Healing Him | ✓

11.

The day of the farewell drew closure and the hustle around the school started. Everyone was talking about the dance event all asking about the partners. Annika rolled her eyes as she spotted Mallika following her. She has been trying to pull aside for a few days now.

She spotted Shivaay alone in the chemistry lab. She was about to enter when she spotted someone else approaching him. Shivaay looked up from his work and nodded, and left the spot after gathering his things and moving somewhere else silently without any argument. She frowned. He spotted her at the door and sent a small smile in her way before turning back to his work.

The school bell rang; indicating that the school day has ended. She was walking on the way to Shivaay's house. Shivaay caught up with her. "So? You seem down." He asked frowning now.

"It's nothing." She shook her head. It only increased his worry. He held her hand, interwining their fingers. "I see. You can trust me." He urged and she sighed.

"That's the problem. You don't think that I already trust you more than anyone. We're friends but you avoid me in the school and it hurts me so much." Said Annika her voice lowering. Shivaay's eyes widened when he saw her eyes shining.

"Oh, no. Please never let them fall." Shivaay whispered wiping her tears before they could fall. She sniffled. "Are you afraid of being seen with me? Are you ashamed of it? I know I can be weird but—"

"Shh—" Shivaay immediately stopped her. "Enough now. You can't badmouth yourself infront of me. How can you say that. You're the best thing that has happened to me." He breathed, Annika looked at him surprised.

"And I avoid you in school simply because I don't want you becoming their target." He admitted. She sighed.

"I don't care about them. I can handle whatever they have—"

"—I cannot." Shivaay interrupted her. She looked at him confused. "I cannot. I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if anything happened to you because of me. It would break me, Annika." Her eyes widened.

"I had promised to myself that I wouldn't let anything happen to you. Please, let me keep my promise." He pleaded to her and she couldn't say no.

"Something's has been troubling you?" He asked. She nodded hesitantly. "Mallika has been following me around for a few days now. I have just noticed, she seats beside mine. She even tried to be my lab partner for the chemistry project. I don't but I have a bad feeling about this." She confessed her fears to him, and bad idea it was. She watched him paling a few shades before he turned to her seriously.

"Annika, please stay safe. Report anything out of blue." Her eyes widened. "Shivaay, calm down. Will you? She can do nothing to me. I have my parents by my side. I have you. I know you'll let nothing reach me." She smiled tightening her hold onto him. He nodded. And together they made their way with her resting her head on Shivaay's arm; her both hands holding onto his. Laughing at Shivaay's dry humour.

The farewell is tomorrow and Annika was staring at her dress. It was dark blue. Her father had especially had it custom made for her. She was really excited for tomorrow.

On the other hand Shivaay was sitting on his bed nervously. He didn't know what to do. It was technically the last day he had to go to school but so nothing bad should happen. But that was his thinking no?

Her father dropped her off at the school gates. The building was decorated with LEDs and pennants. She walked in the main hallway. It was filled with students. She tried to spot Shivaay, but it appeared as if he hadn't arrived yet.

She called his number but he didn't answer which was very unusual. She went out to look for him while trying his number. She heard the familiar ringing and spotted him sitting in the school garden in the dark.