The Mourning Moon

Chapter 20

Shreshth was sick for three more days and each day Ansh came to look after him. He took care of him and brought home made meals for him. The way Ansh took care of him made Shreshth tingle from the inside.

Meanwhile, Ansh got to be with Shreshth at his time of need just like Shreshth has been with him. Ansh had been able to take care of him, make him healthy food and got him fruits, make sure he had enough liquid in his body, etc. He wanted to do more for Shreshth than he was able to. Soon Shreshth was fully recovered. Though Shreshth being sick was something Ansh would never wish happen again, but something good came out of it. Ansh and Shreshth came very close to each other during the time he took care of him. They learned about each others likes and dislikes. Ansh learned that Shreshth was a thrill seeker. He loved horror and dangerous sports like sky diving as well as bungee jumping. His favourite season was rainy season because of the way everything became new, how everything turned green after the rain. And he hated getting up early. He was not a morning person at all. Ansh loved hearing and learning about Shreshth, his 'like' slowly blooming into something more potent.

On the other hand, Shreshth learned that Ansh was just a simple guy who liked simple things. But he loved crystals. He found them unique and was almost obsessed with them. He hated cooking though but would cook for Shreshth, and his friends, he added so as not to sound like a creep. Shreshth felt his heart flutter when he learned that.

So Ansh and Shreshth became best friends during this time. Their feelings growing for each other from crush to something more. But each of them were afraid to acknowledge their feelings in fear of losing the friendship. So they kept their feelings to themselves. One month passed just like this. Now, one month later, this is where they stood. Both of them still pining over each other but staying as best friends, hoping that their feelings would be returned one day not knowing that they already are.

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Today was the horrible day for every student as they were being assigned projects for their next Geology class. They had to complete the project in a group. Ansh groaned as he wished he had been paired with Shreshth. But instead he was paired with a guy who has done nothing but annoy him by flirting with him.

On the other hand, Shreshth who had been paired with Vivaan was glaring daggers at the guy who was paired with Ansh.

"Oh, if only looks could kill," Vivaan teased Shreshth who glared at him in return before looking back at Ansh and that guy before trying and failing to focus on his work. He had to get that guy away from Ansh. So when the classes were over, he quickly got up and went to Ansh.

"Ansh, you are so funny," the guy named Chetan said.

Ansh smiled and said 'thank you' and tried to get away from Chetan. But Chetan did not let up and continued to follow Ansh and tried to make small talk with him. It was at this time that Shrehth swooped in to save Ansh from Chetan.

"Ansh, do you have some time? I wanted to talk to you about something," Shreshth said.

"Oh, I do have time. What do you want ask?"

"Not here. Somewhere else. Let's go," and with that Shreshth grabbed Ansh's wrist and dragged him away from Chetan . He let go only after Chetan was out of sight.

A few moments pass by in silence before Ansh speaks up. "So, what is it?"

Shreshth, who was quite happy that he separated Ansh from Chetan, asked, "What?"

"What did you want to ask about?", Ansh asked.

Shreshth panicked and blurted out without thinking, "I wanted to ask which crystal were you going to write about so that our projects don't match up."

Ansh frowned at that. "Shreshth, we have same assignments", he pointed out. Shreshth blushed beet red, getting caught in a lie.

"Oh! Did you hear that? Someone is calling for me. I should get going." Saying that Shreshth ran away, leaving Ansh in confusion.

Ansh just stood there for a moment in confusion, before heading home. He was doing his assignment when it clicked. Was Shreshth jealous. It was a far fetched idea but that could have been it. Was Shreshth jealous over him? OVER HIM. Oh my gosh!