❝ They say, who loves first, falls hardest, but what if this story is she fell first, he fell harder. ❞
Truths hurt, lies are a blasphemy in a relationship. But have you ever felt it? When everything feels like they're infinitely stretching your sou...
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The back of our hands touch in the softest of motions, but the contact sends a tremor through my body. It was such a fleeting touch, barely there, yet it sent a jolt through me. It felt like a wave of electricity passed between us, making my stomach churn and twist into knots.
The intensity of this simple touch is enough to make me pause, my heart racing as I try to process what just happened. It's strange how something so insignificant can evoke such a strong reaction in me, leaving me breathless and wanting more.
I resume walking when she turns around to look at me. Her face shows no reaction, unlike the touch that stirred something in me. It was like, to her it only felt casual, fleeting, nothing more. I walk to her, wrapping my arm around her shoulder, playing the boyfriend I am.
But this doesn't make me feel anything.
Confusion-stricken, I enter the classroom, stopping in my tracks.
The seats are divided into two sides, with a large gap between them. Arianna moves first, no confusion on her face, placing her bag on her usual table. When I walk to mine, the table no longer belongs to me. It has "May" written on the small screen in the left corner.
"New rule," Arianna says, arms crossed. "Raymond informed me this morning. Forgot to tell you."
"So what now? We can't even touch the other gender?" I ask, my tone sarcastic, eyes rolling in frustration.
"We can," she says, pointing between us, her face expressionless. "Others can't. Father asked for a special exclusion for us, as we're still in a very sensitive stage of our relationship."
As if on cue, the speakers blare, stealing everyone's attention. "Dear Students, there's been a slight change in the seating arrangements in the classes. The seats have been bifurcated to separate the male and female students due to the new Non-Fraternizing policy. You all will sit according to your ranks, but segregated according to your genders.
From this day onwards, no two students from opposite genders can be seen mingling together. Over the weekend, the cafeterias, too, have been separated.
On getting caught breaking the rule, a deduction of thirty-two marks. Reporting such a crime, addition of thirty-two marks.
The students of the special grade will remain exempted from the rule, along with Elijah Maverick and Arianna Windsor. Thank you."
The class erupts into frantic murmurs for two reasons: one, because Arianna and I were specially exempted from the rule, and two, the enticing addition of marks.
