Say you love me! ✨️

Chapter 8: A Shift in the Air

The days were getting cooler as autumn deepened, and Sunshine Academy’s campus was ablaze with the warm hues of the season. The sight of golden leaves fluttering down from the trees was enough to make anyone pause and take in the beauty of nature—even Ananya, who normally had her head buried in a book.

It was during one of these quiet moments between classes that Ananya found herself lingering outside, watching the leaves fall. She was sitting on a bench near the school garden, taking a short break from her rigorous study routine. The crisp air was refreshing, and for once, she allowed herself a few minutes of peace, away from her notebooks and textbooks.

Her thoughts, however, kept drifting back to Aarav. She tried to brush them aside, but it was becoming increasingly difficult. Ever since their last exchange in the library, she couldn’t help but notice the subtle changes in how she felt about him. His playful teasing no longer irritated her the way it used to; instead, it left her with a strange, fluttery feeling that she didn’t quite know how to handle.

But as much as her feelings were beginning to shift, Ananya was still Ananya—focused, determined, and fiercely protective of her goals. She wasn’t about to let these new emotions distract her from what was important.

Just then, she noticed Aarav and his friends walking across the courtyard, heading towards their next class. They were laughing about something, their easy camaraderie evident in the way they moved together as a group. Aarav was in the center, as usual, his tall frame making him stand out even from a distance. He was talking animatedly with Ishaan, his expression one of relaxed confidence.

Ananya quickly averted her gaze, not wanting to be caught staring. But even as she turned away, she couldn’t help but notice how effortlessly Aarav seemed to command attention. It wasn’t just his height or his looks—though he was certainly charming in his own way—but the way he carried himself, with an air of confidence that was both infuriating and, she had to admit, slightly captivating.

“Hey, Ananya!” Simran’s voice snapped her out of her thoughts as she approached, a bright smile on her face. “You ready for the next class? It’s history, your favorite.”

Ananya smiled back, grateful for the distraction. “Yeah, let’s go. I was just taking a quick break.”

Simran nodded, glancing over to where Aarav and his friends had been. “You see Aarav and his gang? They’re always in their own world, aren’t they?”

Ananya shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. “They’re just being themselves, I guess.”

Simran gave her a curious look but didn’t press further. Instead, she linked arms with Ananya as they headed towards the history classroom. “Come on, let’s grab our seats before all the good ones are taken.”

As they walked, Ananya couldn’t help but replay her thoughts about Aarav. She wasn’t used to feeling this way—distracted by someone else, especially someone who had always been more of a rival than anything else. It was unsettling, and yet, there was a small part of her that didn’t entirely dislike it.

When they entered the classroom, Ananya quickly took her usual seat in the front row, pulling out her notebook and pen, ready to dive into the lesson. Simran sat beside her, and soon enough, the rest of the class began to file in.

Aarav entered with his friends, as expected, taking their seats a few rows behind her. Ananya could feel his presence even without turning around, and it took all her willpower to stay focused on her notes as the teacher began the lesson.

But despite her best efforts, her mind kept wandering back to him. She found herself wondering what he was thinking, what his life was like outside of school, and whether he ever thought of her in a similar way. It was ridiculous, she told herself. There was no reason for her to be so fixated on him, especially not when she had so much else to focus on.

The lesson moved on, and Ananya forced herself to pay attention, jotting down important points and making sure she understood the material. She prided herself on her ability to concentrate, on her dedication to her studies. But even as she wrote, the questions lingered in the back of her mind, like a quiet murmur that refused to be silenced.

When the bell rang to signal the end of the class, Ananya gathered her things quickly, determined to shake off the strange mood that had settled over her. As she stood up, she glanced back at Aarav, who was laughing at something Ishaan had said. He didn’t notice her looking, and for a brief moment, Ananya felt a pang of something she couldn’t quite identify—disappointment, maybe, or perhaps just the realization that she was more aware of him than she wanted to be.

She turned back around and walked out of the classroom with Simran, who was chatting animatedly about their plans for the weekend. Ananya nodded along, but her mind was elsewhere, still caught up in the confusing swirl of emotions that Aarav seemed to bring out in her.

As they made their way to their next class, Ananya resolved to keep her focus where it belonged—on her studies, on her future, on the things that truly mattered. Whatever was happening with Aarav, whatever these feelings were, she could handle them. She just needed to take things one step at a time, and not let herself get too carried away by something that might not even be real.

But as they passed by the school garden again, Ananya couldn’t help but glance back at the spot where she had seen Aarav earlier. The leaves were still falling, the golden light still casting a warm glow over the scene. And despite her best efforts to stay grounded, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something had shifted between them—something subtle, something unspoken, but undeniably real.

And for the first time, Ananya wasn’t sure if she wanted to fight it.