices without realising why.
I caught him glancing at Neil once.
Not judgmental.
Not curious.
Concerned.
Neil noticed too.
For half a second, their eyes met.
Nothing dramatic happened.
No staring contest.
No background thunder.
Kabir just nodded once.
Neil nodded back.
That was it.
And yet… something settled.
I don't know what history they shared—or didn't—but that nod felt like permission.
To try again.
Without explanation.
Chemistry Period (Irony Appreciated)
Front benchers were at it again—rapid-fire answers, hands up before questions ended.
One girl answered incorrectly and still smiled like she'd cured cancer.
The teacher sighed. "Anyone else?"
Neil raised his hand.
The class froze.
He answered. Correctly. Again.
The teacher beamed. "Very good, Neil. You've improved."
Front bench shock was delicious.
I leaned back and whispered, "You're making enemies."
Neil murmured, "I already had worse."
Kabir's pen paused.
He didn't look at us, but I saw the corner of his mouth twitch.
Barely there.
But real.
Lunch — The Quiet Moment
We sat together as usual.
Noise everywhere.
Back benchers laughing.
Middle benchers arguing.
Front benchers pretending not to look bothered (they were bothered).
Kabir passed Neil a water bottle without a word.
Neil accepted it.
No jokes.
No sarcasm.
Just a quiet "Thanks."
Kabir replied, "Anytime."
I looked between them.
Two boys who didn't talk much.
But understood more than they said.
Samar leaned toward me and whispered, "Why does this feel like character growth and why am I uncomfortable?"
I whispered back, "Because peace is suspicious."
End of Day
As we packed up, the front-bench topper muttered something about "undeserving attention."
I stood up, slung my bag over my shoulder, and smiled.
"Relax," I said. "Attention doesn't reduce when shared. Intelligence either."
He didn't reply.
Kabir walked beside me toward the exit.
"You okay?" he asked casually.
I raised an eyebrow. "Should I not be?"
He shrugged. "Just checking."
I nodded. "Yeah. I am."
He paused, then said, "Neil's trying."
"I know," I said.
Kabir didn't push. Didn't analyse.
Just said, "Good."
And walked ahead.
Rhea's Thought (End Note)
Some battles are loud.
Some changes are quiet.
Neil was fighting the first.
Kabir respected the second.
And me?
I was just watching it all unfold—
sarcasm ready, heart cautious,
front benchers annoying as ever.☺️😮