The hallway was crowded, but Riya's mind felt like it was moving in slow motion. Vishal's arm brushed against hers as they walked side by side, but there was a slight distance between them—subtle, yet unmistakable.
She had said yes. She had given him another chance. She was his again.
But her heart… it still held pieces of the girl who had cried herself to sleep a year ago.
Vishal glanced at her as they exited the school gate. "You've been quiet since morning."
Riya smiled faintly. "Just tired."
He didn't look convinced.
"Riya," he said gently, stopping her near the school wall, "I know something's bothering you. You don't talk like you used to. You don't look at me the same."
Her fingers tightened around the strap of her bag.
"I'm trying, Vishal. I am. But I can't stop remembering everything. It's like… I'm scared to trust you even when I already have."
Vishal looked away for a moment, jaw tense. Then he said, "I'm not him anymore. The one from last year. I'm not doing this because of anyone else. I'm with you because I want to be. Only you."
"I want to believe that," she whispered. "But what if I fall again, and this time there's no getting up?"
He reached for her hand slowly, cautiously.
"Then I'll fall with you, and I won't let go."
Riya looked at him. Really looked.
Maybe love wasn't about forgetting the past.
Maybe it was about carrying the scars and still choosing to stay.
The school bell rang, signaling the start of the first period. A surge of students flooded into the classroom, their chatter and laughter filling the air. Riya sat down at her desk by the window, feeling the familiar quietness settle over her as she glanced at her phone one last time before the lesson began. There were a few messages from her friends, but her mind was elsewhere.
Vishal.
Even without looking, she could sense his presence. Their relationship—still a secret—had created an unspoken bond between them. Even though they sat a few rows apart, their eyes met across the classroom, and for a split second, everything else faded away. He was there, watching her with the same intensity that she had been feeling since they had gotten back together. The shared glances, the small smiles, the way their fingers had brushed so casually, so naturally, in the hallways—it was all part of the dance they were doing, and Riya couldn't help but wonder if anyone could see it.
But no one knew. Not yet.
No one except for Sana. Riya's best friend had figured it out long ago, but she hadn't said a word. She hadn't made a fuss. Sana knew how important it was for Riya to keep this relationship private for now. They'd never really discussed it in depth, but Riya knew that Sana understood her need for space—space to breathe, to figure out what this new chapter with Vishal meant for her.
As the class started, Riya tried to focus, but her thoughts kept drifting to the way Vishal's eyes had held hers earlier that morning. The way he had smiled at her without saying a word. It was as if they were in their own little world, away from the prying eyes of their classmates.
The sound of the bell signaling recess broke through her thoughts. Students rushed out of the classroom, eager to grab a snack, gossip, or catch up on some last-minute homework. But Riya remained seated at her desk, holding her water bottle, her mind too tangled in the emotions of the day to join in the usual chaos of break time.
She glanced at Vishal, who was sitting with his friends, pretending to be deep in conversation but still casting occasional glances toward her. Their eyes met for just a second, and the warmth that spread through her chest was undeniable.
A few moments later, Riya's peaceful moment was interrupted by the loud, brash voice of Aman.
"Well, well, well, what's this?" Aman's teasing tone cut through the air. "Looks like our princess is hiding something." He had been eyeing Riya for weeks now, clearly trying to get under her skin. But today, he had a new target: her water bottle.
Before Riya could react, Aman swooped down, snatching her bottle off the desk with a sly grin.
"Hey! Give it back, Aman!" Riya called out, standing up and reaching for the bottle.
But Aman was faster. He held it just out of her reach, laughing as he spun around and took a few steps away. "You've been acting all mysterious lately. What's your secret?" he teased, clearly enjoying watching her squirm.
Riya rolled her eyes, her irritation growing. "Stop it, Aman. Just give it back."
"Not until you tell me what's going on," he shot back, still holding the bottle out of her grasp.
The rest of the students who had gathered near the classroom door began to watch the scene unfold, sensing that something more than just a playful tease was going on.
"Give it back!" Riya demanded again, frustration rising in her chest.
Before she could move any closer, she saw a familiar hand reach out from behind her, grab the bottle from Aman's hand, and bring it to her.
