The Downsides Of Popularity ✓

Chapter 10

( tw: bullying )

AND THE CHAOS ENSUES.

 TODAY IS DEFINITELY the worst day of my life. All those eyes peering at me in the hallway and in class, judging me by my every move keeps burning in the back of my mind.

Meera managed to convince the backbenchers to move places so that I can sit at the back of the class hoping people won't be so eager to look at me that they'd turn their heads around and sprain their necks.

It all started this morning, at exactly 8.02 am when I opened my phone to a gazillion notifications out of which only one was enough to make me almost scream at the top of my voice.

I immediately called Meera, Sreyansh and Ankita up regarding it and Sreyansh seemed to be the most frustrated to be on the group call 'cause he usually gets up an hour later but was all ears when he heard what happened.

'Stop thinking about it,' Meera states as she sits down in front of me after coming back from the washroom. Amit sir has been called to a meeting regarding the ISC practicals so we have no teacher in the classroom and everyone's busy with their own games and gossips.

'I'm not thinking about it,' I reply and take out my notes to revise for an upcoming Chemistry test.

'Sweetheart, I've known you for years. Lying to me won't do you any good,' she says and gives me a sarcastic smile.

'I just can't-', I stop mid-way when I see Utkarsh waving his hands in the corridor, signalling me to come out of class and talk to him. I get up and by the time I reach the door, I notice Sreyansh, who is standing at the threshold, is shooing him away.

I tell him it's alright as I step out of class. He takes my hand and pulls me to the assembly hall where drama rehearsals are going on.

'Amit sir can come back any minute now!', I exclaim in astonishment but Utkarsh reassures me that nothing will go wrong since he already has a permission slip to overview the practices of our respective houses.

'Listen, about the picture-'

'You don't have to say anything regarding that. But if you do know who clicked it, just tell me right now,' I say in a serious tone.

The picture of us kissing in the park spread faster than wildfire over social media this morning. Even if my face wasn't clear enough, everybody was certain it was me since they knew we are in a relationship. Comments consisted of mostly congratulations but also more of disgusting emojis and people saying I've changed (in a bad way).

'I don't know who that magnificent photographer was but agar kabhi mil gaya na, uski kher nahi-' (...but if I ever find that person then he won't get away with it-)

I hold his hand gently to soothe him. He takes a deep breath and exhales, opens his eyes and stares at me intently. 'I didn't want to ruin your first kiss, Shweta... I really didn't want any of this to happen, ever.'