Chapter 15
After the incident in the corridor, Meera couldn't focus in class.
Students were still whispering about what had happened.
Some people had seen Hirsh punch Sam.
Others had only heard the story.
But everyone seemed to be talking.
Meera sat quietly at her desk, staring at her notebook.
Across the room, Hirsh looked completely normal.
As if punching someone during break was just another ordinary part of his day.
Kitty leaned over toward Meera.
"Okay," she whispered. "What just happened?"
Meera sighed.
"Sam confessed."
Kitty's eyes widened.
"And?"
"I said no."
Kitty nodded approvingly.
"Good."
Then she lowered her voice.
"And Hirsh?"
Meera hesitated.
"He… punched Sam."
Kitty blinked.
"Wow."
Meera looked down at her notebook again.
"He didn't have to do that."
Kitty tilted her head.
"Maybe he wanted to."
Meera frowned.
"Why would he care?"
Kitty smirked slightly.
"Maybe you're not the only one who notices people."
Meera rolled her eyes.
"That's ridiculous."
But for the rest of the class…
She couldn't stop thinking about it.
School ended early that day.
As Meera walked out of the gate, she finally spotted someone she had been looking for all day.
Rohan.
He was leaning against his bike, talking to a few friends.
When he saw her, he smiled.
"Hey."
Meera walked over.
"You weren't in school today," she said.
"Football practice in the morning," he replied. "Coach dragged us to the stadium."
"Oh."
For a moment they stood there quietly.
Then Rohan noticed her expression.
"You look stressed," he said.
"Long day."
"Want to walk?" he asked.
They started walking slowly down the street outside the school.
After a few minutes, Rohan said casually,
"I heard there was a fight today."
Meera sighed.
"Yeah."
"Sam?"
She nodded.
Rohan was quiet for a moment.
Then he said,
"So Hirsh punched him?"
"Yeah."
Rohan gave a small amused laugh.
"Well… didn't expect that."
Meera didn't laugh.
She looked down at the road.
"Sam tried to kiss me."
Rohan stopped walking.
His expression changed instantly.
"He what?"
Meera shrugged.
"I pushed him away."
For a second, Rohan looked strangely serious.
Then he said quietly,
"Good."
Meera looked up at him.
And suddenly the air between them felt a little different.