U Never Noticed

Chapter 1

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The sun was setting behind the mountains as Arnav walked down the deserted beach. The loud noise of the waves hitting the shore matched the silent cries inside his head. 

He stopped walking and stared at the sea in front of him. A cold breeze hit him, making his boyish curls fall on his eyes. He smiled at the memory when

"Hey, Arnav! look at your curls, man I love your hair"

A lone tear escaped his left eye while a bitter smile still played at the corner of his lips.

He fixed his white dress shirt underneath the brown coat he is wearing. He pushed back his hair and adjusted his posture before releasing a defeated sigh.

He left the beach and started walking down the street. He went inside his regular coffee shop and ordered his regular cappuccino. He sat at a corner table to have some space and peace. 

"Rehan! Why are you always on your phone? We got an assignment hot on our tail" a teenage girl shrieked at another teenage boy who looked unbothered. The voice made Arnav glance at them. They both were in their school uniform, Arnav noticed that they were from the same high school he graduated from years back.

"Rehan! Are you even listening to me" she said and shook his hand.

"Yes, I am," the boy replied, getting annoyed. The girl just sighed and asked him to research the topic they were assigned to do. After noting down a few important points she closed her book and looked at him.

"When are we going to complete this assignment," she asked him, a little excited.

"Let's just get it done in the recess tomorrow at the library," he said, rolling his eyes. 

"Why don't you come over, we can even hang out at my place," the disappointment in her eyes didn't go unnoticed by the man watching them both at the corner table. He felt like he saw the scene somewhere before at the pushed-back memories.

"Arnav! Let's go to the park after we are done with our homework," 

"no, I have to go to volleyball practice"

"I will buy you Ice Cream, pretty please"

"stop irritating me, I am a captain for God damn sake",

"I have volleyball practice to attend," he said with a duh tone. Shrugging his shoulder and scrolling through his phone again. "Okay fine, I am leaving. Text me when u get home" she told him packing her stuff. He hummed in response. 

Arnav got up from his table and went to the table the boy was sitting on.

"Mind if I sit here,"  he asked the boy who shook his head in denial. 

"I am not trying to creep you out, but I thought I could have a conversation with a young boy like you to u know, refresh my memories" arnav spoke with an awkward smile, running a hand through his curly black hair.

"Sure, what do u wanna talk about sir, " Rehan said, though he is annoyed he was being polite taking in the appearance of Arnav who was looking decent with his office outfit. 

"What's your name?" Arnav asked him to which he replied 'Rehan'. He asked some other basic questions about his school and stuff he likes to do as a young man.

Rehan quite enjoyed his company as Arnav seemed a little relatable to him. They talked about volleyball as Rehan came to know that Arnav was a volleyball team captain just like him when he was a teen. He even went to the same high school.

They shared a few school memories and then after Arnav felt comfortable he asked,

"Who was the girl just now, sitting with you here," he asked. Rehan shrugged his shoulders, "she is Riya, my friend," he told him.

"Does she annoy you" he inquired giving him a tight smile.

" no, I do like spending time with her. But she does get clingy sometimes which I find annoying," he said rubbing the back of his head and smiling sheepishly.

"She seemed like she likes you a lot," Arnav said with a sweet smile. 

"she does," the young boy replied with a grin. The tips of his ears turned red.

"make sure she always does," Arnav said with eyes that looked as if they had many stories to tell. It felt like they experienced a lot of pain. 

"She will, I know, " Rehan nodded his head confidently. " Never take that for granted," the elder advised him, patting the younger's head, A habit he picked up from someone so dear to him. 

"What do you mean," the boy asked, getting a bit irritated.

"Efforts are given and taken if you want to have anyone in your life, then never take them for granted" a sad smile displayed on his handsome features.

"you never take me seriously, do you"

"so what if I don't"

"Don't take me for granted"

"as if"

The memory almost made him teary but he held himself together. 

"Listen, Rehan! In life, not everything you have today will be there for you forever. You will miss it when you can't find it anymore. Doesn't matter if the person is just a friend or more than a friend. If the person means something to you. Never leave them hanging," Arnav said, still with the sad smile on display. 

"I understand, I think I should apologize to Riya for being ignorant toward her," he said suddenly feeling guilty.  Realized that he was being a total jerk.

Arnav smiled at him and patted the boy's head again.

"make sure of that, " he gave him a thumbs up with a wink. He glanced at his watch and messed up his curly black hair.

"I have to leave, It's getting late," he said waving his hand and saying 'bye'

"wait, Mr. Arnav! The advice you gave me. Have you done anything in your past which made you realize it?" he asked curiosity killing him.

He didn't respond to anything but gave him a smile which confirmed it.

Rehan wants to know what is the reason behind the sadness in his eyes. Why is he talking like he regrets something so bad? What's the issue with advising him around? Rehan has always been a curious boy.  He will figure it out anyway. Didn't Arnav tell him he went to the same high school?

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Arnav's pov. 

I walked out of the coffee shop as memories of her flashed before my eyes. The regret, The loneliness, The pain. Every time I remember how ignorant I have been, I can't help but feel so disgusted with myself. 

Love is such a sinful thing. I can't seem to determine whether I am lucky to be loved by her or it's her who is unlucky that she fell in love with me.

Those memories haunt me every second of my life.

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Thank you so much for reading..
Do vote and comment for chapter 2
Peace out

- inkwell Chronicles