The Girls Of December

Chapter 1.

A DAY OF DECEMBER

Mayra's POV :

5 years ago

I left college early today. The lectures had been painfully dull, and my mind was already halfway home, craving some peace. As I walked down the familiar road, my mood was heavy, and I couldn't shake the feeling of being stuck in a loop. That's when my phone buzzed.

I didn't even have to check to know who it was—it was her.

Aashika.

My best friend.

We met online, and to this day, we've never met in person. And yet, she knows me better than anyone. She's so beautiful—like the kind of pretty that turns heads—and yet, she's incredibly insecure about her looks. I'll never understand why. To me, she's like a goddess who somehow found her way to this messy world.

I unlocked my phone, already smiling a little as I read her message:

"Boring day :( again. Wanna play a game or video call in an hour?"

That one line turned my emotionless face into something warm and alive.

She was truly my soulmate in disguise.

I typed back quickly:

"Same. Anything with you will work ;)"

After a few minutes, she said we should just play a game, since her parents would be around. I sent her a thumbs-up emoji and slipped my phone back into my pocket, already feeling lighter.

It's funny how just a message from her can shift my whole mood. Even when I feel like I'm at my lowest, she's there—cheering me on, believing in me when no one else does. She's not just a friend; she's a source of comfort and inspiration.

I remember the night we met—through a random online game. We stayed up till dawn, playing match after match, and we actually won most of them. It felt like magic. Since that night, we've been inseparable. It's been months now, and not once has she made me feel like the people around me here in Mumbai do.

Oh right—she lives over 1,100 kilometers away from me. And yet, somehow, she feels closer than anyone else in my life.

We're complete opposites. She's an ambivert—warm, friendly, a literal golden retriever in human form. I, on the other hand, am the quiet one. The introvert. The black cat to her sunshine. I give off the kind of energy that keeps people at arm's length. And maybe that's why I never had real friends. Not in school. Not in college. People around here are so... draining. But Aashika? She's different.

She's the first person I've ever trusted outside of my family.

I never believed in online friendships before her. Heck, I didn't even trust online shopping. But somehow, the internet gave me the one gift I never knew I needed.

She's a keeper.

Thank you, God.

Aashika's POV :

5 years ago

Life is weird. It's filled with little joys and bigger messes. And today? It was mostly mess.

Something really uncomfortable happened at college—a guy tried to kiss me. If not for my reflexes, he probably would've succeeded. I think I accidentally broke his nose in the process. Honestly? I feel bad. What I did might've been worse than what he tried to do. Or maybe not. Ugh! Life is confusing.

Whenever I feel like this—guilty, unsure, lost—I turn to the one person who always seems to have the answers.

Mayra.

It's hard to believe we've only known each other for two months. Two months—and it feels like we've been best friends for a lifetime. Or maybe several lifetimes.

She's so different from anyone I've ever met. Strong, fearless, independent. I admire her more than she knows. And somehow, around her, life doesn't feel so heavy.

I texted her:

"Wanna play a game in an hour?"

I just needed something—anything—to distract me. I needed to laugh. To forget. To breathe again.

One Hour Later

"I FOUND HIM!" I screamed, grinning like an idiot.

Mayra appeared beside me in the game and immediately took down that annoying player—deadlyxdoom003—who'd been bothering us since we started. Classic Mayra. Never letting a jerk get away with anything.

"Got him," she said, satisfied.

"We've won five games in a row!" she exclaimed a moment later.

"Yesss! No one can beat us. We're the ultimate duo, baddie!" I cheered.

She laughed—a rare, beautiful sound. It didn't match her usual mysterious, 'don't-mess-with-me' vibe, but it made her seem even more beautiful. Her smile is a rare gem, and it lights up my whole world.

After an hour of gaming, we switched to a video call. We talked about everything—college, boring lectures, stupid people. She told me how none of her professors ever teach anything practical, and how frustrated she felt. I knew it. Mayra's the kind of person who needs hands-on experience. She thrives when she's doing, not just listening. I suggested she try meditation to keep her temper in check, and to my surprise, she agreed.

Then it was my turn.

I told her about the guy at college. The one who almost kissed me. I described it dramatically—like a monkey trying to steal my banana—and she listened quietly, intently.

But I knew that silence meant she was furious.

Mayra's POV

If I could, I would bury that guy ten million feet under a desert.

But I knew what Aashika needed from me right now wasn't rage. It was warmth. Comfort. So instead of ranting, I ordered her favorite pizza to be delivered to her place and told her to sleep once it arrived. I ended the call before she could say anything back.

This—this is why I never believed in love or relationships. Especially not with boys. Most of them? Ugh. Same category of jerks.

As I got into bed, ready to call it a night, my phone lit up.

It was a picture from her—eating the pizza, smiling so big it made my heart swell. She thanked me and sent a huge heart emoji.

That was all I needed to sleep in peace.

She deserved so much better than that creep. And until she finds someone who truly deserves her heart—I'll protect it.

With that, I turned my phone on Do Not Disturb and snuggled into my blanket.

Finally, the best part of the day: sleep.

To All the Spicy Readers,

That was just a glimpse into the past—a beautiful, chaotic, heartfelt friendship between two girls who found each other in the most unexpected way.

But hang tight... because soon, the boys will enter the picture.

And that's when things will really start to burn.

xoxo,
Lily & Tulip