I Fell First

THE BUDDING CLOSENESS

Saturday afternoon sunlight filtered through the dense foliage surrounding the school campus as Vishika hurried toward the departure point for the buses. Class had run late, and she cursed under her breath, knowing she was already behind schedule.

As she reached the boarding area, Vishika's heart quickened with a mix of anticipation and anxiety. To her surprise, she found Advait, her crush, also waiting by the buses. A small flutter of excitement danced in her chest, though she tried to suppress it beneath a calm exterior.

Their eyes met, and Vishika managed a shy smile, her cheeks flushing with color. Advait returned the gesture, his easy grin sending warmth coursing through her veins.

But their moment of connection was short-lived. The school bus pulled up, packed to the brim with students eager to start their weekend adventures. Vishika's heart sank as the driver directed them to board separate buses, each headed toward their respective stops.

With a resigned sigh, Vishika followed the stream of students toward Bus No. 58, her footsteps echoing with disappointment. Yet, as she climbed aboard and scanned the crowded seats, her spirits lifted when she spotted Advait already settled in, the only available spots beside him.

Heart racing, Vishika hesitated for a moment before making her way to the empty seats beside Advait. With a nervous smile, she slid into place, their shoulders brushing lightly as they settled in for the journey ahead.

For a moment, silence hung between them, filled only by the hum of the engine and the chatter of their fellow passengers. Then, emboldened by the shared space, Vishika mustered the courage to strike up a conversation.

"Hey," she began, her voice soft but steady. "Looks like it's a full house today."

And with that simple remark, the barrier between them dissolved, opening the door to a world of possibilities as they embarked on their first-ever conversation.

Advait nodded in agreement, his eyes crinkling with a hint of amusement. "Seems like everyone's eager to kick off the weekend," he remarked, his voice warm and inviting.

Vishika felt a rush of relief at his friendly response, her nerves beginning to ease. "Yeah, I guess so," she replied, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

As the bus rumbled to life and began its journey, Vishika stole a quick glance out the window, watching the familiar sights of their town blur past. With each passing moment, she found herself growing more comfortable in Advait's presence, the initial awkwardness giving way to a sense of shared camaraderie.

"So," Advait began, breaking the silence once more, "How come you are late today? Don't you arrive earliest on the bus?"

Vishika nodded eagerly, grateful for the opportunity to continue their conversation. "Yeah, it is that case but, I never knew chemistry could be so broad and tiring that our teacher even forgot the time while teaching."

Advait chuckled softly, a playful gleam in his eyes. "Yeah, Mrs. Singh does have a way of making even the most mundane topics come to life and engaging."