Love of a mask

How to manipulate the innocent

In the third period, it started raining outside. Since my seat is next to a window I was able to enjoy the view of rain tapping at the ground turning the ground to a darker shade. The sky that was once painted blue was enveloped in darkness as it cried because it was afraid of the dark.

And we humans named its tears as rain.

I'm getting too poetic...

Also during the third period, I noticed Charvi writing something in her notebook, it couldn't possibly be schoolwork since the teacher was absent and a substitute was sent.

I noted that information down at the back of my mind to make use of it later.

During lunch, we were allowed to roam free on the school's campus and eat wherever we like but since it was raining we were limited to eating inside the school building.

As soon as the bell rang many students got up and rushed out into the cafeteria, Shubham was one of them.

"You coming?" He asked.

"No," I replied coldly.

"Ok, I'll see you in a bit then," He said casually, unphased by my cold reply.

I would've normally gone with him but since it was raining, I wanted to be able to have the view of the rain all to myself. It was like this moment was mine and mine alone.

But this time it wasn't, since the new girl for some reason was also staring out the window looking at the rain while also stealing glances at me now and then. I pretended I didn't notice but I did.

Many girls in our class tried approaching her with a friendly attitude asking her to lunch, etc. However, she turned them down politely while trembling out of nervousness saying how she'd brought her own lunch.

Although I was disappointed at not being able to have the moments of rain all to myself, I was also glad as this moment could be used to my advantage.

"I really like the rain, feels comforting," I said in a monotone.

"..."

No reply, eh?

Normally I would not continue such conversation but something I've observed from various scenarios I've been in throughout my life is that beautiful girls like her have numerous men trying to get close to them whether it be due to love, lust, or for their own advantage.

However, a thing common between these men is that they give up too easily. They'll likely message the girl once, won't get a response, call her a slur, and continue on to their next target.

Or, they'll send a message, get a response, and indulge in conversations with the girl for a few days where it was just them talking and getting replies instead of having an actual conversation. Slowly, that conversation will die down and so will their feelings.

However, the only man who the girl will likely be slightly interested in will be the man who even after months of dry replies, months of being left read, never gives up on them. Always tries, and tries harder than the day before.

So, I must be the man who doesn't give up. Because one thing a girl will never refuse is free harmless affection.

"You know," I continued. "Whenever I meet someone who also happens to like rain at least partly as much as I do, they always give boring reasons like, 'Oh, I like the smell of soil!' or 'The sound of rain helps me sleep well,' etcetera and some other shi-" I internally slapped myself for almost cursing. Never curse in front of a girl unless you're aware that she's as big of a lost cause as you.

"Other... stuff," I continued. "But I never really understood such reasoning, you know why?"

I waited for one second, two seconds, and three then: