10 Days to Prom

The New Chapter

"I guess we should catch up with each other a bit. What do you say?", Rohan asked Mike, after school.

"Well...", Mike couldn't complete his sentence.

"Just keep following me. God! You are excessively cu-coy.", Rohan said after checking himself.

Mike nodded and walked behind him, staring at the bouquet still in his hand. They arrived at a food truck. The owner of the food truck smiled at Rohan, as they approached the ordering window.

"That's why you weren't with Dave and Henry.", the owner said after looking at Mike with a smirk.

Rohan smiled at him and asked Mike, "What do you want?"

"Do you have any milkshakes?", Mike asked the owner.

"Specify the type.", Rohan interrupted.

"Mango.", replied Mike.

"Good. I will have the usual.", Rohan said and pulled Mike along with him to a nearby bench.

After recieving their food, Rohan, after swallowing a big bite of his burger, said,

"Start talking."

Mike stopped slurping his milkshake and looked up at him, surprised.

"It's been a year and now school's ending. When were you planning to let me know?"

"Umm...well I didn't...I mean I couldn't get myself to say it out aloud. I wasn't sure...", Mike's words started fading.

"Wasn't sure about what? Your feelings for me?, Rohan asked, leaning towards him.

"No!", Mike almost shouted, he shifted a bit and said, "I wasn't sure if you would accept me..."

"Ooh...thank goodness! So Ricky was right.", Rohan said and leaned back at the bench handle, with a sigh of relief.

"When did you get to know?", Mike asked, almost inaudible.

"Honestly, two days ago. I am sorry for being so oblivious...you know I wasn't really close with anyone else apart from Dave, Henry and my cousins from junior classes. But I am sure if you made a move earlier...we could have been a long way ahead now.", Rohan said while looking up at the sky.

Mike's slurping his milkshake in silence made Rohan look back at him. "What are you thinking?", he asked, trying to read Mike's expression.

"Do you like me?", Mike asked all of a sudden.

"Umm...what should I say...I thought about it last night a lot. It's not that I didn't know you. I just didn't remember your name. My bad! Plus you are cute. It won't harm dating you. But since I just got to know this whole thing... don't I have the right to take my time?", Rohan said and took the last bite of his burger.

Mike's ears were red. He felt embarrassed to think that Rohan might notice them turning red.

"Thank you.", Mike said.

"Huh!? For what?", Rohan asked.

"For looking out for me and surprising me. I appreciate it.", Mike said and looked at Rohan with a smile.

Rohan couldn't hold it anymore and started laughing hard. Mike, taken aback, blinked at Rohan. Rohan stopped after realising that it was awkward and looked at Mike. Their eyes met. Mike looked away in a hurry but still asked, a bit annoyed, pouting, "Why did you laugh?"

"Nothing. I thought it was cute.", Rohan said and grabbed Mike's hand, pulled him up from the bench and started walking.

They were still holding hands at the bus stop while they waited for the bus to arrive. Mike wished he had a power to stop time. After boarding the bus, Mike waved Rohan bye leaning out from the window. Rohan waved till the bus was out of sight. Minutes later Rohan realised he was still smiling by himself. He held the bus stand pole and hit his forehead softly yet strongly enough to return to his normal self! Then he walked back home.