Marked By Darkness

Chapter 9- His eyes on me

At the Party...

Ruhi's POV...

The room buzzed with excitement. Music played softly in the background, but the lively chatter of people filled the air. Twinkling lights hung overhead, casting a warm glow on everything, yet, for some reason, I felt a chill creeping over me.

I glanced at Anshi, who was standing beside me, admiring the decorations.

"Anshi, these decorations are so nice. Ruhan really knows how to throw a party," I said, trying to focus on the festive atmosphere.

"Yeah, but how many friends does he even have? Is there anyone in his family?" she replied, a curious edge to her voice.

"I don’t know... He lives here alone, right?"

"I think so..." Anshi's voice trailed off as her gaze wandered through the room.

My eyes moved through the crowd, scanning the faces, when I caught sight of someone familiar. A girl in a striking red dress across the room. My lips parted in surprise.

"Ouhh... Hey, is that Sharlin?" I asked, squinting to make sure I wasn’t imagining it.

Anshi looked around, her eyes narrowing as she searched for the person I’d spotted. "Where?"

"Over there! In the red dress," I pointed discreetly.

She squinted, and a look of recognition crossed her face. "Oh yeah, Sharlin from high school! She looks... hot."

"Yeah, she's changed a lot," I remarked, feeling a little nostalgic.

Anshi grinned, a mischievous spark lighting up her eyes. "Let’s go talk to her."

"But..." I hesitated, my unease growing.

"Come on, don't be shy!" Anshi urged, already pulling me in Sharlin's direction.

I sighed, trying to push the unease bubbling up in my chest away. I followed Anshi reluctantly, my thoughts scattered as we approached the woman who had once been the queen bee of our high school.

"Hey, Sharlin!" Anshi called out.

Sharlin turned, her eyes lighting up as she spotted us. "Oh, hey! How are you guys?"

"I’m good! You’ve changed so much... I mean, wow!" Anshi responded enthusiastically, her voice laced with excitement.

"Yeah, you’ve changed too! From brown hair to red now? Bold move." Sharlin laughed, her tone light and teasing.

Anshi burst out laughing, nudging me playfully. "Haha, haha... Her leg-pulling habit hasn’t changed a bit."

I leaned in, whispering under my breath, "Because she’s Sharlin. The biggest drama queen in our school."

Sharlin raised an eyebrow, her smile never wavering. "What did you two just say?"

Anshi froze, her cheeks flushing in embarrassment. "Ah, nothing... Nothing at all."

I rolled my eyes at the awkward exchange, but Sharlin seemed unfazed, still smiling.

"By the way, Ruhi... I barely recognized you. You’ve gotten so thin," Sharlin remarked, her tone mocking.

Anshi couldn’t help herself. "Her leg-pulling habit is still going strong."

I smirked, trying to brush off the discomfort I felt. "What can I do? I’m on a diet."

"Aww, I see," Sharlin said, her voice dripping with feigned sympathy.

"So, is Ruhan your friend?" Anshi asked, her curiosity evident.