Chapter 8

Abhimanyu

The drizzle had turned into a steady rain by the time I reached the school gate. I didn’t bother opening my umbrella. The cold drops felt good against my skin—something real, something grounding.

I should have gone straight home, but my legs carried me elsewhere. The weight in my chest hadn’t eased, not even after the exam. Not that the test mattered much to me. I had finished it without a second thought, scribbling answers while my mind drifted elsewhere.

I could still feel eyes on me.

Not the usual kind—the ones filled with admiration, curiosity, or judgment. This was different. It was quieter, almost hesitant.

I knew who it was.

Shubhi.

For some reason, she had been looking at me differently these past few days. I had noticed. She wasn’t like the others, and that’s what made it strange. Unlike the rest, she never tried to impress me, never tried to seek my attention. In fact, she had always seemed indifferent toward me, as if I was just another student in the crowd.

But today… she had almost walked up to me.

Almost.

I had seen her take those hesitant steps before stopping herself. I didn’t know why she changed her mind, but I was glad she did.

I wasn’t ready for that conversation.

Not with her. Not with anyone.

The rain picked up as I reached a quiet stretch of road leading away from school. My mind was restless. The same thoughts, the same weight, the same past I tried to keep buried—it all felt heavier today.

I exhaled sharply, running a hand through my damp hair.

I needed a distraction.

Anything to keep my mind from going where it always did.

But as fate would have it, the distraction came in a way I wasn’t expecting.

A familiar voice called out my name from behind.

I turned, blinking against the rain.

And there she was.

Shubhi.

So, she had followed me after all.

---