The next morning felt heavy.
Meera sat quietly on a bench near the school garden, replaying the party in her mind.
Rohan's words.
The way he had grabbed her arm.
The moment his hand had lifted—
And then Harsh stepping in.
Her phone buzzed suddenly.
Rohan:Can we talk?
Meera stared at the message.
Another one appeared.
Rohan:Please.
She hesitated before replying.
Okay.
They met near the back gate of the school where it was quieter.
Rohan was already there.
When he saw her, he immediately walked over.
"Meera…"
His voice sounded softer than usual.
"I'm really sorry."
She didn't say anything.
"I shouldn't have said those things last night," he continued. "I was angry."
Meera crossed her arms slightly.
"You humiliated me."
"I know," he said quickly. "And I feel terrible about it."
He ran a hand through his hair, looking frustrated with himself.
"I didn't mean half the things I said."
"You still said them."
"I was upset," he replied.
"About what?" Meera asked.
Rohan hesitated.
"About you and Harsh."
Meera frowned.
"What does Harsh have to do with anything?"
"You always defend him," Rohan said.
"He was just helping me."
"I know," Rohan sighed. "But I got jealous."
The word caught Meera off guard.
"You were jealous?"
"Of course," he said, stepping closer. "I care about you."
His voice softened.
"When I saw you laughing with him… it just got to me."
Meera looked down.
"I wasn't trying to hurt you."
"I know," he said quickly. "And that's why I feel so stupid about last night."
Rohan gently reached for her hand.
This time his grip was careful.
"Please don't be mad at me."
Meera hesitated but didn't pull away.
"I just want things to go back to normal."
"They will," Rohan said immediately.
"I promise I'll do better."
She looked at him.
"Really?"
"Yes."
Then he smiled slightly.
"You deserve better than how I acted."
The words warmed her chest.
"I brought you something," he added.
He pulled a small chocolate bar from his pocket and handed it to her.
"I know it's not much, but… peace offering?"
Meera laughed softly despite herself.
"You think chocolate fixes everything?"
"Sometimes," he said with a playful grin.
Her anger started to melt.
"Just… don't do that again," she said.
"I won't," Rohan replied quickly.
Then he pulled her into a hug.
A tight one.
"I really like you, Meera," he whispered.
Her heart softened again.
For a moment, it felt like the Rohan she first liked was back.
The sweet one.
The charming one.
But across the courtyard, someone had witnessed the entire conversation.
Harsh.
He stood near the classroom windows, watching quietly.
He didn't interrupt.
He didn't walk over.
But the look on his face made one thing clear—
He didn't believe a single word Rohan had just said.
And he was starting to worry that Meera did.
The corridor outside the sports hall was almost empty.
Classes had ended, and most students had already left for the day.
Rohan was leaning against the wall, scrolling through his phone, when someone stopped in front of him.
He looked up.
Harsh.
For a second, neither of them spoke.
Then Harsh said calmly, "We need to talk."
Rohan smirked slightly.
"About what?"
"About last night."
The smirk faded a little.
Rohan straightened.
"Oh. So she ran to you and told you everything?"
"No," Harsh replied evenly. "I saw it myself."
Rohan scoffed.
"Congratulations."
Harsh didn't react.
"You grabbed her arm," he continued. "And you almost hit her."
Rohan laughed under his breath.
"Almost."
"That's not funny."
Rohan stepped closer, his voice colder now.
"You really think you get to lecture me about my girlfriend?"
Harsh's expression didn't change.
"I think someone needs to."
Rohan shook his head.
"You've always been obsessed with her, haven't you?"
"I'm not obsessed with her."
"Sure," Rohan said sarcastically. "You just magically appear whenever she needs help."
Harsh ignored the comment.
"Listen carefully," he said quietly. "If you ever hurt her again—"
"What?" Rohan interrupted. "You'll what?"
Harsh didn't raise his voice.
But his tone was firm.
"You won't like it."
For a moment, the tension between them felt electric.
Then Rohan chuckled and stepped back.
"Relax, hero."
He shrugged.
"Everything's fine now. I already apologized."
Harsh studied him.
"That doesn't erase what happened."
"Meera forgave me," Rohan replied casually.
"And that's the only opinion that matters."
Harsh didn't respond.
But the look in his eyes made it clear he didn't trust him.
Not even a little.
Later that afternoon, Meera was sitting in the courtyard when Rohan walked over.
He smiled and dropped into the seat beside her.
"Hey."
"Hi," she said.
He kissed her cheek quickly.
"What are you doing?"
"Just waiting for Harsh," she replied. "We're going to study."
Rohan's smile faded slightly.
"Again?"
"Yes."
Rohan leaned back in his chair.
"You study with him a lot."
"He helps me understand things."
"I could help you."
Meera laughed lightly.
"Since when do you like studying?"
Rohan didn't laugh.
"I'm serious."
She looked at him.
"You've never helped me with homework before."
"That's because you always run to him first."
Meera frowned.
"I'm not running to him."
Rohan shrugged.
"I just think it's weird."
"What's weird?"
"That my girlfriend spends more time with another guy than with me."
Meera felt the familiar pressure creeping in again.
"He's my friend."
"Yeah," Rohan said. "But I'm your boyfriend."
She sighed.
"You said yesterday you trusted me."
"I do," he replied quickly.
"But that doesn't mean I like it."
Meera stayed quiet.
Rohan softened his tone.
"Look, I'm not saying you can't talk to him."
The wording caught her attention.
Can't.
"I'm just saying maybe… don't be around him so much."
Before she could respond, Harsh appeared across the courtyard with a book in his hand.
He stopped when he saw them together.
Meera waved.
"Hey!"
Harsh walked over slowly.
"Ready to study?"
Before she could answer, Rohan spoke first.
"She can't today."
Meera turned to him.
"What?"
"You promised we'd hang out," Rohan said casually.
"I did?"
"You forgot?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
Meera hesitated.
"I… guess we can study tomorrow," she said to Harsh.
Harsh looked between them.
Then he nodded.
"Sure."
He handed her the book.
"Finish the questions I marked."
"Okay."
Harsh turned to leave.
But before walking away, he glanced at Rohan.
Rohan smiled smugly.
Harsh didn't smile back.
As he walked across the courtyard, Harsh had a sinking feeling.
Rohan had apologized.
But nothing about him had actually changed.
And slowly, almost invisibly—
He was starting to control Meera again.