Him OR Her

2. Underneath the Surface

Riya

Every encounter with Jeet left me seething, yet strangely exhilarated. It was as if our arguments ignited something inside me—something I couldn't quite understand. I'd tell myself it was just the frustration of never being able to surpass him, of always coming in second. But deep down, I knew it was more than that.

The next few days were a blur of classes, assignments, and more time spent in the library than I cared to admit. I was determined to outdo Jeet, to finally take that top spot. But no matter how hard I tried, he was always there, one step ahead, as if he could read my every move.

Our clashes became routine, almost expected. But with each one, I noticed something different. It wasn't just the anger I felt toward him–it was something else. A strange, almost magnetic pull that kept drawing me toward him, despite how much I wanted to hate him.

One afternoon, as I was heading to the computer lab, I caught sight of Jeet through the window of the classroom. He was leaning over his laptop, his brow furrowed in concentration. Without thinking, I found myself stopping to watch him. There was something about the way he worked, the way his fingers danced over the keyboard, that fascinated me. It was as if he was in his own world, completely absorbed in whatever he was doing.

I hated myself for staring, but I couldn't look away. And then, as if sensing my gaze, he looked up. Our eyes met through the glass, and for a moment, the world seemed to stop. His expression was unreadable, but there was something in his eyes—something dark and knowing—that made my heart skip a beat.

I quickly looked away, feeling a flush rise to my cheeks. What was wrong with me? Why did he have this effect on me? I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts as I hurried down the hall. But even as I walked away, I couldn't shake the feeling that he was still watching me.

Jeet

I knew Riya Dash was obsessed with beating me, but what she didn't realize was that I was just as obsessed with her. It wasn't just about the grades, though that was part of it. It was something deeper, something I couldn't quite put into words.

I'd noticed her watching me more and more lately. She thought she was being subtle, but I could feel her gaze on me, like a weight pressing down on my shoulders. At first, I'd found it annoying, but now... now it was different. Now, I found myself waiting for it, craving it.

It was during one of those moments that I finally caught her staring. I was in the middle of working on a project when I felt her eyes on me. I looked up, and sure enough, there she was, standing outside the classroom, watching me through the window.

For a moment, our eyes locked, and I saw something in her expression that made my heart race. It wasn't just frustration or anger-it was something darker, something that mirrored the way I felt. I knew then that I wasn't the only one affected by this... whatever it was between us.

But instead of feeling relief, it only intensified the pull I felt toward her. It was like a game we were both playing, one we couldn't escape even if we wanted to. And the more I thought about it, the more I realized I didn't want to escape it. I wanted to see where this would lead, even if it meant heading down a dark path.

Scene: The First Crack

Later that evening, I found myself in the computer lab again, trying to focus on my work. But my mind kept drifting back to Riya. I couldn't shake the image of her standing outside that classroom, couldn't stop thinking about the look in her eyes.

I was so lost in thought that I didn't even notice when she walked in. It wasn't until she dropped her bag on the table next to mine that I looked up, startled. "Riya," I said, my voice betraying my surprise. "Didn't expect to see you here."

She glanced at me, her expression unreadable. "I could say the same."

We worked in silence for a while, the tension between us thick and suffocating. I could feel her presence beside me, every movement she made, every breath she took. It was maddening.

Finally, I couldn't take it anymore. "Why are you always trying so hard to beat me?" I asked, my voice low.

She looked at me, surprised by the sudden question. "What do you mean?"

"You're always pushing yourself, always trying to outdo me," I said, my eyes locking onto hers. "Why?"

For a moment, she didn't answer. Then, she sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Because you're always in my way, Jeet. No matter how hard I try, I can never beat you. And it drives me crazy."

I smirked, leaning back in my chair. "Maybe you should stop trying so hard."

Her eyes narrowed, and I could see the fire in them, the same fire that had always intrigued me. "Or maybe you should watch your back," she shot back. "Because one day, I'm going to beat you."

I couldn't help but laugh. "I'd like to see you try."

She glared at me, but there was something else in her expression—something that made my pulse quicken. For a moment, I thought she might say something more, but then she just shook her head and turned back to her work, the tension between us growing thicker by the second.

As I watched her, I realized that this was just the beginning. The beginning of something dark, something dangerous. And no matter how much I tried to deny it, I knew I was drawn to it. Drawn to her. And there was no turning back.