The Gazes and the Silence
After the math class, my mind was a whirlwind of thoughts. Shuva was sitting just a few desks away, but she felt like a mystery from a distant city. During the break, I couldn't help myself; I went and sat in the seat right next to her.
She looked at me, a bit surprised, and raised her eyebrows. "Oh my! What exactly are you doing in my seat?" she asked with a playful yet firm tone.
I felt a sudden jolt of panic. My heart raced, and for a moment, I lost my words. "I... I was just..." I stammered, quickly standing up and retreating to my own desk. My friends started snickering behind their hands, but I didn't care about them. Even though I had moved away physically, my eyes remained fixed on her.
I watched her take notes, watched how she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. I thought to myself, My friends are too shy to even say hello. If I want her to know how I feel, I have to be the one to speak up. The clock seemed to move slower than ever. I kept glancing at the wall, waiting for 4:00 PM. Every minute felt like an hour, but the anticipation was making my heart dance.