The classroom buzzed with restless chatter, students exchanging gossip and laughter as they awaited the lecturer.
Amidst the noise, all eyes gravitated toward Arun, seated at the back. Effortlessly charismatic, he leaned back with his arms crossed, the very picture of composed indifference.
Just then...
The door creaked open and Aarav stepped into the room. His sharp eyes instantly locked onto Arun.
For a fleeting second, his footsteps faltered. A flicker of hesitation tightening his features. The thought churned in his mind: Could someone like Arun really be trusted around Abhi?
Before he could dwell on it, a voice cut through the noise.
"Aarav!"
It was Karan, calling him with a subtle grin.
The classroom's attention shifted yet again, now toward the doorway.
Aarav snapped out of his thoughts and made his way toward Karan, who sat with his usual calm demeanor.
As Aarav sat beside him, Karan followed his gaze—just for a moment—to Arun, then leaned over and asked, "Where's Abhi?"
Aarav shrugged faintly, "He went to his class."
Karan raised a teasing brow. "Abhi? In class?" He chuckled. "He's probably roaming the cafeteria… or the ground… with Vihan."
Aarav exhaled a small laugh. "Let them be. They're still kids."
Karan widened his eyes in mock horror. "They're nearly twenty! And yet, here you are—still spoiling them."
---
[Junior Wing – Football Ground]
The sun hung high, casting golden light across the lush green football field where two sub-teams clashed in a heated practice match.
Among the players, Vihan stood out, his energy unmatched as he darted across the field, controlling the ball with joyful precision.
Then, just as the defenders closed in, he passed it off—clean, effortless—to Abhi, poised in the center.
In one smooth motion, Abhi took control. His feet glided over the grass with the grace of someone born for the game.
And then—a perfect curve—straight into the net.
Cheers erupted from his side.
Disappointment hung over the others.
The match, though just practice, throbbed with intensity and pride.
Later, all players were drenched in sweat, breathless and aching from exertion. They dragged themselves to the shaded benches, the breeze offering brief moments of relief.
...
As they caught their breath, a hiccup broke the calm—loud and sharp.
All heads turned to Abhi, who sat among them, shoulders stiff with frustration.
Next to him, Vihan handed over his water bottle, eyes gleaming with mischief. "What's wrong with you today? Is your love missing you that much?"
Silence. The group froze.
A few jaws dropped.
A team mate muttered, "Wait… Abhi has a lover?"
Abhi's head snapped up, shooting Vihan a sharp glare.
But Vihan wasn't done. "Ofcourse, Dino," he smirked, turning to a teammate to answer him, "Wanna know who?"
"VIHAN—" Abhi warned.
Then, In a flash, he raised the bottle to hit him.
Vihan ducked with a laugh, sprang to his feet, and dashed away, taunting as he ran. Abhi, fuming, gave chase.
Their childish quarrel turned into a full-blown chase, weaving across the field.
Behind them, Dino chuckled, rubbing his temples. "God… I already feel sorry for his lover."
Laughter erupted once more, the earlier tension forgotten in the lighthearted chaos.
...
[ Time gap , Senior wing ]
As the class neared its end, the soft buzz of paper and murmurs filled the room. Aarav and Karan remained focused on their work until Karan's phone vibrated.
He peeked and leaned toward Aarav with a quiet grin. "He's coming… to fetch him."
Aarav's gaze shifted toward Arun after Karan's words, observing him with quiet intensity.
Arun remained composed, unaffected by the attention.
Aarav murmured under his breath, a touch of hope threading through his worry. "I hope you don't get us wrong."
...
The bell rang.
Students began packing up.
Arun slipped out his phone, his movements elegant and slow. He typed a message to Ayan. The moment it sent, he gathered his things and made for the door.
He didn't spare a glance at anyone. Yet, as he passed a row of girls, their excited whispers caught his attention.
Their eyes gleamed with admiration as they discussed the alluring figure of a boy standing just outside the room.
Arun continued on his path, his focus unwavering. But as his hand reached for the door, his forward momentum halted. His senses, finely attuned to the world around him.
