With Mangoes And Chocolates | ✓

7. Inquisitiveness.

Biological concepts seemed to topple off my head. I tried to keep my eyes open and focused straight towards the chart in front. It was about human blood. I noted down as much as I could, highly resisting the temptation to zone out. 
"It's there in the book already." Ishita whispered, leaning towards me.
"I know. I am trying to stay awake," I justified, "need to keep doing something."

I had only three more minutes of joy. After that, we would be send downstairs for our Games class. I hated it with all my life. There was so much running and sweating and. . emptiness. Ishita would be gone with her clique, and nearly every other girl would be busy with each other. Ugh. The thought alone made me scrunch my face.

We were done studying the various components of blood when the asinine of our class asked a question. "What happens if we drink it?"

Yuvika had decided to sit on the second bench in the row, just behind Bhavuk. The way she so after him almost made me pity her because reciprocity was the last thing you'd expect out of Bhavuk Thakur. Especially if it comprised liking. All he did was breadcrumb her.

I had initially decided to cut her some slack but her thoughts made me snicker. "Thought you were experienced with that," I said out loud. Ishita definitely laughed at that, not just her; all those who heard me, did. Yuvika was. . flabbergasted.

I kinda saw Bhavuk's lips pulling up into a smirk, portraying amusement. He didn't look at me but what he said next was definitely aimed at me. "It takes one to know one."

Now, now, did you see that? I would've been disappointed if he'd defended her, but no, he didn't. He instead negatively remarked both of us. Riveting.

I turned to look at him. "Don't comment when you're not asked to, Thakur," I said.

He was going to pull up some good comeback and retort back at me, but I'd completely forgotten about one human being. The teacher.
"Enough," she wasn't angry, but definitely exhausted.

I didn't bother to spare another glance at anyone, and shoved my stuff into my bag. A very important step. We were going to be pushed downstairs, and I had never trusted anyone in the school.

🧩

I had already spent—wasted—my precious twenty minutes standing here, on the grassland. The only thing I was able to think of, was, how much I could've studied during this time. Bhavuk Thakur was scoring way higher than me and I needed to fix that.

I wiggled my legs and stared up at the sky. It was deprived of any color but grey. I couldn't believe that it was July already.

I huffed and looked sideways, at Ishita. She had so many girls surrounding her. For once, I really did envy her. She was funny and knew what's trending and what's not. She didn't have beef with everyone, unlike me. Life was surely easy for her. She was desired. People actually noticed when she wasn't present.
Most importantly, they found her relatable. No one found me relatable.

It almost felt like I would invest my whole life trying to fit in, and still I wouldn't, so I did the best thing possible—I dismissed the thoughts. I've struggled with this almost since my school started (ten years?) and I was so used to it.

I walked back to the school building, to the sports room. If luck was in my favour, I would find it empty and with a chair to sit on. I didn't even need a chair, I just wanted the room deserted. 

Turned out, luck had betrayed me. Half a dozen boys surrounded the tennis table. Of course I recognized all of them, but my eyes first fell over Bhavuk, then Arav, and then Kartik. Their shirts tucked out like god knows what labour they had to do. I couldn't comprehend how Bhavuk made friends so effortlessly. That too with people like Kartik, highly introverted? My best guess was that it was a guy thing.