One such day, she arrived pretty early. She met some of her girlfriends who seemed in deep conversation. She was welcomed by a number of "Hi" and "Hey".
" Where is Jay?" Asked Shruti, a chubby and sweet girl.
"He hasn't come yet,"replied Akira before anyone could.
"Ohhhhh... so he told you, didn't he? "Asked the girls gleaming and even saw a girl wink.
"Told me what? " asked Akira,confused.
"Come on! Don't lie,"said keerthi.
"What are you talking about? " asked Akira, pretty worried.
"That Jay loves you, duh?"Said another girl,rolling her eyes.
For a moment, Akira was too startled to answer.
She felt her mind shut out the sound of talking around her.
She didn't know if she was to be happy or sad or angry. She didn't expect it from Jay. She was taken aback.
Summer holidays begins in two days And he is changing his school next year. And she really liked him but love, She didn't even know about it.
As she returned to class, she noticed that Jay had arrived.
One look and they both could guess what had happened.
That evening they met after class. Akira wondered how to begin the conversation. Getting all her confidence together, she asked, "Is it true what I heard?"
She secretly prayed for him to say "no".
She heard him breathe in and let it out in a sigh. Keeping his eyes closed, he replied, "Yes."
Before she could digest it, he continued, "I've loved you ever since I met you. Each day I spent with you, the better I knew you, the more I loved you. If you think it's wrong, I'm sorry, Akira. But I can't lie to you."
She didn't know how to react or what to tell him. She felt a choke in her throat and tears threatened to drop from her eyes.
She composed herself and lifted her eyes to meet his. She felt a tear cling to her long black eyelashes.
She finally spoke, "Jay, I really like you. I've never felt this way about anyone. But I feel it's too early for love . I'm not ready for a relationship or a commitment right now. I'm sorry. But you're gonna find better girls. Don't worry."
She expected him to try and convince her but instead he took her hand in his and stuffed a delicate chain with a simple leaf shaped pendant. As she lifted her eyes to meet his yet again, he gently caught the tear in her eyelashes, whispered "I love you" gently in her ears and walked away with a smile.
Little did she know that he'll wait for her always.
As she spun back to reality, she could feel tears on her cheek. As the tears dried, she wondered if atleast now he loved someone else. But she didn't have the guts to ask him, afraid she'd hear the answer she didn't want to hear.
She spilled her coffee which had tired cold and absentmindedly rinsed it.
How she could remember every vague detail of those days, like it happened yesterday.
He made her believe in something called "Love".
