After THAT day, I promised myself:
Just chill. Act normal. Forget the whole thing.
Easier said than done.
I still kept overthinking that stupid conversation.
Did he really think I was joking?
Why did he smile when Devi told him?
Was it a good smile? A bad one?
WHY do I care so much?!
My brain wouldn't stop.
And then… things got worse.
---
Whispers started in class.
You know the type — those quiet convos that happen when you're pretending not to listen.
One day, I overheard a girl behind me:
"Omg, I think Aditya likes Shruti."
My stomach dropped.
I looked at Devi. She looked back — awkward face.
"Is it true?" I asked quietly.
She hesitated.
"... yeah. They've been texting a lot lately."
I felt sick.
Of course it was Shruti.
How could it NOT be her?
She was gorgeous.
Funny. Outgoing.
The kind of girl any guy would like.
And then — as if to torture me — she started hanging out with me.
"Heyyy!" she'd say, linking her arm through mine.
Talking casually about life, fashion, boys…
And one afternoon — the final blow.
She leaned in, grinning:
"Guess what?! He asked me out!"
My heart shattered.
But on the outside?
I smiled.
"That's great! I'm happy for you."
"But I rejected him.." I froze while walking.
"What?" I said eyes widening.
"Yeah.. he is not my type."
"..oh".. the rest of my day went blurry.
---
That night, I came home and cried into my pillow.
The worst part?
I couldn't even tell anyone how bad it hurt.
I mean… what was I supposed to say?
"I confessed to a guy who likes someone else, and now that girl's telling me about it like I'm her bestie."
Yeah, no thanks.
---
But of course — one person noticed.
Shaurya.
---
Shaurya had been my childhood best friend.
Always there — texting me good mornings, making me laugh.
And now, when I was going through this mess — he was the first one to DM me:
"You okay?"
"Yeah, totally," I lied.
He replied instantly:
"Don't lie. I can tell."
I stared at the screen.
And finally… I told him everything.
The whole story — from that first dog story reply to the Truth and Dare disaster to Shruti.
---
Shaurya's reply?
"Why are you torturing yourself like this?"
"Stop talking to him. It'll only hurt more."
Maybe he was right.
Maybe I just needed to move on.
---
So I tried.
I muted Aditya's stories.
Focused on other things.
And every time my brain drifted back — Shaurya would distract me:
"Oi, no sad thoughts. Come, we'll watch dumb memes."
And for a while… it helped.
---
But then something changed.
Shaurya started texting even more.
"Good morning 🌞"
"Eat properly."
"Call me when you're free."
At first, it felt nice.
Safe.
Until one night — completely out of nowhere — he sent:
"Why don't we try this? You and me?"
She was falling apart…
And someone else was ready to catch her.
But sometimes, being held isn't the same as being healed.
To be continued…