**Kiara's POV – 11th Grade**
When I joined the group, I didn't think too much about it.
Vibhuti had pulled me in naturally.
"Come sit with us," she'd said on the third day like it was nothing.
And just like that, I was sitting with Girija, Rhea… and eventually Mahi.
They weren't toppers. They weren't obsessed with marks.
They were loud. Dramatic. Slightly chaotic.
Rhea especially.
One day during lunch, she looked at me and said,
"You look like you judge people silently."
"I don't," I replied.
She narrowed her eyes. "That's exactly what someone who judges silently would say.
Your first impression comes out as a rude girl"
The fuck?
So annoying.
But they made school less scary.
Girija would complain about maths like it personally attacked her family.
Mahi would emotionally react to everything.
Rhea would roast all of us equally.
And for the first time since lockdown, I felt normal.
---
## About Arjun
Let's address the problem.
Arjun.
He was social. Friendly with almost everyone. Especially girls.
He had this effortless confidence that made it hard to ignore him.
And he and Tanya had history.
Not official history.
But enough late-night chats and "almost something" energy during 10th for people to talk. That's what I had heard.
So in my head, the equation was simple.
Arjun → Tanya.
End of story.
---
## The Reels
He started sending me reels randomly.
At first, they were normal memes.
Then slightly romantic ones.
One said:
"When you unknowingly fall for her. And she has not idea."
I replied,
"Send this to Tanya."
He replied,
"Why?"
"Because it suits her."
He left me on seen for ten minutes.
Then:
"You think so?"
"Yes."
He sent a laughing emoji.
I didn't think anything of it.
Because obviously, he likes Tanya.
These reels? Friendly. Or misdirected.
Not about me.
Right?
So deep.
---
## The Seating Thing
He started sitting near me sometimes.
Not always. Just enough to notice.
One day during chemistry, he pulled the chair beside mine.
"Your explanation helped in the test," he said casually.
"Oh. Good."
"You could teach tuition."
"Pay me then."
He laughed.
I pretended it didn't affect me.
But it did.
Not in a romantic way.
Just… attention feels nice sometimes.
Especially when you've spent two years feeling invisible behind a screen.
---
## The Hair Incident
I still remember it clearly.
Free period. I was sitting in front of him.
Suddenly I felt something light tug at my hair.
I froze.
Turned back.
"What the hell? What are you doing?"
"Fixing it."
"It was fine."
"Not anymore."
He smiled like it was a harmless joke.
My cheeks felt warm.
Not because I liked it.
Just because it caught me off guard.
He does this thing where he looks directly at you when he says something bold.
It makes it hard to respond properly.
I turned back around.
Mahi later whispered,
"He's flirting."
"No he's not."
"He literally touched your hair."
"He's just like that."
"With you."
So annoying!
---
## Meanwhile… Mayank
Mayank started texting me around the same time.
But his texts were different.
No random flirting.
No dramatic reels.
Just normal conversations. Silly conversations.
"How was your day?"
"Did you understand today's maths part?"
"Don't stress too much before tests."
It was easy to talk to him. I felt at peace.
He once texted,
"You don't have to prove yourself every day."
I stared at that message for a long time.
Because that's exactly what I felt like I was doing.
Proving. Competing. Performing.
I replied,
"I'm not trying to prove anything."
He said,
"I know."
Simple. Calm.
No games.
---
## Group Dynamics
One day in the canteen, Mahi nudged me.
"Between Arjun and Mayank, who's more annoying?"
"What?"
"Just asking."
"Neither."
Rhea smirked. "Arjun looks at you a lot."
"He looks at everyone."
Girija added, "Not like that."
I rolled my eyes. "You all overthink."
But that night, I found myself replaying small moments.
The way he waits for my reaction.
The way he teases only me about marks.
The way he gets slightly competitive when I score higher.
And then I'd immediately shut the thought down.
He likes Tanya.
Stop being dramatic.
So deep.
---
## A Small Conversation
One evening after school, Arjun walked beside me toward the gate.
"You're quiet today."
"Just tired."
"From studying?"
"Yes."
"You don't need to try so hard."
I stopped walking.
"You wouldn't understand."
"Try me."
"You don't compete for ranks."
He smiled slightly.
"Maybe I compete in other ways."
I didn't get what he meant.
Or maybe I did and didn't want to.
---
## The Shift
Gradually, Arjun and I became friends.
Not best friends.
But comfortable.
We'd argue about random things.
He'd purposely say wrong answers to irritate me.
I'd correct him aggressively.
He once said,
"You look cute when you're angry."
I replied,
"You look average when you try flirting."
He laughed so loudly the teacher glared at us.
Meanwhile, Mayank remained steady.
He'd ask about my stress.
About my sleep.
About things beyond school.
And I started looking forward to his messages.
Not because of butterflies.
Because of peace.
Which is scarier sometimes.
---
The problem?
I was completely clueless.
To me, Arjun was just playful.
Maybe still emotionally connected to Tanya.
Maybe just being friendly.
The reels? Misinterpreted.
The hair thing? Joke.
