Say you love me! ✨️

Chapter 27: Acknowledging the Shift

The weekend came and went in a blur of homework and quiet reflection for Ananya. The school corridors, once filled with laughter and the energy of students, now seemed to echo with something more personal—her own growing feelings for Aarav. Every time his name popped up in her mind, she felt a strange mixture of warmth and uncertainty. Despite her best efforts, she couldn’t deny the truth any longer: something was changing.

As Monday morning rolled around, Ananya tried to focus on her routine. Her books were her refuge, her passion, and she clung to them with renewed determination. But no matter how hard she tried to dive into her studies, her thoughts kept drifting back to Aarav.

In the classroom, Aarav sat with his group as usual, laughing at something Ishaan said. He was the center of attention, effortlessly charming as always, but Ananya noticed something else too—a small shift in her own perception. She found herself watching him, not just out of curiosity, but with a strange longing that both excited and scared her.

As the teacher began the lesson, Ananya forced herself to focus, flipping through her notes with quick fingers. Mathematics was on the schedule today, and although it wasn’t her strongest subject, she had been preparing for this class all weekend. There was no room for distractions—not even Aarav.

But as the lesson went on, Ananya found it increasingly difficult to concentrate. Her eyes kept flicking towards Aarav, wondering what he was thinking, if he had noticed her at all. She scolded herself for being so distracted, but the more she tried to ignore it, the harder it became.

The bell rang, signaling the end of class, and Ananya hurriedly packed up her things. She was determined to get out of the classroom before Aarav could catch her eye or say something that would throw her off balance.

But just as she was about to leave, Simran and Arohi intercepted her.

“Ananya, wait up!” Simran called, jogging up to her with a grin. “We’re going to the library to work on that history project. Wanna join?”

Ananya hesitated. She didn’t want to admit it, but part of her was hoping to avoid her friends for a little while, just so she could sort out her thoughts in peace. But saying no would raise suspicion, and the last thing she wanted was for Arohi and Simran to start asking questions.

“Sure,” she said, forcing a smile. “Let’s go.”

The three of them made their way to the library, where they found a quiet table in the corner and spread out their books. The familiar smell of old paper and the soft hum of whispered voices usually helped Ananya relax, but today, her mind was too cluttered to settle.

“Okay, let’s divide the research,” Arohi suggested, pulling out her notebook. “Simran, you take the first part, and Ananya, you can do the middle section. I’ll handle the rest.”

Ananya nodded absentmindedly, flipping through the pages of her history book. She was trying to focus on the task at hand, but her thoughts kept drifting back to Aarav. She couldn’t stop replaying their conversation from a few days ago in her mind—the way he had casually brushed off her question about why he teased her, the way he had smiled at her, as if everything was perfectly normal.

“Ananya?”

Simran’s voice snapped her out of her thoughts. Ananya blinked, realizing she hadn’t been paying attention.

“Huh? Sorry, what did you say?”

“I was just asking if you’re okay,” Simran said, her brow furrowed in concern. “You’ve been really quiet lately. Is everything alright?”

Ananya felt her heart skip a beat. She had been dreading this question, knowing that sooner or later her friends would notice something was off.

“I’m fine,” she said quickly, trying to sound convincing. “Just… you know, a lot of studying. Exams are coming up.”

Arohi gave her a knowing look. “You’ve always been good at juggling studies and everything else. Something else is bothering you, isn’t it?”

Ananya opened her mouth to protest, but the words caught in her throat. She knew she couldn’t keep pretending forever, especially not with Arohi and Simran. They knew her too well. And honestly, part of her was tired of keeping it all inside.

Taking a deep breath, she finally spoke.

“It’s Aarav,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Both Arohi and Simran exchanged glances, surprise flickering in their eyes. Simran leaned forward, her tone gentle. “Aarav? What about him?”

Ananya hesitated, feeling the weight of her confession settling in. But once the words started, she couldn’t stop.

“I don’t know,” she began, her voice shaky. “It’s like… I’ve known him forever, and we’ve always had this teasing, playful thing. But lately… something feels different. I can’t explain it. It’s like he’s always on my mind, even when I’m trying not to think about him.”

Arohi’s expression softened as she nodded in understanding. “And it’s bothering you because…?”

“Because I don’t know what it means,” Ananya said, her frustration bubbling to the surface. “He’s always been my playful enemy, but now… I don’t know. Maybe it’s because of what Tanya said, about his crush on that neighbor girl. It’s been bothering me, and I hate that it does.”

Simran smiled sympathetically. “It sounds like your feelings for him might be changing, Ananya.”

Ananya felt her cheeks flush. She had been avoiding that thought for days, but hearing it out loud made it feel all the more real.

“I just don’t know what to do,” she admitted, her voice small. “He’s still teasing me like always, and I can’t tell if it’s just him being Aarav or if there’s something more. And the worst part is… I don’t know how I feel about it.”

Arohi placed a comforting hand on her arm. “It’s okay to feel confused, Ananya. Feelings are complicated, especially when you’ve known someone for so long. But maybe you need to give yourself some time to figure it out. Don’t rush it.”

Ananya nodded, grateful for their understanding. She had been so caught up in her own thoughts that she hadn’t realized how much she needed to talk about it.

“Thanks,” she murmured, feeling a little lighter. “I just… needed to get that off my chest.”

Simran grinned. “That’s what we’re here for. You’re not alone in this.”

The three of them fell into a comfortable silence, the tension in the air lifting just a little. Ananya still didn’t have all the answers, but at least now she didn’t feel so alone in her confusion.

As they resumed their work, Ananya glanced out the window, her mind still swirling with thoughts of Aarav. She wasn’t sure where things were headed between them, but one thing was becoming clear: her feelings were changing, and there was no turning back now.