It was the third period, and I was already zoning out, my mind drifting between the pages of my notebook and the chatter around me. The class was full of the usual banter – some kids teasing others about homework, a couple of boys goofing off in the back row, and a few girls gossiping as always. Aanya, Priya, and I were at the last bench, our usual spot. We had a bit of everything going on, from jokes to study notes, and sometimes, just taking a break from everything.
"Hey, Riya," Aanya whispered, leaning in a little closer. "Look out the window."
I raised an eyebrow, barely paying attention. "What now?" I muttered, trying to focus on the history notes in front of me.
"Just look," she insisted, her tone a little too eager.
I glanced up, but I didn't expect what I saw next. There was a group of students hanging out near the school gate, and as they stepped into view, I saw him. Vishal.
I blinked, rubbing my eyes to make sure I wasn't imagining things.
"Wait—what? No way. It can't be him," I muttered, squinting at the figure in the distance.
Aanya was already peering out the window, clearly excited. "It's him, Riya. Vishal. He's back."
I felt a sudden jolt in my chest. "That's impossible." I tried to convince myself I was wrong.
But then, he stepped into full view, walking with his usual gang of friends, all laughing and joking around. And then it hit me. Vishal looked completely... different. There was something about him that I couldn't place. He was wearing a fitted shirt that showed off his muscles, his posture straightened in a way that was unfamiliar to me.
Gone was the shy, awkward guy who would sit quietly at the back of the class, his eyes always on the floor. Instead, the Vishal I saw now exuded confidence. He looked like he belonged in the spotlight, like nothing could shake him.
I blinked a few more times, trying to wrap my head around it. Was this the same Vishal who had been in my class last year? The one who barely spoke and always kept to himself?
"He's definitely not the same," Priya said from the other side of me, her voice full of awe. "Look at him! He's—he's glowing."
I couldn't deny it. There was a kind of magnetism around him now, an aura that pulled people in. Even the girls in the class couldn't help but notice, their eyes lighting up as they whispered to each other, stealing glances at him when they thought no one was watching. Some of them were practically blushing.
Aanya grinned, leaning closer to me. "You're not even looking. I swear, you're trying not to look at him."
"Shut up," I muttered, rolling my eyes, trying to act like I wasn't the least bit affected. But I could feel the heat creeping up my neck. I didn't care, not anymore.
"I can't believe this," Aanya went on. "Last time I saw him, he was all... well, you know..."
I nodded. "Yeah. I know."
She nudged me, her voice quieter now. "Do you think he's noticed you?"
I stiffened. "I don't care."
But I could feel my own heart betraying me as I spoke. There was something about him that had always made me feel... unsettled. The way he had looked at me that one time, the way his smile had made everything seem... warmer. I hated that feeling. Because that was the reason I was so determined to keep my distance from him.
"Alright, alright, enough about Vishal," I said, trying to change the subject. I didn't want to get caught up in this. Not again.
But Aanya wasn't letting it go. "No, seriously. Just look at him. He's not the same guy anymore."
I glanced at him again, and that's when I realized just how much had changed. He was walking with that same group of boys, all laughing and joking around like they had just come from a photoshoot or something. His face had a sharper edge to it, his jawline more defined, and his hair—well, he was practically glowing under the fluorescent lights.
He caught a few more girls' eyes, and I saw the way they were grinning, whispering to each other, stealing glances. It wasn't just the guys anymore who were looking his way. The entire room seemed to be watching him now.
He stepped into the classroom with his usual cool demeanor. His eyes quickly scanned the room before he settled his gaze on the teacher.
"May I come in, ma'am?" he asked in a deep voice, polite, but with an undertone of confidence I hadn't heard from him before.
The teacher looked up from her notes, a little startled but quickly nodding. "Of course, Vishal. Go ahead and find a seat."
I could hear the collective breath of the class being held as he walked toward the back of the room, and I saw his eyes flicker toward me for a split second. It was almost like he was searching for something—looking for a reaction.
Please don't look at me. The thought echoed in my head. I couldn't let him get to me. I wouldn't let him.
But despite my best efforts, my heart was pounding harder than I wanted to admit. I didn't want to care. I couldn't afford to care.
"Wow, you are so not subtle," Priya whispered, breaking the silence as she leaned in toward me. "It's so obvious that you're trying not to look at him. Just admit it."
"I don't care," I snapped, though my voice betrayed me. I quickly returned my attention to the notes in front of me, trying to ignore the fluttering in my stomach.
Aanya wasn't done. She raised an eyebrow, clearly teasing. "Really? Because it looks like you do. I think he noticed."
"I'm not interested, okay?" I said, more firmly this time. But the more I said it, the less I believed it. He had changed. And I didn't know how to handle it.
The class went back to normal. Well, mostly. People were still stealing glances at Vishal, whispering behind their hands, and giggling as they shot him flirty looks. It was like a whole new chapter had started, and everyone was jumping on the bandwagon.