The seating? Coincidence.
Because why would he like me?
He has options.
He's social.
He doesn't chase one person.
Right?
Meanwhile, without realising it…
I had started waiting for both their texts.
One made my heart race.
The other made it calm.
And I didn't know which one was more dangerous. 😌🔥
#One Random Day
I was deep in thoughts.
I don't know when exactly Arjun became… regular in my day.
Not special.
Not important.
Just regular.
Like attendance.
If he didn't talk in class? I noticed.
If he laughed somewhere else? I noticed.
And that irritated me.
So annoying.
Our classroom had this unofficial "boys' row" at the back.
Siddharth, Dhruv, Abhishek, sometimes Arjun. And one more guy whose name I didn't know. I never had a conversation with him and he doesn't talk much. Almost as if avoiding attention. Observing.
One day during a free period, I was solving maths.
Siddharth leaned forward from behind.
"Kiara, what did you get for question 5?"
"Which part?"
"The integration one."
"C."
He checked his notebook. "Oh. Then I'm wrong."
Dhruv added calmly, "You're wrong most of the time."
Siddharth threw a pen at him.
I laughed.
Dhruv looked at me. "You don't have to help them every time. Let them fail once."
"I'm not that cruel."
Abhishek immediately jumped in,
"Yeah, she only likes seeing one guy fail."
I frowned. "What?"
He smirked dramatically and looked at Arjun.
"Right?"
Arjun didn't react. Just looked down at his book.
I felt heat rise to my face.
"There's nothing like that," I said flatly.
Abhishek leaned back in his chair. "Relax, topper. We're joking."
"Find better jokes."
"Why? You get defensive very fast."
"I don't."
"You do."
"I literally don't."
Siddharth whispered, "This is entertaining."
Dhruv shook his head. "Abhishek, stop."
But Abhishek never stops.
He leaned forward on his desk.
"Arjun, tell her about the reels."
Silence.
My head snapped toward Arjun.
"What reels?"
Arjun glared at Abhishek. "Shut up."
"Oh? So now it's a secret?"
I crossed my arms. "If you have something to say, say it properly."
Abhishek smirked. "He sends romantic reels. Daily. Very dedicated."
I rolled my eyes. "He sends them to everyone."
Abhishek's grin widened. "No. Not everyone."
The room suddenly felt smaller.
I looked at Arjun.
He looked… irritated. Not embarrassed. Just annoyed at Abhishek.
"Stop overthinking," Arjun muttered to me.
"I'm not overthinking."
"Good."
I picked up my pen again, acting unbothered.
But my heart was beating slightly faster.
Why?
So annoying.
---
## Later That Day
In the corridor, Dhruv walked beside me.
"Don't take Abhishek seriously."
"I don't."
"He teases when he sees reactions."
"I didn't react."
He gave me a look. "You did."
I sighed. "There's nothing there."
Dhruv nodded slowly. "Okay."
That "okay" sounded like he didn't believe me.
So deep.
---
## Canteen Scene
We were all sitting in a messy circle.
Mahi eating half my fries.
Rhea judging everyone.
Girija complaining about physics.
The boys joined us.
Siddharth said casually,
"Kiara, if you become school topper, remember us."
"I'll pretend I don't know you."
Arjun added, "She already does that."
"Please. I tolerate you daily."
Abhishek leaned forward with a dramatic gasp.
"She tolerates you. That's love."
"Abhishek," I said calmly, "if you don't stop, I will actually throw this sauce at you."
"Violent tendencies. I like it."
Arjun finally snapped lightly,
"Stop it."
It wasn't loud.
But it was firm.
Abhishek leaned back with raised hands. "Fine, fine."
I noticed something then.
Arjun doesn't laugh when the joke goes too far.
He watches.
And that felt… strange.
---
## Mayank's Text That Night
"Abhishek teased you today?"
I blinked at my screen.
"How do you know?"
"Arjun was irritated."
My fingers paused.
"What does that have to do with me?"
"Nothing. Just noticed."
I stared at that message longer than necessary.
Mayank always notices things quietly.
Without making a show of it.
I typed,
"It was stupid teasing."
He replied,
"Still. Don't let it bother you."
I smiled slightly.
Why does he talk like he understands me?
So annoying.
---
## The Subtle Confusion
Here's the thing.
Arjun confuses me.
One day he'll act playful.
Next day he'll be distant.
Sometimes he'll look at me like he's about to say something.
Then he won't.
And in my head, it's simple.
He likes Tanya.
He probably sends similar reels to her.
He's just naturally flirty.
That's his personality.
Right?
Meanwhile, Mayank feels steady.
He doesn't tease.
He doesn't make me feel like I'm being watched.
He just… talks.
And I find myself replying faster to him these days.
But when Arjun doesn't text?
I still notice.
Which is very inconvenient.
So annoying.
---
I genuinely believed nothing was happening.
Just friendship.
Just group teasing.
Just harmless reels.
I had no idea that behind those jokes, someone was falling harder than he planned to.
And someone else was quietly stepping closer.
And I was standing in the middle,
completely clueless. 😌🔥