First Spark: A story of my first crush

...

I was about to go after Ishika to clear the misunderstanding, but Aarav held my arm and pulled me close to him. His touch sent a shiver down my spine, and I couldn't help but feel a rush of conflicting emotions. Despite the chaos in my mind, Aarav's voice cut through the haze.

You look beautiful, as always," he said softly, brushing a stray strand of hair from my face and tucking it behind my ear.

I tried to focus on his words, but my thoughts kept drifting back to Ishika. Would she understand? Or would this misunderstanding tear our friendship apart?

As if sensing my turmoil, Aarav gently lifted my chin, his eyes searching mine. "Hey, what's wrong?" he asked, concern etched in his voice.

I sighed, feeling the weight of uncertainty pressing down on me. "It's Ishika," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. "I'm worried about how she'll react. What if she decides to end our friendship?"

Aarav's expression softened, and he pulled me into a comforting embrace. "Shriya, whatever happens, I'll be here for you," he promised. "And if Ishika is truly your friend, she'll understand. Trust me."

His words offered me a glimmer of hope amidst the turmoil.

I ran to Ishika to comfort her. However, for the first time in two years, I saw her crying. My heart sank; I was saddened to think that her tears were because of me. I approached her cautiously, unsure of what to say or do. 

"Hey, Ishika," I said softly, placing a hand on her shoulder.

Ishika sniffled and wiped her tears with the back of her hand. "It's nothing, Shriya. Don't worry about it." 

But I couldn't shake off the feeling that I was somehow involved.

She looked up at me, her eyes red and puffy. "It's not your fault, Shriya. It's just... it's complicated." I sat down next to her, wrapping my arm around her shoulders.

She said, forcing a weak smile. "It's not your fault if someone I like, likes you. I just need some time to process everything."

I hugged her tightly, feeling guilty for being the cause of her pain. "I'm here for you, Ishika. Whatever you need, I'll be right by your side."

Together, we made our way back to the auditorium, where Rohan was standing with Nidhi. I tried my best to ignore the awkwardness of the situation, focusing instead on being there for my best friend.