But I kept my eyes firmly on my book, even as I could feel the weight of his presence at the back of the class. He didn't need to notice me anymore. He didn't deserve to.
The bell rang, signaling the end of the third period. I gathered my things quickly, trying to avoid any unnecessary attention. Aanya and Priya had already started chatting excitedly, no doubt still caught up in the arrival of Vishal. They had been whispering to each other since he walked in, their eyes flickering over to him whenever they thought I wasn't looking.
But I wasn't in the mood for their teasing today. I shoved my books into my bag and made a quick exit from the classroom.
I needed some space.
The hallway was just as loud as the classroom, filled with the usual chatter of students hurrying between classes. But I wasn't listening. My mind was focused on one thing. Vishal. His sudden return had shaken something in me, even though I told myself I didn't care. The way he looked, the way people responded to him—he was no longer the same person who used to sit next to me in class, awkward and unsure of himself.
Why is this even bothering me? I asked myself. I shouldn't care. He's just another guy, and we've never been anything but acquaintances.
But it wasn't that simple. When we had been friends—back before everything changed—he had a way of making me feel like I mattered. He listened to me when no one else did, and his presence was a comfort, even when he didn't speak much. And then he left. Without a word.
I had never expected him to come back, especially not like this. It made me feel like I had been living in a bubble, and now it had burst. The reality of his transformation hit harder than I had anticipated.
"Riya, are you even listening?" Priya's voice pulled me out of my thoughts.
I turned to see her and Aanya walking behind me, both of them grinning. I didn't even need to ask what they were talking about.
"I'm just trying to focus," I muttered, pushing my hair out of my face. "We have another class to go to."
Aanya giggled. "You know, you're trying too hard to pretend that you don't care. It's written all over your face."
"I said, I don't care," I repeated, though it sounded less convincing this time. "He's not my problem anymore."
Priya raised an eyebrow. "Right. Sure. You keep telling yourself that."
I didn't answer. I couldn't. They were right, in a way. The truth was, I was still tangled up in the past. But I wasn't ready to admit that—not to them, not to myself.
We arrived at our next class, and the usual routine took over. The teacher entered, and everyone settled into their seats. But no matter how hard I tried to focus on the lesson, my mind kept drifting back to Vishal.
It was like there was an invisible thread pulling me in his direction, even though I knew better than to follow it. I glanced up at the front of the room, catching a glimpse of him sitting in his new spot at the back. He was talking to his friends, but his eyes flickered across the room, and for just a moment, they landed on me.
My heart skipped a beat before I quickly looked away, pretending I hadn't noticed. I couldn't let myself get caught up in whatever game this was. He didn't deserve my attention, not after everything that had happened.
"Okay, class," the teacher said, breaking the silence. "Let's move on to today's topic. We'll be covering chapter five on the Civil War."
But I couldn't focus. Not now. Not with the weight of his gaze still lingering in my mind. The bell rang a few minutes later, but I didn't feel any relief. It was only when Aanya and Priya dragged me out of my seat that I realized I had been lost in my thoughts for much longer than I realized.
"You're a mess today," Aanya teased, nudging me with her shoulder.
"I'm fine," I said, brushing her off. But I wasn't.
I didn't want to think about Vishal. I didn't want to remember how he made me feel, or how easily he had walked away from everything we had. But he was back now, and it was impossible to ignore.
The rest of the day passed in a blur. Between classes, I tried to keep my distance from him, though I couldn't help but notice how the other students still hovered around him, eager to be part of his new "glow-up" world. I saw some girls whispering and giggling, others sneaking looks as he passed by. It was as if he had become some kind of celebrity overnight.
As I packed up my things at the end of the day, I noticed Aanya and Priya huddled together, talking about him again. I didn't even bother asking what they were saying.
Instead, I walked out of the classroom on my own.
I needed to breathe.
The corridor was quieter now. Most students had already made their way home or were lingering outside the school gate. The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows on the floor tiles. I took my time walking—slow steps, steady breath.
Everything felt too loud in my head, even with the school finally quiet.
When I stepped out onto the front steps, a light breeze brushed against my skin. I paused there for a moment, watching a group of students laugh over something I couldn't hear. I wished I could laugh that easily. I wished my heart didn't feel so heavy.
Aanya called out from behind, "Hey! Want to walk together?"
I shook my head gently without turning. "I'll see you tomorrow."
I needed to be alone.
As I made my way down the road, the silence around me felt more comforting than the chatter ever could. But the weight of the day hadn't left me—it clung to my thoughts like fog.
Maybe I was overthinking. Maybe he really didn't matter anymore.
But as I reached the end of the street and glanced up at the fading sky, I knew that wasn't true.
He mattered.
He still did.
And that truth scared me more than anything else.