Masked Love

Chapter 10

" Two days ago, Mehul and I had made plans to meet up in the school parking lot. I was pretty excited about it; it was going to be like a secret rendezvous, or at least, as secret as you could be in a high school parking lot. "
(I had my hair combed, and I even brushed off some invisible speck from my shirt. I was ready!)

I arrived early, waiting expectantly, like a character from a cheesy romance movie. (Cue the wind blowing my hair dramatically.) But there I was, standing alone in the parking lot, feeling like a rejected character in a teen drama.

As the minutes ticked by, I couldn't help but wonder if Mehul had forgotten. (Did he get distracted by another physics problem, or maybe he's inventing time-travel and lost track of time?)

And just when I was about to send him a disappointed message (You stood me up in the parking lot, buddy!), there they were. Mehul had finally arrived, but not alone. He had Aarushi with him, and they were on his bike. (Suddenly, I was no longer the protagonist in my own story; I felt like an extra in a subplot.)

As they pulled up, there was this awkward moment. Mehul didn't clarify why he'd brought Aarushi along, and I didn't want to be the overly curious detective right there. (So, I just put on my best "I'm totally fine with this" face.)

But the whole situation left me with so many questions. (What's the backstory here? Did they plan this, or was it a last-minute decision? Did they discover a secret wormhole or something equally mysterious?)

And there I stood, caught between curiosity, disappointment, and the ever-present awkwardness of high school. (Maybe this was the beginning of an unconventional love triangle or just a quirky twist in our physics-filled journey. Who knew?)

Okay, anyways, I thought, even though Mehul didn't clarify or anything, it's okay. Sometimes plans go awry. (I'm the picture of understanding, really.)

But then, the plot twist of the century unfolded. Mehul arrived. He looked so good, and I unconsciously blushed, ready to hear an explanation for the unexpected company.

To my surprise and disappointment, he didn't even glance in my direction. Instead, he went straight to Aarushi's desk and chatted with her for a good five minutes, like I didn't exist. (Is this the part where my character arc takes a nosedive?)

The teacher arrived, and Mehul finally decided to grace me with his presence. He casually strolled over and sat next to me as if nothing unusual had happened. (If only I could express what was happening in my head right now, but alas, my brain was still buffering.)

So, there I was, stunned and speechless, caught in the whirlwind of teenage drama that had just unfolded.
I guess high school was always meant to be a rollercoaster, and right now, I felt like I was upside down :)