Vishal.
Without a word, he uncapped the bottle, took a long, leisurely sip, and then casually looked around the room as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened. The whole classroom went silent for a moment, eyes wide with shock. A few students gasped, exchanging looks, unsure of what they had just witnessed.
Aman, momentarily stunned, finally found his voice. "Bro!" he exclaimed. "What are you doing? You just drank from her bottle! How can you—?"
Vishal, unfazed, turned toward Aman with a small, confident smile. He didn't seem bothered by the stares that now followed him. His voice was calm, but the words were clear: "She's not someone, Aman."
The weight of his words hung in the air as Vishal handed the bottle back to Riya, his fingers brushing against hers just for a second. The touch was so fleeting, but it was enough to send a wave of heat rushing to her face.
Riya's heart thudded in her chest. Her face flushed bright red, and she immediately lowered her gaze, feeling the attention of the entire room on her. She didn't know how to respond, how to act normal in the midst of the silence that had fallen over the class.
For a brief moment, everything felt too overwhelming. How had Vishal just done that? In front of everyone? Had they seen what just happened? Were they going to figure it out?
The class remained eerily quiet, the weight of Vishal's words sinking in. It was clear to everyone now: whatever they had, whatever was happening between them, it was real. And it wasn't something anyone could ignore anymore.
Aman, still processing what had just happened, looked at Vishal in disbelief. "What do you mean by that?" he muttered, but Vishal didn't respond. He simply turned and walked away, his eyes meeting Riya's for one last, lingering moment.
Riya's heart pounded in her chest. She wanted to say something, to explain everything that had just happened, but the words wouldn't come. She just stood there, holding the bottle, feeling the heat radiating from her cheeks.
From the corner of her eye, she saw Sana watching her, a knowing smile tugging at the corner of her lips. Sana's eyes were full of questions, but she didn't say anything aloud. She knew. Sana had always known. And now, it was like the world had just caught up with her secret.
Aanya, Priya, and the others stood nearby, whispering among themselves, glancing at Riya and Vishal, trying to make sense of the silent exchange. They were curious, but they didn't have all the pieces yet. But Riya could feel their eyes on her, the weight of their unasked questions pressing down on her.
Sana leaned in close, her voice soft, barely a whisper. "So, what's going on? He's not someone anymore, huh?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
Riya met her gaze, and for the first time, she didn't feel the need to hide. She smiled faintly, nodding. "No," Riya murmured, her voice barely audible. "He's not."
Sana raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued, but she didn't press further. She could see it in Riya's eyes—the softness, the vulnerability, the unspoken connection between her and Vishal.
The rest of the students were still buzzing with gossip, casting quick glances toward Riya. Aanya and Priya were whispering, trying to piece together the puzzle. But for now, Riya wasn't ready to say anything more. She wasn't ready to share the full story with the world just yet.
For now, she was content to hold the bottle in her hands, feeling the coolness against her palms as she let the moment settle. Whatever was happening between her and Vishal, it was theirs to keep for the time being. Tomorrow would bring more questions, more curiosity, more eyes on them.
The next day, Riya could feel the weight of the questions hanging in the air as soon as she entered the classroom. It had been ten days since she and Vishal had decided to give their relationship another chance. Ten days of stolen glances, fleeting touches, and shared moments that only they understood. Ten days of keeping things private, just between them, as if they were in their own little world.
But today, something felt different. Her friends—Sana, Priya, and Aanya—had been giving her knowing looks all morning. There was no denying it now; they had all noticed the subtle shifts, the way Riya's eyes brightened whenever Vishal entered the room, the way her cheeks flushed when he glanced her way.
It wasn't long before Sana couldn't hold back any longer. During lunch break, as the students gathered in the cafeteria, Sana leaned in, her voice barely a whisper but full of curiosity.
"So…" she started, glancing around to make sure no one was eavesdropping. "What's really going on between you and Vishal?"
Riya froze mid-bite, the question hitting her harder than she expected. She set her sandwich down slowly, her mind racing. She had hoped to keep things low-key, to avoid talking about it, but now that the topic had been brought up, she couldn't ignore it any longer.
