sɪɴғᴜʟ sʜᴏᴛs ☄️

Shifting

It has been 1 week after that so called date.

Ofcourse Ryan took her side and stick with her, maybe she is just possessive, maybe she really cares about him because till now I haven't seen him crying over his breakup or stuff.

Good for him and best for me, after that I learnt to not put too much hopes on someone like him.

I needed a fresh start far away from everything and I knew it was going to happen soon.

Ryan maybe finally understood what actual friendship means because he started maintaining distance from me, finally he understood that all this time it was so complex between us that it just led to far more than friendship.

I also ignored him completely trying to forget his whole existence but it took me more time than I thought.

I was shifting temporarily to another place, maybe God knows what is best for you.

But he didn't say a word not a sorry not a goodbye.

I was not expecting it also but still hope let people die on their own.

It was my second last month in school and then I will go into a new world where I will write a new story.

I enjoyed my time being in school with my friends and after time with Aarush, it was a smooth start with bitter ending but I tried to live for myself.

I didn't think mango smoothies could taste like nostalgia, but there I was, sipping one while sitting on our usual picnic table at the park, watching the sun dip lower like it was trying to hide from time.

Aarush was next to me, balancing a pinecone on his head like a total clown.

"You look ridiculous," I said, stifling a laugh.

"Don't hate on greatness," he replied, completely serious—until the pinecone fell right into his lap. "Okay, greatness needs a little work."

I couldn't help it. I laughed—loud, snorty, unfiltered. It felt good, and a little sad too, like laughing with your suitcase half-packed.

"You're going to miss me," I teased.

"I'm already in mourning," he said, clutching his chest dramatically. "Tonight, I light a candle and write poetry."

"Please don't. You're the only person who thinks 'glove' and 'shove' belong in a love poem."

"That was a creative breakthrough!" he said, pretending to be offended.

I rolled my eyes, smiling.

The wind picked up a little, rustling the leaves and tugging at my hair like even the trees didn't want to say goodbye yet.

"I still can't believe you're actually going," he said after a moment.

"Me neither." I looked down at my sneakers. "It feels like... I blinked and time jumped."

He was quiet. I glanced at him and found him watching the clouds, his face softer than usual.

"Remember the elevator incident?" he asked suddenly.

"Oh my god, don't start."

"You loved it. Admit it."

"I loved not dying, thank you."

"You admitted it was your favorite memory."

"After I stopped panicking, yeah," I smirked. "You jumping in a stuck elevator was peak Aarush behavior."

"You're welcome for the rooftop stargazing that followed."

"Okay, I'll give you that. That part was magic."

We sat there for a while, trading little memories like secret treasures. Every joke carried a shadow. Every silence had weight.

"I'm going to miss this," I said quietly. "You."

"Yeah," he replied, just as softly. "But we're not vanishing, Alina. I'll spam you with memes and voice notes and unsolicited updates about my neighbor's cat. It's going to be fine."

I smiled, my throat a little tight. "Promise?"

"Promise on my most embarrassing baby photos."

"That's the highest form of loyalty."

"I know. I'm a man of honor."

I bumped my shoulder into his. He bumped back. It was our version of a hug, because neither of us were great at the mushy stuff.

The sky turned gold and then pink, like it was trying to cheer us up.

"Race you to the swings?" I asked, standing up, trying to hold on to something normal for a few more minutes.

He stretched like some kind of superhero. "Prepare to lose, Alina-the-almost-former-local."

I laughed, and we ran—not just toward the swings, but toward a memory I knew I'd replay in my head for a long time after.

I thought everything is just going to end like this but maybe god has many plans written for me.