Chapter 11
The Things That Don't Go Unnoticed
The next day—
The school felt louder.
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Not because anything had changed.
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But because something had started.
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The basketball match.
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Posters were up.
Students talked about it in every corner.
Groups formed around predictions, players, excitement.
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And somehow—
In the middle of all that—
Bela found herself thinking about only one thing.
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Him.
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She didn't plan to stay after school again.
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She told herself she wouldn't.
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But—
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When the last bell rang—
Her steps didn't lead toward the gate.
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They turned.
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Toward the court.
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This time—
It was even more crowded.
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Not just players.
Spectators.
Girls from different classes.
Some pretending to pass by.
Others very clearly not.
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Bela slowed near the entrance.
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Something about the scene felt different today.
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More attention.
More… interest.
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"…Told you," Samar's voice appeared beside her.
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She didn't even ask how he always found her.
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"You didn't have to prove it twice," she muttered.
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Samar smirked.
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"I didn't. You came on your own."
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Bela ignored that.
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Her eyes moved toward the court.
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And there he was.
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Vihaan.
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Already playing.
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Fast.
Focused.
Effortless.
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Like yesterday—
But stronger.
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More intense.
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The sound of the ball hitting the floor echoed sharply.
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Shoes screeched.
Voices called out plays.
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"Left!"
"Pass!"
"Shoot!"
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And in the middle of it—
He moved like he controlled the game itself.
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Bela didn't realize when she stepped closer.
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Or when she stopped.
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Or how long she had been watching.
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She just—
Watched.
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"…You brought something."
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Samar's voice again.
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Bela blinked.
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Then looked down.
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A water bottle.
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Cold.
Fresh.
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She hadn't even realized when she packed it.
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"…It's nothing," she said quickly.
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Samar raised an eyebrow.
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"Of course it is."
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Bela didn't respond.
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Because it was.
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Practice went on.
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Time passed.
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The energy didn't drop.
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If anything—
It increased.
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"Break!" someone shouted finally.
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Players slowed down.
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Grabbing towels.
Catching their breath.
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And like a signal—
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Girls started moving.
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Toward the court.
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Bela froze slightly.
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Because suddenly—
She wasn't the only one holding a water bottle.
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Not even close.
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Three girls.
Four.
Maybe more.
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All walking toward the same person.
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Vihaan.
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Bela's grip tightened slightly.
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She didn't move.
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Didn't step forward.
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Didn't compete.
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Because that wasn't her.
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She stayed where she was.
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Watching.
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Ritika reached him first.
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Of course she did.
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Confident.
Calm.
Like she already knew the outcome.
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She held out a bottle.
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"Here," she said.
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Vihaan looked at it.
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Then at her.
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A pause.
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Then—
He took it.
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Opened it.
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And drank.
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Simple.
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Normal.
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Just like yesterday.
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Bela looked away.
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This time—
It hurt more than she expected.
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A strange feeling.
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Tight.
Unfamiliar.
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She didn't understand it.
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Didn't want to.
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"…You should go," Samar said quietly.
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Bela nodded.
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"…Yeah."
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She turned.
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Took a step.
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Then—
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"Oi!"
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A voice behind her.
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She stopped.
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Turned.
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One of the girls—
Not Ritika—
Walked past her quickly.
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Without warning—
She grabbed the bottle from Bela's hand.
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"Thanks," she said casually, already walking away.
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Bela blinked.
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"What—"
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But the girl didn't stop.
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Didn't look back.
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She walked straight to the court.
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Straight to—
Vihaan.
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Bela stood there.
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Still.
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Empty-handed.
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Something inside her dropped.
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Not anger.
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Not exactly.
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Just—
A quiet, sinking feeling.
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The girl reached him.
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Smiling.
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"Here," she said, offering the bottle.
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Vihaan looked at it.
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Then at her.
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A pause.
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Longer this time.
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Then—
He took it.
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Opened it.
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And drank.
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Everything stopped.
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Not the court.
Not the people.
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But something—
Shifted.
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Because—
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That bottle—
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Was Bela's.
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For a second—
No one reacted.
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Then—
Whispers.
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"…Wait."
"Isn't that—"
"That's her bottle…"
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Samar turned slowly.
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Looking from Bela—
To Vihaan—
To the bottle.
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"…Oh."
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Ritika's expression changed instantly.
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Her smile disappeared.
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Her eyes narrowed.
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Locked on Bela.
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Bela stood there.
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Frozen.
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Her heartbeat—
Loud.
Fast.
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She didn't move.
Didn't speak.
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Because she didn't know how to react.
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On the court—
Vihaan lowered the bottle.
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For a brief moment—
His eyes lifted.
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Met hers.
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Directly.
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No hesitation.
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No confusion.
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Just—
That look.
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Like he knew.
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Like he was aware.
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And didn't care.
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The silence broke again.
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Voices rising.
Reactions spreading.
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But Bela didn't hear them.
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Because something inside her—
Had changed.
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Not loudly.
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Not dramatically.
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But enough.
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Enough to make her realize—
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This wasn't one-sided anymore.
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And that thought—
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Was more dangerous than anything else.