First Love

Chapter 18

There are so many functions happening in school these days. We will have our annual function in a month. It was just announced today. This the only function I don't have to participate in. I am usually on the managing duty or I have to welcome the guests. So I am gonna chill this whole month.

"Isha and Ayush will host the function" ma'am said pointing at both of us. Why do I keep bumping into him? I just don't like him.

"Hey, do you wanna practice the lines now" he asked

"No, we could just do it before the function and we will have our lines with us on the stage" I said and left the room.

I saw Rishi waiting for someone at the door. He was looking behind me. I looked where he was looking and saw some girl standing there. He waved at her and she walked in his direction. Okay, what is happening here?

"Let's go" she said reaching him. They both started walking together in the front. I was just standing there not understanding what was happening. I felt someone touch my shoulder and I turned around. Ayush was standing there.

"Do you want to walk together" he asked looking at the floor. He was shuffling his legs. I think he is nervous.

"I guess, we can" I said and started walking. He matched my steps.

"I thought you were gonna say no" he said

"I thought that too" I said honestly

"I sometimes feel like you don't like me" he said

"You feel correct" I said and he nodded his head

"You know, I just wanted to talk to someone else other than Preeti. Shraddha was just a way to get away from Preeti at first but then I genuinely started thinking kind of liking her. Not in that way, the friendly way" he said and I looked at his face. It looked like he was speaking the truth.

"Preeti was just too possessive. She would not even let me talk to boys properly. I couldn't break up with her that easily I liked her a little too much but when that day I saw Shraddha cry I had to break up with her. Me being in love with Preeti only made Shraddha come in between this mess. I couldn't do this to her or myself anymore" he said

"I thought of telling you because I always feel that you would listen to me" he said. We reached my classroom and I saw the girl from earlier talking to Rishi. She slapped his shoulder lightly whole saying something. She is touching him now. First they walked together and now she is touching him. What the hell? And who is she? Why are they standing here?

I walked past Rishi and the other girl. She laughed harder as soon as I walked past them. Rishi looked at me and smiled but I just went ahead and sat on my seat. Rishi left after a minute but I was already angry. Shraddha told me that she was holding his hand when they arrived. I slammed my book on the table kept my head on the table.

Avantika ma'am has called me to class 12th to discuss something about the hosting. I don't want to see him today. Tomorrow I might use my brain when I will talk to him but today I will surely say some nonsense.

I enter the classroom after taking the permission. Ayush was already there standing in the corner.

Ma'am was explaining something to the class when I felt someone tap a finger in my arm. I turned and saw it was Rishi. He had shifted to the middle of the seat creating space for a third person.

"Sit" he said slowly so ma'am could not hear

"No thanks" I replied and walked towards Ayush and stood next to him leaning on the wall. Rishi looked at me shocked but shifted back to his side after Dhruv nudged him.