From Pune Sector

Chapter 23|| "Normally."

"Feels like a lifetime
Just tryna get by
While we're dying inside
I've done a lot of things wrong
Loving you being one
But I can't move on

You know I'm afraid of change
Guess that's why we stay the same"

July, Noah Cyrus

(I struggled so much to write this for some weird reason, is this what they call a writer's block, oh no)

Chapter 23

"You seem...off?"

I looked sideways at Ethan as if he had grown a second head.

"Who me?"

That's a high note, Jenny. Tone it down.

I cleared my throat awkwardly.

He gestured to my restless tapping feet before looking back to the road.

I wasn't nervous.

I mean, why would I be?

Jeez, I'm Jennifer D'Souza after all.

"Trisha and Arnav are coming too, right?"

"Yeah, I guess they're on their way," I replied, curtly.

Fine, I agree, I wasn't nervous.

I was petrified.

You're better than this, Jen.

You're better than this.

"Do we have to pick up Avi?"

"No, she went ahead with Vishal. Are you sure you're alright?"

I nodded.

Should I tell Ethan about Soham, but again, we never dated. We never went out on a single date, so what exactly should I be disclosing?

Would Soham react on seeing us two?

But why would he, I mean, it's a closed chapter.

I was so absorbed in my contemplation that I didn't even realize we had already parked and Ethan was paying the parking fees to a man who had appeared out of thin air beside the car.

I shot up when the phone in my lap started ringing. It was Trisha.

"Hello?" I replied, meekly while opening the car door and stepping out.

"Are you here or did you jump out of the car?"

"What do you think?" I replied curtly.

"Jeez, who hurt you today?"

"I am sorry. I am just-" I exhaled loudly as I watched Ethan do a perfect parallel park. He couldn't hear me but I didn't feel like saying it aloud.

"Will you be alright? I mean you haven't seen him-"

"In over a month, yes."

"I don't think he knows you're coming tonight though."

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

"I don't think it's a good idea to sit with you guys, then, I mean doesn't he come meet y'all before-"

"Well apparently, some officials from the Indian football team are coming tonight to scout, so he may go meet them-"

"Wow, that's important to him-"

Trisha sighed, cutting me off. I knew her enough to know what that sigh meant, she was nervous for him.

"Are you scared that-" I trailed off.

"I'm not implying anything, Jenny, but I know him and I know he still gets affected by you-"