Guitar Boy

ರ⁠_⁠ರ Moving ರ⁠_⁠ರ

It's been about a month, and he's moved from the next row in class to being her next door neighbor. He still sits in the next row at school, irritating her even between classes, but his presence next door is absolutely unbearable—especially since their parents became friends so easily, leading to frequent visits to each other’s houses.

Like that one time last week, her parents sent her to their house with puja offerings. His mother was really friendly, asking her about her day with genuine interest and a sweet smile. She was the type of person who could make you smile even when you didn't know her. His elder sister and father were playing video games. Though they hadn't really talked, they seemed nice, waving at her in between their game.

"Don't mind them, they tend to forget the world when they are in an intense gaming match. Why don't you sit here, beta? I'll empty the container in the meantime." His mother said, motioning at the single sofa seat beside the father-daughter duo. She watched them playfully shove each other to distract the other and gain leverage, laughing and yelling.

'Why is he so irritating? Is he adopted?' she thought to herself. But that cheeky smile on his father's face, when he won the game, cleared her doubts. He had the same dimples as his son. She'd seen him smile like that when teasing her.

Or this other time when he'd come over to her house with freshly arrived fruits from their farm in the countryside. She was right outside the door when she heard him talking to her mother. Cheeky ass was trying to impress her mother, talking sweetly and all that. She had ran back to the library, not wanting to stumble into him —she was in a good mood after finishing her book.

Little did she know, he'd seen her round the corner. And he was sure she was running away from him. She'd been doing everything to avoid him in the neighborhood.

'How long will you run away? We live on the same street now, missy. Right next to each other.'

°^°  °^°  °^°  °^°  °^°

Currently, she was sitting at her sanctuary. It was on the far side of the huge park near her house. This area was overgrown with trees and had only a single bench. Parents rarely brought their kids to play here, and joggers mostly avoided coming this side. There were only rare wanderers and nature lovers who stumbled upon the place from time to time. She was one of them. In the evening, when no one came here, she would sit in silence and read or just watch the sun sink below the horizon.

It was calm, she was calm, looking at the setting sun...

...Until she saw him coming towards the bench with his gaze fixed on his phone. She groaned "Can you stop bombarding my places with your presence?" All peace and calm had instantly evaporated, leaving her agitated. At school, it was understandable, but why at home, where she rarely saw him? Okay, maybe part of it was her successful plan of avoiding him.

She didn't understand why he irked her so much. Maybe she had just grown to hate his guts. That face of his too, and that awful personality.

Nah, scratch that —his whole being.

He looked up from his phone, surprised. He had just wanted to be alone for a while, but oh well, he just hit the jackpot. This was so much better than sitting by himself. She'd been openly ignoring him since he moved in next door and he'd been waiting for a chance just like this. He smiled cheekily, his dimples showing, "Oh! I didn't know you bought this place. Can I have a look at the papers, please?"

'This arrogant stupid brat. Ugh, why me, God?' she looked heavenward with another groan. 'And why is he smiling like that? That devil... Devilishly cute smile! Woah. Why is that smile cute?' she shook her head in an attempt to get rid of those thoughts. "Why are you here?" She asked in defeat.