The Downsides Of Popularity ✓

Chapter 13

THE LAST (?)

 THE CHEERING COMING from the sea of blue students rings in my ears even after I've left the Assembly Hall. The Sapphires won the competition with Ruby in the second position, Emerald in third and Topaz last.

When the results were announced at the end of the competition, I could see Utkarsh rejoicing with his housemates. I wanted to go and congratulate him but the area was overly crowded for me to reach him. That's when I saw Kriti approach Utkarsh and say something to him, the latter replying with a "Thank you".

The participants were called on stage for the group picture while Utkarsh stayed backstage talking to Kriti. From where I stood in the crowd of members of the Student Council, I could see them exchange a few laughs as they stood at the top of the stairs, which made me feel a bit uneasy.

Across from the hall, I noticed Sreyansh make his way through the crowd and to the staircase leading to the classrooms. He looked a little distressed so, I decided to follow him.

Once out of the hall, I start looking for him in the classrooms. Soon enough, I find him in our empty classroom, sitting in the last row with his head resting on the desk.

'Srey?', I call out to him and he slightly lifts his head to look at me. His eyes are a little red with tears threatening to spill. I quickly walk towards Sreyansh and sit down on the chair next to him.

I turn his head to face me and that's when he says, 'We lost.'

'No, you didn't. You came second! Topaz came last.'

'Does it matter? The freaking Sapphires won even if their script wasn't that good,' Sreyansh says and rests his head against the wall, looking at the ceiling to make sure that the tears don't fall.

'You know the real reason they came first,' I say as I rub his arm and he mutters, 'Politics.'

'Exactly. Prisha Ma'am must've manipulated the judges somehow to make the Sapphires get first place. You and the rest of your teammates were excellent! Despite all the mishaps that have happened and you learning the whole script in just one night, you guys pulled off a really great show! So Srey, please don't be sad. It's not your fault. It's just-bad politics,' I try to reassure him and he looks at me, eyes still red but moist.

I position Sreyansh's head on my shoulders and brush my fingers through his hair to soothe him. His hair is soft and he doesn't even use any gel, or serum like Utkarsh tends to.

We sit like this until the students start filing in and Sreyansh leaves the class to change his clothes. By the time he returns, I've already told Meera about my doubts that Utkarsh is lying to me. She advises me to just talk it out with him after school.

'Man, you were awesome for a guy who just got the role last minute,' Meera says and high-fives him.

'Thank your best friend for the confidence boost last evening,' Sreyansh says and smiles at me as I reply, 'I knew you could do it.'