Say you love me! ✨️

Chapter 21: A Subtle Shift

The days continued to pass in a rhythm that was both familiar and unsettling for Ananya. She focused on her studies, trying to block out the constant thoughts of Aarav that tugged at the edges of her mind. But no matter how much she tried to convince herself that nothing had changed, something felt different.

Aarav's teasing continued, just as it always had. Yet, there was an undeniable shift in the air between them—a subtle tension that neither of them acknowledged openly. Their friends noticed nothing, and if they did, no one spoke of it. But for Ananya, every exchange, every playful jab, seemed to carry more weight than before.

One afternoon, during lunch break, Ananya sat with Arohi and Simran in their usual corner of the school courtyard. The sun filtered through the trees, casting soft shadows on the ground as they ate their meals.

"So," Arohi began, breaking the silence, "how are things with your 'playful enemy'?"

Ananya rolled her eyes at the mention of Aarav. "Same as always. He teases, I tease back, and life goes on."

"Doesn't seem like just teasing to me," Simran smirked, nudging her shoulder.

Ananya sighed, glancing at Aarav from across the courtyard. He was sitting with his group of friends, laughing at something Ishaan had said. He looked carefree, as usual, his tall frame towering over everyone else. His plump yet charming appearance made him stand out, but it was his presence that was hard to ignore.

"He's so... irritating sometimes," Ananya muttered, though her words lacked conviction.

Simran raised an eyebrow. "Irritating? Or maybe you're just irritated because you're starting to like him?"

Ananya shot her a look, but Arohi quickly added, "Honestly, you've been distracted ever since the chocolate thing."

That memory still made Ananya’s heart skip a beat. The way Aarav had casually handed her the chocolate, his tone nonchalant, had left her overthinking every interaction since. But she wasn’t ready to admit that to her friends—let alone to herself.

"Maybe," Ananya said quietly, "but it doesn't matter. Aarav is... Aarav. He's always been the same."

"But have you?" Arohi asked, her gaze curious.

Ananya paused, caught off guard by the question. Had she changed? Perhaps. The feelings stirring within her lately were unfamiliar, confusing, and new. But what did they mean? And more importantly, what did they mean for her relationship with Aarav?

Before she could dwell on it, the bell rang, signaling the end of lunch. The three of them gathered their things and made their way back to class. As they entered the classroom, Ananya noticed Aarav glancing her way, a slight smirk playing on his lips. She met his gaze, rolling her eyes at whatever joke he was preparing to throw her way.

"Ready to lose another round of banter, topper?" Aarav called out as they passed by his desk.

Ananya shook her head, smiling despite herself. "Please, Aarav. You’ll never win."

His smirk widened, but he didn’t respond. Instead, he simply watched her as she took her seat, his expression unreadable. There was something about the way he looked at her that sent a flutter through her chest, but she quickly pushed the feeling aside.

Class resumed, and as the hours dragged on, Ananya’s mind drifted back to her conversations with Arohi and Simran. Had she really changed? Was she seeing Aarav differently?

As the teacher lectured on, Ananya couldn’t help but glance at Aarav every now and then. He seemed completely engrossed in the lesson, but there were moments when she caught him glancing back at her—just brief, fleeting looks that left her wondering if he was feeling the same confusion.

By the end of the day, Ananya felt emotionally drained. The constant back-and-forth in her mind was exhausting, and she wasn’t sure how much longer she could keep pretending that everything was the same. As the bell rang for the final time, she gathered her books, feeling a familiar sense of relief that the day was over.

As she walked out of class with Arohi and Simran, she couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that something had shifted once again between her and Aarav. Even though neither of them had said anything explicitly, there was an unspoken understanding growing beneath the surface. A connection that was slowly, almost imperceptibly, changing the way they interacted.

But for now, it was still buried beneath layers of playful banter and teasing quips. Neither of them was ready to admit what was really happening—not yet.

And so, the teasing continued. But deep down, Ananya knew that sooner or later, something would have to give.