Heart Strings

CHAPTER 11

"Hey there Lee"

He said it the way he always called out my name. From when we were dating he would always call out to me like that. Bhagat, my sweet ex. After we split, I've been avoiding him. It's just that I can't be around him. I feel very awkward. At the beginning, before all this dating crap happened, he was so sweet. He actually loved me deeply. But then a month after we actually started dating, his behavior changed, he would avoid his gaze, rarely call or text, like the way he used to. Our relationship sorta started to whither. I didn't say anything for the next 3 months, expecting him to realise his folly. But, no, nothing actually hit him. The normal,
"Sup Lee" or "Sup Dude". Dude? Really? Is that how someone addresses his girlfriend? Well I knew I had enough of this. I tried to tell him that I wasn't happy, but he just wouldn't understand. No really? What was I expecting from a 14 year old? And to make matters worse, my mother found out. Well I did have that feeling of guilt after I started dating him. Mom had given me a week in hand, to break up with him. A whole fucking month went in this silly argument.

Finally, before my finals started, I ended our relationship. The reason, it was about mom finding out, but the main reason was that he forgot that I to had feelings and expectations. That I to have a limit to my patience. But he failed to do so. But the most heart throbbing fact is that even after we split, he said that he would wait for me, that he would not date any other girl. Now that hit me hard. But the fear of breaking mom's trust, the fear of making the same mistake twice, the fear of receiving nothing from the one I love, again, made me shrug.

"What. Is. He. Doing. Here?" Shub poped out from behind me. Lifesaver.

"Is this him? The guy I spoke to over the phone?" Sanjana poked my arm and said.

"Yeah" I nodded. Uh oh! This was surly going to get ugly. Now that these two have seen him, he is sorta dead.

"Lee I heard that your going abroad? Is that true?" He looked sad.

Before I could open my mouth Shub spoke up, "Yeah she is, and why does that concern you? After all your the one who did all the mess, what other reason for her to let you go?"

Bhagat looked at me, astonished.
"But you told me that your mom found out!"

"Yes"

Thats it.I can't hold it in any longer. I didn't tell him the other reason for our split. I didn't want him to feel bad. But I just had to say it.

"There is another reason"

"So you guys were a thing after all huh" Suketh spoke up. He sounded, sarcastic.

Shub and Sanjana gave him a glare. Bhagat just stood there, scratching the back of his head in a kiddish way.

'What a scene!' I thought to myself. My crush and my ex were standing right in front if me. What else could go worse? My best friends are about to pounce on them.

"Ok you know what, let's just stop. It's my last day in India so can we just have fun untill I leave please? And since it's the four of us now-"

"The four if us? I'm leaving." Suketh gave me angry/ sad look and walked towards me. And then came close and whispered into my ears,

"I'm letting you go just this once, I'm not gonna let you go again. I'm coming for you Leah."

He walked away, but not before taping my head, giving me a small peck on my cheek and giving me a naughty but warm smile. I just stood there, frozen. I was pretty sure that my face was red. Shub and Sanjana gave me a little hug. Shub winked at me. I blushed even harder.

"Soooooooooooooo? " Shub said with a smirk.

"W-what?" I was blushing more.

"What did he say??" Sanjana poked my arm.

"N - NOTHING! !" Damn. These two won't be at peace until I tell them. But that can wait for later. Right now I had a bigger problem to face. Bhagat.

"You.....liked him!?" He said in sad shaky voice.

"NOT LIKE, LOVE!!" Sanjana bursted.
Shub elbowed her.

'Great! I'm finished.'

Bhagat just stared at me with disbelief. He looked so heartbroken.

"Bu-But she dated you, right?" Sanjana said, 'nice pick up line sanj!!'

"Yeah!!! There is a big difference between having a crush and dating! He he" Shub the life saver!

"Hmm, your right on that. She dated me after all! " Bhagat looked bashful.

I just turned away for a moment. I just couldn't sum it all up. I turned back at them, " Can we continue playing now?" I was eger to get my record broken.

"Yeah let's do i-"

"No."

I looked at Bhagat. He was looking me right in the eye.

"Did - did you just - did he just cut me off!?" Sanjana had this damn-you-you-sly-ass look on her face.

"We need to talk, Leah" He had a stern look.

I looked towards Shub for help. She just nodded. I guess it was time I told him about it. I looked at him again.

"Let's go someplace else okay?"

"Sure, anything" He smiled.

"Shub! Play my part" I gestured towards the bowling ally.

"Oh no no no, we'll wait. It's not fun without you!" She said with a smirk.

"Yup!!" Sanjana agreed.

I just laughed. Bhagat offered his hand, but I refused, " We aren't dating anymore" I looked away.

"Oh, yeah. I forgot" He looked down too, and we walked towards the benches near the plant display. None of us, speaking a single word.