So High School!

Chapter thirty six

Aarushi

Why?

I wasn't worthy enough to know the truth?

My legs stumbled as I see my vision get blurred.

Someone caught hold of me before I could fall. The hands wrapped around me like a protective shield. I turned back.

It was him, Aadi.

"Aarushi. What's wrong?" He asks with concern

I stood there frozen, my breath caught somewhere between my throat and my chest, trying to process what I’d just seen. The silence around us was deafening.

He stepped closer, gently taking the phone from my hand. His eyes scanned the screen, and I watched the shift in his expression, from confusion, to realization, to something softer… regret.

It was a photo. Him and his ex. Laughing. Close. Too close.

His eyes lifted to meet mine, and in them, I saw the storm. A mix of guilt, panic, and something that almost looked like shame. He opened his mouth to say something, but no words came out at first.

“I didn’t want you to find out like this,” he finally said, his voice low, almost a whisper. “It’s not what it looks like.”

But it was.

"Di." Raj interrupts. "Mom wants you home." I nod getting out of his grip.

I turn to Aadi.

"Come to me when you have a believable excuse."

I walk away.

~

Study.

No matter what happens in my life, I need to work. There is no alternative.

It's way past midnight and I haven't received a single text from him.

I am being taken for granted and that hurts even more.

Knock.

I glace at my window. Another knock. Oh God. Who is there.

Knock again.

"Mummy." I scream.

Shit. There is no one at home. I am dead. What if there is a serial killer or a thief. No. No.

I held the dryer kept at dresser. I may not know Karate but I do know to throw things on target.

I open the window, ready to smash the person or whatever it is.

"Woah. Easy woman."

"Aadi?"

There he was. Out of all the ways to reach out to me, he had to come through the window. Just brilliant.

"Are you going to let me in?" He asks with his cheeky smile.

"Stop smiling or I'll slap you." I warn.

"Kiss me instead." He winks at me.

"Stop flirting." I grab his collar.

"Why?"

"Because I keep forgetting the reason why I was mad."

"Isn’t that good?" He leans closer.

“No!” I shouted, pushing him back without thinking, forgetting entirely that he was on a ladder. His foot slipped, and he wobbled dangerously. My heart jumped as I lunged forward, grabbing his collar just in time before he could fall.

I take a breath of relief.

"Come in."

"I am better here with your hands on my collar." He says winking.

"Shut up, Aadi." I scream.

After a lot of argument, he finally got in the room.

"Not even a hi?"

"No. You have lot of explaining to do." I declare crossing my hands.

"Yeah. Right." He looked at me. The sincerity in his eyes forcing me to believe whatever he'll say. But no. Not today.

He lied. I was betrayed.

"So...

"Get to the point. Who is Mira. And why do I not know about her?"

"She is my ex girlfriend." His eyes facing on the floor.

"And you didn't think of telling me about it?" I ask eyeing him. He scratched his head in embarrassment.

"I couldn't find the right moment."

"Ofcourse." I roll my eyes in frustration. "Come back to Mira."

"Mira, she was my

He paused wondering for the right words.

"Your first love?" I ask even though I was breaking inside. He nods. Ouch. "Continue."

"She was the most popular girl and I was the dreamy boy. So people thought it would be amazing if we dated." He looks up at my annoyed expression but continues anyway. "So we did date and I__ um fell in love."

I knew he was a playboy and yet I chose to date him. It still hurts to know that he had a girlfriend.

"Why did you two breakup?"

"She cheated. Not once but twice." He chuckles slightly but I could clearly see the pain. "With Two of the people I once called friends."

"I am sorry to hear that."

"I wasn't ready to open up. To show my vulnerable side and..

"Aadi," I mumble, my voice trembling slightly. "We’re in a relationship. And part of that means sharing things, your struggles, your pain. I’m not asking you to report every detail of your day to me, but... I have the right to know about your past. Especially if it still affects you."

He sighs heavily, running a hand through his hair, his eyes clouded with guilt. "I know, Aarushi. I know," he says, his voice thick with regret. "And I deeply regret hiding it from you. It was never my intention to hurt you."

I swallow hard, my heart hammering against my chest as I force out the question I’m terrified to ask. "Do you still love her?"

The words hang in the air, heavy and unrelenting.

He freezes. His gaze drops to the ground, and for a long moment, he says nothing. The silence cuts deeper than any words could. My breath catches, and my mind races, preparing for the worst.

Finally, he looks up, pain etched across his face. "Aarushi... I won't lie to you. She was a big part of my life. I thought what we had was forever. And losing her..." His voice breaks slightly. "It changed me."

He takes a shaky breath before stepping closer, his hands gently reaching for mine. "But that chapter is closed. It hurt me, yes, but it also led me to you. What I feel for you, it’s different. Deeper. It’s real. I don't want her anymore. I want us."

His words are sincere, but the hurt inside me still simmers, slow and uncertain.

"I believe you Aadi but I am still sad about hiding things."  I say. My voice barely above a whisper. "I need time to digest everything. You should leave now."

Author's note - This is it for today!

Sincere apologies for disappearing...

Don't forget to vote and share your opinion. Until next time, byee! 💕

Also, I want to ask you all something!
I have decided to write another book... now before you all scold me, updates for this story will be regular!