Aanya and Priya, who had been quietly observing, both leaned in as well, their eyes wide with a mix of curiosity and concern.
"Yeah," Priya added with a teasing smile. "You've been acting so weird lately. And don't think we didn't notice how you two were looking at each other the other day. It's pretty obvious there's something going on."
Riya glanced around the cafeteria, her eyes searching for Vishal, but he wasn't there. Still, her heart skipped a beat at the thought of him. She wasn't ready to share everything yet, but it was getting harder to keep the secret, especially with her friends looking at her like that.
She took a deep breath, her fingers tightening around the edge of her water bottle. She wasn't sure where to begin. What could she say? That they were back together, but nobody could know? That everything between them felt different this time, but she wasn't sure how to explain it?
Sana, sensing Riya's hesitation, softened her tone. "You don't have to tell us everything if you don't want to. But we're your friends, Riya. We're here for you. Just… just tell us what's going on. We won't judge."
Riya met her friend's gaze, feeling a rush of gratitude. Sana was always the understanding one, never pressuring her, but always there when she needed someone to talk to. The others—Aanya and Priya—they were more playful, but they meant well. They were her closest friends, and for the first time, Riya felt like it was okay to let them in.
"I… I'm with Vishal," Riya finally said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Sana's eyebrows shot up in surprise, but she didn't say anything right away. Aanya, on the other hand, gasped. "Wait, what? You and Vishal? As in… together? Like a couple?"
Riya nodded, her cheeks turning pink as she met Aanya's wide-eyed stare. "Yeah. But it's… complicated."
The three of them fell silent, processing her words. They had all seen the signs—the way Vishal had defended Riya that day with Aman, how his gaze never left her in class, how he seemed different now, as if he was fully invested in her this time. But hearing Riya say it out loud made it feel real. It made it feel like this wasn't just a passing flirtation or a one-time thing.
"But… I thought you were done with him," Priya said, her voice cautious, though not unkind. "You've been through so much with him already. Why would you go back to someone who hurt you?"
Riya's chest tightened at the reminder. She had been hurt before, badly, and she knew her friends were just trying to look out for her. But this time felt different. Vishal was different.
"I know what I'm doing," Riya replied softly, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her. "It's been ten days since we got back together, and it feels right. He's changed, I can tell. I don't know how to explain it, but… he's been there for me in a way he never was before."
Aanya raised an eyebrow, clearly not convinced. "But you're keeping it secret? Why? Why not tell everyone?"
Riya's heart skipped a beat. She had been expecting this question. Her thoughts tangled as she tried to find the right words. "It's… private," she said slowly. "We've been through a lot, and I don't want to rush things. It's just between us right now. I'm not ready for everyone to know, and… I'm not sure how they'll react."
Sana nodded thoughtfully. "I get it," she said. "You need time. You need space. But just remember, Riya… you deserve to be happy. Don't let anyone—especially Vishal—make you doubt yourself again."
Riya smiled faintly, grateful for her friend's support. "Thanks, Sana. I promise, I'm not going into this blindly. I'm careful now. I'm being cautious."
Aanya and Priya exchanged glances, their expressions softening. It was clear they wanted to be there for her, but they didn't quite understand everything yet. It was a lot to process, especially when it came to someone like Vishal, who had hurt Riya before.
"Well, as long as you're happy," Priya said with a shrug. "We're happy for you. Just… be careful, okay? We're all here for you."
Riya's heart swelled with gratitude as she glanced around the table at her friends. Despite their concerns, they were supporting her. They weren't judging her. They just wanted to make sure she didn't get hurt again.
"I will," Riya promised, her voice steady as she met their eyes. "I'm just figuring things out. One step at a time."
As the lunch period ended, Riya felt a weight lifted off her shoulders. She hadn't given them all the details, but for now, this was enough. She would navigate this new chapter in her life at her own pace, and with her friends' support, maybe she could finally get it right.
But even as she walked to class with her friends by her side, Riya couldn't shake the feeling that the real challenges were just beginning. Would Vishal truly prove he had changed? Or would the past come crashing back into her life, just like it always seemed to do