A Step To You

Thirty One

ONE DAY BEFORE THE PERFORMANCE DAY

Yukti's Pov

It's the second day of the school's founding anniversary. There are plenty of booths around, and so many fun things to do. Since tomorrow is the big day for all the clubs, the club presidents agreed that we will let the members have a full- day rest today. Besides, the practice last week was so hectic that all of us have to muster up enough energy for tomorrow.

Santosh slumped onto one chair of the Pizzeria booth. Mira and I sat on the either side of her. Santosh looks so wasted. Compared to our training, hers was the most intense. They had even stayed until 12 a.m. in school during the past week.

"What should we order?" I asked them when a booth personnel approached us. Mira showed me the menu and pointed at two items. "Okay. Ahm, please give us one small Italian paneer pizza, a Hawaiian pizza,  and a lasagna. Our drinks will be just water. Make it not cold please."

The girl repeated our orders then left.

We looked at the booth called 'Cakes and Us' which is just a few steps away from us. They serve delicious cakes to couples, but as me and Mira are going to use our voices tomorrow, we dare not step near that booth.

Santu sighed and gazed longingly at the cakes we can see from here. "I want sugar."

"Tomorrow, after the performance, we will stuff ourselves with cakes," Mira muttered, looking away from the booth.

I let out a sigh too, and averted my eyes from the temptation. But then, I spotted Prid and Gulki coming this way. I sat up straightly. Recently Gulki have been treating me totally different since the talk we had in the car. She passes a genuine smile everytime we meet, which may go unnoticed by others. Not in front of aunty though. Everytime Aunt Archana is there, Gulki avoids me. I understand her place, so I also do cooperate. I'm thankful to God for that though. I hope her and my relationship gets better eventually, may it take time... (⁠ ⁠ꈍ⁠ᴗ⁠ꈍ⁠)

"What happened to your president?" Mira whispered to Santu who looked around 'til she saw Priyanshu.

Prid seemed to have lost his bright face. I mean, he looks tired and unenergetic.

"Is he sick?" I asked.

"Nah. He's just brokenhearted," Santu said. "Don't mind him."

"Why is he broken hearted?" I asked curiously.

Santosh was not able to answer because our food came and she immediately stuffed her mouth with pizza.

I looked where Gulki and Prid are, but they seemed to have just passed by. I turned to my friends again. "Santu, you didn't answer me---""

"Wait, that's Misri Pandey right?" Mira muttered. She pointed at the Cakes and Us booth. Santu and I looked at where she pointed.

Right as she is, there is Misri Pandey, standing beside Gulki and holding her left arm while talking to her. Prid seems to be ordering because he's speaking with the booth personnel.

"So, Gulki is close with that girl?" Mira asked me.

I shrugged, and I took a bite of my pizza while watching the two being that close. It seems like Gulki is comfortable with Misri holding her like that...

"Do you think Joshi likes her?" Sue continued.

Santu gave a loud tsh and looked back on her food, "Misri is kinda popular among guys. Many of my clubmates openly state their crush on her."

"Really?" Mira narrowed her eyes, then tapped my hand, "Hey, Yukku, is that okay with you?" she pointed at Gulki again.

"Yeah, it's not like she's my girlfriend or something. She can be close with any girl she wants," I said with a slight smile. My two best friends stared at me. "What? I'm not joking, okay?"