Love Before Graduation

The lecture was still going on, but my mind was wandering somewhere else.

I moved a little in my seat and looked at Nami, then turned my eyes back to the blackboard.

"So tell me, what upset you so much yesterday that you did that to me?"

My tone was light, but I kept glancing at the board and her face too.

She gave a small sigh and crossed her arms.

"I don't know, I just got angry for no reason"

I raised an eyebrow.

"Just like that?"

"Listen, that Suhina girl—first she tried to insult you, and then she did the same to Subh."

Her voice had that anger and frustration mixed in.

Before I could say anything, Miss Sharma's voice cut through the class.

"Students, a quick announcement. Those who want to join my tuition classes can start coming from Monday onwards,"

she said while adjusting her glasses and writing something on the board.

I felt Nami go stiff next to me.

"Here we go," she whispered.

I looked at her, already guessing what was coming.

"She always gives better marks to the ones who go to her tuition," Nami whispered, only loud enough for me to hear.

I nodded.

"It's so obvious. But still... I'm not going."

"Me neither," Nami said.

"She doesn't even like us."

I smiled.

"Yeah, the way she looks at us like we're always causing trouble."

Nami rolled her eyes.

"Anyway, she thinks correctly about me — after all, she only cares about making money."

We smiled at each other

It struck me after a while. Subh... where is he?

I quickly looked around the classroom, gaze landing on his usual seat. Empty.

Nami noticed my change in expression.

"What's wrong?"

I waited a second, then said quietly,

"Subh's not here. Again."

Her lips tightened.

"Ever since Suhina said no to him, he's almost disappeared."

Taking a deep breath, I leaned back in my seat and said, "You're right, this really is a humiliating kind of feeling."

"Exactly. Suhina totally broke his confidence," Nami said, shaking her head.

I sighed and rubbed my forehead, not really sure what to say next.

"I guess I was just too emotional when she did that to me. Maybe he felt the same way."

Nami gave a sharp laugh and tilted her head.

"She's just too into her own little games."

She glanced at the back row where Suhina was sitting, all calm and composed.

I looked there too and let out a soft "hmm" in agreement.

And then... silence.

We tried focusing back on class, but my mind is elsewhere .

Every few minutes, my eyes went to Arin. But today—he didn't look at me.

Usually, when I looked at him, he'd catch my eyes and smile a little, like he just knew what I was thinking. But today?

Nothing.

Is he really that angry? But... what did I even do?

Time kept passing and suddenly, it was lunch break.

Nami and I walked to the canteen, usual crowd and noise buzzing around. We found a spot near the window and ordered our food. As we waited, Nami leaned in and spoke low.

"So? What exactly happened?"

I blinked.

"What do you mean?"

She narrowed her eyes.

"Between you and Arin. You still haven't told me."

I paused.

She looked at me carefully, then sighed.

"And you look... worried."

I looked down, fingers tapping lightly on the table.

Should I tell her?

Part of me wanted to brush it off. But honestly? It did matter.

I took a deep breath, looking straight into her eyes.

"Yesterday, after school..."

The memory came rushing back—the empty alley, Arin just standing there, face unreadable, and how close he was standing.

And then... those words. That smirk.

"Let's see."

I swallowed hard.

Where do I even start? What should I tell her?

The canteen was noisy, with kids laughing, the sounds of food being served, and the smell of samosas in the air. But my mind was still stuck, standing somewhere in that alley..

Nami leaned in more, resting her arms on the table.

"So? What happened?"

I stirred my juice, straw going in circles, watching the ice move.

"After school... he was waiting for me."

Her eyes widened.

"Where?"

I paused before answering.

"The alley next to school." 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

Nami looked completely shocked.

"You know, people always come up with all sorts of stories when they see someone standing like that, whether it's 2000 or 2025."

I already knew she was going to say that, and it was true. No matter how much India progresses, this mentality will always remain—why is a girl alone with a guy in an empty street, what happened, how, and a million other questions.

I sighed, then said, "I never planned to meet him like that, Nami. He was just... standing there."

She crossed her arms.

"And you stopped?"

I looked away and answered softly.

"Of course, I stopped."

She groaned.

"Aira..."

I ignored her and kept going,

"I asked him if he was waiting for something, and he said..."

I paused again.

" he said 'He's waiting for me.'

As I said that, I noticed the slight surprise in her eyes. For a moment, she seemed taken aback, and then flash a playful, teasing smile,

"Don't be so happy—he stayed back because he wanted to ask if I was the one who started all this."

My fingers clenched around the table, but my eyes... they gave it away....tired, hurt, holding back more than I wanted to admit.

Her eyebrows pulled in.

"You mean... the rumors? The thing with Suhina?"

I nodded.

"Yeah, he was speaking very calmly, but when he came closer, I can't explain how fast my heartbeat got—like my heart would just jump out of my chest...Its like he was testing me, like he wanted to see if I'd panic."

Nami gave a small laugh.

"As if you would panic that easily."

I let out a small laugh. "Yeah, you know... I asked him if he really thought I was the one who started all this."

"And?"

I held my head in frustration. "He didn't say anything—literally nothing. Just gave a small smile, that's it."

Nami blinked.

"Wait. He smirked?"

"And then—" I stopped.

"Then what?"

I bit my lip and said quietly,

"He leaned in...He didn't touch me, but he was so close... so close that I could feel his breath." I said with a faint smile, blushing a little—like I didn't really mind it at all.

Nami was a bit shocked by this, then let out a small laugh. Her mouth seemed to hang open, like she didn't know what to say.

"No. Way."

I huffed in frustration.

"Then, he said, 'Let's See..."

Nami stared.

"Let's see? That's it? He just left you hanging after that?"

I nodded, holding my cup a bit tighter.

"Yes. Then he just walked away. Like nothing had happened..."

"'Let's see.' he just said that. What am I supposed to understand by that?" I said in frustration.

For a moment, Nami didn't say a thing. Then she crossed her arms.

"What a jerk."

I laughed softly.

"Right?"

"No, really. What does 'let's see' even mean? Is he trying to confuse you?"

I took a bite of my pastry and said, 'I don't know, but...."

Nami raised an eyebrow.

"But?"

As I kept eating, I added,

" i don't think he was angry. It was more like he was waiting for something, like he wanted me to play along with something .'"

Nami's expression shifted, like she was thinking hard.

"Waiting for what?"

I shook my head.

"I wish I knew."

The canteen noise blurred into the background, but my mind was still in that alley—his eyes, that smirk, those two words.

Let's see.

And maybe for the first time, I realised... maybe I wasn't the only one waiting for answers