Hope of it all

24. Pretty distractions

Author's note

Omg guys you're blowing my mind right now. 'Hope of it all' crossed 200 votes and 2K reads. This book also ranked #1 on highschool sweethearts 🥹

Plus, y'all completed the last Target 🫶🏻
Thank you so much for the support

This chapter is a little short so the next update will be on Thursday/ Friday

Enjoy!

You know what's fun? Sleeping through your alarm on the day of your exam.

My right arm is still plastered but I've gotten rid of the sling. The stitches on my abdomen still ache but it's been one week since the accident and I've had plenty of time to recover.

That doesn't mean I've been resting, though. It's exam week, and a stupid fracture isn't going to stop me from achieving academic validation

Aarav, Khushi and Tanmay have been visiting me once or twice a day, but there's still an unusual awkwardness between me and Aarav.

Well, that's on me. I haven't answered him. I didn't tell him I love him. Even though I do. But hear me out: maybe he doesn't actually love me.

Maybe he just blurted it out because he was scared and overwhelmed. Maybe he regrets it. Maybe I should forget it happened.

Anyway, my dad's dropping me to college today. I revise in the car while my dad tells me to calm down and relax for a while.

But no. I've ranked second in the last two exams. Guess who came first?

None other than Aarav.

This time I'm going to beat him. I'm going to be the top scorer.

I get out of the car and wave my dad goodbye as he wishes me luck.

Aarav walks towards me, Khushi and Tanmay trailing behind.

Khushi hooks her arm around my uninjured one and Tanmay cracks a joke but I'm not paying attention. Aarav just took my bag and slung it over his broad shoulders.

But he doesn't look at me. And that sends a sting to my chest.
...

All of us were assigned to different classes, so we had planned to meet after the exam to discuss the paper.

"Ye toh syllabus mein tha hi nahi!" Tanmay exclaims and looks at us for confirmation but when we don't react, he hesitated before asking,

"Tha kya?"

I nod.

I chuckle and Khushi pats his head.

My gaze drifts to Aarav who's biting his nail, staring the question paper.

He catches me staring and clears his throat before speaking "I talked to the teacher by the way. Requested her to let us redo the orientation, considering everything that happened. She said yes. It's after the exams so we'll have to practice".

"Oh, thank God. We'll rock it this time, I'm sure."

The other exams fly by over the course of a week. Before we know it, result day arrives and we're all nervous. I honestly have no idea how my exams went this time. For the first time in my life, I'm scared to check my exam results.

Thanks to a certain 5-foot- 6-inches tall girl for distracting me by just existing.

I've noticed how hard shes been working, though. She's so determined to beat my perfect score, I'm afraid she might actually do it.

I reluctantly flip my report card open.

Overall percentage - 94.7%

Oh shit

I turn to look at her and she has her soft palm over her mouth in surprise .

She looks at me, beaming, and in that moment I know she beat me.

But I also realise that I don't mind. I don't mind,losing to her anymore.

I just don't want to lose her

"98.6!%" she practically yells

"Congratulations, Sethi " I say smirking

This is probably the first time we've genuinely looked at each other since that day.

She didn't reply and I haven't pestered about it.

Maybe I shouldn't have said it so soon. She just had a damn accident for crying out loud.

Or maybe I shouldn't have said anything at all.

I notice Tanmay leaving the class and Khushi following behind.

There's something going on between them. I know it's none of my business but I'm concerned. I peek out the door and I spot Khushi talking to him with tears in her eyes

I look back to Aastha who's sitting on the opposite row with a bright smile on her face.

I can't help but smile too.

🎀