| CHAPTER 9 |

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I stared at my textbook for the past twenty minutes, flipping the same page back and forth like a malfunctioning robot

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I stared at my textbook for the past twenty minutes, flipping the same page back and forth like a malfunctioning robot.

And of course....my brain chose this exact moment to wander off.

Not to something important.
Not to something that would actually HELP me.

No.

It wandered straight to her.

Ruhanika.

As if my thoughts snapped their fingers and summoned her.

I shut my eyes, annoyed.
Out of all the people in the world, why does my brain only drift toward the girl I can’t stand?

Her face popped into my head, that irritatingly calm expression, like she owns the whole world.

Her stupid perfect hair that never falls out of place.

Ugh.

I dropped my pen dramatically and muttered to myself, "Yep. She is the problem. Literally the root of every problem in my life."

I sat back, exhaling loudly like I’d just discovered the meaning of the universe.

It’s not even that she does anything to me.

She just exists.

And apparently, that’s enough to ruin my concentration, my day, and possibly my entire academic future.

Why is she always in my head?
I don’t think about anyone else this much.

Actually, I DON’T think about people at all.

But her?

My brain seems obsessed.

Which is embarrassing.

And concerning.

And extremely annoying.

"Focus, Vihaan Raichand," I whispered to myself.

She’s really gotten on my nerves. Like, really. And now, thanks to destiny’s terrible sense of humor, I have to compete with her.

Every class turns into a full-blown banter session, and honestly, I think half our teachers are two minutes away from throwing chalk at us.

They pretend they’re irritated, but I’ve seen that tiny amused smile they try to hide.

But I’m not backing down. I promised myself I won’t let her win. She might be the topper of her old school, perfect grades, perfect attendance, perfect everything but now she’s up against Vihaan Raichand

And Vihaan Raichand does not believe in losing.

Not to her.

Just when I was trying to make the plan I heard my mom's voice, "Vihu, get ready and behave. Guests are coming!"

𝐄𝐐𝐔𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄 ♡ Where stories live. Discover now