WriterHappy
Aarav Sharma, a 16-year-old Indian boy living in the UK, has always played it safe - top grades, no drama, and no distractions. Growing up with a traditional father and an open-minded mother, he's constantly balancing two worlds: his family's expectations and the freedom of the life around him.
When a new student, Theo Carter, transfers to his school - confident, charming, and athletic, Aarav's perfectly organized world starts to wobble. From the moment they meet, they can't seem to stand each other. Theo thinks Aarav is uptight, and Aarav thinks Theo is arrogant.
Things get messier when Theo starts spending time with Emma, Aarav's outspoken girl best friend. Aarav tells himself he's just protective, but deep down, he feels something he can't explain, a spark he refuses to acknowledge.
Trying to prove to himself that he's "normal," Aarav starts dating Lila, a sweet girl from another class. But the more he tries to fit the picture of what he thinks love should look like, the more wrong it feels. Every time he sees Theo with someone else, his heart twists in ways he doesn't understand.
As weeks pass, the tension between Aarav and Theo shifts from rivalry to something more intimate. Theo begins to see through Aarav's walls, gently challenging his fears. Slowly, Aarav realizes his jealousy wasn't about Emma or Lila - it was about Theo all along.