Abhi.
There, leaning casually by the pillar just outside the classroom.
Arun's footsteps faltered, and for a brief moment, the busy hallway seemed to fade away, leaving only the tension of the moment between the two.
Abhi stood with a bag slung over one shoulder, water bottle in hand, posture relaxed yet purposeful. When their eyes met, Abhi offered a soft, knowing smile—subtle, but piercing.
Arun paused, his face unreadable. Then, as if choosing indifference, he looked away and stepped forward.
His expression remained unreadable, with only a brief spark of agitation lighting up his eyes.
Abhi stepped forward.
Abhi's calm demeanor shifted with a single fluid motion, positioning himself directly in Arun's path.
The air between them crackled with an unspoken challenge, Abhi's eyes locked onto Arun's with quiet determination.
Meanwhile, behind the doorway, Aarav and Karan peeked out, barely containing their curiosity.
"Are you done, young master?" Abhi asked, tone light but deliberate.
Arun's eyes narrowed. "What are you doing here?"
"We haven't finalized our session schedule," Abhi replied calmly. "Want to start at the café? It's peaceful."
Arun's gaze sharpened. "Not today. Ayan's waiting in the library."
Abhi turned slightly, glancing toward Aarav—seeking… something. He turned back, voice firm. "You can ask him to wait. I have exam the day after tomorrow."
A tense pause.
Then, with a sigh and a curt tone, Arun muttered, "Come if you're so desperate to study."
Without waiting for a response, he turned and began walking, his movements precise and deliberate, leaving Abhi to follow in his wake.
Abhi watched Arun leave, his attention briefly diverted to Aarav and Karan, who seemed lost in confusion.
Aarav's disappointment weighed on him, but Abhi shook his head, silently urging them to persist.
With renewed determination, Abhi turned back to Arun, quickly jogging after him.
Aarav and Karan exchanged a brief glance, their thoughts aligning in an unspoken understanding.
They stepped out.
Karan broke the silence first, his voice rising in frustration. "His damn brother complex." he complained, "We'll have to think of another plan, right?"
Aarav turned toward him slowly, hesitation flickering across his face.
Yet, buried in a quiet corner of his heart, the thought of being closer to Ayan overpowered everything else.
[ Junior wing ]
The players still lingered on the field, their laughter carried by the gentle spring breeze, while others wandered aimlessly through the building's corridors, soaking in the carefree ambiance.
But the tranquility was fragile, shattered abruptly by a strange, creeping tension.
One by one, conversations faltered, voices dropped, and the echo of carefree banter dissolved into an eerie silence. All eyes turned toward the gate, drawn by an unspoken urgency.
Arun stepped through like a storm disguised in silence. Cold, unreadable, eyes heavy with something unsaid.
Behind him, Abhi followed, his pace steady, his gaze sharp yet unreadable. His face, pale and unmoved, betrayed no emotion—only a quiet, determined focus.
A wave of shocked whispers spread. Eyes tracked their every step.
On the field, Vihan stood up straight, sensing the shift. He rushed toward them, slipping into step beside Abhi.
"The plan was the café," Vihan hissed. "What are you two doing here?"
Abhi didn't look at him. His lips curled into a dramatic, almost annoying grin. "Thanks for reminding me. Why don't you convince him to follow the plan?"
Vihan blinked, caught off guard. Then something clicked.
Suddenly, his gaze widened. Without missing a beat, he turned back to Abhi, a conspiratorial light glinting in his eyes.
"But, don't you think this will cause trouble for Ayan? He love studying alone."
Nearby students perked up.
Then, with a dramatic wink, he added a vague, perplexing look to his expression. His eyes narrowed subtly at Abhi, signaling for support while keeping his anticipation fixed on Arun.
Abhi, catching onto the act, kept his face carefully neutral. Then, played along.
"He's not a kid," Abhi replied evenly, his voice calm but deliberate. "He can handle himself."
The words are loud enough to grab Arun's attention.
The words were measured, carrying just enough weight to appease onlookers while subtly aligning with Vihan's unspoken intentions.