Weeks passed. I stayed quiet, making tiny connections.
Aditya — I knew his name by now — still wore that black mask every day. I'd steal glances when I thought no one was watching.
But that was all it was — harmless glances. Right?
Then came June 30th.
The day everything changed.
It was a hot, sticky afternoon. I was waiting outside the classroom — sir was inside talking to a few students. I had doubts in my head and no one to ask.
Suddenly, I heard soft barking.
Turning, I saw... Aditya.
And walking proudly beside him — a tiny white pomeranian, fluffy as a cloud.
My heart instantly exploded.
A DOG. A FLUFFY, PERFECT DOG.
Without thinking, I crouched down.
"Hiii babyyyyy!! Who's this cutieee!" I gushed in full baby voice.
The little dog — tail wagging furiously — ran to me, licking my fingers.
I melted into a puddle on the floor.
Aditya chuckled softly, kneeling next to her.
"She's Fluffy," he said, voice low. "She likes you."
And then... I noticed.
The way he gently patted her head, speaking to her like she was the most precious thing on earth. The way he held her tiny leash with so much care.
I'd never seen a guy act like that with an animal before. Ever.
Something in me shifted.
My heart... fluttered.
From that day... he wasn't just the tall, masked boy anymore.
He was the boy who loved his dog.
She didn't know it yet…
But that one fluffy pomeranian was about to change everything.
To be continued…